Welcome to another exciting season of Doc’s Sports NFL Confidence Pool insights! Each week, we dissect every matchup, predict a straight-up (SU) winner, and assign a point value reflecting our level of confidence in each pick. This approach is solely about identifying clear winners, rather than focusing on against-the-spread (ATS) outcomes.
It’s essential to differentiate a confidence pool from a survivor pool, where participants select one team each week without the option to reuse that team. However, our confidence picks can enhance your survivor strategy.
Doc’s Sports provides expert NFL picks for every game on our dedicated NFL predictions page.
16 points – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys (Thursday Night Football): The reigning Super Bowl champions kick off the season at home, poised to dominate their divisional rivals. Despite Dallas’s bravado, they often falter in critical moments. Philadelphia’s strengthened defense will put immense pressure on Dak Prescott throughout the matchup.
15 points – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers (Friday Night Football): Even on neutral ground in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Patrick Mahomes and his team remind everyone why they are perennial title contenders. Kansas City tight end Travis Kelce will exploit mismatches in the Chargers’ secondary for significant yardage.
14 points – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns: Cincinnati aims to set the early tone with precise execution and solid protection for Burrow. He efficiently distributes the ball, taking advantage of vulnerabilities in Cleveland’s defense. The Browns struggle to sustain drives, and their front line falters in the latter half as the Bengals finish strong with two time-consuming possessions.
13 points – San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks: The physicality and depth of San Francisco stifle Seattle in all aspects of the game. The 49ers dominate the line of scrimmage, forcing the Seahawks into predictable passing scenarios. Purdy remains poised, connecting on intermediate throws while the running game dictates the rhythm. As Seattle tires, the 49ers surge ahead.
12 points – Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions: Green Bay harnesses the energy of home field advantage with sharp offensive timing. The Packers stretch Detroit’s secondary using intricate route schemes, completing drives efficiently. While the Lions show potential, they cannot keep pace with the Packers’ consistency, particularly in the second half as Green Bay tightens defensively.
11 points – Los Angeles Rams vs. Houston Texans: The Rams rely on seasoned composure and solid protection to dictate tempo. Stafford quickly finds his rhythm, targeting Houston’s zone coverage and converting crucial third downs. The Texans linger but fail to apply pressure or finish drives, while Los Angeles secures the victory with a late scoring drive and a red zone stop.
10 points – Arizona Cardinals vs. New Orleans Saints: Arizona’s tempo and spacing put significant strain on New Orleans from the outset. Murray keeps defenses guessing with rapid assessments and off-script plays. The Cardinals’ pass rush generates disruption, forcing turnovers and shifting the field position. New Orleans struggles to respond as Arizona establishes a two-score lead.
9 points – Washington Commanders vs. New York Giants: Washington maintains possession, utilizing a balanced mix of short passes and strong runs to keep the Giants off-kilter. The Commanders’ defense steps up in critical moments, stifling drives and winning the field position battle. New York’s offense falters, allowing Washington to secure a clean home victory.
8 points – Miami Dolphins vs. Indianapolis Colts: Miami’s speed and timing overwhelm Indianapolis’ defense, particularly in open space. The Dolphins set the tempo early, forcing the Colts into predictable passing situations. Explosive plays flip field position, while Miami’s defensive intensity keeps the match tilted in their favor.
7 points – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers: Jacksonville seizes the pace at home, capitalizing on Carolina’s defensive weaknesses with effective execution. The Jaguars’ revamped front forces errant passes and keeps the Panthers off balance. A few advantageous drives and efficient red zone plays seal the game for Jacksonville.
6 points – New England Patriots vs. Las Vegas Raiders: New England’s defense sets the tone immediately, collapsing the pocket and forcing the Raiders into ineffective short throws. The Patriots control field position and capitalize on defensive lapses, steadily building their lead through efficient drives. Vegas struggles to adapt, allowing New England to finish strong with disciplined clock management.
5 points – New York Jets vs. Pittsburgh Steelers: The Jets dominate the line of scrimmage, stifling Pittsburgh’s run game and creating long-yardage situations. New York’s defense pressures well and minimizes explosive plays, while the offense creates enough scoring drives to maintain the lead. A decisive late stop ensures a hard-fought home win.
4 points – Denver Broncos vs. Tennessee Titans: Denver’s offense finds its rhythm early, employing motion and space to challenge Tennessee’s defense. The Broncos keep up the pace, wearing down the Titans as altitude becomes a factor in the second half. A couple of lengthy drives and a crucial takeaway help Denver secure the victory.
3 points – Atlanta Falcons vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Atlanta combines short passes with power runs to keep Tampa’s defense uncertain. The Falcons manage the clock effectively and conclude drives successfully, while the Buccaneers struggle for consistent answers. Several key plays in the second half provide Atlanta the margin needed for a divisional win.
2 points – Buffalo Bills vs. Baltimore Ravens (Sunday Night Football): In a primetime shootout, Buffalo matches Baltimore’s fervor, exchanging scores and relying on Josh Allen’s arm to maintain control. The Bills’ defense tightens in the fourth quarter, executing a vital stop and setting up a go-ahead drive. The home crowd energizes the final push.
1 point – Chicago Bears vs. Minnesota Vikings (Monday Night Football): Chicago utilizes field spacing to force Minnesota into reactive coverage, creating separation and clean throwing lanes. The Bears maintain sustained drives and convert effectively in the red zone, while the Vikings struggle to complete drives. A late defensive stand secures the surprise victory under the lights.
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