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Early NFL picks, predictions for Week 1 of 2023 season

By Sayre Bedinger

GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 12: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 12: Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates after Super Bowl LVII against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium on February 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. The Chiefs defeated the Eagles 38-35. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images) /
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NFL Picks
NFL Picks; New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers (left) and owner Woody Johnson pose for a photo during the introductory press conference at Atlantic Health Jets Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Tom Horak-USA TODAY Sports /

Buffalo Bills (13-3) @ New York Jets (7-10)

Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Week 1 of the 2023 NFL season ends with an absolute banger as the Buffalo Bills — one of the league’s best — travel to New York to face off against the Aaron Rodgers-led Jets.

Josh Allen vs. Aaron Rodgers.

That’s good TV.

Rodgers’ ongoing saga with the Green Bay Packers is now finally over. He’s reunited in New York with his old pal Nathaniel Hackett, former Packers offensive coordinator and more recently head coach of the Denver Broncos. A lot of Broncos fans thought the union between Hackett and Rodgers would take place this past year in Denver, but the Packers weren’t willing to trade Rodgers when he was just a couple of months removed from winning back-to-back MVP awards.

Now, Rodgers and Hackett are with the Jets. They have a chance to give the Bills a serious run for their money in the AFC East, assuming we see more along the lines of 2021 Aaron Rodgers as opposed to 2022 Aaron Rodgers.

Even 2022 Aaron Rodgers would be an upgrade over 2022 Zach Wilson for the Jets. This team was in contention for the playoffs much of last season even with dreadful quarterback play. Now, they’ve got a four-time league MVP. What could go wrong?

The Buffalo Bills, though, are a well-oiled machine. Josh Allen and this Buffalo team have to be taking it at least a bit personal that the Bengals and Chiefs are almost considered by many to be on a different tier than them these days.

Although this is a matchup featuring two elite quarterbacks, it’s also a matchup featuring two defensive-minded head coaches, and good ones at that, in Sean McDermott and Robert Saleh. This could end up being a defensive battle, in the end.

Prediction: Bills win 26-23

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