NFL Divisional Finals Preview and Predictions: By Kyle Balfour

NFL Week 1 Preview:
-By Stuart Tomlin

It’s time for the weekly predictions, and this year we are introducing something different. Myself and Kyle are gonna do predictions via the blog every Thursday, instead of via the podcast. Kyle’s predictions were posted earlier tonight, you can view them here: https://goforitonfourth.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/its-finally-here-tonight-will-mark.html

And here’s my picks for this week! 

Season Standings:
Stuart @stvstheworld: 0-0
Kyle @TheShitIveSeen: 0-0

(All kickoff times BST. Minus five hours for Eastern, eight for Pacific for our American readers.)

1.30am Friday 8^th September (Thursday 7th in America):

New England Patriots v. Kansas City Chiefs
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Massachusetts

Ah, the traditional opening day game of the season, featuring the Super Bowl Champions. And unfortunately, that’s the New England Patriots, again. “Tom Brady’s Shrieking Ospreys of Terror” (Credit Keith for that one) take on Andy Reid’s Chiefs and the Captain Checkdown. Brady and his offensive weapons, or Alex Smith’s 3 yard completions? I know what I’m taking. Patriots.

6.00pm Sunday 10^th September

Buffalo Bills v. New York Jets
Ralph Wilson “New Era Field” Stadium, Buffalo, New York

Nathan Perriman vs. Josh McCown. PREPARE THE WEEK ONE CLOWNBALL. As we’ll be watching with Greg, we’ll be watching this game live. It’s gonna be fun for the spectacular clownball, if nothing else. I’ll probably say Buffalo because they’re slightly less bad. Bills.

Cleveland Browns v. Pittsburgh Steelers
FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

I love what the Browns have done this offseason. I love their Draft. I love the pick of Kizer as a Quarterback of the future. And yet, they’re nowhere near the finished product. The Steelers however, are very much nearer the finished product. Big Ben, Antonio Brown and Le’veon Bell all day here. This is my Survivor Pick. Steelers.

Houston Texans v. Jacksonville Jaguars
NRG Stadium, Houston, Texas

Considering everything they’ve been through, I’m actually rooting for Houston here. They could really do with a win to start of the season. As a Colts fan, it’s not often I’ll say that, but I hope they win here. It’d be nice to see. Plus, Blake Bortles is probably going to be absolutely destroyed by that Texans defence. Watt, Clowney, Cushing? Ouch. It’s gonna be ugly. Texans.

Detroit Lions v. Arizona Cardinals
Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Another game I’m genuinely struggling to pick. I like both teams, I really do. I think Arizona need to be thinking of a long-term successor for Carson Palmer, who I’m not sure has that much left. Larry Fitzgerald will probably continue on forever though. I’m hoping Stafford does well for my fantasy team (in lieu of Andrew Luck this week), so here’s hoping. I could see Ameer Abdullah having a huge season this year, too. I guess for those reasons I’ll take Detroit. Only just, though. Definitely a toss-up. Lions.

Miami Dolphins P-P Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida (Moved to Week 11 because of Hurricane Irma)

Turns out this game’s been postponed due to Hurricane Irma. It’s the sensible thing to do. Safety first. We’ll see it in Week 11. And we’ll see Mike Evans make his fantasy debut for my team this year next week, instead. It’s gonna be unique seeing the Dolphins and Buccaneers have a week 1 bye and play sixteen straight games, though. Stay safe if you're in any of the areas affected by these Hurricanes, too. That's the most important thing.

Chicago Bears v. Atlanta Falcons
Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

The Falcons play their first competitive game since blowing a 25 point lead, which seems to have been overlooked and not mentioned at all throughout the course of the offseason. I haven’t seen it mentioned at all. Anyways, they get themselves back to form here. Reckon the calls for Trubisky will be loud by about the third quarter. Falcons.

Tennesee Titans v. Oakland Raiders
LP Field, Nashville, Tennessee

Every season I have to Google what the hell the Titans’ stadium is actually called. Every single year. Anyways, this should actually be an exciting game, with two prolific young quarterbacks coming back off injury-ending seasons last year. Derek Carr and Marcus Mariota could be fun to watch against each other. And a lot of people are off the Raiders’ bandwagon, but I still believe in Derek Carr. However, I think Tennessee wins this simply due to being at home – I’d have picked the Raiders if it had been in Oakland. I’ll say this for nothing, not a game I’d like to bet on. Titans.

Cincinnati Bengals v. Baltimore Ravens
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

This one is genuinely a tossup for me here. I’m not sure, it could be a very interesting watch here. Joe Flacco looks like he’s gonna be back in time, and I think that might be the tipping point here. I hope Eifert does well for my fantasy team, but I reckon Baltimore goes 1-0. Ravens.

Washington Redskins v. Philadelphia Eagles
FedExField, Landover, Maryland

A nice tasty wee NFC East opener – in fact, both of the NFC East games look interesting this weekend. Divisional contests are often hard to call at the best of times, but in Week 1, when it’s so unpredictable…I didn’t love the Washington offseason, whereas the Eagles one impressed me more. Based on that and that along, I’m gonna go Eagles.

9.05pm Sunday 10^th September:

Los Angeles Rams v. Indianapolis Colts
L.A. Memorial Field, Los Angeles, California

Sighhhhhh…here was me being excited for a Colts season starting again, and we’re starting without Andrew Luck. And starting Scott Tolzien week 1. Welp. Oh good God almighty. Tolzien v. Jared Goff. This is probably not gonna be a high-scoring game or fun for the neutral. It’s probably gonna be less fun for me. Gonna go for the biased homer pick, but I don’t have a ton of faith in it. Colts.

9.25pm Sunday 10^th September:

San Francisco 49ers v. Carolina Panthers
Levis’ Stadium, Santa Clara, California

Kyle Shanahan’s tenure as 49ers head coach begins here, as Carolina make the trip up to Levis Stadium for the first time since Super Bowl 50 I believe? Anyway, they start off with a win. I’m taking Cam Newton over Brian Hoyer every day off the week, and twice on Sundays. Panthers.

Green Bay Packers v. Seattle Seahawks
Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Packers-Seahawks. Always, always, always fun to watch. I reckon this is a potential NFC Championship game down the line. Anyway, for this time alone, I am gonna go with the home team. I love what the Seahawks are doing, but I think the Packers will be the NFC Champions this year. It’s hard to go against Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau. Even with that vaunted Seahawks defence. Packers.

1.30am Monday 11^th September (Sunday in America)

Dallas Cowboys v. New York Giants
AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

Is it just me or does this game seem to always happen in Week 1? I’m pretty sure the last three years have opened with the Giants and Cowboys playing Sunday Night Football. Anyways, tough one. It looks like Zeke might actually take the field for this one, and then potentially be suspended weeks two to six. It’s a weird situation. The Giants owned the Cowboys last year, sweeping them, at a point the Cowboys were 11-Giants. I’m gonna go for the surprise and say that the Giants continue their domination over Dallas. Giants.

12.10am Tuesday 12^th September (Monday in America)

Minnesota Vikings v. New Orleans Saints
US Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

All-Day returns to Minnesota, and in the very, very first week. This is gonna be interesting to see. Players have a bit of a habit of coming back to haunt old teams. But is Peterson the player he once was? Will he even get the carries with Ingram there? The Vikings’ defence wasn’t great in preseason but it was fantastic for most of last year. I’m taking Minny at home. Vikings.

Denver Broncos v. Los Angeles Chargers
Sports Authority Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

Now this is one that interests me a lot more than I thought it was going to. Denver still don’t have a quarterback successor to Peyton Manning, and the Chargers have been doing bits in the offseason. As long as their injury bug doesn’t strike – again! - they could upset a few teams a few times this year, starting here. I’m taking Joey Bosa crushing Siemian several times and a win for the Chargers.