Joe Champion’s best bets for the opening weekend of the NFL season include strong starts for two AFC North teams.
The 2024 NFL season begins this weekend and there are 13 games taking place on a packed Sunday coupon. We’ve put together a four-fold which pays out at 10/1.
Tips
Jaguars @ Dolphins: Over 49.5 points
20/21
Cincinnati Bengals -6.5
4/6
Pittsburgh Steelers +3.5
5/6
Washington Commanders +3.5
5/6
Acca pays 10/1
Offences could be on top in Miami
The Miami Dolphins offence lit up the Hard Rock Stadium last season, winning seven of their nine home games and averaging more than 30 points, and they should combine with the Jacksonville Jaguars for an entertaining all-Florida contest.
Fins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has star receiver Tyreek Hill at his disposal while his fellow wideout Jaylen Waddle and running backs De’Von Achane and Raheem Mostert also return for the new campaign.
Miami should rack up the points against Jacksonville’s questionable pass rush but the hosts have a few fitness issues of their own on defence, which should encourage Trevor Lawrence and the Jags.
Bengals to put sorry Pats to the sword
A fit-again Joe Burrow makes Cincinnati into possible Super Bowl contenders and with his top target Ja’Marr Chase seemingly also ready to go, the Bengals should make a fast start at home to the New England Patriots.
Burrow’s Week 11 injury put paid to the Bengals’ play-off hopes last year but they still carved out a respectable 9-8 record and bigger things will be expected from them this time around.
New England, meanwhile, step into the post-Belichick era with Jacoby Brissett preferred to rookie Drake Maye at quarterback. New head coach Jerod Mayo seemingly has his work cut out in Foxborough and could be set for a chastening start.
Steelers should show plenty of fight
Mike Tomlin enters his 18th season as head coach in Pittsburgh and there is every chance his Steelers can make life tough for a new-look Atlanta Falcons franchise.
It’s all change for both of these teams at quarterback as Pittsburgh turns to Russell Wilson with Justin Fields as backup, while the Falcons are hoping that Kirk Cousins can bring out the best in a talented Atlanta receiving group.
The home team are favourites but Pittsburgh’s elite pass rush will relish the chance to go after Cousins, who is returning from an ACL tear.
This is the sort of game where Tomlin’s team excels so expect the Steelers to keep in touch.
Commanders can keep it close
The Washington Commanders used the no.2 draft pick on quarterback Jayden Daniels and the LSU product could enjoy immediate success on the road at Tampa Bay.
Like any college star, Daniels has something to prove in the NFL but he will be at the heart of an offence which features a top receiver in Terry McLaurin and some eye-catching additions in Austin Ekeler and Zach Ertz.
The Commanders look to have upgraded on defence, too, bringing in Bobby Wagner among a host of other recruits, and they can keep it close against the Bucs, who exceeded expectations last season but could be set for a regressive campaign.
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