NFL picks against the spread are back with a look ahead to Week 1 in the 2022 NFL regular season.
We have all been waiting for America’s favorite sport to return and it is finally here. The NFL is back this week and with games that actually count. Sept. 8 brings the start of regular season action and it is led by a possible Super Bowl preview when the defending champion Los Angeles Rams welcome the team many believe can win it all in 2022, the Buffalo Bills.
The other top games of the week see the Pittsburgh Steelers and new starting quarterback Mitchell Trubisky head to Cincinnati to battle the Bengals and the Green Bay Packers visit division rivals the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday afternoon. And on Monday night, Russell Wilson returns to Seattle as a member of the Denver Broncos to face his former team the Seahawks.
Also Read: Everything you need to know about the NFL Sunday Ticket
In this Week 1 of NFL picks against the spread we will focus on five specific games, which you can find below, as well as an upset special pick for Sunday.
| Game | Time (ET) | TV |
| Ravens (-7) @ Jets | 1 PM | CBS |
| 49ers (-7) @ Bears | 1 PM | FOX |
| Patriots @ Dolphins (-3.5) | 1 PM | CBS |
| Saints (-5.5) @ Falcons | 1 PM | FOX |
| Jaguars (+2.5) @ Commanders – Upset Special | 1 PM | FOX |
Baltimore Ravens will manhandle the New York Jets
On Wednesday, it was confirmed that New York Jets QB Zach Wilson will not make a miraculous return from his injury to play in Week 1. In fact, he is expected to be out for the first month of the season with a torn meniscus. Meaning Joe Flacco will welcome his former team the Baltimore Ravens to MetLife stadium as the man calling the plays for Gang Green.
The Ravens are one of the biggest favorites of the day and with good reason. They are a better team, and with signal-caller Lamar Jackson in a contract year, expect him to have a massive season and start his rampage against New York on Sunday. Expect the Ravens to cover the spread and win by double digits going away.
San Francisco 49ers runaway in Trey Lance’s debut
There are already signs that new starting QB Trey Lance could have a very short rope in San Francisco with Jimmy Garoppolo waiting in the wings to steal the starting job back. While that moment may come eventually in 2022, it won’t happen in Chicago. The Bears are ranked dead last in our current NFL Power Rankings and with good reason. While Justin Fields is a solid talent he has been handed a difficult situation, and part of the mess in Chi-Town if the offensive line that is tasked with protecting him each week.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is a coaching wizard and will surely devise something nasty to make Lance look like a star and cover the -7 spread San Fran has in Week 1.
New England Patriots struggle against new-look Miami Dolphins
When all is said and done, there is a very good chance the New England Patriots will have a better season than the Miami Dolphins. But right now, the Pats’ offense is pretty terrible and there is good reason to expect that to continue for a little while longer. While Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa is giving no one flashbacks of Dan Marino, the fact that he has more weapons in 2022, something to prove, and a stable situation is more than enough for the ‘Fins to score a Week 1 victory and cover the -2.5 points spread they have heading into this weekend.
New Orleans Saints will make be too much for Atlanta Falcons
The New Orleans Saints defense is primed for big things again in 2022 and expect them to feast on the Atlanta Falcons and former first-rounder turned bust Marcus Mariota. For some, the Saints are a sleeper pick in the NFL south this season, and if quarterback Jameis Winston can prove he is back to full health and make use of the various weapons the team has (including the returning Michael Thomas) the Who Dat crew could be a force in the league. They will definitely beat the Dirty Birds by more than -5.5 on Sunday.
Jacksonville Jaguars are upset Washington Commanders on the road
In a new edition to the NFL picks against the spread, we offer up an upset special for your betting pleasure. Sorry Washington Commanders fans, but this organization is still in a dark place on and off the field, and Carson Wentz is not enough to turn this ship around just yet. On the flip side of the equation, there is some reason for hope in Jacksonville after the team spent big in free agency this spring, and Trevor Lawrence get the chance to blossom under QB guru and new head coach Doug Pederson.
The Jags probably won’t be a playoff team in 2022, but they are far better than they were last season. Look for them to show that against the Commanders since they are the livest underdog in Week 1 of the NFL season.
This article was originally published on Sportsnaut.com and is republished here with permission.
