Fearless Rick & Coin Flip Week 1 NFL Picks

Preseason Week 3 Results: Rick: 10-6; Flip: 4-12
Cumulative Preseason: Rick: 27-22; Flip: 24-25

Wednesday, September 9 New England Patriots @ Seattle Seahawks (-3.5, 44) (8:20 pm, NBC) - The champs are back in action in a re-match of last season’s Super Bowl. The Seahawks may actually be better than they were last year and that spells trouble for the visitors.

Can Sam Darnold duplicate his 2025 season? That’s a key question surrounding this game and the remainder of the season, but one thing is certain: the Seattle defense will be a force with which to reckon. The Pats also will be better on defense and the addition of A.J. Brown to the New England receiving corps will provide QB Drake Maye some big time playmaking.

Coin Flip: Seattle

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Seahawks 20 Patriots 13

Thursday, September 10

San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams (-3.5, 48.5) (8:35 pm Netflix, Melbourne) - OK, we get it. The Rams are la creme de la creme in the NFL. They will probably win this game - the first ever in Australia - against their NFC West rivals, the 49ers, who have the usual injury issues already, with no less than 11 starters listed as questionable a week before the game.

The Rams may get the assistance on defense of Aaron Donald, who has been working out with the team, but they’re unlikely to need him. Going with the Rams just on hype. After this, we’ll see.

Coin Flip: Los Angeles Rams

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Rams 27 49ers 20

Sunday, September 13

Buffalo Bills (-1.5, 44.5) @ Houston Texans (1:00 pm, CBS) - Houston, we have a problem, and it’s called C.J. Stroud. The Texans signal-caller was horrible in the playoffs last season and has plenty to prove heading into the regular season. The Bills have revamped their defense and will be pressuring most of the afternoon.

Buffalo still has Superman, aka Josh Allen, and his wingman, James Cook III, both of whom will be all-pro again this season. Add in D.J. Moore at wideout and the Bills have the look of a team that could finally go all the way.

Coin Flip: Buffalo

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bills 31 Texans 14

New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans (-1, 38.5) (1:00 pm, CBS) - Judging by the preseason performance of Tennessee QB Cam Ward, there’s still work to be done. Ward didn’t impress at all last season and was pretty much ineffective throughout the preseason.

What the Jets have going for them is a revamped defense, Geno Smith at QB and another season with Aaron Glenn as head coach. Both teams were 3-14 last year, so this game is a tough one to call, but give the Jets the nod on Geno Smith’s experience behind center.

Coin Flip: Tennessee

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Jets 24 Titans 16

Baltimore Ravens (-3.5, 48.5) @ Indianapolis Colts (1:00 pm, CBS) - This one should perk up everybody’s NFL antennas with Daniel Jones returning for the Colts after last season’s performance and season-ending injury. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are back for the Ravens with new head coach Jesse Minter.

Indy was headed for the playoffs in 2025 until Jones’ injury left them leaderless. There’s a very good possibility that the Ravens may be a little overrated here especially against a quality Colts team at home. Baltimore’s defense was nothing special last season and they may not be much better in 2026.

Coin Flip: Baltimore

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Colts 31 Ravens 21

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5, 50) (1:00 pm, FOX) - Joe Burrow starts another season in Cincinnati and hopes to remain healthy for the duration. Over on the Tampa Bay side, it’s still summer, meaning the Buccaneers won’t have weather issues and may actually be better suited for playing in the heat.

Tampa Bay QB Baker Mayfield will have Bucky Irving by his side, and that may make all the difference for the Bucs’ offense. Irving missed seven games last season, and, including the 31-25 loss to Philly in which he was injured, the Bucs were 3-5. Tampa missed the playoffs by a hair but are likely to rebound in 2026. This one looks like a shoot-out.

Coin Flip: Cincinnati

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Buccaneers 34 Bengals 31

Cleveland Browns @ Jacksonville Jaguars (-7.5, 41) (1:00 pm, CBS) - The line says it all. The Jags were a few plays away from making the AFC Championship and have high hopes for this season. Trevor Lawrence may vie for MVP and Jacksonville’s defensive prowess is already well-known.

Cleveland (5-12 in 2025) will start discredited Deshaun Watson over Shedder Sanders in the first of two consecutive road games. The idea is that Watson will either make or break in those two games giving the Browns’ brass reason to start Sanders at QB for the home opener, or not. Either way, give the points. Could be a romp.

Coin Flip: Jacksonville

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Jaguars 34 Browns 9

Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-3, 41.5) (1:00 pm, FOX) - Toss up game for both teams, though the Steelers are favored because they’re home and ageless QB Aaron Rodgers will be starting for new - and former - head coach Mike McCarthy.

Atlanta seems to have figured out its QB rotation, for now, with Tua Tagovailoa getting the call over injured Michael Penix Jr. and Cooper Rush. Atlanta can lean on RB Bijan Robinson while the Steelers are still in search of a running game. Defenses appear equal. Razor’s edge to Atlanta.

Coin Flip: Pittsburgh

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Falcons 20 Steelers 17

Chicago Bears (-2.5, 47.5) @ Carolina Panthers (1:00 pm, FOX) - Two teams on a collision course in the long race to the playoffs. The Panthers surprised many by winning the NFC South last season while the Bears were shockingly good, taking the NFC North.

Caleb Williams may be gunning for MVP this season. He was lights out last year and should be ready to roll. Carolina QB Bryce Young still needs some fine-tuning, but he was on the right path in 2025. No reason to believe he won’t be better this year. Tough call in a game that may be won by a field goal or possibly in OT.

Coin Flip: Chicago

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Panthers 27 Bears 24

New Orleans Saints @ Detroit Lions (-7, 49.5) (1:00 pm, FOX) - The Lions don’t need to prove to anybody that they can score from anywhere on the field, but the defense still lacks killer instinct. A healthy Aidan Hutchinson sold help in that regard.

New Orleans goes with Tyler Slough over Spencer Rattler at QB, though neither of them hold a candle to Detroit’s Jared Goff, which is why giving seven is probably not enough for Saints’ backers.

Coin Flip: Detroit

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Lions 30 Saints 17

Miami Dolphins @ Las Vegas Raiders (-3, 41) (4:25 pm, FOX) - OK, both of these teams stunk up the place last year, but hopes are high for both squads, and, since it’s Week 1, why not?

This is one of the more unimportant games of the week, but eyes will be focused the Raiders and starting QB, Kirk Cousins, who gets the nod over #1 pick, Fernando Mendoza. How long Cousins keeps his job runs somewhere between three and five losses and this could be #1. Miami goes with Malik Willis at QB and DeVon Achane at RB, who could be the missing link for Miami’s offense.

Coin Flip: Miami

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Dolphins 27 Raiders 17

Arizona Cardinals @ Los Angeles Chargers (-10, 46.5) (4:25 pm, CBS) - The Cardinals won just three games last season, and they’re sure to lose at least six in their own division, against the Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks.

They appear wildly overmatched on the road against the Chargers, an 11-6 team in 2025 that has higher aspirations in 2026. LA should rip here.

Coin Flip: Arizona

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Chargers 42 Cardinals 20

Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (-1.5, 45) (4:25 pm, CBS) - Even though there are question marks on both sides of this affair, the Vikings have the more considerable ones, with Kyler Murray taking over as starting QB in place of J.J. McCarthy, who, for all intents and purposes, looks like a career backup.

After a sub-par 9-7-1 season, despite making the playoffs, the Packers need to prove they are a contender in the division and conference. They have proven ability and can probably force more than a few turnovers by the Vikings. Although these games are often close, the Vikes seem to be behind the eight ball this season. Have to like the Packers’ chances of starting off 1-0.

Coin Flip: Minnesota

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Packers 24 Vikings 19

Washington Commanders @ Philadelphia Eagles (-4.5, 45.5) (4:25 pm, FOX) - With Jayden Daniels back after an injury-ridden season, the Commanders may surprise some people, including the arch-rival Eagles. Washington has a slew of weapons on offense which the Eagles will be hard pressed to slow.

While the Eagles have a decided edge on defense, the offense, which will run through Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley, lacks downfield threats outside of DeVonta Smith, though the Commanders’ secondary has ample resources with which to cover him. Philly may win this, but it’s likely to be closer than the spread indicate.

Coin Flip: Philadelphia

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Commanders 27 Eagles 23

Dallas Cowboys (-2.5, 49) @ New York Giants (8:20 pm, NBC) - Oh, well, here we go agains the great NFC East debate. The Giants have a new head coach in John Harbaugh, as do the Cowboys, with Brian Schottenheimer. Harbaugh has proven ability, but maybe not the personnel he needs, though with Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo, the makings of a solid offense are there. Malik Nabers is questionable and may be a game-time decision.

Dallas has all the offense it needs, but the defense is still lacking the kind of players that can halt drives, and that’s a problem in a game that may go down to the final seconds.

Coin Flip: Dallas

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Giants 26 Cowboys 23

Monday, September 14

Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs (-3, 42) (8:15 pm, ESPN) - Patrick is supposedly ready to go for the season opener, which is welcome news for the Chiefs. Denver has a healthy Bo Nix at QB and a defense that was top-shelf last season.

Denver won both contests against their AFC West rival last year and took the division with a 14-3 record. Without Nix at QB, they could not generate any offense in a 10-7 loss to New England in the AFC Championship. Given a healthy Bo Nix and a team three points short of a trip to the Super Bowl, are we to believe the Chiefs will rebound from a 6-11 season (losing all six of their last games) to challenge the AFC again. Color is doubtful.

Coin Flip: Kansas City

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Broncos 30 Chiefs 17