NFL Week 1: DeSean Jackson returns to Eagles and is still fast
Plus predictions on the postgame headlines for the remaining games of the NFL's opening week
Previewing Week 1. Games are Sunday unless noted.
Washington at Eagles, 1 p.m. (Fox29)
After one of his first practices in Philly, backup quarterback Josh McCown raised his eyebrows and shook his head when he was asked about throwing to DeSean Jackson. “That dude is still fast,” McCown said. Jackson, who turns 33 on Dec. 1, is the most intriguing addition to the Eagles offense. On defense, it’s tackle Malik Jackson. Line: Eagles by 10.
Postgame headline: Recent news of the demolition of RFK Stadium is perfect metaphor for the Daniel Snyder era
» FROM THE ARCHIVES: DeSean Jackson looking to outrun his first stint here
Atlanta at Minnesota, 1 p.m.
Julio Jones needs two catches for 700. If he gets them Sunday, in his 112th career game, he’ll be the second-fastest to reach 700. (Antonio Brown needed 111.) On Saturday the Falcons gave their star wide receiver a three-year contract extension that reportedly guarantees him $66 million. Line: Vikings by 4.
Postgame headline: Matt Ryan now 67-36 in games played indoors
Baltimore at Miami, 1 p.m.
It’s one thing to be active at the trade deadline, but the Dolphins were sellers even before Week 1. Thirty-one of the 53 players on Miami’s roster are new, and arguably the team’s best player, left tackle Laremy Tunsil, was traded to Houston for draft picks. Any fan arriving in a “tank” top should get in for free. Line: Ravens by 7.
Postgame headline: Dolphins fans want to know when they’re getting Joel Embiid
Tennessee at Cleveland, 1 p.m.
No fan base has been starving for Week 1 more than Cleveland’s, which has seen more bets to win the Super Bowl than any other team at some sports books. The wave of optimism following last season’s 5-2 finish, the acquisition of Odell Beckham Jr., the emergence of Baker Mayfield as the face of the franchise. It’s all there for the Browns to end the league-worst 16-year playoff drought. Line: Browns by 5.5.
Postgame headline: Titans lift a leg on the Dawg Pound
Kansas City at Jacksonville, 1 p.m.
Jacksonville’s season was sailing along last year until it hit an iceberg in Kansas City. That started a seven-game losing streak that ended when running back Leonard Fournette lost his mind and got kicked out of a game in Buffalo for fighting. Revenge is on the Jaguars’ mind. But Patrick Mahomes is on the Chiefs roster. Line: Chiefs by 3.5.
Postgame headline: Longing for his old home, Nick Foles calls for the “Philly Special;” gets handed a frozen box of Steak-Umms instead
L.A. Rams at Carolina, 1 p.m.
Todd Gurley says his left knee is fine, but the Rams’ spending a third-round pick on Memphis running back Darrell Henderson is a bit disquieting. “He’s good,” said tight end Tyler Higbee. “I’m excited to see him do his thing on Sunday, you know. We expect him to be his best, and that he will be.” The Rams lost three of their last five away from home last season, including that dismal performance against the Patriots. Line: Rams by 3.
Postgame headline: Panthers start the Rams’ Super Bowl hangover with mild upset
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, 1 p.m.
Jets running back Le’Veon Bell is playing his first game since the 2017 playoffs. He held out all of last season trying to get a new deal from Pittsburgh. He’s going against a Bills defense that returns 10 starters but had its adventures against the run last season. Line: Jets by 3.
Postgame headline: Jets win puts them in driver’s seat to finish second in AFC East
Cincinnati at Seattle, 4:05 p.m.
Almost as critical as the acquisition of Jadeveon Clowney from Houston is the return of Ziggy Ansah from injury. Seattle’s other defensive end, Ansah did not play in the preseason after having shoulder surgery. Line: Seahawks by 9.5.
Postgame headline: Don’t sleep on Seattle this season
Indianapolis at L.A. Chargers, 4:05 p.m. (CBS3)
“We believe in Jacoby,” Colts coach Frank Reich said about his sudden No. 1 quarterback, Jacoby Brissett, who was given a $30 million contract this week. “We trust Jacoby — everything we’ve seen from Day 1 about the way he handles his business, about the way he performs. He is our guy, and we wanted to make that statement going forward.” Line: Chargers by 6.5.
Postgame headline: Chargers miss Melvin Gordon but miss Derwin James even more
San Francisco at Tampa Bay, 4:25 p.m.
The Niners are pumped to see defensive ends Dee Ford (13 sacks last season for Kansas City) and Nick Bosa (second overall pick) in a game for the first time. “We know what it looks like when the guys up front are humming,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said. “It’s going to be pretty cool.” Line: Pick ‘em.
Postgame headline: Bucs win because nobody does “cool” better than new coach Bruce Arians
N.Y. Giants at Dallas, 4:25 p.m. (Fox29)
Big Blue is opening in Dallas for the sixth time in nine years (four losses), and Eli Manning is starting his 16th consecutive season opener. Most interesting story line for Eagles fans will be how Dallas running back Zeke Elliott looks after finally joining the team after his summer-long holdout. Line: Cowboys by 7.
Postgame headline: Dak Prescott looks all around his locker, wonders where his new contract is
Detroit at Arizona, 4:25 p.m.
The excitement for Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury’s “Air Raid” offense feels a lot like the initial love for Chip Kelly’s genius. For Kyler Murray’s sake, hope the love isn’t as fleeting. When in doubt, just give it to David Johnson. Matt Patricia became Lions head coach last year because of the work he did with the Patriots defense for more than a decade. Line: Lions by 2.5.
Postgame headline: Murray becomes 16th QB to throw a TD to Larry Fitzgerald
Pittsburgh at New England, 8:20 p.m. (NBC10)
The Patriots are 4-1 in Week 1 after winning the Super Bowl, including a win over Mike Tomlin and the Steelers in 2015. That was the night Tomlin was furious when there were problems with his headsets. The Patriots’ last loss was at Pittsburgh in Week 15. They went on to win their sixth Supe. Line: Patriots by 5.5.
Postgame headline: New England salutes owner Robert Kraft by rubbing out the Steelers, 31-17
Monday: Houston at New Orleans, 7:10 p.m. (ESPN)
Texans third-year quarterback Deshaun Watson was asked about counterpart Drew Brees, who is entering his 19th season. “I’ve only been alive for 23 years, so it’s amazing to see what he’s done,” Watson said. “And actually this summer I was looking at his stats and seeing the amount of years he’s had 5,000 yards, 5,000 yards, 5,000 yards, 4,000 yards, and just constantly doing it.” Line: Saints by 7.
Postgame headline: Brees starts next run at 5K with 350 yards against Houston
Denver at Oakland, 10:20 p.m. (ESPN)
The Broncos, of all teams, have the league’s longest Week 1 winning streak, at seven. The last team to beat them was the Raiders in 2011, long before Antonio Brown had turned into a diva. Brown’s antics are a heck of a way to start the Raiders’ final season in Oakland. Line: Denver by 2.
Postgame headline: Oakland GM Mike Mayock longs for those August nights calling Eagles preseason games
The Associated Press contributed to this report.