Week 1 NFL running thread

[MileHigh]

Since my team is hosting and in the spotlight for the opener on Thursday (and no one else has done it), I'll start things off.

Great opening game, of course. Rematch of the incredible double-overtime playoff game on Jan. 12 in near-zero degree weather (definitely not the case Thursday). Rahim Moore and Jacoby Jones reunited. Elvis "Just the Fax" Dumervil returns to Denver. The Flacco Flap around 5,280 over the banner hung on the stadium and others around town to "promote" the game.

Other notable games that look intriguing:

Falcons at Saints. NFC South blood rivals and the return of Sean Payton.
Packers at 49ers in a playoff rematch.
Eagles at Redskins on Monday night with RG3 getting the start.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Reports say Raiders pick Terrelle Pryor to start.

Colts minus 7 is the kind of line that makes you think about doubling the college fund.

 

[DanOregon]

I love that the Packers didn't just sign Seneca Wallace ahead of their game with the 49ers. They also signed Scott Tolzien for the stuff the Niners put in before Wallace got there. Rent, don't buy Scott. Better yet. Find an affordable hotel with weekly rates.

 

[ColdCat]

Reports say Raiders pick Terrelle Pryor to start.

because they feel the JuJu over a starting QB wearing No. 2 is not as bad as the JuJu of a starting QB from LSU

 

[HanSenSE]

Reports say Raiders pick Terrelle Pryor to start.

because they feel the JuJu over a starting QB wearing No. 2 is not as bad as the JuJu of a starting QB from LSU

You could dig up George Blanda and it wouldn't make a difference with these Raiders.

 

[UPChip]

I love that the Packers didn't just sign Seneca Wallace ahead of their game with the 49ers. They also signed Scott Tolzien for the stuff the Niners put in before Wallace got there. Rent, don't buy Scott. Better yet. Find an affordable hotel with weekly rates.

Probably just crashing on his buddy's couch in Madison.

 

[heyabbott]

Giants 4-0 at Jerryworld

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

Browns have a legit shot to be in first place after this week.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I hate when the NFL burns off a game like Packers-49ers in Week 1. It's Week 1, we'll happily watch 49ers-Cardinals or Packers-Lions.

Aside from the Thursday night opener and the Sunday night game, they should save obvious marquee matchups for later in the season.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

They always try to load up the opening week with good games. They want every broadcast partner to have a national attraction for the week. Weren't Packers-49ers a Week One game last year, too?

 

[UPChip]

They always try to load up the opening week with good games. They want every broadcast partner to have a national attraction for the week. Weren't Packers-49ers a Week One game last year, too?

Yup. Same time slot, in Green Bay. Cluster**** for the Packers, just like the Divisional game was and just like Sunday very well could be.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

They could put the Jaguars and Raiders on Thursday night and I would watch. If it was Week 10, maybe not...

I like putting the Super Bowl champ in the first game of the season, I get that. But putting two favorites against each other in a non-prime time game is a mistake.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

For Fox and CBS, 4 p.m. Sunday IS prime time as far as the NFL goes. That slot is their national game broadcast slot. They pay the big bucks, too. I like the Week One front loading. Gets the year off to a flying start. Hell on survivor pools, though.

 

[joe king]

Giants 4-0 at Jerryworld

Home field advantage is a myth at the UFO formerly known as Cowboys Stadium. Dallas is barely above .500 at home since the place opened.

 

[UPChip]

For Fox and CBS, 4 p.m. Sunday IS prime time as far as the NFL goes. That slot is their national game broadcast slot. They pay the big bucks, too. I like the Week One front loading. Gets the year off to a flying start. Hell on survivor pools, though.

Just for sake of discussion, CBS doesn't and never has doubleheader for Week 1 because of the U.S. Open.

 

[LongTimeListener]

They could put the Jaguars and Raiders on Thursday night and I would watch. If it was Week 10, maybe not...

I like putting the Super Bowl champ in the first game of the season, I get that. But putting two favorites against each other in a non-prime time game is a mistake.

I've never understood this. You're assuming most of the fan base is as dedicated as you are, but that's not true. Their lifeblood is the casual fan who gets interested. And the first week of September is not the time those folks are typically going to be that interested; you need big games especially in those afternoon slots. When the weather turns cold and everybody is still alive in the playoff race, that's when you have the captive audience.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

They could put the Jaguars and Raiders on Thursday night and I would watch. If it was Week 10, maybe not...

I like putting the Super Bowl champ in the first game of the season, I get that. But putting two favorites against each other in a non-prime time game is a mistake.

I've never understood this. You're assuming most of the fan base is as dedicated as you are, but that's not true. Their lifeblood is the casual fan who gets interested. And the first week of September is not the time those folks are typically going to be that interested; you need big games especially in those afternoon slots. When the weather turns cold and everybody is still alive in the playoff race, that's when you have the captive audience.

I don't know... I know the Packer and 49ers are playing for the second year in a row and third time in five years (not counting the playoffs), but there are a handful of non-division games that you know are going to be huge. I get your point, but I don't want to see this game in Week 1. I want to see it in week 10 when both teams appear headed for the playoffs.

 

[Gutter]

They could put the Jaguars and Raiders on Thursday night and I would watch. If it was Week 10, maybe not...

I like putting the Super Bowl champ in the first game of the season, I get that. But putting two favorites against each other in a non-prime time game is a mistake.

I've never understood this. You're assuming most of the fan base is as dedicated as you are, but that's not true. Their lifeblood is the casual fan who gets interested. And the first week of September is not the time those folks are typically going to be that interested; you need big games especially in those afternoon slots. When the weather turns cold and everybody is still alive in the playoff race, that's when you have the captive audience.

I don't know... I know the Packer and 49ers are playing for the second year in a row and third time in five years (not counting the playoffs), but there are a handful of non-division games that you know are going to be huge. I get your point, but I don't want to see this game in Week 1. I want to see it in week 10 when both teams appear headed for the playoffs.

What if one team ****s the bed the first few weeks and/or its star (Rodgers/Kaepernick) is injured?

There are no guarantees on intriguing matchups in Week 10 and beyond ... thus, we have flex scheduling. I don't have an issue with giving away a great matchup to open the season.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Mizzou, Packers-49ers (and in Week 2, 49ers-Seahawks) have benefited from months of anticipation, which has meant people actually planning where they are going to be for that game. If it's 49ers-Titans, I bet you'd see a local ratings drop of at least 25 percent.

It's all about getting people back in the Sunday habit. The quicker the better.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I have less of a problem with the second game being Seahawaks-49ers, because there is another one...

Oh well... I'm just glad the regular season is starting...