In this episode, Elite Sports Talk provided an overview of the NFL season kickoff, offering projections for total over/unders and win/loss records for the NFC West and AFC West divisions, along with "bets of the week" and "straight-up picks" for Week 1.

The episode began with a recap of the Thursday night opening game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. The Philadelphia Eagles secured the win, although the Cowboys played "a little bit better than we would have thought". Passing yards were low for both teams, with Dak Prescott throwing for 188 yards (no touchdowns, no interceptions) and Jalen Hurts for 152 yards (four incompletions). Defenses played well, with Malik Hooker and Kenneth Murray Jr. leading the Cowboys in tackles (nine each), and Marshon Lattimore recording one sack for Dallas. On the Eagles' side, Zack Bowen led with nine total tackles, and new Eagle Adoree' Jackson had seven tackles. Jaylen Carter was ejected from the game after the opening kickoff. Fantasy picks were mixed; Jake Ferguson had five catches for 23 yards, while Javvante Williams impressively gained 54 yards and two touchdowns. CeeDee Lamb struggled with catches, bringing in about half of his 13 targets.

  • Bets of the Week and Straight-Up Picks: A disclaimer about responsible gambling was provided. The "bets of the week" included Carolina Panthers +3.5, Pittsburgh Steelers -3, Miami Dolphins money line, Tampa Bay Buccaneers -1.5, and Chicago Bears money line. Straight-up picks for Week 1 included the Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Rams, Baltimore Ravens (vs. Buffalo), and Chicago Bears (vs. Minnesota).

AFC West Previews

Denver Broncos

  • As a self-proclaimed fan, Lead Sports Talk was enthusiastic about the Broncos, anticipating an even better defense than last year. Key offensive players include J.K. Dobbins, who is expected to have a strong year, and receivers Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims Jr. (also a returner), and Troy Franklin. Evan Engram was a significant signing at tight end, having led the league in receptions two years prior. The offensive line was described as "the best in the league" by ESPN.com's pass and run block win rates, featuring Garrett Bolles and Quinn Meinerz. Defensively, the Broncos led the league with 63 sacks last year and boast players like Zach Allen, Alex Singleton, and Pat Surtain II, recognized as the "number one corner in all football". The Broncos were projected to win the division with an 11-6 record, going 3-3 in the division.

Kansas City Chiefs

  • The episode covered the Chiefs' 21-27 loss to the Chargers in their opening game, broadcast live on YouTube. Patrick Mahomes threw for 258 yards and one touchdown (to Travis Kelce) and rushed for 57 yards and another touchdown. Hollywood Brown had a standout game with 10 catches for 99 yards. Injuries affected the Chiefs, with Xavier Worthy getting hurt early and Rashee Rice suspended for the first six games. The team's defensive strength was highlighted by players such as Chris Jones and George Karlaftis. The Chiefs face a challenging schedule this year. They were projected to finish 10-7, losing one more game than Denver, but still making the playoffs with a 4-2 divisional record.

Las Vegas Raiders

  • The Raiders have a new head coach, Pete Carroll, and a new offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly. Quarterback Gino Smith is the starter, with Kenny Pickett as the backup. Running back Ashton Genty was praised, and Brock Bowers was noted for his past high production at tight end. Defensively, Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce anchor the line, with Germaine Pratt and Jeremy Chinn as key additions. Despite some concerns about the offensive line, the Raiders were generously projected to finish 9-8, going 3-3 in the division.

Los Angeles Chargers

  • Following their opening win against the Chiefs, the Chargers retained their coaching staff. Justin Herbert's performance was highlighted, throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns, along with 32 rushing yards and a touchdown. Key offensive players include Omarian Hampton (despite an early game mistake), Ladarius Manley, Quentin Johnston (two touchdowns, 79 yards), and Keenan Allen (seven catches, 68 yards, one touchdown). The offensive line features Joe Alt and Bradley Bozeman. The Chargers' defense was recognized for being "really good last year," especially in red zone defense where they were number one in three different categories. The Chargers were projected to finish 10-7.

NFC West Previews

Arizona Cardinals

  • Lead Sports Talk expressed optimism for the Cardinals, calling them a "sleeper pick" for the postseason. He believes Kyler Murray will have his best statistical season and praised key players like running back James Conner and tight end Trey McBride, who he considers the "number one tight end" in football. The offensive line was highlighted as "very good," and the defense retained much of its talent, including Buddha Baker, described as their "Energizer Bunny". The Cardinals were projected to finish 10-7 and secure a wild card spot, going 3-3 in the division.

Los Angeles Rams

  • The Rams also retained their entire coaching staff. Concerns were noted about Matthew Stafford's back issue, but Jimmy Garoppolo and Stetson Bennett were mentioned as "formidable options" at quarterback. Running back Kyren Williams was highly praised, potentially being a "top 10, top 12" player. Other key offensive players include Puka Nacua, Devonta Adams, Tutu Atwell, Jordan Whittington, and Tyler Higbee. The defense features players like Brandon Fisk, Puna Ford, Colby Turner, Brian Young, and Jared Verse. The Rams were projected to finish 10-7 and win the division with a 4-2 divisional record.

San Francisco 49ers

  • The 49ers brought in new offensive (Klay Kubiak) and defensive (Robert Saleh) coordinators. An update on Christian McCaffrey's injury indicated current frustration among fantasy owners. Brock Purdy was acknowledged as "one of the most relevant quarterbacks in the league". The team's offense includes Ricky Pearsall and George Kittle, with Brandon Aiyuk's return from injury not expected to be highly impactful immediately. Defensively, they still have stars like Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, but lost Dre Greenlaw and Talanoa Hufanga. The 49ers were projected to finish 6-11.

Seattle Seahawks

  • Seattle also has a new offensive coordinator, Clint Kubiak. While the team possesses good running backs in Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, and receivers like Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp, concerns were raised about Sam Darnold's consistency. Rookie receiver Tory Horton was highlighted as a potential breakout player. The defense was highly regarded, especially the starters, and benefited from Mike McDaniel and Aiden Durde's coaching. Despite a strong defense, due to offensive uncertainty, the Seahawks were projected to finish 4-13.

Over/Under Projections

Lead Sports Talk provided the following over/under predictions for total wins:

  • Kansas City Chiefs (11.5): Under
  • San Francisco 49ers (10.5): Under
  • Los Angeles Rams (9.5): Over
  • Los Angeles Chargers (9.5): Over
  • Denver Broncos (9.5): Over
  • Arizona Cardinals (8.5): Over
  • Seattle Seahawks (8.5): Under
  • Las Vegas Raiders (6.5): Over

The episode concluded with the speaker encouraging listeners to like, follow, subscribe, and engage with the content across various platforms.