NFL Week 1 Picks

 

The 2009 National Football League season begins this coming Thursday night as the Tennessee Titans visit the Pittsburgh Steelers. Finally, after the long and sometimes seemingly never ending offseason that includes the Rookie Combine, NFL Draft, Minicamps, Organized Team Activities, Training Camp, and the Preseason is over we can now look forward to watching football on Sundays again. What more could you ask for? Every week during the season I will share my picks. Below is a listing of my picks (red) for NFL Week 1 and comments.

           

Tennessee Titans(0-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers(0-0) Thursday 8:30 ET

-          What a better way to start the NFL regular season with a primetime matchup between the Defending Superbowl Champions against the team that held the best overall regular season record(13-3) in the Titans. I believe the Steelers show the nation as to why they were the champs one year ago and make a case that they may be even better this year.

 

Miami Dolphins(0-0) at Atlanta Falcons(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          The Dolphins will compete this year as they were the biggest turnaround last year in number of victories in the NFL, but no sophomore slump here with QB Matt Ryan as newly acquired target TE Tony Gonzales makes his transition even easier. Michael Turner and the Falcons run by the Fins.


Philadelphia Eagles(0-0) at Carolina Panthers(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          The Carolina Panthers may have been one of the most lackluster teams in all of the preseason. One year removed from the NFC Championship game, Donovan McNabb and the Eagles look to return once again with an “added” dimension to their offense.

 

Denver Broncos(0-0) at Cincinnati Bengals(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          Could things get any worse for the Broncos? First year head coach, Josh McDaniels seems to be asserting himself too much if you ask me. Not only does he force a trade and lose QB Jay Cutler who is replaced by below average QB Kyle Orton, but he also has to deal with the ongoing distraction of WR Brandon Marshall. I hardly believe the Bengals will win atleast 12 games as Chad Johnson(Oops! I mean Ochocinco) stated on ESPNs First Take to Skip Bayless, but QB Carson Palmer returns to the Bengals and brings optimism with him as well. Bengals win their opener at home.

 

Minnesota Vikings(0-0) at Cleveland Browns(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          Head coach, Eric Mangini not revealing his starting QB until the game does not give the Browns offense any advantage against the Vikings defense as he believes. Not being able to run the ball against the Vikings front four will only put more pressure on QBs Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson. The Browns are not very much better on the other side of the ball either. One name: RB Adrian Peterson.

 

New York Jets(0-0) at Houston Texans(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          I believe one day that Rookie QB Matt Sanchez will go on to have a successful NFL career. However, Rookie QB, first career NFL start, and on the road? I will take the up and coming Texans who after an 8-8 season are looking to take the next step as young franchise into the playoffs. AFC dark horse?

 

Jacksonville Jaguars(0-0) at Indianapolis Colts(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          QB Peyton Manning has no trouble adjusting to the new staff and either does his offense. Once a possible threat in the AFC South, the Jaguars will fade just as their season ticket renewal rate did this year.

 

Detroit Lions(0-0) at New Orleans Saints(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          Coming off a winless season(0-16) you would think things could not get much better for the Lions. First overall pick, QB Matthew Stafford brings hope, but not to this team. I think the Lions should have held out until the 2010 NFL Draft(McCoy, Bradford, Snead) to select a QB. It is going to take much more than him to change the “losing culture” in Detroit. I believe QB Matthew Stafford would get more out of this game if he just stood on the sidelines with a clipboard and took notes as he watched Saint’s QB Drew Breese light up the Lion’s secondary.


Kansas City Chiefs(0-0) at Baltimore Ravens(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          The additional of QB Matt Cassel immediately makes the Chiefs a better team and proves that they are heading in the right direction. The Ravens defense may have lost some key components from their defense a year ago(Def Cord Rex Ryan, LB Bart Scott, FS Jim Leonhard) but LB Ray Lewis and company are still a force. QB Joe Flacco also continues to “manage” the offense well and does just enough to put them in position to win.

 

Dallas Cowboys(0-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers(0-0) Sunday 1 ET

-          Fire your offensive coordinator just ten days before the game? What!?!? The season has not even started yet and the Bucs are already in desperation mode. After a quite training camp and preseason(minus T.O.), the Cowboys win to open the season. Cowboys win on the road.

 

San Francisco 49ers(0-0) at Arizona Cardinals(0-0) Sunday 4:15 ET

-          QB Kurt Warner and WR Larry Fitzgerald pick up right where they left off and win their season opener. Plus, to tell you the truth I do not know much about the 49ers anyway. There is probably a good reason as to why you never hear about them.

 

 Washington Redskins(0-0) at New York Giants(0-0) Sunday 4:15 ET

-          With the Paxico Burress case settled and offseason distractions behind them the Giants have to be looking forward to the season. The best way to silence the ruthless New York City media? Win. Redskins QB Jason Campbell continues to under perform.


St. Louis Rams(0-0) at Seattle Seahawks(0-0) Sunday 4:15 ET

-          After missing most of the year due to injury QB Matt Hassleback reasserts himself and so do the Seahawks in the NFC West after a one-year run by the Arizona Cardinals.


Chicago Bears(0-0) at Green Bay Packers(0-0) Sunday 8:20 ET

-          Arguably the most impressive team during the preseason, the Packers look to rebound after a disappointing year after the departure of Favre. QB Aaron Rodgers looks to solidify himself among the NFL elite and the switch to the 3-4 defense can only improve the defense. The addition of QB Jay Cutler finally brings hope to a position the Bears could never fill. However, who is Jay Cutler going to throw the ball to? Greg Olsen? Yes, but down the field into the third level? Packers beat the Bears on primetime in Lambeau in the NFLs most storied rivalry.


Buffalo Bills(0-0) at New England Patriots(0-0) Monday 7 ET

-          The return of QB Tom Brady who missed all of last season should help the Patriots take back command of the AFC East after a one-year hiatus. The absence of RB Marshawm Lynch due to his three game suspension hurts the Bills early in the year. Plus, when is the last time T.O. has even practiced? I have even heard rumors that he may miss the game due to him taping an episode of his VH1 reality TV show. Pats win.

 

San Diego Chargers(0-0) at Oakland Raiders(0-0) Monday 10:15 ET

-          The Raiders franchise is just reeling. Allegations of head coach Tom Cable punching other coaches? If anyone in the Raiders organization needs to be punched its Al Davis. He is running the proud franchise that he built in the 70s into the ground. I am still not sold on QB JaMarcus Russell as well. I am not even sure the Raiders do.

 

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Comments

Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Tyler Gross wrote:
 
Miami and the New Jets are the only differences here.
 

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