John Warner previews this week’s NFL MNF matchup and gives out his favorite bets!
Week 1 is almost in the books and as is tradition on Week 1, we get the MNF Doubleheader! If only either of these games featured two decent teams… But, we have football nonetheless so who cares! Steelers will have Big Ben back for his first game in almost a year, Saquon is back in Year 3 from a somewhat disappointing sophomore campaign, and Daniel Jones is leading the Giants offense without a Manning looking over his shoulder for the first time.
Joe Judge will make his head coaching debut, yet another Patriots retread, as other franchises desperately try to replicate what Belichick has accomplished. Making matters even better, the one and only Jason “Clapper” Garrett is the Giants OC. GM Dave Gettleman must have dreams of being even more mediocre than they already are with plans like these. Because on top of hiring a special teams coach as his head coach, his rivals castaway HC as his OC, Gettleman and Judge saw the work Freddie Kitchens did in Cleveland last year and said “ya know what? We just gotta get that guy in here!” So, he’s on the staff too, why not? I don’t have a lot of confidence in this new regime, is essentially what I’m saying.
The Steelers will be looking for a bounce back after a nightmare season in regard to injuries last year. Mike Tomlin did some of his best work, despite only finishing 7-9. The Minkah Fitzpatrick trade, which was largely ridiculed at the time, ended up working in their favor as he put together a DPOY performance after the trade. Despite all sorts of weirdness last season, ranging from Mason Rudolph getting bashed on the head with a helmet, to starting a QB named “Duck”, the Steelers were in the playoff hunt until the last couple weeks of the season. With Big Ben back, Tomlin will be looking to see if he has one last run in the tank. I’m expecting the Steelers receivers to have a big night tonight with an actual NFL starter throwing them the ball for the first time in a year.
Out on the western front we have the upstart Titans taking on the rebuilding Broncos. Denver may have something in 2nd year QB Drew Lock, who put together a nice string of games for a rookie to end the year last season. Denver also traded for Jacksonville CB A.J. Bouye, and signed RB Melvin Gordon from the Chargers as well, in an effort to revamp both sides of the ball, However, the Broncos were hit with devastating news less than a week ago when living legend and future HOFer Von Miller suffered an injury in practice and is now out for the year, just six months after the Broncos picked up his option for this season. Things can only get better from here right? You thought, now you have to face King Henry and the Titans on opening night.
The Titans seem to be running things back from last year and why not? Tennessee shocked the football world in back to back weeks last season, knocking out both the Patriots and the Ravens on the road, and had a chance to take out seeds 1-3 in the postseason en route to the Super Bowl. Alas, they were upended but the eventual champs, but their run was impressive, nonetheless. The Titans are expected to be neck and neck with the Texans all year, and to be in a tough battle for the AFC South crown. Tennessee ramped up their defensive line this offseason, signing Jadeveon Clowney to a one-year deal. They also locked in Ryan Tannehill, who was magnificent for them down the stretch last year, and re-signed Derrick Henry to a multi-year deal as well. Mike Vrabel is hoping that this will be the year his dick will be chopped off, assuming he keeps his word if they win the Super Bowl.
Monday Night Football Bets
Roethlisberger to throw a pick -110 .5x
Daniel Jones over 15.5 rushing yards -105 .5x
Titans -3 -110
Season Total: 1-1-1, +0.5x
