Coming off of two very exciting opening matchups for the 2024 NFL season, 4QWI is back to introduce a new blog series that will be posted weekly from Week 1 to Week 18 and beyond - good ol' Pick'ems!
Each week, 4QWI staff and guests will select three spicy NFL games and each predict the winners of those games. Scores will be recorded and displayed each week, and we shall see who the true prediction genie is at the end of the 2024 campaign. The panelists for this series will be 4QWI staff Noah (me), Brett, Kevin, Specht, Austin, Jay, and Noah's father, the one and only Big D. Before we begin properly, be sure to check out our Fantasy Football Week 1 Starts/Sits article from a few days ago to get your lineups right ahead of kickoff on Sunday, and check out the newest episode of the 4 Quarters of a Whole Idiot Podcast that just dropped wherever you get your podcasts.
With that, let's see Week 1's Pick'ems slate: 1) Pittsburgh Steelers @ Atlanta Falcons (Sunday, 9/8 @ 1:00 PM EST)
In a week of very enticing matchups, one that may fly slightly under the radar is this matchup between the Steelers and the Falcons at 1:00 PM. The major story here is the debut of two veteran NFL QBs in new spots: Russell Wilson with Pittsburgh and Kirk Cousins with Atlanta. The Falcons especially have retooled their team to make a playoff run, but with Kirk at the helm, questions surround his health. However, if he plays at the level of old the Falcons give him the tools to command a top 10 offense in the League. The Steelers for their part managed a 10-7 record last season, but with just 13 passing touchdowns as a team in 2023. Wilson has fallen from grace, but surely he will instantly be a better option than a Kenny Pickett or Mitch Trubisky. A huge statement game for these two makes for a fun one to keep your eyes on.
Predictions:
Noah (0-0): Steelers
Brett (0-0): Steelers
Kevin (0-0): Falcons
Specht (0-0): Falcons
Austin (0-0): Falcons
Jay (0-0): Falcons
Big D (0-0): Falcons
2) Dallas Cowboys @ Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 9/8 @ 4:25 PM EST)
The Dallas Cowboys visit Cleveland in Week 1 following a (gasp!) Wild Card exit last season. After leading the NFL in total points, and finishing 5th in points against last season, the Cowboys continue to be a dangerous regular season team. They square off against the Browns who boasted a historic defense last season, but questions remain within their offense with Nick Chubb indefinitely injured and Joe Flacco no longer able to be called upon to work CPOY magic. The question here lies with Deshaun Watson and to a lesser extent Jerome Ford and if they are for real and can keep up with the Cowboys offense. Watson especially sits in the hot seat in a real "prove it" season.
Predictions:
Noah (0-0): Cowboys
Brett (0-0): Browns
Kevin (0-0): Cowboys
Specht (0-0): Cowboys
Austin (0-0): Cowboys
Jay (0-0): Browns
Big D (0-0): Cowboys
3) New York Jets @ San Francisco 49ers (MNF, 9/8 @ 8:15 PM EST)
The first Monday Night Football game of the season is must-watch, to be sure, as the New York Jets take on the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams come in with championship aspirations. The 9ers, for their part, came just short yet again after losing Super Bowl LVIII to the Chiefs. They have their core intact from the previous season, including getting Brandon Aiyuk re-signed on a big money deal at the final hour. With possibly the best complete team in the League, the 9ers are an immediate favorite to make it back to the Super Bowl, and win the vast majority of their games along the way. The Jets come in with an offense of talented skill-position players but were harshly impacted by a QB room filled with scrubs following the injury Aaron Rodgers sustained in the opening moments of their 2023 campaign. Rodgers is healthy but turning 41 in a matter of months. The clock is ticking, and quickly, for the Jets to show that bringing in Rodgers was the right move. If Rodgers is able to play at the MVP level he was just two seasons ago, the Jets could be more dangerous than people think.
Predictions:
Noah (0-0): 49ers
Brett (0-0): 49ers
Kevin (0-0): 49ers
Specht (0-0): 49ers
Austin (0-0): 49ers
Jay (0-0): 49ers
Big D (0-0): Jets
What are your predictions for these games? Let us know in the comments below, or on X: http://x.com/4QWIHQ!
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