CINCINNATI — It doesn’t feel like it, but tonight’s the night. The 2020 NFL regular season kicks off tonight in the Heartland of America with the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs hosting the Houston Texans.
Every week, I’ll post the NFL games that are the top game on a particular network and on national television and offer up my predictions. With that, here are week one’s number one network games and those on national television.
Houston Texans @ Kansas City Chiefs – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya) Radio: Westwood One
There definitely will be a lot of money thrown around as the two quarterbacks signed lucrative contract extensions in the offseason. I’m interested in seeing what the Texans look like on offense after losing wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in March, as they still have the dangerous receiver in Will Fuller V when healthy and DeShaun Watson is a savage at quarterback. But Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs are the better team, as evidenced by outscoring Houston 51-7 after trailing them 24-0 in the second quarter of last year’s divisional round playoff matchup.
My pick: Chiefs 48 Texans 27
Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots – 1 p.m. on CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
They’re called the NEW England Patriots and it’s a NEW era with Cam Newton under center. But as my friends Aerosmith would sing and in the wise words of FOX Sports’ Jason MacIntyre, “the headline from this game will be…”
My pick: Patriots 28 Dolphins 20
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints – 4:25 p.m. on FOX (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Mike Pereira, Erin Andrews) National Radio: Compass Media Network (Bill Rosinski, Chad Brown)
This is a dynamite week one showdown. I would pay money to see this game and both Brady-Brees matchups this season. And I wish we could see this game with a sold out Superdome crowd. That place is always rocking for marquee games. I expect points to be put up on both sides, but Brees and the Saints will prevail in the end.
My pick: Saints 38 Buccaneers 31
Dallas Cowboys @ Los Angeles Rams – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya) National Radio: Westwood One (Ryan Radtke, Terrell Davis)
Another impact of COVID-19: the Rams not being able to open their beautiful new stadium with a full crowd. In spite of that, I think because they’re opening their new stadium they edge a very talented Cowboys team.
My pick: Rams 31 Cowboys 28
Pittsburgh Steelers @ New York Giants – 7:15 p.m. on ESPN (Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor, Jonathan Whyley) National Radio: Westwood One, Sports USA
The return of Ben Roethlisberger headlines this game, and I think he will be the springboard to a significant bounce-back season for the Steelers. New York may have a bright future with quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Saquon Barkley, and I think the Giants will keep this game close. But just as he’s done so many times throughout his career, Big Ben will deliver in the fourth quarter.
My pick: Steelers 31 Giants 20
Tennessee Titans @ Denver Broncos – 10:15 p.m. on ESPN (Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters)
I’m intrigued by this game. Tennessee plays a great brand of football combining old-school, smash-mouth, in-your-face with some firepower while Denver, I think, is a playoff sleeper with a young roster that has potential on both sides of the ball. I think the Titans are a Super Bowl contender, but playing in Denver has me feeling upset in this game.
My pick: Broncos 24 Titans 21
All other Week 1 picks
Seattle @ Atlanta – Seahawks 28-20
New York Jets @ Buffalo – Bills 26-17
Chicago @ Detroit – Bears 23-17
Green Bay @ Minnesota – Vikings 31-20
Philadelphia @ Washington – Eagles 33-17
Las Vegas @ Carolina – Panthers 27-24
Indianapolis @ Jacksonville – Colts 28-17
Cleveland @ Baltimore – Ravens 30-21
Los Angeles Chargers @ Cincinnati – Bengals 28-20
Arizona @ San Francisco – 49ers 33-24
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 