The Greatest Story On Turf Week 1 2024
The Greatest Story On Turf Week 1 2024. Every Story of every game, from the last place game to the game of the week.
16. Vikings vs. Giants
Holy Game
The Vikings and Giants are both teams that made exciting additions this offseason but have some big holes. The Giants are continuing their tradition of rolling with Daniel Jones and only one exciting and dynamic player on offense. Will a star wide receiver make a difference for Daniel Jones, or will it be more of the same? The Viking's young promising rookie is out for the season, but does that mean the season is over? Sam Darnold had some moments in Carolina that give you hope for him. Sam Darnold will be in the position he's ever been in this year. Will it make a difference? Which one of these QBs can make a comeback? Which one of these talented coaches can squeeze the most out of their team?
Prediction Vikings
15. Bengals vs. Patriots
In With Old Out With the New
The new era of the Patriots begins with their old QB, Jacoby Brissett. Nobody expects the Patriots to be good this year. However, Bill Belichick had a knack for always making sure they had a chance. He once took Aaron Rodgers to overtime with Bailey Zappe and beat the Bills with Mac Jones at Qb while running the ball 99% of the game. Can the New Patriots head coach keep the Patriots competitive or pull off the upset?
The Bengals are finally the Bengals again. Joe Burrow is healthy, and the team is looking to get back on their Super Bowl campaign. However, Chase is still not practicing. Will the Bengals finally pay their best weapon and get him on the field? Even if he does, will all that missed time affect the Bengals?
Prediction Bengals
14. Broncos vs. Seahawks
Who's Moving Forward
The two teams have been varying versions of Mid for a little while now. Could this be the year the Seahawks ascend back to real contenders? Russ is gone, Carroll is gone, and the defense should be improved. They will face a Broncos team that shouldn't be very good. Will the Seahawks beat them like a contender should?Or will Bo Nox make a name for himself at the Seahawk's expense? Sean Payton kicked Russ out of Denver along with a bunch of other talented players to remake the team in his image. Will this be just a tank year, or will the Broncos be competitive?
Prediction Seahawks
13. Saints vs. Panthers
Forget Last Season
The Saints and Panthers both made big additions to their teams last year. They both thought they were going to compete, only to end up being bottom-tier teams. However, it's a new year, and these teams are looking to rebrand. Bryce Young is in his second year. He has a better Offensive Coordinator and has looked good in the preseason. Will he take a leap? Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara are presumably healthier than last season and can finally show their full ability this season. Will one of these teams turn things around, or will it be more of the same?
Prediction Saints
12. Bucs vs. Commanders
Heisman Wars
Heisman winner Baker Mayfield won a playoff game in his very first season with the Bucs, but now he has had to change coordinators. Was last year a fluke, or can the Bucs build on that success? On the other side, we have rookie Heisman Winner Jaden Daniels. This is his debut game. Will he become a legend and lead his team to glory, or fall to former Heisman winner Baker Mayfield and the tough Bucs defense?
Prediction Bucs
11. Raiders vs. Chargers
New Coach, New ME
The Raiders and Chargers have both switched coaches and are trying to build a new culture. There are obvious holes in both teams. Raiders are trying to become a playoff contender again. The Chargers are rebuilding, and it probably shouldn't be good. However, Jim Harbaugh just won a national championship with the Michigan Wolverines, and his defense and run-game-first mentality favor a team that lacks weapons. Could the Chargers overachieve and get back to the playoffs and actually win? Both teams are about to find out how far away from their goals they actually are in week one.
Prediction Raiders
10. Steelers vs. Falcons
Do You Still Believe?
Kirk Cousins and Russ have both been thrown away by their former teams. They are out to win and prove that they still have plenty of choice. Kirk and Russ also both have young QBs breathing down their neck. Justin Fields is behind Russ and fits better with the Steeler's offense. However, as the Super Bowl champion and future hall of famer, Russ gets the start. Can he keep Justin off the field and be the steady, clutch QB that the Steelers need to take them over the top?
On the other side is Kirk, who has Penix breathing down his neck and a revamped roster and coaching staff depending on him to be the answer. Kirk gets the first go because he is a highly-paid vet, but can he carry the weight of the franchise and reach heights he never has in his career?
Prediction Steelers.
9. Jaguars vs. Dolphins
Overpaid?
This season, Trevor Lawrence and Tua got big paydays from their franchises, which led to questions about whether they are overpaid. Trevor Lawrence has been good but hasn't been the generational QB he was promised to be. Even in his greatest NFL moment, when he got his playoff win, the other QB choked, and Lawrence threw 4 interceptions. Tua has produced a highlight reel of offense, but whether because of injury or poor play when it mattered most, the Dolphins haven't won a playoff game. Which one of these quarterbacks will come out and make a statement and let everyone know that they are worth every penny?
Prediction Dolphins
8. Cardinals vs. Bills
Contenders and Pretenders
Joe Burrow said that the Bengals Super Bowl window is his whole career. Is the Bills Super Bowl window Josh Allen's whole career? It looks like Allen's window has closed for now. The team that was built to go all the way failed and fell apart, so Josh now has to do more with less. Can Josh Allen and the Bills still look as good without Diggs and key defensive players? This will be the biggest test of Josh Allen's career. Kyler Murray, on the other hand, is in the position people think Allen is in. Kyler's team is building back into their window, and they are on the upswing. The Cardinals should be a lot better. However, Kyler still has a lot to prove. He isn't even considered elite anymore. He needs to remind people who he is. The last time these two teams played, Kyler took the dub with a hail Mary. Will the Bills get their revenge?
Prediction Cardinals
7. Titans vs. Bears
Is He the Guy?
The Titans have ended the Derek Henry era and started fresh. They have made a lot of offensive additions and look to run a more modern offense. The question is, can Will Levis live up to his end of the bargain? If Will Levis is good, then the Titans will be a force this year, but if not, the team build is wasted. Similarly, the Bears went all in on rookie Caleb Williams. They gave him everything he could need to succeed on both sides of the ball. Now it's time to see if he is generational or overhyped. There is no more aura, just results.
Prediction Titans
6. Colts vs. Texans
Rival Showdown
The Colts nearly made the playoffs last year with an injured star running back and quarterback. Now they have their best offensive pieces back in addition to new weapons, and they can finally attack the season at full strength. On the other side, the Texans got a whiff of winning last year, and they decided to go all in on a Super Bowl right now. They are debatably the most stacked team in the NFL. However, things change year over year. This Colts team is not the Colts team of last year. Who has surpassed who?
Prediction Texans
5. Jets vs. 49ers
Old Friends Become New Enemies
The 49ers lost the Super Bowl again. Last year, they looked like the most dominant team in the NFL, but can they recapture that this year? It's hard to go to back-to-back Super Bowls. It's hard to fall all the way to the bottom and build yourself right back up. Plus, this year, the 49ers messed around with Aiyuk's contract. Will that come back to bite them in game one? On the other side, there is the Jets, who are looking for their last gasp. Saleh is on his last legs as a coach. It's not fair, given what he has had to deal with, but he can only lose for so long before he's fired. Rodgers is on his last legs as a QB, and the Jets have gone all in roster-wise to win a Super Bowl this year. In their first game, Kyle will duel his protege Robert Saleh, and Rodgers will be going through a trial by fire, facing one of the toughest defenses in the league and a team that has always seemed to have his number.
Prediction 49ers.
4. Rams vs. Lions
Grudge Match 3
The Rams and Lions have faced off twice before this. Initially, it was when Jared Goff first got to Detroit, and the Lions were deep in rebuild mode. Still, the Lions played that game like it was the Super Bowl, kicking onsides, going for it on fourth, and miraculously, they almost won. However, Stafford and the Rams pulled out the victory and proved they got the better end of the deal as they went on to win the Super Bowl. Then, in the rematch, the Lions sent the Rams packing in the playoffs, getting their first playoff win in decades on their way to the conference championship. It seems both teams have benefitted greatly from the Goff/Stafford trade. But now it's match three, and both teams should be in the most similar positions they have been for this entire series. Who will win now that things are even?
Prediction Lions
3. Eagles vs. Packers
Authentication Check Point
Both the Eagles and the Packers are under suspicion. The Eagles went to a Super Bowl and then collapsed the next year and got bounced in the first round. The Packers got hot late in the season last year and made it to the divisional game. This season, the truth will be revealed. Did the Packers make a mistake paying Jordan Love 50 million after just one good year, or was that a sign of things to come? Are the Eagles cooked without their coordinators, or are Jalen Hurts and the Eagles gonna prove they are still just as good as they seemed when they went to the Super Bowl?
Prediction Eagles
2. Browns vs. Cowboys
Prove it Or Lose It
The Cowboys lost in the most demoralizing way possible last year. It's one thing to be a position or coach away from success, but when you have everything you need to win, and you get utterly dominated at home by the 7th seed, what do you even say? There is no excuse for what happened and thus no obvious solution either. The Cowboys may be the most talented team to get blown up and start over again. However, if the Cowboys have another year like last year, then they should blow it up. Dak, McCarthy, and everyone else have to prove that their talent matters and can actually mean something in the playoffs. What's the point of having them there?
The Browns are in a similar position, but it's really just Deshaun Watson. The Browns have built an excellent team, but they need the Deshaun Watson of old. The elite Deshaun Watson that they thought they were signing. Even as a die-hard Watson fan, I got to admit it's now or never.
Prediction Browns.
Ravens vs. Chiefs
Psychological Warfare
Many people will try and pretend this isn’t a revenge game, and nothing matters til you get to the playoffs. That’s not true. You have to make it to the playoffs first. Also, if you think the Ravens don’t wanna knock the Chiefs off, you are crazy. It's just like when the 49ers wanted to knock off the Eagles after their conference loss. The Ravens were sent home by the Chiefs in a year they thought was supposed to be theirs. They have sat with that feeling all summer, and they have been game planning for The Chiefs longer than they will gameplay for any other team because the Chiefs are the first game.
If the Ravens lose to the Chiefs again after all that, the psychological edge that the Chiefs have over the Ravens will be immense. The Ravens need to beat the Chiefs. They need to see the Chiefs bleed and prove that they are mortals, too. If they see the Chiefs in the playoffs again, they need to know that they can beat them. The Chiefs, on the other hand, need to maintain their psychological edge and start stacking wins to get back to the top, and beating the Ravens in week one would be like going up to the biggest guy and yard and knocking him out. If the Chiefs beat the Ravens in game one, especially if they are dominant, every team in the NFL will be thinking the same thing. Here we go again.
Prediction Ravens