“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2024 Week 1 NFL Picks

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head-to-head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 7 seasons.  Why?  Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys!  This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Week 1 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

After a 64.7% record three seasons ago, and 63.3% (178-103) two seasons ago, I ended up with 63.4% (180-104) last season.  So that’s nine years in a row with over a 60% pick rate.  I also had 85% right for Locks of the Week (17-3) and 42.1% for Upsets of the Week (8-11), so not only did I beat my 2022 percentages for both Locks and Upsets, but I have nine years in a row of Locks being over 70%.  But that was the past, and this is now, and I’m shooting for ten in a row for both!

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Week 1…

Lock of the Week ➡ Cincinnati Bengals (-6.0) over New England Patriots

It’s tough to pick a lock in Week 1, as we haven’t gotten a good full-game look at any starting 53 yet.  But the Bengals are going to contend for the playoffs with a fully healthy Joe Burrow targeting Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and newly drafted Jermaine Burton, and an improved defensive line adding Sheldon Rankins, Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson, and Cedric Johnson. On the other hand, the Patriots are in the midst of a major rebuild eventually around rookie QB Drake Maye.  For now, Jacoby Brissett is starting as a stop gap solution with Demario Douglas as the top target, so there’s probably going to be some development over this season for the Patriots.  Maybe Chase holds out to make this a closer game, but the Patriots are likely at least a season away from relevance and the Bengals are playing for now so I like the Bengals as the lock of the week.

Upset of the Week ➡ Dallas Cowboys (+2.5) over Cleveland Browns

I can’t imagine that Deshaun Watson continues to be as bad as he has been for the Browns, but Nick Chubb is out for at least 4 weeks, and the Browns didn’t do much to improve their backfield, with Jerome Ford likely to be in control.  Both teams have decent defenses, but the Cowboys just extended their star receiver CeeDee Lamb and Dak Prescott is likely playing for a big contract next season.  The RB room in Dallas looks bleak with Zeke Elliott back, and perhaps a past-his-prime Dalvin Cook, but Dallas is going to find ways to score while I have less confidence the Browns offense will be as successful.  I like the potential upset here.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Week 1, we made it. No one knows anything right now. We’re all 0-0, good luck.

Wole’s Picks

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Coming Soon!

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ryan’s Picks

Coming Soon!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

New season, new me, time to finish on top!

Will start with the AFC title rematch, and it will be bitter for the Ravens to watch the Chiefs raise another Super Bowl banner, knowing how close they were to beating Kansas City.
And the Chiefs have been slow starters the last few years, so Baltimore wins this.

Green Bay was ascending last season, and the Eagles were crashing. They meet in Brazil, and Philadelphia looks unfocused while the Packers look united and optimistic with Jordan Love secured long term. Pick Green Bay.

On paper, Pittsburgh should lose at Atlanta. Their QB battle didn’t inspire confidence, and they don’t seem any better than last season. And yet they at least used the preseason to get ready. Atlanta’s starters barely played, and Kirk Cousins is playing his first game, coming off a torn Achilles heel. And the Steelers have avoided losing seasons by winning games they aren’t supposed to. Like this one.

Other upset: The Saints are bottoming out. Except for Chris Olave, that team is aged, and that coach shouldn’t be there. Dave Canales will have a major impact on Bryce Young, and the Panthers will take a big step forward this year.

Cowboys collapse watch will begin with a loss in Cleveland. Daniel Jones will make fewer mistakes than Sam Darnold, so the Giants will win. Houston takes down the Colts on the road. Tampa Bay underlines their playoff credentials by turning aside rebuilding Washington.

Check back next week for our Week 1 results and Week 2 picks!

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