Looking at Opening Week

The 2014 NFL Season kicked off last night as the reigning Super Bowl Champions hosted the Green Bay Packers, the “12’s” were going crazy last night in Seattle. Today, we’ll take a look at the rest of the Week 1 schedule and offer some points to focus on as you’re watching the games, let’s begin!

Seattle 36   Green Bay 16

No need for keys to this game as it was played last night, the Seahawks came out and sent a gentle reminder to the rest of the league: They’re still hungry. The Packers continued to struggle against the NFC West, specifically the Seahawks & 49ers. The Pack is 0-6 against those teams since 2012, they’ve struggled to match the physicality and failed to stop the run game. Seattle’s defense looked great in the opener, pressuring Rodgers with just four players and dropping into that hellacious zone. Richard Sherman didn’t have a pass thrown his way all game, Rodgers chose to throw at Byron Maxwell who had an interception. It’s just one game, but Green Bay’s defense has work to do. Seattle’s offense appears to be catching up to their defense, not a good sign for anyone in the league. Marshawn Lynch was in full “Beast Mode” last night, the training camp holdout had no effect on his performance.

New Orleans at Atlanta

• Saints Defense, 2nd year under Rob Ryan
• Atlanta Offensive Line, improved?
• Brandin Cooks, rookie WR for the Saints
• The return of Julio Jones

Minnesota at St. Louis

• Rams QB Play, Shaun Hill at the helm for injured Sam Bradford
• Vikings Offense, can Cassell do enough to take pressure off of run game?
• Arguably the best Defensive line in football in St. Louis
• Vikings young defensive players, defense as a whole

Cleveland at Pittsburgh

• Steelers defense, specifically youngsters Shazier, Jones, & Worilds rushing the passer
• Browns offense under Hoyer, especially without Josh Gordon
• New additions to Browns defense
• Steelers offense, specifically the run game

Jacksonville at Philadelphia

• Year 2 of Chip Kelley offense, life without DeSean Jackson
• Shady McCoy/Darren Sproles
• Jacksonville Defense, style similar to Seattle’s
• Chad Henne

Oakland at NY Jets

• Derek Carr
• Jet’s secondary
• Chris Johnson
• Geno Smith and Jets passing game
• Oakland’s revamped defense

Cincinnati at Baltimore

• Ravens run game without Ray Rice
• Benard Pierce in Kubiak’s zone running scheme
• Andy Dalton under Hue Jackson, Jay Gruden now in Washington
• Joe Flacco vs Cincy defense
• Baltimore’s defense, should be very good this year

Buffalo at Chicago

• First regular season look at EJ Manuel to Sammy Watkins
• Bears offense: Jay Cutler
• Bills Defense: Life after Jairus Byrd
• Chicago Defense: Lamar Houston/Jared Allen

Washington at Houston

• First look at Watt/Clowney
• RG III in Gruden’s offense
• Houston QB Play: Fitzpatrick or Mallet
• Arian Foster vs Washington’s front 7
• Washington offensive line
• Washington secondary

Tennessee at Kansas City

• Alex Smith in year 2 under Andy Reid
• Titan’s QB Play
• Titans front 7 vs Chiefs running game

New England at Miami

• Patriots revamped defense: Revis & Browner
• Jamie Collins
• Miami’s offensive line
• Tannehill/Wallace connection, does it improve this season?
• Fins defense vs Tom Brady
• Patriots run game: No more Blount as he’s now in Pittsburgh

Carolina at Tampa Bay

• Cam Newton’s health: Cracked ribs, ankle
• Carolina’s offensive line vs Tampa front 7
• Tampa’s offense vs Panther front 7
• Kelvin Benjamin and Panthers Receiving corps
• Bucs Receivers vs Panthers secondary

San Francisco at Dallas

• Dallas offense: commitment to running the ball?
• 49ers secondary vs Dallas receivers
• Cowboys defense
• 49ers offense: balance between run and pass?
• Cowboys offensive line vs reworked 49ers front 7

Indianapolis at Denver

• Andrew Luck vs Denver secondary
• T.Y. Hilton
• Broncos passing game without Welker
• Emmanuel Sanders
• Denvers run game vs Colts front 7

NY Giants at Detroit

• Eli Manning behind that new offensive line
• Giants offensive line vs Suh and company
• Stafford and that offense under Caldwell
• Giants Defense and Lions Defense: Improvement??

San Diego at Arizona

• Philip Rivers against that Cardinals secondary
• Chargers defense against Cardinals passing game
• Cardinals: Will they establish a running game?
• Chargers front 7
• Cardinals offensive line vs Chargers front 7

Enjoy the games!! We’ll be breaking down the action on Tuesday’s show on BLIS FM, tune in at 8pm EST on www.blis.fm