Starting this week — and every week of the NFL season — I'm going to share my picks for the games worth watching.

Not just who I think will win. But why they're interesting, what to look for, and what the game might teach you about football if you're still learning.

Before we get into Week 1, let me explain how to read these picks so they actually make sense.

What Is a "Pick"?

A pick is simply a prediction. When someone says "I'm picking the Chiefs this week," they mean they think the Chiefs will win that game.

My picks aren't about gambling. They're about helping you decide which games are worth your time, who to root for if you don't have a strong preference, and what storylines to follow as the season unfolds.

Think of them as a weekly viewing guide with a little personality.

What Does "Favorite" and "Underdog" Mean?

Every game has a favorite — the team expected to win — and an underdog — the team expected to lose.

Favorites are usually better teams, playing at home, or facing a weaker opponent. Underdogs are the opposite: they're less likely to win on paper, but that's what makes upsets so exciting.

When I pick a game, I'll tell you which team I think wins and why. Sometimes I'll pick the underdog. Sometimes the favorite is so clearly better that there's no drama. I'll be honest either way.

What Is "The Spread"?

You'll hear this term a lot — especially if you have friends who bet on games.

The spread is a way of measuring how much a team is expected to win by. If the Chiefs are favored by 7 points, that means Vegas thinks they'll win by about a touchdown.

For our purposes, you don't need to worry about the spread for betting. But it's useful context: a team favored by 14 points is a heavy favorite. A team favored by 2.5 points is basically a coin flip.

When I mention the spread, I'm using it to tell you how competitive a game is expected to be — not to suggest you bet on it.

What Makes a Game Worth Watching?

Not every NFL game is created equal. Some are blowouts by halftime. Some are instant classics. Here's what I look for when picking the best games of the week:

Competitive matchup — Is this expected to be close? A 3-point spread usually means a tighter game than a 14-point spread.

Storylines — Is a quarterback returning to face his old team? Is a rookie having a breakout season? Is a team fighting for a playoff spot? Storylines make games emotionally interesting even if you don't know all the players.

Beginner-friendly action — Some games are just more fun to watch when you're learning. High-scoring offenses, lots of passing, clear momentum swings. I'll flag these.

The "just watch this one" game — Every week there's usually one game that rises above the rest. I'll always call that out.

How to Use These Picks

Here's my suggestion: pick one or two games from my list each week and actually commit to watching them. Not just having them on in the background — actually watching.

The more you watch with intention, the faster you'll learn. And the more you follow the same teams week to week, the more invested you'll get in how the season unfolds.

You don't have to watch every game. You don't have to know every player. You just need a reason to care about what's happening on the field.

That's what these picks are for.

One More Thing

I'm going to be wrong sometimes. That's part of it. Football is unpredictable — that's literally why people watch.

When my pick is wrong, I'll say so the following week. No hiding from it. The fun of predictions is being right, being wrong, and talking about both.

Alright. Week 1 is here. Let's go.

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