| Week: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4 · 5 · 6 · 7 · 8 · 9 · 10 · 11 · 12 · 13 · 14 · 15 · 16 · 17 |
| Wednesday, Sep. 5, 2012 | ||
| Dallas Cowboys 24, NY Giants 17 | ||
 | 30 | The Giants are the defending Super Bowl champions, but you'd hardly know it by how quiet things have been around their team this summer. I actually think they are better than the team that won it all. Dallas has had some injury concerns heading into this one, with tight end Jason Witten and his lacerated spleen being the biggest. If he can't play, it's a big loss in the middle of the field for Tony Romo. Giants coach Tom Coughlin is 10-6 in openers in his career and has a way of getting his team ready to play out of the gate. The Cowboys have lost five of six to the Giants, and the Giants make it six of seven. The Giants open their defense with a high-scoring shootout victory. Result: NY Giants 17, Dallas Cowboys 24 |
 | 23 | |
| Sunday, Sep. 9, 2012 | ||
| Indianapolis Colts 21, Chicago Bears 41 | ||
 | 24 | Andrew Luck makes his debut here for the Colts in a tough spot. The Bears will get after him on defense. Can he handle a road start to his career? I think he can. He will make some impressive plays, though I worry about his offensive line holding up. The same could be said about Jay Cutler's line. But I see Brandon Marshall having a good day outside against the Colts. The Bears spoil Luck's debut. Result: Chicago Bears 41, Indianapolis Colts 21 |
 | 13 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles 17, Cleveland Browns 16 | ||
 | 27 | The Browns will start rookie Brandon Weeden against the Eagles. That's tough against a good defense. He doesn't have a lot of weapons, so he will be challenged to make plays. On the other side, Mike Vick was banged up in the preseason, but he is ready to go. The Eagles have too much speed outside for the Browns. Result: Philadelphia Eagles 17, Cleveland Browns 16 |
 | 10 | |
| St. Louis Rams 23, Detroit Lions 27 | ||
 | 34 | This is the first game for Jeff Fisher as coach of the Rams and he faces one of his former assistants in Lions coach Jim Schwartz. Both bring tough, physical teams that won't back down. The difference is that the Lions can throw it around a lot better. The Rams looked good in the preseason at times, but this is the real thing. Schwartz beats his former boss. Result: Detroit Lions 27, St. Louis Rams 23 |
 | 17 | |
| Miami Dolphins 10, Houston Texans 30 | ||
 | 33 | This will be Ryan Tannehill's first start. How does he handle it close to where he played his college football? That Texans defense can be complicated with a lot of looks. I imagine Wade Phillips will throw them all at the kid. On the other side, the Texans veteran offense should be able to do some things down the field against the Miami defense. Andre Johnson has a big game. Result: Houston Texans 30, Miami Dolphins 10 |
 | 14 | |
| Atlanta Falcons 40, Kansas City Chiefs 24 | ||
 | 27 | This is a tough opener for a good team in Atlanta. It's hard to play at Arrowhead. But the Falcons have a new-look offense that will be tough to stop. I like the Chiefs defense, but I look for Julio Jones to have a big day. Can Matt Cassel keep up with Matt Ryan? I say no. Result: Atlanta Falcons 40, Kansas City Chiefs 24 |
 | 21 | |
| Jacksonville Jaguars 23, Minnesota Vikings 26 | ||
 | 21 | This is a game matching two second-year quarterbacks who need to take the next step. It's a tough start for Blaine Gabbert inside the dome. Christian Ponder has that edge being at home. Both teams have running back issues. How much will Adrian Peterson play? How about Maurice Jones-Drew? It could come down to defense. Result: Jacksonville Jaguars 23, Minnesota Vikings 26 |
 | 17 | |
| Washington Redskins 40, New Orleans Saints 32 | ||
 | 30 | There are two great plots in this game. Robert Griffin III is making his first NFL start and the Saints are playing their first game without Coach Sean Payton. It will be interesting to see how the season plays out for the Saints without Payton's brilliance. I don't think it shows here. Drew Brees will start the season like he ended 2011 -- putting up big numbers. RGIII can't keep up. Result: New Orleans Saints 32, Washington Redskins 40 |
 | 14 | |
| Buffalo Bills 28, NY Jets 48 | ||
 | 17 | The Jets offense was horrible in the preseason and Mark Sanchez takes the field here with the Tim Tebow circus on the bench behind him. How can he succeed? Buffalo has made some improvements on defense, most notably adding end Mario Williams. But the key for them will be Ryan Fitzpatrick. Does he play like he did early last season or late when he struggled? I think the Jets will be ready here in a defensive battle, but it's tight. Result: NY Jets 48, Buffalo Bills 28 |
 | 16 | |
| New England Patriots 34, Tennessee Titans 13 | ||
 | 30 | The Titans will start Jake Locker, but at least he's at home. That will make it easier. The problem is he's facing a Bill Belichick defense. That can be tough on a young quarterback. Then there's the part of trying to keep up with Tom Brady. That can put pressure on a young passer, which I think it does here. New England gets a road victory. Result: New England Patriots 34, Tennessee Titans 13 |
 | 17 | |
| Seattle Seahawks 16, Arizona Cardinals 20 | ||
 | 20 | This is a game of great quarterback interest. The Seahawks will be starting rookie Russell Wilson. This is a tough spot for a rookie quarterback on the road in a division game. The Cardinals will counter with John Skelton, who beat out Kevin Kolb. The concern, though, is the guys in front of Skelton. Can they protect him? I say they do. Skelton has the better game than Wilson. Result: Arizona Cardinals 20, Seattle Seahawks 16 |
 | 17 | |
| San Francisco 49ers 30, Green Bay Packers 22 | ||
 | 28 | This is the game of the week, pitting that fierce San Francisco defense against the Packers explosive offense. This is the game many expected to see in the NFC Championship Game last year. I don't think it's the Packers offense vs. the 49ers defense that decides this. I think it's the 49ers offense against the Packers defense, which should be much improved. I don't see the 49ers keeping up with the Packers offense. Aaron Rodgers vs. Alex Smith? I know where I am going. Result: Green Bay Packers 22, San Francisco 49ers 30 |
 | 20 | |
| Carolina Panthers 10, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16 | ||
 | 31 | This is a game between two young teams trying to take a major step. Greg Schiano will be coaching his first game here for Tampa Bay. The key for the Bucs will be whether Josh Freeman makes strides going forward and whether their defense can slow down Cam Newton here. I don't think it can. Newton and the Panthers win a big road division game. Result: Carolina Panthers 10, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 16 |
 | 17 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers 19, Denver Broncos 31 | ||
 | 23 | The last time Pittsburgh was here was last January when a banged-up defense let Tim Tebow beat them in the playoffs. This time, it's a different style of quarterback and a much better one in Peyton Manning. This is Manning's first game since 2010, so it will be interesting to see how he functions. The Steelers will come at him a lot, as they always do. But if Tebow could beat them here, so can Manning. Result: Denver Broncos 31, Pittsburgh Steelers 19 |
 | 17 | |
| Monday, Sep. 10, 2012 | ||
| Cincinnati Bengals 13, Baltimore Ravens 44 | ||
 | 28 | The Bengals have a chance here to show right off the bat that 2011 wasn't a fluke. This is not an easy place to play, especially on a Monday night. The Ravens unveiled their no-huddle offense this summer and Joe Flacco looked good running it. I think that carries over here. The Bengals will have some matchup problems. Andy Dalton can't keep up. Result: Baltimore Ravens 44, Cincinnati Bengals 13 |
 | 24 | |
| San Diego Chargers 22, Oakland Raiders 14 | ||
 | 27 | These two long-time rivals opening on a Monday night in Oakland will be fun. The Chargers are trying to bounce back from a disappointing 2011 season, while Oakland collapsed late. The Raiders have a new coach in Dennis Allen, and so will the Chargers if they don't make the playoffs. I look for Carson Palmer to win a shootout with Philip Rivers here. Darren McFadden also comes up big. Result: Oakland Raiders 14, San Diego Chargers 22 |
 | 23 | |
| PRISCO'S WEEKLY WINNING PERCENTAGE | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | total |
| 62% | 81% | 43% | 66% | 71% | 42% | 76% | 71% | 57% | 71% | 71% | 68% | 68% | 62% | 56% | 68% | 62% | 64% |
