S46 W1 Predictions: An Opening Week to Remember
Hello and welcome to an article series that has like +1500 odds of lasting through the whole season. Topline thoughts, storylines and predictions for each game, each week! I’m writing these in the order they’re listed on Madden so please don’t be mad that your banger divisional matchup or whatever got placed too low. I won’t write about my own games cause frankly, no one needs that. I’ll also include my record from the previous week in each article moving forward. Accountability!
Gamble’s Lions v. Troy’s Chiefs
I’ll be first to admit I disrespected Troy in the Bettercast a week ago. I didn’t know who he was and what accomplishments he has, and was judging him solely on a couple BL seasons where he didn’t achieve all that much. After watching his stream against Allen and hearing the way he talks about Madden, I’m very impressed. User skill and roster gap too much for Gamble to overcome, I’m afraid.
Chiefs 38, Lions 14
Tim’s Panthers v. Ben’s Falcons
This is a VERY interesting matchup both because it’s a (on paper) relatively even game between two solid users that will see each other a dozen more times this cycle and because both of these teams now have a very real path to divisional supremacy. I like the moves Ben has made and am now higher on that roster than I was, but there’s a fundamental recklessness to Ben’s offense that I think he’ll still need some time to work through. Tim has a lower ceiling than Ben game-to-game, but also a higher floor. Give me the safe pick here.
Panthers 27, Falcons 24
Kiing’s Texans v. Cody’s Ravens
Do we know if Kiing’s even got his discord notifications set properly yet? Cody is my super bowl pick, and though Kiing will certainly be frisky throughout the cycle and may even push for the division with Steel openly struggling with this Madden, all that friskiness won’t be enough here. Cody wins comfortably and establishes Lamar as an MVP threat.
Ravens 38, Texans 20
Austin’s Bengals v. Duhooty’s Browns
And THIS is where all eyes will be centered week 1. A premiere matchup between two of the league’s elite in a divisional game that may have implications all the way to playoff time. This is a matchup I expect to see split more often than not season-to-season, but I loooooove what I’ve seen out of Hooty in the streams of his I’ve caught and think he has a strong handle on the offense he wants to run already.
Browns 34, Bengals 27
Byron’s Jaguars v. Kook’s Colts
Of all Week 1 matchups, this is the one where no result would surprise me whatsoever. Byron to me is more of a known quantity and brings (relatively) the same level season-to-season, so it’s all about which Kook we’re going to get. There are a lot of Season 1 Kook truthers out there that think he may be a playoff contender and while I’m not going to go that far, I still think Gator Great Anthony Richardson and company take this one.
Colts 21, Jaguars 13
Steel’s Titans v. Lucky’s Saints
To my knowledge, this will be a FW for the Titans. Definitely a shame for the league, as a Steel-Lucky matchup would have taught us quite a bit about both users’ viability early.
Morty9ers v. Wohzi’s Steelers
Another matchup where nothing would really surprise me! These are the scalding takes you’ve all come to this article for, I’m sure. Morty at times looked REALLY good in the preseason tournament and handed me my biggest asskicking of any game I’ve played in M24, but when it comes to BL competition he (and frankly Wohzi as well) is unknown. If Wohzi wants any chance of divisional viability in a stacked AFC North, this is one he HAS to win. Morty squeaks this one out in a thriller.
49ers 31, Steelers 28 (OT)
Ptown’s Cardinals v. Justin’s Commanders
God help me, I think I’ve come to trust Ptown more between these two users. Lucky made a very good point in the Bettercast that the only thing really getting in his way was availability in M23, and when Ptown was on and locked in (sorry Warren & Austin, I love the phrase too much) he brought a consistently solid level of play. Justin to me has the single widest level of variance of any user this season where nothing would surprise me. Wins the division? Sure! Goes 4-13? I could see it! Give me the known quantity.
Cardinals 35, Commanders 24
Hero’s Packers v. Cmass’s Bears
Another fun preview of a divisional matchup that will help to determine playoff seeding and NFCN supremacy all throughout the cycle. I really like the Fields trade from the Bears perspective and I know Cmass will have this roster humming by season 3, but he’s (smartly) tearing it down to the studs and not necessarily putting himself in the most competitive position for this season. This will be the worst version of the Bears Hero and I will ever face, gotta rack the wins up now while we can!
Packers 38, Bears 21
Samoan’s Raiders v. Phil’s Broncos
Look out for Phil… I’ve played 3 games against him and have come away quite impressed… I suspect that as the cycle goes on and the league (and more specifically his divisional opponents) key in on his scheme Phil will need to diversify his offense a bit, but MAN is it hard to stop. This is an early prove it game for both users, as these are two guys who I think will both have confidence they can win this one and an early L would be a hard pill to swallow.
Broncos 28, Raiders 24
Niko’s Dolphins v. Warren’s Chargers
Ummmmmmm yeah. I won’t be watching this one for the scoreline. What I will be interested in within this presumptive blowout is whether Niko can continue to make the strides on offense that we began to see near the end of last cycle. I think there may be competence brewing in Miami… just not against Warren per se.
Chargers 45, Dolphins 10
Jesse’s Eagles v. Bos’s Patriots
Have to, have to, HAVE TO win this from Jesse’s perspective. I feel bad putting the must-win label on a game so early in the season/cycle, but a loss here would shatter my confidence in Jesse’s (imo real) chance of contending for the division this season. The roster advantage in this game is about as glaring of a gap as we’ll see all cycle.
Eagles 31, Patriots 17
Nick’s Rams v. Allen’s Seahawks
Yeah… not a ton to say about this one. An unofficial banner night for the defending champ as he should win this one in his home stadium with ease.
Seahawks 41, Rams 13
Alex’s Cowboys v. Cam’s Giants
We won’t see a repeat of what happened in this one irl, I know that much. Cam’s too competent on offense for that, especially from what I’ve seen in this cycle. While I do think Alex wins this one there’s a reason I had Cam second in the division in my predictions, as I think he’s found a nice scheme already on both sides of the ball. I expect Alex to be just a bit too much in this one though.
Cowboys 38, Giants 21
Tiny’s Bills v. Matt’s Jets
This is a game where my head is SCREAMING at me to take Little Alex and run… but something keeps getting in the way. Maybe it’s the drastic improvement from Matt cycle to cycle. Maybe it’s my proclivity to the underdog story. Maybe it’s the seven concussions. I think Little will win the division relatively comfortably but DAMNIT give me those New York Jets.
Jets 31, Bills 28
Last Week: 0-0
Season: 0-0