Panthers @ Broncos -Thursday Night (9/8) 7:30PM-  This is the Super Bowl 50 rematch.  After Cam Newton’s performance last year against the Broncos Defense, he plans to improve with more completions and less turnovers.  Super Bowl MVP Von Miller will look to repeat his performance of 3 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 4 tackles for loss.  The Panthers OL must know where Miller and Ware are at all times to keep Cam off the ground.  Broncos new starter Trevor Siemian will have his first start of his career.  Against LB Luke Kuechly, Siemian will have some trouble scrambling out of the pocket and making passes over the middle.  Wide Receiver duo Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders will need to get YAC (Yards After Catch) to help Siemian in the pass game.  With the loss of Josh Norman, the Panthers defense will struggle containing the dangerous duo.

• Grant’s Pick:  (Broncos) With the Defense compared to the 1980’s Bears, Von Miller and the Orange Crush will keep Cam and the Panthers to little yardage.
• Andrew’s Pick:  (Broncos) The reigning super bowl champions will show why they beat the Panthers last year with C.J. Anderson dominating the run.

Bears @ Texans -Sunday afternoon (9/11) at 12PM-  Former Broncos player, Brock Osweiler, has joined the Texans with a four year contract.  The Texans’ offense will lean on him to make great passes while under pressure.  He had seven weeks of experience with Denver and he is hoping to be able to use what Peyton Manning had taught him about the league.  Deandre Hopkins will need to be his normal self and get YAC(Yards After Catch) and Touchdowns.  Bear’s LB Danny Trevathan, leading the team in tackles for Denver last season will need to make plays in the run and pass games.  Alshon Jeffery, devastated by injury last season, will be challenged by Texans CB Johnathan Joseph.  He will need to use his size to beat him deep.

• Grant’s Pick:  (Texans) JJ Watt and the Texans will keep the Bears at bay.
• Andrew’ Pick:  (Bears) Coming off of a terrible year, the Bears will show why they hired John Fox in a close game with the Texans.

Giants @ Cowboys -Sunday afternoon (9/11) at 3:25PM-  Rookies Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott will start for the Cowboys offense.  Tony Romo, known for his injuries in the past, will be out for 8-10 weeks with a back injury.  Veterans Dez Bryant and Jason Witten will be main targets in the pass game.  Former Rookie of the Year, Odell Beckham Jr., will need to hold his temper and run great routes against great press corner Janoris Jenkins who was recently acquired by the Giants this offseason.  One struggle the Giants faced last year was Eli Manning holding the ball too long in the pocket and getting sacked.  The Giants must hold back the Cowboys’ defensive-line to give Eli time to get rid of the ball.  The Cowboys, devastated by injury in the past, must all stay healthy to play a competitive game with New York.

• Grant’s Pick:  (Cowboys) Behind a tough offensive line and an elusive back in Ezekiel Elliott, the Cowboys will win.
• Andrew’s Pick:  (Giants) Odell Beckham will prove why his first two years of being a star are true and the Giants will roll over the Cowboys in an easy fashion.

Rams @ 49ers – Case Keenum and Rookie of the Year Todd Gurley are hoping to have a breakout performance against a weak 49ers defensive line and secondary.  The 49ers are coming off of a 4-12 season, not exactly what they were looking for.  New head coach Chip Kelly needs to put together a strategy to stop Todd Gurley’s bruising breakaway runs.  This will be an offensive battle against two Quarterbacks with limited experience since Colin Kaepernick was announced the second string on the 49ers depth chart to start the season.

• Grant’s Pick:  (Rams) With a tough back in Todd Gurley, the Rams will come out on top.
• Andrew’s Pick:  (Rams) Chip Kelly’s new offensive scheme for the 49ers will be too much and the Rams will easily find a way to win with Case Keenum under center.

Browns @ Eagles -Sunday afternoon (9/11) at 12PM-  This game is definitely a head scratcher for what to expect as the Eagles, who went 7-9 last year, are planning to start their first round pick Carson Wentz to lead their new offense under new head coach Doug Peterson.  Although, watch Cleveland, who went 3-13 last year, as they plan to start newly acquired quarterback Robert Griffin III who made quite a playoff run with the Redskins a couple years ago.   

• Andrew’s Pick:  (Eagles) After a terrible offense game for both teams, the Eagles will show some grit and win with the arm of Carson Wentz.
• Grant’s Pick:  (Eagles) Carson Wentz looks very comfortable at home and will blow out the Browns.

Falcons @ Buccaneers -Sunday afternoon (9/11) at 12PM-  A division rivalry in the NFC south that will be a huge game to determine if either team has playoff hopes.  The Atlanta Falcons, who went a solid 8-8 last year, hope to make a solid run into the playoffs under their veteran quarterback Matt Ryan and their star wide receiver, Julio Jones.  On the other hand, watch for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they hope to cause some disruption in the playoff picture under their solid running back, Doug Martin, and their quarterback famous for stealing Crab Legs and for playing at Florida State, Jameis Winston.

• Andrew’s Pick:  (Buccaneers) After an outstanding performance from Doug Martin, the Buccaneers show that they have playoff contention.
• Grant’s Pick:  (Falcons) The running backs from both teams will have great games, but Devonta Freeman will show why he is one of NFL’s best and the Falcons will pull out a victory at home.

Patriots @ Cardinals -Sunday night  (9/11) at 7:30PM-  A battle of the best in the National Football league.  The Patriots, who made a deep playoff run last year, will be without veteran quarterback Tom Brady for the first four games, but they have Jimmy Garoppolo, a second year quarterback who went to college at Eastern Illinois.  The Patriots need one of the best tight ends in football, Rob Gronkowski, to really step up in the passing game for these first four games without Brady.  With all the news coming from the Patriots, the Cardinals, who went 13-3 are a quiet Super Bowl Contender.  With one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL in Carson Palmer and one of the NFL’s most accomplished receivers in Larry Fitzgerald, the Arizona Cardinals definitely have a good chance to defend their home field this week.

• Andrew’s Pick:  (Cardinals) With the Patriots being without Tom Brady the Patriots will not be able to keep up with the high scoring offense of the Cardinals.
• Grant’s Pick:  (Cardinals) Arizona’s defense will prove their one of the NFL’s best and leave Grappolo winless in his first start.    

Steelers @ Redskins -Monday Night (9/12) at 6:10PM-  The first Monday Night Game of the season.  The Steelers, who went 10-6, are without Le’veon Bell for the first three games, but they still have “Big” Ben Roethlisberger and one of the best wide receivers in the league, Antonio Brown, who together make a deadly quarterback and wide receiver threat.  On the other hand, the Redskins are coming off a 9-7 year in which they made the playoffs.  This year they are back and look like favorites for the NFC East because of their numerous offseason additions in Josh Norman and Terrance Knighton that really boost their defensive talent.

• Andrew’s Pick:  (Redskins) The Redskins will find a way to win after a multiple touchdown game from their young tight end Jordan Reed.
• Grant’s Pick:  (Redskins) The new Redskins defense will live up to their hype and leave the Pittsburgh Steelers scoreless in a close game.