Are you ready for some football?! The first full week of the 2015 NFL regular season is finally here, and we have a loaded card on tap to kick off the festivities. Let’s take a look at two marquee matchups that will surely sate your hunger for that good ol’ pigskin action.
In a late afternoon clash, the Baltimore Ravens visit the Denver Broncos in Mile High for what should be a thrilling battle between two perennial playoff contenders in the AFC. To cap things off on Sunday night, we get an early divisional bout between the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys.
Read on for a quick breakdown of these two tantalizing matches. For a wider look at the NFL’s landscape, simply head on over to our regular season and playoff predictions feature, as well as what the experts’ picks for what should be another riveting season in the NFL.
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Baltimore Ravens vs. Denver Broncos (4:25 PM ET)
Line: Baltimore Ravens (+4.5) vs. Denver Broncos (-4.5); total: 47.5 – view all NFL lines
[sc:NFL240banner ]The Baltimore Ravens begin their quest towards a second Super Bowl title in the John Harbaugh era with a younger core than we’ve seen in recent memory, so it will be interesting to see how star quarterback Joe Flacco (single-season career-bests of 3,986 passing yards and 27 TDs in 2014) will gel with his new targets in rookies Breshad Perriman and Maxx Williams.
The Ravens have an almost literal uphill climb when they travel to the Rockies to take on the Denver Broncos, winners of the past four AFC West division titles. Denver would want to get another stellar season out of future first ballot Hall-of-Famer Peyton Manning. The 39-year-old Manning, who has a five-season streak of throwing for over 4,500 yards, will begin yet another journey for a bid at his second Super Bowl ring.
Denver is 8-2 in its last 10 home games and 4-6 against the spread.
Head on over here for a complete preview of this exciting matchup.
Writer’s Prediction
The Broncos win the tight, hard-fought game, 30-24.
New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys (8:30 PM ET)
Line: New York Giants (+6) vs. Dallas Cowboys (-6); total: 51.5 – view all NFL lines
The New York Giants figure to make waves in the NFC East after an impressive rookie season from Odell Beckham Jr. had the wideout break out for 1,305 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.
Together with two-time Super Bowl champion Eli Manning finding his form again thanks to receivers like Beckham, and the on-going saga regarding defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul’s health and eligibility stemming from his notorious fireworks injury from the Fourth of July, the G-Men have one compelling team to certainly keep an eye on this season.
The Dallas Cowboys are also not lacking in drama, as life without 2014’s leading rusher DeMarco Murray begins on Sunday night. America’s favorite team will bank on America’s favorite punch line of a quarterback in Tony Romo to keep up his efficient yet devastating play last season where he finished with a career-best 113.2 QB rating to go with 3,705 yards and 34 touchdowns.
The Cowboys are 5-1 in their last six games against the Giants, with only one game going under the total.
Writer’s Prediction
Dallas prevails in this shootout, 38-28.
Head on over here for a complete preview of this exciting matchup.
