Week One Football Picks: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (2015 NFL Season Opener)
The NFL is back. It’s been a long offseason spent mulling over a goal line, shotgun pass that got picked off and sealed another Tom Brady championship. To say the least, I’ve felt deflated for some time. I guess I’m going to have to accept that the New England Patriots enter the 2015 NFL season opener as the defending Super Bowl champions.
And that’s okay.
I think Tom Brady will have more to prove this year than ever before. His legacy is tainted, and he spent the entire offseason bottling up his frustration. I expect full-blown Tom Terrific in Week One. As such, I’m on the New England Patriots in a teaser, ML bet, and a small wager on the spread.
Still, even if the 38-year-old brings some of his vintage excellence to open the season, I have some doubts about this one. The Pittsburgh Steelers had one of the most explosive offenses in football last year and the New England Patriots are likely going to regress after losing one of the top cover corners in football. Who will cover the league’s top wide receiver from last year, Antonio Brown?
For me, the New England Patriots and the Pittsburgh Steelers both have their top running backs suspended. The key will be how the Pittsburgh Steelers adjust to losing a player they truly rely on as compared to the New England Patriots’ “next guy up” mentality. I think the Pats have more of their full squad, while the Steelers do not. That’s going to be the difference, as I think the New England Patriots were the better team to begin with.
I’m a little nervous because I think 7 is a lot of points, but I cannot see the Steelers really slowing down New England too much. A well-coached New England team should know how to pick these guys apart. I picture Ben Roethlisberger putting up a good fight, but I just don’t think the Steelers have enough weapons.
Patriots 31 – Steelers 20
NE ML, NE -.5, NE -6.5, NE -7.
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