The Shenoa Report Week 1 '20 #theshenoareport

 
The Shenoa Report
September 10, 2020
Regular Season Week 1

After the longest time between seasons, figuratively and literally, football is finally back... for now. I don’t feel like I need to give you a recap of 2020 to know that it felt like an episode, nay season, of the Twilight Zone. 

BUT, IT’S HERE! IT’S FINALLY HERE! THE FOOTBALL SEASON STARTS TODAY! And that means the Shenoa Report is also back!!! Are you ready for some football?!?! I know I am. I’m not gonna lie, it wasn’t until last week that I even let myself think about, let alone get excited about football. I really didn’t think it was going to happen. I had made up my mind that I wasn’t going to play fantasy and I kept putting off this little blog. I had taken facebook off my phone months ago and it was an out of sight out of mind kind of thing. I’m a procrastinator, but the putting off of writing this report seemed different this season. I guess all of 2020 seems to be that way? 
 
Anyway, I digress.  If you’re a first-time reader, welcome! And if you’re a loyal follower welcome back, I’ve missed you. This will be my 11th season writing this blog. I started it after a number of people asked me for my opinion on football and what teams they should root for. Please know that I am very biased, and this report is just my opinion!

The last time I wrote, the Chiefs and the 49ers were headed to the Super Bowl. Super Bowl LIV was a fun time with friends squished into our living room, eating, drinking, and watching the game. It seems like an eternity ago. The Chiefs won the game, so I finally got a Super Bowl pick correct, which also felt like an eternity. The game was fun to watch, especially because the Patriots weren’t a part of it. I bought a KC shirt just for the occasion and wore it proudly. My uncle is a lifelong Chiefs fan and I wanted to show support. After the confetti fell the offseason swept in for a long stay. 
 
Joe Burrow went #1 in the draft going to the Bengals. The draft was supposed to be live from Las Vegas, with part of it being filmed in the fountains, but if you watched it you know that it was the first virtual draft, thanks corona, and Roger Goodell looked drunk and confused the entire time. Because it was a virtual draft there were little videos and facts with graphics that went along with the picks to make it look less like a Zoom session. For example, when the 13th overall pick, Iowa offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, was announced a video of him jumping out of the shallow end of a swimming pool and landing on his feet was played.  It was quite impressive. But when the New York Giants first pick, Andrew Thomas OT from Georgia was announced they said of him… “Now what’s really interesting about him is not only did he play high school football, as you can see he was what we call a percussionist at Pace Academy, which is a fancy way of saying, he played the drums…” I still have no words… 
 
Some, but not all, notable moves in the off season include the rebuilding of the Bucs with Tom Brady, Leonard Fournette, and LeSean McCoy moving to Tampa Bay as well as Gronk coming out of retirement to join Brady.  Todd Gurley went to the Falcons, Eric Ebron to the Steelers, Emmanuel Sanders to the Saints, Philip Rivers to the Colts, Stephon Diggs to the Bills, and DeAndre Hopkins to the Cardinals. The Raiders moved to Las Vegas and D.C.’s team has a new name, “The Washington Football Team” along with new management. 
 
The Rams and Chargers were the stars of HBO’s Hard Knocks this season which was a little confusing because they have similar colors of blue and yellow and were all wearing masks. Welcome to 2020. 
 
This season, the 101st season of football, will be unique. It’s already different with a missed preseason. The “regular” season may not have 16 games. It also might not have a postseason, so let’s enjoy it while it's here. Keep that in mind as you will also absolutely see protests. There will be kneeling during the anthem. I wrote about this back in week 4 of 2017, you can revisit the post if you need to, my stance has not changed. These protests are still NOT ABOUT DISRESPECTING THE MILITARY OR OUR FLAG, they are because there is STILL SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THIS COUNTRY AND IT HAS GONE ON FOR TOO LONG. ENOUGH. “If my spouse comes to me in obvious pain and asks, “Do you love me?”, an answer of “I love everyone” would be truthful, but also hurtful and cruel in the moment. If a co-worker comes to me upset and says, “My father just died,” a response of “Everyone’s parents die,” would be truthful, but hurtful and cruel in the moment. So when a friend speaks up in a time of obvious pain and hurt and says, “Black lives matter,” a response of “All lives matter,” is truthful. But it’s hurtful and cruel in the moment.”  #blacklivesmatter VOTE! 
 
On a lighter note, there will be a new guest in every stadium this season, piped in crowd noise. Right now, there are only five teams that will begin the season with fans in their stadiums, Chiefs (20% capacity), Cowboys (unofficially 50% capacity), Colts (15% capacity), Dolphins (20% capacity), Jaguars (20% capacity). 
 
Now...
 
WEEK 1

Thursday September 10th

Texans @ Chiefs (8:20pm NBC)
I think that the Super Bowl Champs will continue their winning streak by beating the Texans. I drafted Patrick Mahomes in fantasy so I’m hoping he throws 7+ touchdowns and 0 interceptions.


Sunday September 13th

Jets @ Bills (1pm CBS)
The Bills are supposed to have a stellar defense this season so I’ll pick them to win their home opener.

Seahawks @ Falcons (1pm FOX)
I think that the Seahawks will win this game, but I won’t be too upset if they don’t. I have Gurley on my fantasy team and really just need him to touch the ball basically every play.

Thursday September 10th

Texans @ Chiefs (8:20pm NBC)
I think that the Super Bowl Champs will continue their winning streak by beating the Texans. I drafted Patrick Mahomes in fantasy so I’m hoping he throws 7+ touchdowns and 0 interceptions.


Sunday September 13th

Jets @ Bills (1pm CBS)
The Bills are supposed to have a stellar defense this season so I’ll pick them to win their home opener.

Seahawks @ Falcons (1pm FOX)
I think that the Seahawks will win this game, but I won’t be too upset if they don’t. I have Gurley on my fantasy team and really just need him to touch the ball basically every play.

Bears @ Lions (1pm FOX)
I think the Lions just might actually win their home opener. I have no facts or good information to back up this pick, I’m just going to pick the Lions for no good reason. 
Packers @ Vikings  (1pm FOX)
I think that maybe if there were fans in the stands the Vikings would win this game, but they are playing in an empty stadium so I’m going to pick the Packers for the win.

Dolphins @ Patriots (1pm CBS)
Cam Newton was named the starting quarterback for the Patriots and Ryan Fitzpatrick for the Dolphins. It will all depend on which quarterback actually shows up because it seems that both have alternate personalities. Will Ryan be Fitzmagic? Will Cam be superman? I really think it’s going to come down to the defense, and because I am starting the Patriot’s defense in fantasy I’m also going to pick New England to win their home opener. 
 
Eagles @ Washington (1pm FOX)
I’m picking the Eagles to win this game. Hopefully the Giants won’t be the worst team in the NFC East.

Raiders @ Panthers (1pm CBS)
Christian McCaffrey was the #1 pick in most, if not all,  fantasy drafts this season. Therefore I think that the Panthers should win this game. I could be completely wrong but I think both teams are in a building season.

Colts @ Jaguars (1pm CBS)
The Colts now have Philip Rivers and the Jags no longer have Leonard Fournette. Even though there will be fans at this game I’m picking the Colts to win.

Browns @ Ravens (1pm CBS)
I don’t think the Browns will win this game, I just need Nick Chubb and OBJ to put up a lot of fantasy points. I’m picking the Ravens for the win and hoping Justin Tucker has 10 field goals. 
 
Chargers @ Bengals (4:05pm CBS)
Joe Burrow, the #1 overall pick in the 2020 draft, will get his first start in the NFL as the Bengals QB. With that being said I’m picking the Chargers to win this game. Go Keenan Allen! (he’s also on my fantasy team)

Buccaneers @ Saints (4:25pm FOX)
Newly named “Tompa Bay” or “Tampa Brady” the Bucs have a new starting quarterback in Tom Brady. As you read above he comes with some other additions to the team. This should be a fun game to watch. I’m going to pick the Saints to win this game though.

Cardinals @ 49ers (4:25pm FOX)
The 49ers may have lost the Super Bowl but I don’t think that they will lose this game. I’m picking the 49ers to win. This game may look like it's out of the apocalypse as the sky is red because of all the fires in California. 

Cowboys @ Rams (8:20pm NBC)
I want the Rams to win. I just don’t like the Cowboys. Therefore, I’m picking the Rams to win this game.


Monday September 14th

NY Giants @ Steelers (7:15pm ESPN)
Same rules apply as years past. I’m not going to pick the Giants to win until they actually get a win under their belt. Now, I want them to win and obviously I’ll be rooting for them, but I’m picking the Steelers to win this game, hoping I’m wrong.

Titans @ Broncos (10:10pm ESPN)
The Broncos just lost Von Miller to a season ending injury. I’m picking the Titans to win this game, though I need Noah Fant to put up a lot of points.


Happy Week One!!!!!
If you’ve read carefully you can list my starters in fantasy for bonus points!

GO GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the edit Eric!