NFL openers: Back Packers, Broncos, Cowboys for winning starts

Windy City side Chicago suffered brutal blowout defeats to Green Bay in both matchups last season (38-17 and 55-14), and it could be another convincing victory for the Packers this time out.

Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos
Denver can get off to a winning start when they host Baltimore at Mile High Stadium this weekend. Like the Packers, the Broncos are also much-fancied this season, and boast one of the game’s all-time greats at quarterback in Peyton Manning.

Five-time NFL MVP award-winner Manning has delivered superb production since moving to Denver in 2012, leading the team to a SuperBowl appearance in 2014. A loss of form towards the end of last season should not concern punters, as this was caused largely by a severe thigh injury he sustained last December, though Manning has since recovered,

Question marks hover over how the Ravens will cope following the recent exits of important players on both offense and defense.

Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was traded to Detroit Lions, and speedy wide receiver Torrey Smith was allowed to walk in free agency as Baltimore declined to meet his contract demands. At wide receiver in particular, the Ravens squad appears to lack depth, and they will be relying on inexperienced youth to plug gaps.

In three seasons, Manning’s Broncos have lost just two home games in the regular campaign, so punters can back them to keep this record by seeing off the visitors here.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
Dallas could wrap up a fifth win on the bounce versus division rivals New York, who they host at AT&T Stadium on Sunday night.

The Cowboys came agonisingly close to reaching the NFC Championship game last season, falling just short of defeating Green Bay after an apparent catch by wide receiver Dez Bryant was controversially ruled out at a crucial stage of the game, late in the fourth quarter.

This season the team moved to ensure that Bryant – star pass-catcher and favourite target of Cowboys’ quarterback Tony Romo – would remain in Dallas for the foreseeable future, tying him down to a new five-year contract.

Bryant caught 88 passes for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns last year, and looks set to continue where he left off this weekend against a Giants side that appear to have a very thin secondary unit on defense. Punters can back him to score the first touchdown at tempting odds of 5/1.

New York’s offensive threat could be nullified by the Cowboys getting to Giants quarterback Eli Manning – the NY offensive line looks suspect and, if it does hold up against the Cowboys’ defense, Manning will be prevented from passing the ball to his favourite target Odell Beckham Jr.

Readers can count on the Cowboys to exploit the favourable matchups on both sides of the ball, which will enable them to triumph here.