Derry’s Week 1 NFL Picks: Saints in for fight in Atlanta; Vikings with big shot vs. Packers

The NFL picks column is back for a seventh season. The format has changed for this season, but the same content will still be there. There will be a podcast with added reasoning each Monday, Thursday and Friday. Uncle Big Nick will join the podcast to offer his top five picks for the friendly competition. The spreads, money lines and over/under totals are provided by Caesars Sportsbook. Caeres SportsBook is the official odds partner of bet.NOLA.com. All bets are added and subtracted from the original total. In this column in Week 1, we started with $1,000.

Derry's picks for the NFL: Saints in for a fight in Atlanta, Vikings with big shot vs. Packers.

Derry's picks for the NFL's Week 1: Saints in for fight in Atlanta, Vikings with big shot vs. Packers, Dallas +2.5 over Tampa Bay, $33 bet to win $30.

Dallas Cowboys are the team to beat in the first game of the NFL season. Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a team that is not playing well. Dallas will win 26-23. Derry's picks are Saints in for fight in Atlanta and Vikings with big shot vs. Packers.

Derry's picks for the NFL: Saints in for a fight in Atlanta, Vikings with big shot vs. Packers, Indianapolis -7 over Houston, Sunday at noon.

The Colts are a road favorite against the Texans. The last time the teams played in Houston, the Colts won 21-0. They have covered at Reliant Stadium in eight of the last nine games. The total score is 45.5. It's possible the score will be closer than expected.

Derry's picks for the NFL season include the New Orleans Saints, Vikings and Detroit Lions. Philadelphia is a team that won three games last season. The team has a top-5 offensive line and excellent skill players. Detroit has had success against Philadelphia, covering in five of their last seven meetings with four outright victories.

Minnesota Vikings take on Green Bay Packers in the first game of the NFL season. The Vikings are better overall this season and they need to win to take control of NFC North. The game is the debut of Kevin O'Connell, who will play for the Vikings. Derry's picks: Saints in for fight in Atlanta, Vikings with big shot vs. Packers.

Cleveland is playing Carolina on Sunday at noon. The game is low scoring and ugly. Carolina is the better team. Carolina has Christian McCaffrey back and healthy. Cleveland has the overall edge in the running game with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt.

Derry is betting on the Saints to beat Atlanta. He thinks the game will be tough and low-scoring. Derry won't bet on it. The total score is 22-19. The game is on Sunday at noon. It's a 3-hour roller-coaster ride. There's no way Dery would bet against the team he likes.

LA RAMS are the defending champions and they're playing at home on Thursday night. Buffalo Bills are a team that everyone loves. LA RAMs are defending their Super Bowl title. Buffalo are currently the AFC East champions. The Rams are reigning champions, and have won seven of the last eight games at SoFi Stadium.

Derry’s NFL picks for the week include Saints in for fight in Atlanta and Vikings with big shot vs. Packers on Sunday at noon.

New England is favored to beat Miami. The Patriots have lost seven of the last nine games in Miami, but this time they should win.

Derry's picks for the NFL: Baltimore 27, NY Jets 21. Aunt Mabel put all her advance fruitcake sales money on Ravens at -7.

San Francisco is my pick to win the NFC. Chicago is a team that doesn't deserve to be picked.

Jacksonville beats Washington 19-17. Washington is without injured Chase Young.

Cincinnati beats Pittsburgh 26-20. Pittsburgh will struggle on offense until Mike Tomlin switches to Kenny Pickett at quarterback.

Kansas City is playing Arizona. The Chiefs are playing a tough schedule. Arizona is a favorite.

LA Chargers are favored to beat the Raiders 26-24. Vikings take on the Packers. The Vikings and Packers are both in the AFC West.

TENNESSEE beats NY Giants 20-16 in the NFL's Week 1.

Derry's picks for the NFL: Saints in for a fight in Atlanta, Vikings with big shot vs. Packers, Monday at 7:15 p.m.

Denver beats Seattle 19-17 in Russell Wilson's first game since leaving Seattle. The game is worth 44.5 points.

Derry's picks for the NFL: Saints in for fight in Atlanta, Vikings with big shot vs. Packers, Baltimore, Denver, Indianapolis, San Francisco, and Tennessee.

Derry's picks for the NFL season are straight up and against the spread.