The Bearded Talisman's Week 1 NFL picks

1. Jets +3.0 vs Steelers – Pittsburgh ended 2024 with 5 consecutive losses.   Their offensive line is suspect, and outside of DK Metcalf, there is not a whole lot to fear at the skill positions.   Question marks surround Aaron Rodgers, and he is facing a very tough Jets defense on the road.    Some of the key players on the Steelers D are getting long in the tooth, and the Jets with Fields, Hall and Wilson should be able to make enough plays to keep it very close or win.  

2. Dolphins +1.5 at Colts – The last time the Colts won their season opener was 2013.   Daniel Jones is now the Colts starter, and the Dolphins are GETTING points.   Tyreek Hill, Achane, Waddle, Gordon – Tua has enough to move the ball down the field and produce points.   I just don’t trust Daniel Jones in any uniform.

3. Seahawks +1.5 vs 49ers – The injuries are so bad to the 49ers WR corps they actually traded for Skyy Moore.   And McCaffrey is questionable also.   Shannahan is only 3-5 ATS in Week 1 matchups.   The Seahawks are the more healthy team, are playing at home, and they simply have better players than the 49ers right now.

4. Rams -3.0 vs Texans – The Rams were one play away from eliminating the Eagles in the playoffs last year.   They’ve added Davante Adams, and Jared Verse is a monster off the edge, and the Texans are missing WR#2 Christian Kirk with a hamstring injury.   McVay is 6-2 ATS in Week 1 matchups.    Stroud regressed last year, and I think he struggles against Verse and the Rams defense.

5. Bears +1.5 vs Vikings (Monday) – Vikings QB J.J. McCarthy makes his first NFL start, it’s on the road, he’s without his WR #2 (Jordan Addison) and oh, it’s Monday Night Football against the Bears. Chicago upgraded the offensive line bigtime, and this should allow Caleb Williams to improve dramatically under first-year coach Ben Johnson.