The new NFL season is finally here, and SPOX presents a new format to go with it: the weekly picks and predictions for the upcoming games of the matchday! SPOX editor Adrian Franke will look into the glass sphere every week and present his tips. All games on Sunday will be available as usual at the RedZone conference on DAZN.
Very exciting game right at the beginning. What could be the deciding factor here? The still existing tackle problem of the Bengals against the Ravens Rush as well as the strong run defense against Joe Mixon. The fact that Baltimore’s offense against a actually good Bills-Defense was unrecognisable in comparison to the pre-season makes the pendulum deflect a game towards Raven.
Tip: 13:17.
Week 1 couldn’t have been much more bitter for Atlanta: The same Red Zone problems as last year, and in Keanu Neal and Deion Jones two of the probably four most important players of this defense lost due to injury in the long run. This will be noticeable against the Panthers, but Atlantas Offense is still good enough to decide this game in the end. Now she’s got to show it.
Tip: 23:21.
Impressive presentation of the Redskins-Line, especially in the Run Game. This should also be the base against Indianapolis, while Ryan Kerrigan should already be scraping his hooves to attack the Colts tackles. From Washington’s point of view, it could be a similar game to Arizona, with the difference that Luck is holding the game tighter on the other side.
Tip: 24:16.
Along with Atlanta, Tennessee had posted the bitterest Week 1 Mariota, Taylor Lewan with a concussion, season off for Delanie Walker. It is quite possible that these are the three most important pillars in the Titans-Offense. It will be a problem against Houston’s front, and even though Watson will again be under (far too much) pressure: the Texans should currently be the stronger team.
Fitzmagic in Week 1 – what do we see in Week 2? My tip: A Bucs-Offense, which is put in its place on the line, which makes it significantly more difficult to set up a downfield-passing game. Instead, there are a few Fitzpatrick picks and an Eagles Offense, which Tampas schematically can attack not very complex defense with some targeted concepts in passing.
Tip: 17:20.
Great performance of the Chiefs-Offense against the Chargers – but the defense should still worry fans in Kansas City. This will be revealed against the Steelers again this week, and Andy Reid still has to show that he gets along better with the Steelers’ zone cover concepts.
Tip: 30:27.
Sam Darnold Hype, everybody! Very good rookie debut, although the start couldn’t have been worse. The good news: After Detroit, another team is now waiting with Miami, which is not exactly tearing down trees in the pass rush. The open interpreters, on the other hand, worked well against Tennessee overall, can the jets with more aggressiveness push the turnover again? Tip: The Darnold hype explodes after Week 2.
Tip: 20:17.
Now Josh Allen starts with the Bills, and that makes Buffalo’s offense a possible wildcard – once Allen gets used to the pace in the NFL. The Chargers still have to do without Joey Bosa, but the (far too few) Blitz packages in Week 1 were successful. Against this offensive line L.A. should have no problems, and Buffalo’s defense was already overwhelmed against Baltimore. Here comes Philip Rivers, Keenan Allen and Co.
Tip: 10:23.
THE top game of the week! Aaron Rodgers’ injury could turn out to be a disguised stroke of luck for the Packers if they now play more within the structure of their offense. But: With Minnesota a different caliber than the Bears-Defense is waiting, and by the way the Vikings-Offense looked pretty good. How does the new Packers Defense with the enormously improved secondary, which dominated against Chicago in the second half, stand up? Either way, it’s gonna be a firecracker!
Tip: 23:24.
The Saints-Defense is certainly not as bad as it seemed in Week 1 and New Orleans’ offense should also score against an improved Browns-Defense – whose Week 1 stats also had some Steelers assistance. Tyrod Taylor and Cleveland’s passing game against Pittsburgh were a cause for concern, not only because of the late interception when Taylor suddenly wanted the aggressive pass.
Tip: 30:17.
Minnesota’s lightning and the pass rush in general caused Jimmy Garoppolo some problems at the start – similar difficulties are not to be expected against Detroit. The 49ers should at least be able to keep up with Detroit’s O-Line in the defensive line of scrimmage, San Francisco’s offense has all the means to cause the Lions defense huge problems. Possible limitation: Marquise Goodwin’s commitment remains questionable.
Tip: 27:17.
Cruel start from the Cardinals. The pass rush was the exception and produced a very decent pressure quota, despite Washington’s short pass game. Otherwise? The run defense was a debacle, the offense virtually non-existent – including Sam Bradford, who delivered a desolate game. The rams will presumably not have to show too much offensively, the defense should dominate this game for L.A..
Tip: 30:13.
From the point of view of the Jags, the start went exactly as expected: The defense dominates (and scores), the offense is just enough. This will work against some teams – but against the Pats? New England’s short pass game will be able to tame the Jags’ pass rush at least a little, but above all, the Patriots front should make life difficult for Bortles and Fournette (if he’s playing at all).
Tip: 17:23.
If you ignore the mack trade and some of Jon Gruden’s statements outside the square – then he wasn’t the problem against the rams! It was Derek Carr with a desolate appearance, and the task is not necessarily made much easier with Denvers Defense. Von Miller and Co. Oaklands Tackles should be able to cause big problems. The Broncos-Offense is still a hit-and-miss, but more competent and equipped with more firepower than last year.
Tip: 27:16.
Yeah, it’s only Week 2, but the game still feels more important to both teams. The Cowboys have the exact problems in (outside) passing that one had to fear and Travis Frederick’s retirement is expected to be serious, while the Giants’ right side of the line will be a constant topic. This is where Dallas should start with Lawrence, but the drastic advantage of the skill players in favour of the Giants makes the difference.
Tip: 13:20.
Fulminant first half against Green Bay – and then the Bears Offense collapsed. This could be a hint for scripted plays, the Bears have to hope that Matt Nagy can make adjustments quickly and that Mitch Trubisky also increases. Conversely, Seattle’s pass rush against Denver was remarkably toothless and the offensive line will have big problems with Mack and Hicks. Russell Wilson put five of twelve 72-yard passes on Denver versus Pressure and threw a pick. All three touchdowns came without pressure.
Tip: 11:20.