Welcome back NFL Fans! Predictions and Power Rankings by @TheBrysh are back, and we are ready to uncover our forecast for Week 1 of the 2022 NFL Season. Point Spreads are courtesy of DraftKings Nation, and are up to date as of the article writing. NFL Predictions will be split into two (2) articles: Thursday to early Sunday; and late Sunday to Monday Night Football. This article will be the first of two.
NFL 2022:
Buffalo Bills (-2.5) @ LA Rams
What an incredible start to the 2022 season, the defending Super Bowl Champion Rams are hosting the Buffalo Bills. The Bills were arguably the strongest AFC team last year, and are the consensus favourite to appear in the Super Bowl this season. The Rams WR’s are thought to have an advantage against a Buffalo secondary missing two CB’s to injury and free agency. I’m going with QB Josh Allen and his Bills 29-25.
Baltimore Ravens (-7) @ NY Jets
The Baltimore Ravens look to challenge the Bengals for the division this year. Baltimore’s QB Lamar Jackson is way too slick for any kind of pass rush that the Jets can formulate. The Jets would be better served to ease up on blitzing, and assign extra coverage on the receivers and TE Mark Andrews. The Jets look to start mediocre, injury prone, QB Joe Flacco, take Baltimore 33-24.
Cleveland Browns @ Carolina Panthers (-2.5)
Is Carolina QB Baker Mayfield ready to rebound from a shoulder injury, and a disappointing season last year? The Panthers defense is looking to improve with upgrade reinforcements like DB’s Xavier Woods and CJ Henderson. The Browns have potential with RB Nick Chubb, and even without QB Deshaun Watson I take them over the Panthers 23-21.
San Francisco 49’ers (-7) @ Chicago Bears
The Bears are coming off of a 6-11 season and have made interesting draft picks, hoping to spark the offense. WR Velus Jones and OL Braxton Jones are anticipated to help QB Justin Fields. San Fran’s DE’s Nick Bosa, Arik Armstead and Arden Key had 28 QB Sacks and 4 Forced Fumbles between them. The 49’ers defense will bury the Bears 27-22.
Indianapolis Colts (-8) @ Houston Texans
A disappointing season for the Colts has led to some changes, including the addition of 60,000 yard QB Matt Ryan from the Falcons. The Texans are hoping for a breakthrough season from 2nd year QB Davis Mills. Last year the Colts won both meetings between the teams by a total 62-3. Does Matt Ryan have a big season? Does Davis Mills becomes a leader? Take the Colts 32-21.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Washington Commanders (-3)
Last year the Washington Commanders were 21st in the NFL for passing yards, they have traded for QB Carson Wentz to help with that. Jacksonville may be without the service of 1,000 yard rusher James Robinson due to an Achilles injury. Both teams are basement dwellers, but it is sure to be entertaining, I’ll go with the Commanders 26-18.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Cincinnati Bengals (-6.5)
Super Bowl Runner-up Bengals host the Steelers at Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday. The Bengals beat the Steelers in both of their divisional games last year, by a total of 65-20. The Steelers are still hush-hush as to their starting QB this week, odds are on inconsistent journeyman, Mitch Trubisky, over rookie Kenny Picket. The critics are calling for Cincinnati to stumble, but I take Bengals 33-21.
Philadelphia Eagles (-4) @ Detroit Lions
The Lions were 3-13-1 last year, while the Eagles were 9-8 and made the Wild Card round. Philly affixed some offensive pep recently, adding WR’s Zach Pascal and AJ Brown. Rookie DE Aidan Hutchinson should boost the Lions defensively, he had 14 QB Sacks with the Michigan Wolverines and was a Heisman nominee. Detroit will be improved this year, but look for the Eagles to win 33-24.
New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins (-3)
These teams are evenly matched and split their meetings last season, one win each. Miami will be missing starting CB Byron Jones, look for Patriots HC Bill Belichick to exploit this. The oddsmakers lean towards a Dolphins win in this one, but New England’s Bill Belichick is 30-15-2 as an underdog, so I go with the Pat’s 27-22.
New Orleans Saints (-5.5) @ Atlanta Falcons
New Orleans QB Jameis Winston is expected to start in week 1, returning from a season ending ACL/MCL injury. Saints RB Alvin Kamara is still in his prime, will he crack 1,000 yards this year? The Falcons haven’t had a winning season since 2017-18, with the loss of QB Matt Ryan and WR Russell Gage, the streak will plausibly continue, I’ll go with the Saints 27-20.
Written by: Jack Cameron @TheBrysh
