NFL Spin Zone
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2022 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 1

By Gil Alcaraz IV

NFL Predictions, NFL Picks, Tom Brady, Buccaneers - Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images
NFL Predictions, NFL Picks, Tom Brady, Buccaneers - Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images /
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NFL Picks, Myles Garrett, Cleveland Browns – Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Images via Getty Images /

Cleveland Browns (0-0) at Carolina Panthers (0-0)

Sunday, September 11, 1PM ET

Wouldn’t we all love to see Baker Mayfield welcome the Cleveland Browns into his new home and hand them a big, fat L? It makes for an intriguing storyline, but it’s not something I see coming to fruition in Week 1 in the Carolina Panthers home opener.

Even with Deshaun Watson serving his suspension, there’s plenty to like about this Browns squad — at least from a purely football standpoint. They’ve got one of the best running games in the business, an elite pass rusher in Myles Garrett, and one of the top young secondaries the league has to offer.

Can you say anything similar about the Panthers? Not really. Even after the acquisition of Mayfield (which was a nice upgrade at quarterback, but not a monumental one), Carolina’s offense still lacks much pizazz outside of D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey. And we all know the latter hasn’t exactly been reliable over the past couple of seasons.

The Panthers keep it interesting as Mayfield looks to exact revenge on the team that cast him aside so carelessly. Unfortunately, he’s unsuccessful, as the Cleveland defense gets the best of him and Carolina fails to slow down the duo of Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Sorry Panthers fans, but you’re likely in for another season full of disappointment. Best to prepare yourselves now.

Prediction: Browns win 31-20

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