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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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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – MAY 13: Bryce Young #9 of the Carolina Panthers works through a drill during practice at Bank of America Stadium on May 13, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Carolina Panthers (7-10) at Atlanta Falcons (7-10)

Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta

The 2023 NFL schedule opens up on Sunday afternoon with an NFC South battle between the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons, two teams coming off of borderline impressive 7-10 seasons, if that’s even possible.

The Panthers were fish in a barrel last year before interim head coach Steve Wilks took over for Matt Rhule. Wilks helped the Panthers finish the year rather strong, and while he was considered as a permanent option in the head coach spot, the Panthers ultimately hired Frank Reich, the guy who threw the first pass in team history as a quarterback. Reich was brought in for his noted QB expertise, and he brought along a whole host of coaches with him to develop Bryce Young, a former Heisman winner and now the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft class.

The Panthers struck up a blockbuster trade with the Chicago Bears for the no. 1 overall pick and Young wound up being their guy. Although Andy Dalton is on the roster, we fully expect this game to be Bryce Young vs. Desmond Ridder. The last time these two QBs faced off (Young, Ridder), it was in the semifinal of the 2021 College Football Playoff.

Now, they are both starters on NFC South teams with playoff aspirations.

I think both of these teams had pretty good offseasons, but the Carolina Panthers may have had the best offseason out of any NFL team. The question now is, how quickly can it all come together?

The Falcons are banking a lot on Ridder taking the next step, and they are one of the NFL’s best teams at running the ball already. Then they went and added Bijan Robinson in the NFL Draft.

I wouldn’t be surprised if this game ended up either way, but right now, I’m leaning toward the home team.

Prediction: Falcons win 23-20

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