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Bills (Right now its very hard to trust Patriots and Maye, and Bills making plays when it matters).
Jets (Yes, the Jets. I can see an upset here, Bears QB situation a mess, unless you believe in Keenum, and Jets D will get in his face).
Vikings (It will be difficult to pick the Fins to win a game, although played hard against KC at home).
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Bills (Chargers are desperate to win one, but no shot in Buffalo).
Lions (Jets simply will not be able to score with the Lions).
Jaguars (Sorry Patriots fans, but Jags are my dark horse team to get very far this year, and they are home).
Chiefs (Chiefs may not be back to being themselves, Dolphins just not a good team).
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Bills (New stadium, Josh will be pumped from last week, fans will be huge in support).
Jets (I can’t believe I’m picking the Jets, but they looked good and Packers may not be as good as advertised).
Patriots (They are not losing two in a row, not at home, not against the Steelers).
49ers (Dolphins fool me once, not twice).
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I agree on Beane. I think if Buffalo doesn’t get further this year than last couple of years, owner will get tired of it. Bills will be again between 37-40 M over the CAP after the season. Meaning reworked contracts and cuts with dead money yet again. To expect a great season with a new HC and a never before DC is a lot, it could happen. I stick to my prediction.
Jets will be better than what experts believe, not a winning record, but a more fun team to watch, especially on offense.
Dolphins will also be better than most expect. Malik will make them wonder if they really do need to draft a franchise QB, as he will exceed expectations. We know he can run, but I think he will also show he can pass.
Patriots may very well the division again, but SB? No shot. I mean nobody expected that last year. Patriots offense maybe better than a year ago, but overall will no longer surprise anyone.
| Patriots @ Seahawks | SEA -3.5 | 44.5 |
From AI @ USAToday
AI’s take: Copilot cited three factors as influencing its decision to pick the Seahawks to beat the Patriots. It likes Seattle’s “defense and continuity” and also opined the Seahawks have “one of the league’s strongest home-field advantages.” The chatbot did, however, express confidence that Drake Maye would take another step forward in his development.
Our take: The Patriots have upgraded their offense during the offseason, but it’s still early to expect them to be able to knock off the Seahawks. Seattle beat New England 29-13 in Super Bowl 60, thriving thanks to its ability to get consistent pressure on Maye, and is rightly favored to beat the Patriots again to open the 2026 season.
| Jets @ Titans | TEN -1.5 | 39.5 |
From AI @ USAToday
AI’s take: We’ve found Copilot’s least favorite game of Week 1. The chatbot described the matchup between the Titans and Jets as likely “a defensive struggle with neither offense fully clicking,” which led it to pick the home team, Tennessee, to win.
Our take: It’s hard to recommend backing the Titans after their woeful preseason performance. Conversely, the Jets seem to be improved, at least offensively, so they actually may be able to knock off Robert Saleh’s team to open the season.
| Bills @ Texans | BUF -1.5 | 44.5 |
From AI @ USAToday
AI’s take: Copilot expressed excitement about getting to see this matchup between “two playoff-caliber rosters.” The chatbot believes Josh Allen will give the Bills the edge in this matchup, which it projects as the closest in Week 1.
Our take: Many are down on the Texans after C.J. Stroud‘s poor playoff performance. Still, Houston has a quality stop-unit while their running game may be able to expose Buffalo’s still-problematic run defense. This game is a true coin-flip, so don’t be surprised if Houston pulls off the Week 1 upset.
| Dolphins @Raiders | LV -3.5 | 40.5 |
From AI @ USAToday
AI’s take: Copilot first picked the Dolphins to win this one but changed its tune after being reminded Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are no longer with the team. It isn’t confident Miami will figure out its “offensive pecking order” to open the season, so it’s backing the Raiders to win at home.
Our take: Look, the Dolphins aren’t exactly a deep, talented team, but their offense could be better than many are expecting. Malik Willis has a unique combination of accuracy and mobility, so he could potentially keep Miami competitive in a matchup between what figures to be two shaky defenses.
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Seahawks (Patriots just cannot compete with them, especially not in Seattle).
Jets (O will be better than Titans O, and Geno will find a way).
Texans (Josh tries to win it late, but falls short, as Texan run game brings it to Bills D.
Dolphins (Raiders are a mess, Jeanty banged up, and Malik/Achane will carry them).
Super Bowl: Rams vs. Jaguars
Projected wins: 10.7
Verdict: Just right
There is one simple and undeniable fact in Buffalo: As long as quarterback Josh Allen is healthy enough to play for the entire season — which he has every year since 2019 — it’s hard to envision the wheels totally falling off. The difference this year is there are a lot more variables. By firing Sean McDermott and promoting Joe Brady to head coach, the Bills believe they have raised their ceiling. But with a rookie head coach figuring it out on the fly, the floor may be much lower. They have a brand-new defensive scheme and a first-time NFL defensive coordinator in Jim Leonhard, another variable. That’s why 10.7 wins feels on the nose, as you could easily make the argument for slightly higher or lower. — Joe Buscaglia
Projected wins: 4.5
Verdict: Too low
I can absolutely see a world in which the Dolphins win three games and “earn” the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. No team in history has ever been more burdened by dead cap, so winning more than four games with those constraints should feel like a coup for new coach Jeff Hafley. But I think it’s doable. The offensive line might kick … butt, and Hafley is a good enough defensive mind to coax a better than expected year out of the defense. If quarterback Malik Willis plays as well as he did last year in Green Bay, sure, put the Dolphins down for a five-win season. — Jim Ayello
Projected wins: 10.3
Verdict: Just right
Plenty of betting markets list 9.5 as the Patriots’ win total, a number that has seemed too low all offseason. The offense was already one of the best in the league and, at least on paper, got significantly better with the additions of A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs. With a tougher schedule, the Patriots probably won’t match last season’s 14 wins. But I’ve waffled between predicting 10 or 11 wins this season. — Chad Graff
Projected wins: 5.6
Verdict: Just right
It’s hard to argue with this projection. The Jets won three games last season and arguably opened the season with more talent (on paper, at least) on defense. By midseason, they had traded away two of their best players and had one of the worst defensive seasons in team history. They worked to raise the floor of the defense by adding veterans Demario Davis, Minkah Fitzpatrick, David Onyemata and talented young players like T’Vondre Sweat and rookie David Bailey. But the ceiling still isn’t especially high and they’ll be riding the Geno Smith roller coaster on offense. Five-to-seven wins sounds like the right range. — Zack Rosenblatt
The season is upon us, but, other than camp news, and pre-season games, not much to discuss. This is a two part series about our teams’ Dreaming big or a Reality check. After the much acclaimed part one, Dolphins and Jets, this week we focus on the two top teams, Patriots and Bills.
(over/under 10.5 at most sites)
From The Athletic
The SB runner up Patriots, after an incredible 2025, added more weapons, one named AJ Brown. Drake Maye has another yer under his belt, one that gave him tons of playoff experience, and suddenly he’s a veteran. Harold Landry, who led the team with 8 1/2 sacks, has a concerning knee injury, and K’Lavon Chaisson, second in sacks, is now with the Commanders. Offseason additions Dre’Mont Jones and Gabe Jacas, are key to to replace them. These are facts, now for the real truth:
I mean, we had to endure Tom Brady for basically the entire century, now this freak Maye comes along, no! Patriots overachieved in a big way in 2025, and much of that credit has to go to newsmonger Mike Vrabel, I guess it remains to be seen if he can continue to improve a young but experienced team.
Dreaming big!!!!……Hell with last year’s easy schedule! This team will beat the Steelers,Jags, Raiders, Jets and Dolphins twice, Bills once, Bears, Detroit, Vikings and Broncos, and bam!!!! 12-5
Reality Check……I hope I make sense on my thoughts on Pats 2026. I think this team improves (like I wrote above), but it will not show in standings. Schedule is harder, yes, but, let’s face it, last year they won a few games that maybe they could have lost. The O takes a step forward, but the D takes two backwards, and the real result is more like 10-7
(over/under 11.5 at most sites)
From The Athletic
Sean McDermott was fired, after building the current franchise. McDermott came as a defensive minded HC, however his defenses were crappy at best in playoff games, allowing 33, 32, 27, 27, 42 and 38 points in Buffalo’s past six postseason losses. It cost him his job, and hired was OC, Brady. The O was neve an issue, and Brady keeps that intact. Under the radar, OL coach Aaron Kromer retired. He was considered one of the best in the business, this will hurt. Those are facts, or close to it, now for the ream truth:
Bills are the last AFCE team not named Patriots to play in the last 4 SBs (coughing as I’m writing this). McD did a great job building this team to become one of the best in AFC, but he just didn’t feel like the HC that could take them to the next level. Josh is in his prime, and every year that goes by is one year closer to the window closing, can this be the year?
Dreaming big!!!!……Bills finished second in the division last year, and that was a shocking. This team under new HC will beat Jets-Fins twice, Pats once, destroy the Texans, Chargers and Lions. Also add wins against Raiders, Ravens, Vikings, Chiefs, Packers, Bears, and Bam!!! 14-3
Reality Check……If I were to take a poll of Bills fans, that 14-3 would easily be the pick by most, but lets slow down little, games are plays on the field. Yes they can sweep Jets and Fins and win one vs. the Patriots, but some of the other games can be tough. I also feel that Brady will be too conservative and inexperienced to win some of the games that McD would have won. I see a more realistic 11-6 or possibly 12-5….However, if HC underperforms, I can see a 10-7 or even a 9-8
The season is upon us, but, other than camp news, and pre-season games, not much to discuss. This is a two part series about our teams’ Dreaming big or a Reality check. We start with what is expected to be the bottom two, Dolphins and Jets.
(over/under 4.5 at most sites)
From The Athletic
The Miami Dolphins begin a new era in 2026, with first-year coach Jeff Hafley. A 13-player draft class asked to contribute immediately. Achane remains a genuine star to build around, and the early returns from the draft class, particularly Proctor and Johnson, suggest the young talent could accelerate the timeline. They are rebuilding the pass rush and the line after releasing Bradley Chubb and added Josh Uche and David Ojabo in free agency, along with rookie Trey Moore through the draft, betting that Chop Robinson takes a real step forward in his third season after a dismal second year. Interior lineman Zach Sieler and breakout candidate Kenneth Grant could help. These are facts, now for the real truth:
I have been called a Dolphins hater more than a Patriots or Bills hater, by far, since ESPN days. In reality, I don’t hate any teams. And I will make a case that these Dolphins are underrated, more than any of our teams.
Dreaming big!!!!……Heck with haters! (like me), this team will beat the crappy teams it will face like the Jets twice, Raiders, Indy), the mediocre teams like the Bengals, Vikings and Packers. Then beat another division opponent, and bam!!!! 8-9
Reality Check……Then once reality sets in, you realize that yes, they can beat the Jets once, Raiders for sure, and very possibly Indy. They can surprise the Bengals, because that is a team that doesn’t show up every week, and the Packers, and the real result is more like 5-12, 6-11 if they beat the Jets twice, or surprise another team.
(over/under 5.5 at most sites)
From The Athletic
The additions of veterans Demario Davis (age 37) and Minkah Fitzpatrick (29) indicates the urgency that GM Darren Mougey and HC Aaron Glenn feel this season, even with 2027 looming, when the Jets have three first round picks. Let’s face it, if they are picking top 5-7, both HC and GM are gone. I think Smith’s addition is being overlooked and undervalued. No. 2 pick David Bailey has dominated camp so far and could be the league’s next star edge rusher. They also have the fifth easiest schedule and a team built to compete immediately. Those are facts, or close to it, now for the ream truth:
I have rooted for this team since Joe Namath was a broken down QB, the 1972 season. I have lived so many up and downs, mostly downs, that I often wonder if I am sane. Of all the teams in sports I root for (from NBA-NHL-MLB-Serie A-WC-Champion’s League-Cycling tour- Tennis tour- Winter-Summer Olympics) the NFL Jets, are the only team that has never played in the championship game (I was not a Jets fan in 1969). Sad indeed.
Dreaming big!!!!……I have been dreaming big for 54 years! The Jets are better than the Dolphins, 2 wins. They will beat the Patriots or Bills once each. Also dominate the Titans, Packers, Browns, Raiders, Cards, and Vikings, and Bam!!! 10-7
Reality Check……I was all set to have a drink and celebrate, then I woke up and remembered that I was still a Jets fan. Spilt with Dolphins, beat one other divisional opponent, Raiders, Browns, Titans, Cards and the Packers, with a more realistic 7-10, 8-9 if they sweep the Fins (there goes that hater again)
The positive side of me says: Dolphins and Jets still have time to get better before week one, and they can still shock us.
All of our teams strive for one thing, to win a SB. But in order to win one, you must first play in it. The 2025 NE Patriots didn’t win it, but they participated, again. Way more than any of our teams can say since the Bills lost to the Cowboys in 1994. Shame on our teams, and no matter what, congrats to the Patriots!
Let us hope one of our teams gets back to the big game! SOON
Get ready for football!
Hey, even ticket prices are included, in case you want to go to a game
