Update: check here for Colin’s week 2 picks

Football is back!!  And of course that means our beloved Cowherd is back with his Blazing Five.

Onto this week’s picks:

THE HERD’S BLAZIN’ FIVE PICKS NFL 2016 WEEK 1:

[winner] Tampa Bay (+3) at Atlanta – Cowherds typically loves underdogs so no surprise here.  Taking the Bucs and the points this game.  Tampa upgraded their secondary via the draft, which was their biggest weakness last year.  Winston just came off a season with over 4,000 yards passing, and could be the real deal.  Tampa Bay wins 28-21 outright.

[loser] Cincinnati (-2.5) at New York Jets – Staying away if the line moves to -3, but Colin loves this line under a fg.  Bengals will be missing their top TD target in Eifert, but the Jets will be missing more, including the heart and soul of their defensive line.  Sheldon Richardson is suspended this week, and Muhammad Wilkerson is banged up.  Cincy was 4-0 playing as road fav last year and started last season hot going 8-0.  Cincy wins 26-20

[winner] New York Giants (pk) at Cowboys – Colin not a believer in Dak, who did well in preseason, but haven’t proven anything in regular season.  Giants can’t be any worse than last year when they finished dead last, but it has been improved over the offseason.  6 of last 7 meetings between these 2 teams in Dallas have been close, all within 6 point. Colin taking the dependable Eli Manning over Dak making his first NFL start.  Dallas last in the NFL in takeaways last year, their pass rush stinks.  Giants win 31-21

[loser] Miami at Seattle (-10.5) –  First and only favorite Colin is taking this week.  Last 7 home openers for Seattle were all convincing wins.  Russell Wilson was the best QB in the league to end the season last year, ending the last 7 games going 24-1 TD to INT ratio.  Tannehill has a huge bullseye on his chest, got sacked 184 times in last 4 years, he won’t stay on his feet against the Seahawks line. Seattle wins 30-16

[loser] Chicago (+6) at Houston –  This is also Cousin Sal’s best bet this week.  Bears covered 6 out of last 7 road games last year.  Houston has no offensive weapons outside of Hopkins.  Colin is not a believer in Osweiler.  Elway passed on him for a reason.  John Fox’s second year under his defensive system will dominate the Texans.  Bears win outright 28-23