NFL: Bears, Steelers and Rams can all hit the ground running

To celebrate the first weekend of the new NFL season, Coral offer a special price of 2/1 on a trio of wins for the Chicago Bears, Pittsburgh Steelers and St Louis Rams. Here’s why this is such a great bet.

Buffalo Bills at Chicago Bears
The Bears offense should roll in week 1 – Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery are up there with the very best wide receivers in the league right now.

Together with pass-catching tight end Martellus Bennett and new addition Santonio Holmes (who was the Superbowl MVP five years ago), they offer quarterback Jay Cutler the opportunity to stretch the field and make plenty of big-scoring plays.

Chicago’s big problem last season was its defense, but the Buffalo offense does not look likely to present a stern test for them this weekend.

Second-year quarterback EJ Manuel was disappointing in pre-season and faces a fight to keep his job, with former Dallas Cowboy Kyle Orton recently signed by the Bills. Punters should therefore back Chicago to win its sixth straight home opener at Soldier Field.

Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
History is against the Browns; they have lost 19 of the last 21 games against their fierce division rivals Pittsburgh. That run includes 10 straight defeats at Heinz Field by an average of more than 14 points, and astonishingly Cleveland have not won a season opener since 2004.

All of this might not matter if the Browns came into the season in better shape, but instead they are in a bit of a mess. Star wide receiver Josh Gordon has been suspended for the season following a failed drugs test.

There is also a quarterback controversy brewing, with media darling Jonny Manziel left holding a clipboard after Brian Hoyer beat him to the starter’s job in pre-season.

The Steelers, by contrast, have a reassuring sense of stability about them. Ben Roethlisberger has been under center for a decade, and coach Mike Tomlin is now entering his eighth season in charge at Heinz Field. Punters should expect them to start the season with a win here.