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Sunday’s once again have meaning!
The NFL season kicks-off Thursday night with the defending Super Bowl champion Saints taking on the Minnesota Vikings in a rematch of that classic NFC Championship game of a year ago. We all remember that game, right? Brett Favre threw away Minnesota’s best chance to win, tossing an interception deep in New Orleans territory in the closing seconds of regulation. Then the Saints won the coin toss and ended it on Hartley’s kick 4:45 into OT. The Saints went on to capture their first Super Bowl title in their history and Brett Favre retired, then unretired, then…OK, enough of that. On to the picks!
New Orleans Saints v Minnesota Vikings
Each of the last 10 Super Bowl champions have opened their title defense with a victory. I can’t see Brett Farve having a season like he did last year, especially with Rice out and Harvin battling migraines. The Vikings have 7-9 written all over them. Pick: Saints.
Buffalo Bills v Miami Dolphins
The Bills suck. As a kid I was forced to watch Bills games because they were the only team that I could get (this was back in the day before the NFL Sunday ticket). I will never forgive them for that. Objectively, the Dolphins have one of the best running backs combos in the league with Brown and Williams. This game will be won on the ground since both QB’s are not to be trusted. This game will be low-scoring and ugly. Pick: Dolphins.
Chicago Bears v Detroit Lions
Jay Cutler + offensive coordinator Mike Martz = deadly. The Bears are going to score a lot of points this season. They might not have the defense they once did, but they won’t need it against the hapless Lions. I think the Lions will be improved, but I don’t see them opening with a win in Chicago. Pick: Bears.
Tennessee Titans v Oakland Raiders
I can’t believe the Titans are only favoured by 6.5 at home against the Raiders. The RAIDERS! Chris Johnson is going to run circles around the Raiders less than stellar defense and since he’s on my fantasy team, I can’t wait to see the carnage! Pick: Titans.
New England Patriots v Cincinnati Bengals
This game should be a fun one to watch. Two high-powered offenses and no defensive play-makers on either side should give us plenty of points on the board. The Bengals will have a down year after falling out of the playoffs after a great regular season. Also, having TO on your team is like having cancer. I like the Pats to get the win at home and get back to level of football they played in 2007. Pick: Patriots.
New York Giants v Carolina Panthers
The Giants are going to have a really good season or really bad one. If the Giants defense can find their form after a disastrous season a year ago, this team will be playoff bound. They have one of the deepest front fours in football and their safety combo of Phillips and Rolle is one of the best in football. If they stay healthy, they’ll be a contender. I like the G-Men to get off to a great start at home against the Panthers. Pick: Giants.
Pittsburgh Steelers v Atlanta Falcons
Everyone’s high on the Falcons this season. They have a great young defense, Michael ‘the burner’ Turner at tailback and Matt Ryan entering his third season at QB. I must say, I’m buying the hype too. Pittsburgh will be starting third string QB Dennis Dixon as Ben Roethlisberger is suspended and Byron Leftwich went down in the preseason. The Falcons will have the edge in the passing game, which will be the difference. Pick: Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Cleveland Browns
This game is why you get the NFL package, especially if you live in either Cleveland or Tampa Bay. Two of the worst teams last season go head-to-head in the Week 1 game no one will be watching. Since it’s in Tampa Bay, I’m taking the Bucs. Pick: Buccaneers.
Houston Texans v Indianapolis Colts
From one of the worst games of the week, to one of the best. The Colts and Texans always seem to have their games go down to the wire and this one should be tight as well. I expect Peyton Manning to be lights out this season after ending last year’s Super Bowl with an interception that Tracy Porter took to the house to seal the Saints’ win. Go with Indianapolis. Pick: Colts.
St. Louis Rams v Arizona Cardinals
The experience of the Cardinals should be too much for the Rams, especially rookie QB Sam Bradford. Derek Anderson is replacing Kurt Warner under centre for the Cards and will have plenty of talent to help him out around him. I think Beanie Wells is ready for a breakout season and Tim Hightower gives Arizona a nice one-two punch. And, don’t forget about the best wide-out in football – Larry Fitzgerald. Pick: Cardinals.
Philadelphia Eagles v Green Bay Packers
The post Donovan McNabb era begins in Philadelphia with Kevin Kolb taking over for the former all-pro. Kolb looked shaky in the preseason but has some great weapons. DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek should take some of the pressure off Kolb as will the daunted Eagles D. The Packers could have one of the most potent offenses in the NFL this season with Aaron Rodgers starting to come into his own. However, including a postseason loss in 2004, the Packers have lost nine straight games at Philadelphia. Pick: Eagles.
Seattle Seahawks v San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers go into Seattle with a large amount of hype and expectations that they have not had in a very, very long time. Seattle have a new coach in Pete Carroll and a new, winning attitude. The offensive line has improved and the competition for receptions in the preseason and training camp has bred an urgency that could benefit the team going forward. I like Seattle at home in this one with nothing to lose. Pick: Seahawks.
Washington Redskins v Dallas Cowboys
It’s been a messy start to Mike Shanahan’s tenure as head coach of the Redskins, but everything appears to be settled as Washington prepares for their opening game against the Cowboys. The Cowboys are once again a favourite in the NFC and many think they’ll be playing in the Super Bowl at Cowboys Stadium. These two teams always play each other tough and this game shouldn’t be any different. But, I can’t see McNabb clicking right away and Tony Romo and the Cowboys have too much firepower for the ‘Skins D to handle. Pick: Cowboys.
New York Jets v Baltimore Ravens
This will be the hardest hitting game of Week 1. The Jets and Ravens both have top 5 defenses and this game will be fierce! The Ravens and Jets are both playoff caliber teams, but the Ravens are a more balanced team on offense. I think Joe Flacco is ready for a breakout year at the QB position, Ray Rice is a premier back and the Ravens have vastly improved at the WR position by picking up Anquan Boldin and TJ Houshmandzadeh. Pick: Ravens.
Kansas City Chiefs v San Diego Chargers
The Kansas City Chiefs will be one of the most improved teams this season. Matt Cassel will have one more year experience, the running back combination of Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones should terrorize opposing defenses and their young defense should be improved. However, they’re not there yet. The Chargers are an experienced bunch and are once again the best team out west in the AFC. Have to go with the experience of Rivers and San Deigo. Pick: Chargers.
Those are my Week 1 Picks.
Think you can pick ‘em all? If you can correctly pick all 15 games I’ll give you a $10 free bet for next weekend’s games.
Just write down your picks in the comment section and I’ll award everyone who goes perfect with a free bet. Just make sure to use your Tower Gaming username.
Enjoy the games!
Oliver
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Saints, Dolphins, Bears, Titans, Bengals, Giants, Steelers, Buccaneers, Colts, Rams, Packers, 49ers, Cowboys, Jets, Chargers
Feel free to copy folks…
I like this week – the first week is always the easiest to predict
I know these will make me some money
Here are my picks
49ers
Chargers
Skins
Ravens
Green bay
Arizona
Titans
Miami
Chicago
Colts
Falcons
Giants
Patriots
hi, new to the site, thanks.