FOOTBALL NFL ARTICLES

The New England Patriots journey west to take on the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1. The Patriots have visited University of Phoenix Stadium on just two occasions, both Super Bowls. This will be their first trip since winning Super Bowl XLIX.Sunday also marks the first meeting between these two teams since 2012 when the Cardinals topped the Patriots at Gillette Stadium, 20-18, snapping New England’s five game winning streak in head-to-head matchups.Watch this regular season Week 1 matchup live on Sunday, September 11, 2016, at 8:30 p.m. ET at University of Phoenix Stadium.... 

Week 1 of the 2016-17 NFL regular season has arrived. With that, all fantasy football drafts should be in the books as well unless your commissioner likes to wait till the last second and schedule it the night before the season opening Thursday nighter. If you’re in a 10-12 team league, setting this week’s lineup should be pretty easy. But if you’re in a larger league or in the mood to gamble, I’ve got some sleepers you might want to lock into your lineups for your first matchup.... 

The Houston Texans kick off the defense of their AFC South title in Week 1 against a Chicago Bears team that enters 2016 off its second straight losing season and first under the watch of John Fox. Bill O’Brien will finally get to unleash his new offensive toys in Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller with the Bears hoping the defensive additions made in the offseason will be up to the challenge of keeping them in check.This matchup in Week 1 of the regular season will take place on Sunday, September 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium.... 

Do you want to watch one of the most exciting games of Week 1 of the NFL regular season? Tune in for expected fireworks between the Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints. The game is a pick-’em and has the highest-placed over-under total among all opening weekend matchups, meaning is could be high scoring and very competitive.... 

The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North a season ago and looked primed to challenge for it again in 2016 with most of the same key pieces. That expectation was shattered during a practice late in the preseason when quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a gruesome knee injury which is expected to keep him out all of 2016.... 

The Cincinnati Bengals looked like Super Bowl contenders a season ago before an injury to quarterback Andy Dalton torpedoed those chances. Dalton is back healthy and the Bengals return the core of last year’s impressive squad, and they will hope to begin quickly in Week 1 of the regular season against the New York Jets. Cincinnati is the road favorite based on its stronger roster.... 

The Baltimore Ravens took a major step back last season mostly due to mass injuries to key personnel. The Buffalo Bills did as well which came as quite the surprise with Rex Ryan brought in to turn the defense into a well-oiled killing machine instead of the middle of the road stop unit it ended up being. Each has much to prove in this Week 1 clash with both squads looking to quickly turn the page on last season.... 

The Atlanta Falcons got off to a quick start in 2015 before faltering badly down the stretch. They will aim for the same hot beginning but more prolonged success this year. It all begins in Week 1 of the regular season against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons are a slight favorite based on the home field advantage, but oddsmakers believe the talent level on these teams is very close.... 

It’s completely uncommon for a team to trade its starting quarterback just a week before the regular season, but that was the case with the Philadelphia Eagles. They sent Sam Bradford to the Vikings in return for first and fourth round draft picks, and are now planning on using No. 2 overall pick Carson Wentz in Week 1 against the Cleveland Browns if Wentz is sufficiently recovered from a preseason rib injury. The switch at quarterback has dropped the Eagles’ odds of winning this game, although they are still the favorites against a lower-tier opponent.... 

Denver will play host with a new look offense following Peyton Manning’s retirement. The Broncos will get their first regular season looks at starter Trevor Siemian under center, but the team will once again be leaning on a dominant defense while the Panthers’ boast a potentially stronger offense with Kelvin Benjamin back and healthy.... 

The new-look Jacksonville Jaguars will put their shiny new defensive toys on display in Week 1 at home where they’ll attempt to contain Aaron Rodgers and the now healthy Green Bay Packers offense. The Packers saw their four year reign atop the NFC North come to a screeching halt last season, and will be looking to take a step towards reclaiming it today. It won’t be easy to do against an up and coming Jags outfit.This contest in Week 1 of the regular season will go down Sunday, September 11, 2016, at 1 p.m. ET at EverBank Field.... 

The NFL season is finally here! The first week of the season is chock full of intriguing games and storylines, including several teams who are going to be debuting brand new quarterbacks. As many as three rookies will be starting for their teams under center. On top of that, there are two legitimately potential Super Bowl previews in the primetime slots in Week 1.... 

Becoming a good DFS player is more than just devising algorithms that keep you ahead of the game or staying up to date with all team and player news. You have to assemble your roster according to the type of contest you’re in, and you must practice solid bankroll management just like you do – or should do – when betting on sports.... 

Neither the Los Angeles Rams nor San Francisco 49ers are expected to make much noise in the NFC West this season with the former carrying +1450 odds and the latter checking in at +4000 to win the division. Regardless, the division rivals will cross paths in the second leg of the Week 1 Monday Night Football doubleheader. The Rams have a new home to call their own, and the Niners a completely new mentality with Chip Kelly now calling the shots. Each will look to make a solid debut in front of a nationally televised audience.Kickoff for this regular season Week 1 game is set for Monday, September 12, 2016, at 10:20 p.m. ET at Levi’s Stadium.... 

Only the Eagles have longer odds than the Washington Redskins to make the playoffs within the NFC East per the current NFL specials futures. Jay Gruden will be out to show the linemakers they’re dead wrong when they square off against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the first Monday Night Football installment of 2016. This matchup is one of three in Week 1 with a 50+ point total. Each team is loaded with quick strike offensive firepower, so look for some points to hit the board.This matchup in Week 1 of the regular season will take place on Monday, September 12, 2016, at 7:10 p.m. ET at FedEx Field.... 

Anyone can put together a solid fantasy football team with their first five picks. Ok, maybe not anyone but all seasoned fantasy players should be able to form a solid foundation early in the draft. While that’s all fine and dandy, it’s the sleepers and players with breakout potential snagged later in the draft that allow for improving your team via trades down the road. With the first three weeks of the preseason now in the books, we’ve got a better idea of who some of those diamonds in the rough just might be.Let’s dig in and take a look at some of these late round flyers or waiver wire pick-ups for those that have already drafted.... 

Even with Tom Brady suspended the first month of the season, the New England Patriots are still the second choice of oddsmakers to hoist the Lombardi Trophy. That speaks volumes for the task an Arizona Cardinals team will be forced to deal with after taking a huge dump in the NFC Championship Game. The home crowd will expect nothing but excellence, but you can bet your bottom dollar Bill Belichick will have something up his sleeve to keep this Week 1 tilt interesting all the way through.... 

The Carolina Panthers lost a grand total of two games last season. One of those defeats just so happened to come against the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl 50. Riverboat Ron and Cam Newton will get an immediate shot at avenging that bitter 24-10 loss in both teams’ 2016 Week 1 season opener. To get the job done, Carolina will have to find a way to solve the riddle that was a Denver defense that forced four turnovers en route to pulling out the upset victory.... 

Looking to close out their exhibition season with three straight wins and covers will be a Washington Redskins side that’s gotten no appreciation whatsoever for winning the NFC East last year heading into the regular season. Dirk Koetter’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers might just have different plans however with the team also looking to snag its third straight win before traveling to Atlanta for Week 1 of the regular season.Closing out the preseason on Thursday, September 1, 2016 will be the Washington Redskins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers from Raymond James Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET.... 

The Dallas Cowboys are in a state of flux as standout quarterback Tony Romo suffered another back injury last time out against the Seahawks. He is expected to miss a big chunk of the season, and with the previous season-ending injury to backup Kellen Moore, has put Dak Prescott atop the depth chart.... 

The Green Bay Packers are known for their high-flying offense led by star quarterback Aaron Rodgers, but it’s their defense which has been getting the job done during the preseason. The team has gone 3-0 thus far in the exhibition schedule and has allowed only an average of 10 points per game.... 

Jared Goff might be the quarterback of the future for the Los Angeles Rams, but it’s not looking as if he will be the signal-caller of the present. The No. 1 overall pick in this year’s draft is running second string behind Case Keenum and figures to stay there.... 

The Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints have gone different ways this preseason, but that hasn’t stopped oddsmakers from believing a correction is coming. The Ravens are undefeated through three preseason games while the Saints are winless.... 

Denver Broncos rookie first-round pick Paxton Lynch won’t be starting once the regular season begins, but hopes to get some much-needed experience in Week 4 of the preseason. Lynch is expected to play the entire game against the Arizona Cardinals.... 

The Seattle Seahawks are one of the top Super Bowl contenders for 2016, a familiar spot as the team has been among the NFL elite over the past several seasons. The players that have put them there will all be on the sideline, though, as the team’s reserves will aim to defeat the Oakland Raiders’ backups in Week 4 of the preseason....