The biggest look-ahead spot in 2015 ? The Chicago Bears became an interesting option in week one

Hey scal, good to see you checking in. Not only are those two teams bottom-feeders, but also the combined amount of started games of their QBs ranges from 0 to 6, depending on whether Mariota will start or not. I don't know if I can put money on this game. But I want to give my opinion.

Both the Bucs and Titans went 2-14 last season, they were terrible on offense and their defenses looked equally bad. But there is one difference: while the Titans' defense had a very soft schedule, the Bucs had a very tough one. Down the stretch in 2014, they played very solid. They somehow held the Packers (Yes, I know Rodgers was injured) and the Saints to 20 & 23 points.

The Buccaneers will look much better on offense, because of Jameis Winston and Dirk Koetter. I am a fan of Winston since his first start at FSU. He has a great arm, good pocket movement, good accuracy and he can adjust. And he is clutch. I think he will be a good NFL QB. Pairing him with Dirk Koetter and one of the better receiving tandems in Vincent Jackson & Mike Evans is a very good base. They drafted two solid o-line prospects in Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith who will be immediate starters and can be an upgrade over that massacre from last season. The situation is a little bit equal to Atlanta from 2012-2014: below-average o-line, average running game, two premium receivers and a QB who is able to make the throws you want him to do. I'm not saying Jameis Winston is already Matt Ryan, but Matt Ryan never suffered a lot of sacks and that Atlanta offense was always top-ten material under Koetter. The new-look o-line and Winston's pocket movement should be enough to negate an below-average pass rush by the Titans.

I really think Jameis will light up the Titans-secondary and throw some bombs to Evans and Jackson. The Tampa Bay defense is atleast good enough on their front seven to make some stops to make their offensive drives valuable. Their pass-rush can be very solid and I might hink the Titans o-line isn't developed enough to keep a clean pocket in week 1. I believe to beat the Bucs, the Titans need to go deep to exploit the weakness Chris Conte has shown in 2014, but do you really want Mettenberger or Mariota go deep in desperate need of scoring points? I don't think so.

At the end, this game could be a toss-up if two rookie QBs get their start, but I think the Bucs have a little bit more to give and I wouldn't be surprised if Jameis Winston has a very good first game. It would be nice, so I could get more value on the Saints in week 2 in a game in which the Bucs probably will get picked apart.

Regarding the upcoming season in general, I believe the Titans will have a very tough year, because of their schedule. Colts, Bills, Dolphins, Falcons, Texans, Saints & Panthers is one of the worst stretches a team could have. They close the season with a four-game stretch against the Jets, Pats, Texans & Colts. I can hardly see the Titans winning five games this season. The games against the Jaguars will decide whether the Titans have a shot at the #1 pick or not. Marcus Mariota will need to translate his game to the pro-level and those defensive fronts he will be facing are not any help for it.

The Bucs on the other side will definitely be better than 2-14, but how much better? I think they won't get blown out many times and we will see a lot closer games than in 2014, because of the quality Jameis Winston adds to this offense. If they can get a solid protection from the offensive line, I see the Bucs competing in a lot of games and their schedule is not the worst. I can see them winning anywhere between 4 and 7 games.

Yeah they have a very fair road schedule, you are right. We won't be on the same denominator about the focusing by the Packers through four quarters. They can be fired up and tell every interviewer they want to win, but I just can't believe their minds, or atleast the minds of some players, are not at the Seahawks game during the next two months.

Wow, thanks for the breakdown Suuma!

Excellent write-up!

I would put the odds at Mariota starting at +350 or better.

He has a clause in his contract about guaranteed money that Titans management has come out publicly and said they are unwilling to budge on.

This could be an extended holdout, or at least enough to give Mettenberger the start.

I would definitely take the Bucs after your write-up if Mariota starts, but even if Mettenberger starts, I think you provided me with enough to take the Bucs in that situation too.

True, good discussion

Just saw ur PM sum, send you a reply.

For me, it's Packers or no bet.

Can't wait for NFL season to start.... Good write up as always

Yeah that's true, but Rodgers would outplay Kyle Orton and outplays Matthew Stafford most of the time as well. But sometimes it just doesn't happen.

Good to see you, vankiep! It's way too long until September

Usually I would agree, and any other week of the season I would be looking to fade GB with Seattle on deck, but not opening day. I can't imagine in a million years any professional NFL team comes into the season not prepared for their week 1 opponent and looking ahead to the following week.

Not saying I even like the Pack....IMO though, I don't think GB is gonna get caught with their pants down on opening day looking ahead to Seattle.

IF i had to chose, GB would be the play, just better team with the core of their coaching staff intact, although they have a new play caller, but not sure if that will change much of what they been doing. Chi have some major changes everywhere, Coaching staff, losing Marshall, and some key players on their D, which also might affect their locker room presences. This game to me just fell into the wrong week for the Bears to pull the upset, if this was week 5 or later, I love them home team home dogs, but in week #1, I think the Packers put the smash down, but as of now, I am laying away from this matchup because of the points you have brought up about this matchup.

Hey glyde, how are you doing?

If you can't imagine, please answer the following questions:

How did the Kansas City Chiefs lose their 2014 opener 10-26 AT HOME against the Tennessee Titans?
How did Alex Smith throw HALF of his 6 interceptions in 2014 against the Titans?
How did one of the best passing defenses allow 6.6 net-YPPA and 18 passing first downs against the Titans? They gave up an average of 11.5 passing first downs per game.
How did the Titans outgain the Chiefs by 160 total yards at Arrowhead?

I would guess there isn't any logical reasoning despite the fact that the Chiefs were not 100% focused on the Titans, because they played the team to beat within the division - the Broncos - the week after on Sunday Night Football and they were looking ahead. And they were ready for the Broncos as they were 2 yards away from forcing overtime on their last drive.

No logical reason?  Maybe it was the fact the Chiefs are not very good, Alex Smith is not very good......maybe??

Youre trying to compare the Chiefs and GB, or Smith and Rodgers?

Are the Chiefs and Broncos even rivals?? 

Once again, I think you are really over-looking the dislike and even HATE these two teams have for each other. 

Its like saying the Steelers and Ravens were playing in week 1, that one team wouldn't be jacked up for the game.  ITS IMPOSSIBLE. 

You know that the Chiefs went 20-12 in their L2 seasons? They are definitely good enough to beat a team at home that owned the second draft pick in April.

If the Steelers would have stomped the Ravens in both games last season and the Ravens wouldn't have had anything to do with the playoffs in recent years AND the Steelers would play a team on SNF in week 2 that destroyed their dreams of traveling to the SB by an undeserved overtime win, I would have the exact same thoughts.

 

What is their record after starting 2013 11-0 or whatever they did??

A losing record

They didn't throw a TD to a WR last year...you are not a good team if you cant even throw a TD to a WR in an ENTIRE NFL season

That's not an argument to score the fewest and concede the 2nd-most points of the season against the 2-14 Titans at home in an opener, of which people in this thread say teams should be 100% prepared for.

They have beaten the Seahawks and annihilated the Patriots at Arrowhead in the same season.

Ten was not a div game. Also, if I remember correctly, Ten had a few coaches from KC.  So, look ahead and a strategic disadvantage did KC in.

Hey Suuma....haven't been here in awhile but really liking the Rams more over Seattle week 1......Rams coming on with their defense and Nick Foles......and.as you said week 2 Packers vs Hawks look ahead game......Hope the Veltins are flowing in Germany.....

Don't know which coaches do you mean.

I am absolutely in love with the Rams in week 1. Their d-line will completely dominate the Seahawks' o-line and the Rams have a very good LB corps with the best tackling LB of 2014 - James Laurinaitis. That's going to be an advantage against Jimmy Graham. I can also see the Rams scoring points in this game as we will see a lot of PA by them. Nick Foles was the best PA passer in 2013 and the Seahawks were average (#15) against play action in 2014. In addition, Byron Maxwell is gone, Earl Thomas is doubtful for week one and Richard Sherman didn't have surgery on his shoulder and didn't have contact in trainings by now. People should follow his movement closely in training camp. Their defense will need a few weeks to get their rhythm back. The Rams are going to beat the Seahawks in week one.

The Veltins are flowing, buddy. Good to see you back.

^ I forgot to mention the loss of Dan Quinn.