NFL WEEK 1 PICKS: Running with the ‘Dogs in 8-of-15 games

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FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

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GREEN BAY PACKERS (9-8) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (11-6) in Brazil

LINE: Philadelphia by 2.5

CHEWABLE: Even with Jason Kelce retired, Eagles offensive line is ranked second best in the NFL, which means Saquon Barkley, who joins Philly from a Giants team with the 28th-best offensive line, should contend for the rushing title. Expect his debut in green and white to be a smashing success against a Packers run defence that was 28th best last season … Led by Jordan Love and a group of exciting young receivers, Packers won six of their last eight in ’23 but they’ll start ’24 with a loss in the Battle of Brazil against a shored up Eagles secondary.

TAKING: PHILADELPHIA -2.5

SCORE (O/U 49): Eagles 27, Packers 24

BEST BETS

ARIZONA CARDINALS (4-13) at BUFFALO BILLS (11-6)

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LINE: Buffalo by 6.5

CHEWABLE: Cards finished 3-5 after Kyler Murray returned from a torn ACL last season, with a five-point loss in Houston and a one-point loss to Seattle as well as victories in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. With the addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. as a dangerous target alongside Trey McBride, plus James Conner pounding it behind a strong O-line, the visitors just might have a better offence than the Bills, who boast a new-look receiving corps. Buffalo will again miss hard-luck LB Matt Milano and have question marks in the secondary, but Bills Mafia will provide a push in a late win.

TAKING: ARIZONA +6.5

SCORE (O/U 48): Bills 27, Cardinals 24

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4-13) at CINCINNATI BENGALS (9-8)

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LINE: Cincinnati by 8

CHEWABLE: Patriots offence has a porous line and journeyman quarterback (Jacoby Brissett) who has dressed for 79 NFL games and started 48. Their once-strong defence will miss Bill Belichick and Matthew Judon. Bengals have started slow in the past, but not this time, with Ja’Marr Chase apparently ending his “hold-in” for an extension and Joe Burrow healthy and anxious to get back on track as an elite QB. Best survivor pick of the week.

TAKING: CINCINNATI -8

SCORE (O/U 40.5): Bengals 30, Patriots 10

DENVER BRONCOS (8-9) at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (9-8)

LINE: Seattle by 6

CHEWABLE: Broncos QB Bo Nix had an excellent pre-season, which means absolutely nothing. In his debut, he will have to deal with a beefed-up Seattle secondary, multiple defensive looks thrown at him by new Seattle head coach Mike Macdonald and the revved-up crowd at Lumen Field, which is probably the noisiest stadium in the league. Geno Smith will shine.

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TAKING: SEATTLE -6

SCORE (O/U 42): Seahawks 31, Broncos 12

SUNDAY’S GAMES

TENNESSEE TITANS (6-11) at CHICAGO BEARS (7-10)

LINE: Chicago by 4

CHEWABLE: The Hard Knocks-hyped Bears had the league’s best off-season, surrounding No. 1 pick Caleb Williams with fellow first-rounder Rome Odunze and free agents Keenan Allen and D’Andre Swift., With an under-rated defence, Chicago will return to the playoffs despite living in the NFL’s best division. But the Titans, who also have a decent D, boosted their offence as well, with attack-minded head coach Brian Callahan, veteran pass catcher Calvin Ridley and a healthy Tony Pollard, plus second-year QB Will Levis is flying under the radar. Like the home team on a Cairo Santos walk-off.

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TAKING: TENNESSEE +4

SCORE (O/U 44.5): Chicago 20, Tennessee 17

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HOUSTON TEXANS (10-7) at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9-8)

LINE: Houston by 3

CHEWABLE: Colts haven’t started 1-0 since Andrew Luck scored the winning touchdown on a 19-yard run with just over five minutes left to play in a 21-17 final against the OAKLAND Raiders on Sept. 8, 2013. Appealing showdown between the second-overall pick (C.J. Stroud) and the fourth overall pick (Anthony Richardson) of the 2023 draft, but the latter suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 5 while the former was the NFL’s offensive rookie of year who, in two games against Indy, shredded the secondary for 648 yards and four TD passes. Like the home dog to cover in a divisional matchup.

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TAKING: INDIANAPOLIS +3

SCORE (48.5): Texans 24, Colts 23

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (10-7) at ATLANTA FALCONS (7-10)

LINE: Atlanta by 3

CHEWABLE: Tough call, with 36-year old Kirk Cousins coming off an Achilles injury and 35-year-old Russell Wilson making one of his last starts before he’s inevitably replaced by Justin Fields. Falcons have made significant additions on defence and should be able to handle a Pittsburgh attack co-ordinated by former Falcons head coach Arthur Smith. By neutralizing George Pickens, Falcons will put a nick in Mike Tomlin’s 57-31-3 (64.3%) ATS record as an underdog.

TAKING: ATLANTA -3

SCORE (O/U 42): Falcons 23, Steelers 14

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CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-15) at NEW ORLEAN SAINTS (9-8)

LINE: New Orleans by 4

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CHEWABLE: Popular belief is that new Panthers head coach Dave Canales will do for Bryce Young what he has done for Geno Smith and Baker Mayfield the past two years and that the run game, with Canadian Chuba Hubbard carrying the mail, will be bolstered greatly by the signings of guards Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis. Carolina’s defence also may be better than New Orleans’ aging offence, which is led by Derek Carr, who is 9-19 ATS as a favourite of more than three.

TAKING: CAROLINA +4

SCORE (O/U 41.5): Saints 14, Panthers 13

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (9-8) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (11-6)

LINE: Miami by 3.5

CHEWABLE: Dolphins will be without one edge rusher, Bradley Chubb, and could be missing a second as Jaelan Phillips works his way back from an Achilles injury. Corner Jalen Ramsey also missed practice Wednesday for undisclosed reasons. Miami’s fast offence will overcome the loss of its two best run-blocking linemen — Hunt and Connor Williams — but Jacksonville’s weak pass defence will be exposed in a shootout. Jags will keep it close with the Fish anticipating Thursday’s visit by the Bills.

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TAKING: JACKSONVILLE +3.5

SCORE (O/U 49): Dolphins 37, Jaguars 34

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (7-10) AT NEW YORK GIANTS (6-11)

LINE: Minnesota by 1.5

CHEWABLE: Former Panthers edge rusher Brian Burns has 20.5 sacks over the past two seasons and he’ll force Sam Darnold to make a couple of turnovers, but unless Malik Nabers has an historic debut, I don’t see how Giants score enough to win.

TAKING: MINNESOTA -1.5

SCORE (O/U 41): Vikings 17, Giants 10

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (8-9) at LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (5-12)

LINE: Los Angeles by 3.5

CHEWABLE: It’s a good bet that Davante Adams is still seething over the Chargers social media account depicting his team as “garbage” during its schedule release. Combined with the scrappy Gardner Minshew and inspired by head coach Antonio Pierce, Adams and company will battle Jim Harbaugh, Justin Herbert and the former Baltimore backfield down to the wire.

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TAKING: LAS VEGAS +3.5

SCORE (O/U 40.5): Chargers 24, Raiders 21

DALLAS COWBOYS (12-5) at CLEVELAND BROWNS (11-6)

LINE: Cleveland by 2.5

CHEWABLE: Cowboys face a difficult task in a Browns defence that allowed the fewest number of yards last season and Cleveland is always a tough place to play. But Cowboys D was also Top 4 and, until Deshaun Watson shows he can rediscover his 2020 form, its unwise to back him against a worthy opponent. Especially without Nick Chubb.

TAKING: DALLAS +2.5

SCORE (O/U 41): Cowboys 20, Browns 17

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (4-13) at TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (9-8)

LINE: Tampa Bay by 3.5

CHEWABLE: Jayden Daniels may very well have success at running and passing the ball in his NFL debut, even against a Todd Bowles defence. But can he play cornerback too? Baker Mayfield, Chris Godwin and Mike Evans will lead Bucs to victory.

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TAKING: TAMPA -3.5

SCORE (O/U 43): Buccaneers 27, Commanders 20

LOS ANGELES RAMS (10-7) at DETROIT LIONS (12-5)

LINE: Detroit by 3.5

CHEWABLE: Lions are a legitimate Super Bowl contender and the Rams will miss Aaron Donald as they try to penetrate Detroit’s stout offensive line. But after being eliminated from last year’s playoffs by a 24-23 score at Ford Field, Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford exact some revenge with an upset not unlike the one Detroit pulled against K.C. in last season’s opener.

TAKING: LOS ANGELES +3.5

SCORE (O/U 51): Rams 30, Lions 27

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MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

NEW YORK JETS (7-10) at SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (12-5)

LINE: San Francisco by 4

CHEWABLE: All the training camp distractions are behind the Niners as they gear up for another run at the Lombardi Trophy. Having Trent Williams back at left tackle is huge, especially given that Christian McCaffrey averages almost two full yards more per carry with the big man blocking for him than without. Aaron Rodgers has a 6-3 regular-season record against his childhood favourite team, but he’s also 0-4 versus the Niners in the playoffs. This will have a big game feel to it, especially to Jets fans.

TAKING: SAN FRANCISCO -4

SCORE (O/U 43.5): Niners 24, Jets 17

PICKS RECORDS

DON BRENNAN

2023 SEASON: 132-132-8

2023 BEST BETS: 30-24-3

DAN BILICKI

2023 SEASON: 134–130-8

2023 BEST BETS: 8-9-1

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