Week 1- Previewing Sunday's 1:00 PM Games

The first football Sunday of the year is finally here! Fans everywhere have been waiting all offseason, and now the action is back. Let's dive into this week's matchups and see what's in store.

Buccaneers at Falcons (Mercedes-Benz Stadium)

The Falcons want to start fast behind Michael Penix Jr. and Bijan Robinson. They will try to run the ball early and open up the passing game with Drake London and Kyle Pitts. The Buccaneers will fight back with Baker Mayfield throwing deep to Mike Evans and looking for rookie Emeka Egbuka to make plays. Tampa Bay’s goal is to push the ball downfield, while Atlanta will try to control the game with balance. Both teams will be battling to set the tone in the NFC South.

Bengals at Browns (Cleveland Browns Stadium)

The Bengals plan to air it out with Joe Burrow throwing to Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Cleveland wants to slow the game down with their defense and new running back Quinshon Judkins. The Browns will try to keep Burrow off the field by controlling the clock, but Cincinnati will keep attacking through the air. This rivalry game will be about whether the Browns can stop the Bengals’ passing attack or not.

Dolphins at Colts (Lucas Oil Stadium)

The Dolphins want to use speed to stretch the Colts defense with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Tua Tagovailoa will look to push the ball quickly before Indy’s pass rush gets home. The Colts, starting Daniel Jones, want to lean on Jonathan Taylor to pound the ball and keep Miami’s offense on the sideline. It’s a battle of pace: Miami wants a track meet, while Indianapolis will try to slow things down.

Raiders at Patriots (Gillette Stadium)

The Raiders want to control the line of scrimmage with rookie Ashton Jeanty running behind Geno Smith’s steady play. Brock Bowers will be a big target to keep drives alive. The Patriots will look to hit back with rookie TreVeyon Henderson and veteran Stefon Diggs giving Drake Maye options. New England wants to spread the field and attack, while Las Vegas hopes to wear them down with long drives.

Cardinals at Saints (Caesars Superdome)

Kyler Murray and the Cardinals want to push the tempo and get Marvin Harrison Jr. involved early. Trey McBride will be a big red-zone target. The Saints, with Spencer Rattler at quarterback, will rely on Alvin Kamara to keep the offense moving. New Orleans will try to slow the game and keep their young quarterback comfortable, while Arizona will look for big plays through the air to break it open.

Steelers at Jets (MetLife Stadium)

The Steelers bring in Aaron Rodgers, who will try to connect with DK Metcalf and test the Jets’ secondary. Pittsburgh also hopes rookie Kaleb Johnson can give balance on the ground. The Jets will counter with a heavy rushing attack, led by Breece Hall and Justin Fields’ running ability. It’s strength vs. strength, with Pittsburgh’s veteran passing attack going up against New York’s ground-and-pound style.

Giants at Commanders (FedExField)

The Giants want Russell Wilson to use his experience to find Malik Nabers downfield. Tyrone Tracy Jr. will get chances to keep Washington’s defense honest. The Commanders, behind Jayden Daniels, will try to use his dual-threat ability to make the Giants defense chase him all game. Washington wants to turn it into a high-energy matchup with Daniels running and throwing, while New York will try to control it with smart plays and timely passes.

Panthers at Jaguars (EverBank Stadium)

The Panthers will lean on Bryce Young to stay calm and hit rookie Tetairoa McMillan against Jacksonville’s corners. Chuba Hubbard will be asked to keep the chains moving. The Jaguars, with Trevor Lawrence, want to hit big plays with rookie Travis Hunter and Brian Thomas Jr. Jacksonville will try to stretch the field and test Carolina’s secondary, while the Panthers want to grind it out and keep the game within reach.

Week 1 sets the stage for the entire season, and these games will show which teams are ready to contend and which still have work to do. With stars returning, young quarterbacks stepping up, and awesome rivalries, every matchup will be exciting!

-Insights from The Deep Dive Fantasy Football Podcast