NFL Week 1 Preview: Brady and the Pats set their sights on another title

The new NFL season is upon us and with plenty to look forward to between now and Super Bowl LIV in February Jason Ryan selects his pick of the weekend's action.

Jason Ryan

More of the same from Brady and the Pats in 2019?

It has been just over 7 months since Tom Brady lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Atlanta, making him the winning most player in Super Bowl history with six victories to his name and now in his 20th season with the Patriots the star doesn’t look to be going anywhere soon having recently signed a new two-year contract extension.

The Patriots, already 7.50* favourites to win Super Bowl LIV, head to long-time rivals The Pittsburgh Steelers in game week 1 and lining up against Brady will be legendary Steeler’s Quarter-back Ben Roethlisberger who himself will have a new look offense to work with.

The off season saw Antoni Brown leave The Steelers for the Oakland Raiders and now without the focal point of their offense for the last few seasons his departure will pile the pressure on the shoulders of the relatively inexperienced JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The defending champions will certainly have a new look to them this season without one of Brady’s biggest offensive assets Rob Gronkowski now retired which might just see the patriots run the ball much more this season, thus reducing the workload on an ageing Brady.

The Patriots have a great record at home against the Steelers and with the loss of a couple of big players from the Steelers’ roster it’s hard to see anything other than convincing win for the Patriots who will no doubt be in the mix for another Super Bowl challenge once again this season.

NEW ENGLAND v PITTSBURGH: PATRIOTS TO WIN BY  7-12 points at 4.75*

Bill Belichick

Cowboys must keep their eye on the ball against Giants

It seems like we can’t go an off-season without a running back not turning up for work and another contract squabble might just go some way to derailing the Cowboy’s charge on the eve of the new season.

Last year we saw Le ‘Veon Bell sit out an entire season following a contract dispute with the Pittsburgh Steelers while this summer has been dominated by the news that star running back Ezekiel Elliot did not reported for pre-season.

While multiple news outlets suggested his departure might be imminent a new record-breaking deal was, in fact, agreed just in time for this weekend’s opening game, however the whole ordeal has not been great preparation and could well have a knock-on effect for him and his Dallas teammates at the weekend.

The Cowboy’s host the New York Giants on Sunday who come armed with their own superstar running back, Saquon Barkley, who was second only to Ezekiel Elliot last season in total rushing yards.

So if the Cowboys do show any effects of the ongoing contract dispute with Elliot it could play right into the hands of Barkley and the Giants who will be keen to improve on a disappointing season in 2018.

DALLAS v NEW YORK: DALLAS TO WIN BY 1-6 POINTS at 4.10*

Dallas Cowboys

Chiefs’ offensive threat could blow the Jags out of the water 

Last season saw the emergence of one of the hottest prospects in NFL history in Patrick Mahomes as the 2018 NFL MVP threw 50 touchdowns, the most of any quarter back since Peyton Manning in 2013.

The Kansas City Chiefs posses the most explosive offense in the entire NFL with speedster wide receiver Tyreek Hill and the hugely talented tight end, Travis Kelce at their disposal who showed just what they where capable of as they made it to the Championship playoffs last season.

But while the Chiefs clearly pose a major threat on the attacking side of the ball, their defencive weaknesses certainly provide opposing teams with some hope, so for that reason we can probably look forward to some pretty high scoring Chiefs games this year as we did last – starting with this clash against Jacksonville.

KANSAS CITY v JACKSONVILLE: CHIEFS -7 AT 2.35*

Kansas City Chiefs

ACCA of the week

Green Bay Packers to beat Chicago Bears (2.45*)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers to beat San Fransisco 49ers (1.95*)
Kansas City Chiefs to beat Jacksonville Jaguars (1.52*)

(Treble pays approximately 6.40*) 

 

*Odds subject to change

 

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