“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2025 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 10 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 four seasons ago, and 63.3% (178-103) three seasons ago and 63.4% (180-104) two seasons ago, I ended up at a whopping 68.8% last season, my best season yet.  So that’s ten years in a row with over a 60% pick rate.  I also had 84% right for Locks of the Week (16-3) and 44.4% for Upsets of the Week (8-10), so not only did I meat my 2023 percentages for both Locks and Upsets, but I have ten years in a row of Locks being over 70%.  But that was the past, and this is now, and I’m shooting for eleven 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 Cleveland Browns

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 one thing I know is that the Bengals offense is absolutely locked and loaded, with all their stars, Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, signed for the foreseeable future to giant contracts.  The Browns are certainly no pushover on defense, with defensive standouts Myles Garrett and Denzel Ward, but most outlets have the Browns defensed ranked at 14th or lower this season, particularly after a 2024 season that saw the unit drop from 1st in 2023 to just 19th in 2024.  And a big reason for that drop were struggles in the secondary and having the second fewest takeaways among all teams that season.  It’s not a slam dunk, but add in a versatile Chase Brown to the mix, and I think the Bengals should take care of business on offense.  The Bengals defense is clearly their weakness, but I’m not really scared of retread Joe Flacco throwing to Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, particularly with draft prospect Quinshon Judkins not signed yet.  Lock in the Bengals.

Upset of the Week ➡ Chicago Bears (+1.5) over Minnesota Vikings

Sure, call it a homer pick, since it kinda is, but hear me out a sec.  Ben Johnson is in town and the first thing he did was rebuild the offensive line with Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson at guard and Drew Dalman at center.  Now throw in rookies Colston Loveland and Luther Burden to sophomore’s Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze and sprinkle in some veteran presence with DJ Moore, and I think the Bears might finally be on to something.  And it’s not just offense as the Bears defense has also been ranked this season within the top 9 across industry.  The Vikings theoretically do have the better defense, but the offense is probably a work in progress with J.J. McCarthy getting his first start (and in fact, his first regular season game action).  Justin Jefferson will always be a threat being one of the top 5 WRs in the league, but I don’t think that will be enough.  Add on top of this that this is a home game for the Bears and I wouldn’t be surprised to see this upset in primetime.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Week 1 is here. With limited starters playing in preseason week 1 is always very scary. I’ve tried to play it safe but had to go full homer on Lions at Packers. Let’s see. 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

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:

San Francisco at Seattle: So you really wanted to pay Brock Purdy huh? Well you’ve seen the result, much less talent at WR and on defense. Seattle has questions with Sam Darnold but they will rely on the running game and squeak past the 49ers.

Detroit at Green Bay: Even before the Parsons trade I liked the Packers here because I believe they are ascending to the top of their division. Rookie Matthew Golden will make a huge difference in their passing game. And Jared Goff’s first game post Ben Johnson will be a struggle.

Minnesota at Chicago: The Vikings are favored despite starting what is effectively a rookie QB on the road. I know people question Caleb Williams after his rookie year but at least he has Ben Johnson and that’s a MASSIVE upgrade over last year. Bears win and remind everyone what a paper tiger the Vikings were last year.

Eliminator pick: Philadelphia

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

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