Reviewing Week 1 score predictions, including how we thought the Vikings game would go
Jacob Clary
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The first week of the 2020 NFL season is over, and now it’s time to review my predictions from those 16 games, which can be read here.
Overall, I did very well with my predictions, going 12-4 on them and getting pretty close on multiple games.
Thursday, September 10
Houston Texans at Kansas City Chiefs
My prediction: 30-14 Chiefs win
Actual score: 34-20 Chiefs win
I was pretty spot on for my first prediction, where I thought the Chiefs would basically beat up on the Texans.
Sunday, September 13
Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons
My prediction: 20-17 Seahawks win
Actual score: 38-25 Seahawks win
I thought it would have been a lot closer than it ended up being, as well as a more defensive-minded battle, but I still ended up with the win.
New York Jets at Buffalo Bills
My prediction: 24-10 Bills win
Actual score: 27-17 Bills win
I was pretty close with this prediction, and while the Jets made it closer than I thought, I ended up getting the win in this game as well.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
My prediction: 17-7 Lions win
Actual prediction: 27-23 Bears win
This might be one of the predictions I got the most wrong. I thought the Bears wouldn’t be able to do anything on offense, and I was wrong about that.
Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
My prediction: 24-21 Packers win
Actual score: 43-34 Packers win
I was right about this game, but wrong about the scoreline, especially how well the Vikings defense would play. The secondary floundered and also wasn’t able to get enough pressure on Aaron Rodgers.
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
My prediction: 20-10 Patriots win
Actual score: 21-11 Patriots win
I was almost completely right on this matchup. I knew the Dolphins wouldn’t be able to put up a lot of points and that the Patriots would be able to do just enough to win, which came from Cam Newton and his legs.
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Football Team
Final score prediction: 14-7 Eagles win
Actual score: 27-17 Washington Football Team win
This game was unexpected, but it shouldn’t have been. The Eagles offensive line was decimated due to injuries, Washington has a great defensive line, and Dwayne Haskins was able to do enough to get them the win.
Las Vegas Raiders at Carolina Panthers
My prediction: 24-14 Raiders win
Actual score: 34-30 Raiders win
While the score was inflated a bit, the Panthers were able to do more than I expected, the Raiders won the game in the end thanks to Josh Jacobs. The Panthers will be alright this year.
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
My prediction: 34-13 Colts win
Actual score: 27-20 Jaguars win
This is the other game I think I got massively wrong. MinshewMania has returned in 2020 and he might ruin the tank for the Jaguars. The Colts, however, did not look great, and it didn’t help Marlon Mack got injured and won’t return this season.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
My prediction: 35-28 Ravens win
Actual score: 38-6 Ravens win
While I got the winning team right, I was wrong about everything else. Maybe the Browns had a bad game, but they did not look good at all. The Ravens also looked similar to last year and will have another good season.
Los Angeles Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals
Final score prediction: 20-17 Chargers win
Actual score: 16-13 Chargers win
Football is pain.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
My prediction: 28-24 Saints win
Actual score: 34-23 Saints win
I was also pretty close with this game, but I did not see Tom Brady throwing multiple pick-sixes happening, and that kind of skewed the score.
Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers
My prediction: 24-23 Cardinals win
Actual score: 24-20 Cardinals win
This is probably the crown jewel of my predictions in the first week. I predicted Kyler Murray and the Cardinals would be able to best the previous year’s NFC champion, and I got that right. George Kittle’s injury might have been a big reason for that, however, as he can completely take over a game when healthy.
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Rams
My prediction: 28-13 Cowboys win
Actual score: 20-17 Rams win
As usual, the Cowboys disappoint everyone and lose the first game of the season. The Rams, however, did look much better than I expected them to, and that was definitely unexpected. Their rushing game looked decent and the defense looked good too.
Monday, September 14
Pittsburgh Steelers at New York Giants
My prediction: 24-7 Steelers win
Actual score : 26-16 Steelers win
The Giants offense did not look very good, maybe because of the good Steelers defense, and Roethlisberger looked serviceable enough to help lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs,
Tennessee Titans at Denver Broncos
My prediction: 23-17 Titans win.
Actual score: 16-14 Titans win
I was kind of close with this game. I thought there would be a little more offense, but I assumed the score would be close and it might go to the end of the game.