The Shenoa Report
September 4, 2025
Regular Season Week 1
Welcome back football, welcome back readers, welcome back The Shenoa Report.
This will be my 16th season writing this blog. I started it a lifetime ago, while living in North Carolina. I had felt so disconnected from my family, especially my dad, whom I had watched football with the most, that I wanted an outlet to talk about football. I also had a number of people ask me for my opinion on football and what teams they should root for. And that’s how The Shenoa Report got its start. Please know that I am very biased, and this report is just my opinion! I really just like talking about football.
The last time I wrote, the Eagles and Chiefs were headed to the Super Bowl. I decided that after I posted my final report of the season I would take a break from Facebook. It’s been the best break ever. I’ve been so, so, so, much happier not playing in the cesspool that is the online platform. I really, really, really struggled with coming back and writing The Shenoa Report this season. I love football. I love talking about football. And I think you like reading this little blog. So, my love for football has overcome my hate for Facebook. I will post this report but I will remain distant from the platform.
That said, the Eagles won the Super Bowl, ending the season.
Cam Ward went #1 in the draft to the Titans. He’s already been named their starting quarterback going into this season.
Some notable moves in the off season include, but are not limited to: Deebo Samuel to the Commanders. DK Metcalf and Aaron Rodgers to the Steelers. Sam Darnold to the Seahawks. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to the Giants. Davante Adams to the Rams, Stefon Diggs to the Patriots, and Kareem Hunt is back with the Chiefs. Geno Smith is now a Raider, George Pickens is a Cowboy and Cooper Kupp is a Seahawk. Speaking of the Cowboys, Micah Parsons is now a Packer, that just happened this week.
Hard Knocks followed the Buffalo Bills this preseason and if you pause the screen during the preseason game against the Giants you will see me, my partner, and my uncle! In other news, we got to see the Bills - Giants preseason game. It was a lot of fun, but much too stressful watching my two favorite teams play each other. Glad it was preseason so the game didn’t count.
In other preseason Giants news, we had to say goodbye to Tommy Cutlets. He was cut from the team as we did not need 4 quarterbacks. He did make the 53 man roster in New England and we wish him all the luck there. The Giants went undefeated in the preseason AND scored the most combined points! We have the toughest schedule this regular season so I’ll take all the meaningless wins in the preseason.
I’ll also be playing fantasy football again this season, two separate leagues. I had a draft on Monday and Tuesday of this week so, fingers crossed, all my players are still healthy coming into week one.
Ready, set, let’s do this!
Now...
WEEK 1
Thursday, September 4th
Cowboys @ Eagles (8:20pm NBC/ Peacock)
The reigning Super Bowl champs will host the Cowboys in the opening game of the season. Although the Cowboys lead the series record 71-57, I’m pretty sure they’ll get their 58th loss. The last time these two teams met was in the NFC East final last season where the Eagles beat the Cowboys 41-7.
As a Giants fan, I hope this game ends in a tie. But as a person who is starting Jaylen Hurts in one league and Saquon Barkely in the other I’m picking the Eagles to win this game.
Friday, September 5th
Chiefs @ Chargers (8:00pm YouTube)
A Friday night football game at Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And, yes, you read that correctly, this game is ONLY streaming on YouTube NOT on regular TV or cable or YouTubeTV or, etc. The Chiefs lost, horribly, in the Super Bowl and are looking to start the season fresh, with a win, obviously. Travis Kelce got engaged this preseason so I’m pretty sure his mind is elsewhere. The Chiefs have more to prove this season and I think it’s going to be an uphill battle. I think the tides are changing in KC. I’m going to pick the Chiefs to win this game but I am not convinced they will have a good season.
Sunday, September 7th
Cardinals @ Saints (1pm CBS)
The Saints are starting QB Spencer Rattler, who went 0-6 as a starter last season. The Cardinals are going with QB Kyler Murray who has a healthy team around him this season. That said, I am picking the Cards to win this game.
Dolphins @ Colts (1pm CB)
Danny Dimes gets the start at QB for the Colts. As a former Colts fan, and a former supporter of Daniel Jones, I am so sorry Colts Nation. Hopefully Danny Dimes is better for you than he was for NY. On the other side of the ball there is trouble in paradise for WR Tyreek Hill and the Dolphins. Hill is no longer a captain on the team and not really happy to be in Miami. My dumbdumb ass drafted Hill so I need things to get better for him and the Dolphins, or be traded… I’m picking the Dolphins to win this game even though both teams have problems.
Raiders @ Patriots (1pm CBS)
Pete Carroll is back in the NFL as the new head coach of the Raiders with Geno Smith as his quarterback. I’m getting Seahawks vibes. The Raiders were so bad last year that they’ve had some major turn over. I don’t expect much from them this season. It’ll be another rebuilding year. The Patriots are doing slightly better. They are going into year two with QB Drake Maye and head coach Mike Vrabel. I’m picking the Pats to win this game.
Steelers @ Jets (1pm CBS)
Drama seems to follow Aaron Rodgers everywhere he goes. Or maybe he creates it. Rodgers is returning to MetLife Stadium this Sunday but this time he’ll be wearing black and yellow instead of Gang Green. Justin Fields will be wearing Gang Green instead of black and yellow. It’s confusing. Basically these two teams just traded quarterbacks.
Rodgers will have DK Metcalf to throw to but only if he can stay upright. The Jets have a stingy defense and they may just remember what type of team player Rodgers was. Might he be hit harder? The same could be said for Justin Fields. Did he make friends while he was on the Steelers or enemies?
Against better judgement I am picking the Jets to win their home opener. I really just can’t get behind picking A-aron to win.
NY Giants @ Commanders (1pm FOX)
Sigh. I’m not gonna lie, I asked Copilot if the Giants even had a chance at winning the game. Who knew that even Copilot has sarcasm? It said, there’s a chance. EVEN used the sarcastic font! So, you’re telling me there’s a chance? I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I have a rule as it comes to picking the Giants to win a game. Each season I start with a fresh, clean slate. If I pick them to win and they don’t win, I can’t pick them to win another game until they actually do. It’s too painful otherwise. So, this week I am not going to pick the Giants to win, so that if they do win, I will feel better about picking them to win the next time. Kind of like reverse psychology on myself. The Giants were swept last season by the Commanders, so that's not good. The Commanders are favored by 6 points, also not good. Washington also has the reigning Rookie of the Year in quarterback Jayden Daniels. The Giants, however, played well in the preseason. QB Russell Willson is really connecting with WR Malik Nabers, and the Giants defense is stepping up. All that said, I am picking the Commanders for the win, but I’ll be rooting for the Giants and hoping for an upset! GO G-MEN!
Panthers @ Jaguars (1pm FOX)
Both teams are at the bottom of their division, and they share a division. The Jags are favored by just 3 points but I think the real story is that the Panthers always seem to implode. The Jags drafted the 2024 Heisman winner Travis Hunter who will play both cornerback and wide receiver. Something to look out for. I’m picking the Jags to win their home opener.
Bengals @ Browns (1pm FOX)
Bengals QB Joe Burrow is 1-4 in season openers. That’s not a good look for the Bengals. Cincinnati has always taken a few games to get their act together. The Browns are starting Joe Flacco at quarterback. He’s old. It’ll really depend on what version of Flacco the Browns get. The Browns also have DE Myles Garrett, who decided to stay in Cleveland. God only knows why. I’m picking the Browns to win this game, against better judgement.
Buccaneers @ Falcons (1pm FOX)
The Falcons are sticking with QB Michael Penix Jr. who is turnover prone and still very young and the Bucs are sticking with QB Baker Mayfield.
So, fun, or not so fun story. In one of my leagues I forgot I had already drafted Joe Burrow so I went ahead and picked up Baker Mayfield. A 9% Treehouse beer may have been to blame. But, I like Baker and I’ve decided to start him over Burrow this week just to make sure I actually am a drafting genius. I am also picking the Bucs to win this game.
49ers @ Seahawks (4:05pm FOX)
QB Brock Purdy will get the start for the 49ers and QB Sam Darnold will get the start for the Seahawks. Seattle hasn’t beaten the 49ers at home in four years and I don’t think this year will be different. I am picking the 49ers to win this game. I learned nothing from last year and drafted RB Christian McCaffrey again this season. So I NEED him to be healthy and have a really good season.
Titans @ Broncos (4:05pm FOX)
Ooof. The Broncos are favored by 8 points going into this game. The Titans, who had the number one pick of the draft, picked QB Cam Ward, who will make his debut week one. Rookie QBs starting away in Week 1 are just 2–15 since 2020, with only 8 total TDs in those games. I’m not putting my money on Ward this week. I’m picking the Broncos for the win.
Lions @ Packers (4:25pm CBS)
There are a lot of division matchups in week one and this one should not disappoint. Detroit swept Green Bay last season and has won 3 straight at Lambeau. LB Micah Parsons, who was just traded to the Packers from the Cowboys, may not take the field in week one, he’s dealing with a back injury. Even though the Packers are slight favorites going into this game I am going to have to pick the Lions to win this game.
Texans @ Rams (4:25pm CBS)
WR Davante Adams is now a Ram and it just so happens that I drafted him this season. I don’t have any Texans on my teams this season so it looks like I’m picking the Rams to win this game solely because of Davante Adams. This is how I football.
Ravens @ Bills (8:20pm NBC)
Guys, the Bills did not look good in the preseason. I know it doesn’t count, because, preseason. But, I just hope they bounce back and get things done in the regular season. The Bills are only favored by 1.5 points heading into this game. QB Lamar Jackson is 3-1 versus Buffalo in the regular season, hopefully that changes to 3-2. I’m all in on the Bills this season as my AFC team. I’m picking the Bills to win this game. GO BILLS!
Monday September 8th
Vikings @ Bears (8:15pm ESPN/ABC)
The Vikings swept the Bears last season and it looks like it could happen again this season. The Vikings have WR Justin Jefferson and QB JJ McCarthy. I’m picking the Vikings to win this game.
Happy Week One!!!!!
GO GMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the edit Eric!
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