Alternative Picks: Week 1, 2021

Here we are again, starting another season here at the blog that just won’t die. We’re quite certain you’ve been waiting for this as long as we have … the return of our alternative picks.

Tony won the opening weekend toss and elected to pick second and third. Yay, Tony. If last year’s form holds true it’ll be one of the only wins he gets this year.

Cheers everyone. Go Zoneblitz! Err, I mean, yay football.

1) Andy – 49ers over Lions – I didn’t see much preseason football this year. I did see a few clips of the Lions that looked a little bit intriguing. That said, Detroit gets no benefit of the doubt. Until there is tangible evidence that the Lions are anything but a circus clown show, it will be assumed that they still are a … circus clown show.
2) Tony – Buccaneers over Cowboys – The Cowboys travel on opening night to Tampa to face the defending champion Bucs, who have all 22 starters back, and the GOAT QB who is in his second year of this offensive system. Oh, and their starting QB is coming back from a serious injury, and their All-Pro Guard is on the Covid list. Have fun with that, Jerry.
3) Tony – Rams over Bears – I can’t decide now if Matthew Stafford really is enough to put the Rams over the top for the season–but I’m pretty sure that Andy Dalton isn’t winning a division for the Bears. Will be interesting to see how long Chicago can hold off on bringing in rookie Justin Fields–the longer they can, the better–but the same thing was said about Mitch Trubisky, and they only made it to game 5 of his rookie season.
4) Andy – Bills over Steelers – It feels a little weird after most of the last 20 years or so to be making this pick and with this high a confidence score. It says a little bit more about how unsure I feel about the season than it does about my confidence in this game. But I do believe the Bills are on the brink of being a contender, while it feels as though Pittsburgh might take a bit of a step back this year.
5) Tony – Chiefs over Browns – I really, really like what the Browns have built in Cleveland heading into this season–it’s just too bad they have to start the year playing the Chiefs. Kind of surprised that the line on this game is at 6 points, but tough to bet against Patrick Mahomes.
6) Andy – Ravens over Raiders – The Raiders may be heading in something resembling the right direction now, but Baltimore, even without JK Dobbins, should be really good. Word from camp is that Lamar Jackson has spent a lot of time working on his passing and his reads. If he becomes slightly more proficient in that part of his game, I’ll be squarely in the camp thinking the Ravens will be one of the main impediments to Kansas City making the Super Bowl. That journey starts here.
7) Tony – Packers over Saints – I hate to admit it, but the NFC North runs through Green Bay again this year. The Saints have some nice pieces still, and I think Jameis Winston can be a fantasy relevant quarterback again, but I don’t think they have enough to beat a team like the Packers this year, especially with malcontent Michael Thomas out to start the year.
8) Andy – Seahawks over Colts – Seattle will be fine. Maybe not a conference champion, but competitive. Indy probably will be at some point too. But they start the season with either a hobbled Carson Wentz or an inexperienced Jacob Eason making his first start with the left tackle out for the year. Not a great combo of circumstances for trying to get out of the gate fast.
9) Tony – Falcons over Eagles – This game isn’t about how good I think the Falcons will be–honestly, I doubt they are very good by the end of the year, having traded away one of their top weapons on offense and they’re starting Jim Smith or Fred Jones or Mike Davis or something like that at running back. This pick is all about just how bad the Eagles will be. Suspect defense, oft-injured running back, questionable quarterback throwing to questionable receivers. With the Jags & Texans facing each other twice, the Eagles could be a sneaky under the radar play for the first overall pick next year.
10) Andy – Vikings over Bengals – Joe Burrow was looking like the league’s next great QB before he tore up his knee last season. Cincinnati has done a makeover in the offseason, but that often takes time to gel. Minnesota, on the other hand, has a lot of returnees on defense and the same collection of great skill players with a sieve-like offensive line that should allow the team to continue its pattern of generally winning games it should and also losing those it should, as well.
11) Tony – Titans over Cardinals – Can’t figure out what to make of the Cardinals…Kyler Murray seemingly has all the potential in the world, but hasn’t put it all together. The “vaunted” Kliff Kingsbury offense has lived up to my expectations at the next level. They’ve tried to solve problems by bringing in veteran Texan malcontents. Add in a dash of Derrick Henry, AJ Brown, and the Titans adding Julio Jones to the mix, and it could be an ugly start to a potential make or break season for the Cards.
12) Andy – Panthers over Jets – Yeah, Tennessee is a good pick right there. I thought about taking them over the Vikings. Oh well. So, I’ll say it out loud. I am very curious to see what Sam Darnold does while not playing for the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets. I’m not expecting Peyton Manning Jr. or anything like that, but he does have some skills and he immediately inherits the best supporting cast he’s had. I think he’s competent enough to make themost of it, starting against his former team this weekend.
13) Tony – Broncos over Giants – Teddy Bridgewater makes his first start for the Broncos…while he doesn’t appear to be a world beater, you have to wonder what percentage of Giant fans–and possibly players and front office employees–would take Bridgewater over Daniel Jones. The upside is there with Jones, but the downside is what they appear to get more of.
14) Andy – Jaguars over Texans – Remember just a few short years ago when Houston had young Deshaun Watson throwing to DeAndre Hopkins and J.J. Watt leading a stout defense? The latter two are gone and, while Watson isn’t yet off the roster, he’s unplayable due to legal issues. This team now has Tyrod Taylor throwing to the likely-soon-to-be-traded Brandin Cooks. The Texans are in intentional free-fall territory and I may pick them to lose 17 times this year.
15) Tony – Chargers over Football Team – I’m not loving either side in this matchup, but while Ryan Fitzpatrick is a great story, there’s a reason that teams have always wanted to move on from him. Yes, this is the first (and likely the last) time he’s really come in named as a starter in…over a decade? But I think the Chargers have enough weapons to travel cross country and take care of business.
16) Andy – Patriots over Dolphins – Up-and-coming Miami against the maybe resurgent Patriots. No idea what to think here. I think I like what the Dolphins are putting together, but it’s hard to buy completely into Tua at this point. New England is going with rookie Mac Jones. I’ll roll the dice with Bill Belichick.

Straight-up picks: