The 2021 NFL regular season starts a week from tomorrow, with the Dallas Cowboys looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2020 with a campaign that starts with a new defensive coordinator, a crew of new starters on defense and a (hopefully) healed Dak Prescott at quarterback. Their first assignment is a trip to Tampa Bay to take on the Super Bowl champion Buccaneers, which will definitely serve as an early measuring stick for Dallas’ progress as they enter Year 2 of the Mike McCarthy eral.
As you think about your online NFL betting for the opening week, here are some teams that we feel very confident will not bring you wagering profits…so take heed.
NFL News: Sure Losers in Week 1
Los Angeles Chargers (+1) at Washington Football Team
Joey Bosa and Derwin James have returned healthy to the Chargers’ defense, so they should be less likely to give up points in bunches this season. Justin Herbert returns after winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, putting up the sort of numbers that a more seasoned quarterback would be proud to have. Greater consistency along the offensive line will give Herbert more chances to actually win games.
Even so, this week the Chargers face what might be the top defense in the NFL, opening in Washington. It’s true that the Football Team went 7-9 last season, “winning” the NFC East. Last year Washington had a quarterback carousel that saw Dwayne Haskins, the starter, get cut — and Alex Smith, who made a heroic return from a gruesome injury, go down to injury — leaving the inexperienced Taylor Heinicke to lead the offense in the team’s one playoff game. Ryan Fitzpatrick comes on after putting up the best numbers in his career last season in Miami. So while the Chargers may be on the rise, their rise won’t start this week.
Seattle Seahawks (-1.5) at Indianapolis Colts
Which Carson Wentz will we see? Will it be the Wentz who was steaming toward an MVP before going down to injury…only to watch Nick Foles lead the Eagles to a storybook Super Bowl title? Or will it be the Wentz who has had the thousand-yard stare of a quarterback under duress the last two seasons in Philadelphia, holding onto the ball too long (and then fumbling) or forcing bad throws (leading to interceptions)? We really don’t have an idea yet.
The Seahawks’ defense consists largely of a stout group of linebackers, perched behind a somewhat intrepid defensive line and in front of a porous secondary. So if Wentz can get some time in the pocket, he could find receivers down the field. The team’s offense can put up points in bunches, but can they break through against the Colts’ defense? If Phillip Rivers were still in town, I’d be looking at the Colts to win this. As it is, I see Wentz and the Colts going down in their opener.
Jacksonville Jaguars (-3) at Houston Texans
Houston won four games in 2020. Two of those wins came against the Jacksonville Jaguars (last year’s worst team), and another win came against a Detroit team that only won five games. This performance came with an elite quarterback (Deshaun Watson) running the offense. This year, Watson is the subject of trade rumors and legal difficulties, so Tyrod Taylor is the starter — and the team did not do much to address their woes elsewhere on the roster.
Jacksonville comes in with a new head coach (Urban Meyer), a new quarterback (Trevor Lawrence), a salty defense and a solid group of wide receivers. The offense sputtered until the preseason finale, when Lawrence led the way in a rout over the Dallas reserves. However, tailback Travis Etienne is out with a Lisfranc injury, and the team just dealt away backup quarterback Gardner Minshew II, taking away Lawrence’s room for error. Even so, I see Jacksonville beating a woeful Houston team to start the season.
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