Admin September 6, 2024
RGIII shares his NFC East predictions ahead of the 2024 NFL season
Robert Griffin III shares his NFC East predictions and expectations.
Sports Seriously
The 2024 NFL season begins this week with plenty of questions across the league. Six teams have new coaches than at the end of 2023; seven more have new offensive coordinators. Three rookie quarterbacks are starting in Week 1.
The first week of the season may see some surprises. A few teams could have a strong showing to start the new season off with a win — or by beating the spread. Here are four games that could go against the spread this week with lines from BetMGM’s latest NFL odds.
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NFL Week 1 picks against the spread
Green Bay Packers (+2) vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Green Bay Packers‘ offense ended last season on a high, as one of the top units in the league despite fielding the youngest skill position group in the NFL. On defense, Green Bay brought on new coordinator Jeff Hafley in the offseason and signed top free agent safety Xavier McKinney.
Philadelphia ended last season with a 32-9 loss to Tampa Bay in the NFC wild card round. They brought in new coordinators on offense (Kellen Moore) and defense (Vic Fangio) for the 2024 season. They’re one of the more talented teams in the league but it may take time for the offense to get up to speed under Moore.
On a neutral site in the NFL’s first Brazil game, there’s no home field advantage to help Philadelphia. If the Packers pick up where they left off last season and see some improvement on defense early, they should be the favorite.
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Arizona Cardinals (+6.5) vs. Buffalo Bills
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is healthy to start the season for the first time since 2022 and has a Pro Bowl-caliber wide receiver for the first time since 2020. Arizona’s offense should improve on last season with Marvin Harrison Jr. in the building and an ascending talent at tight end in Trey McBride.
Even with new faces in the wide receiver room, Buffalo should put up plenty of points. But the Bills begin the season without linebacker Matt Milano and could give up plenty as well. This could turn into a shootout and even if Arizona doesn’t win, they may keep up enough to beat the spread.
Tennessee Titans (+4) vs. Chicago Bears
The Titans had one of the busier offseasons in the league. They brought in a new coach in Brian Callahan, drafted left tackle JC Latham, and signed wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd as well as running back Tony Pollard. The offense alone should be in much better place than last season. Their defense finished 2023 ranked 16th in points allowed and shouldn’t see a huge drop-off.
Chicago has one of the top rookie quarterback prospects in years in Caleb Williams. The Bears have the talent to be a good offense in his first season but may not be near their peak on Sunday. That leaves room for the Titans to impress in Week 1. A field goal could make the difference in this one.
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Los Angeles Rams (+3.5) vs. Detroit Lions
These two teams met in a thrilling NFC divisional playoff game last season that ended with the Lions winning 24-23. This year’s “Sunday Night Football” opener could see a repeat in Detroit.
Los Angeles bolstered the offensive line in the offseason and have the talent on that side of the ball to put up a lot of points. So do the Lions, who return most of the starters from last year’s No 5-ranked scoring offense. Both teams invested in their defenses ahead of the season. The Rams picked defensive linemen in the first two rounds of the draft and the Lions drafted cornerback Terrion Arnold in the first round in addition to trading for cornerback Carlton Davis.
These moves and returning infrastructure have both teams in good position to start the season. It should be another close affair and this spread seems big for two NFC playoff contenders.