NFL - Week 1 Predictions

New Orleans (+4) at Green Bay
Green Bay begins the defense of their Super Bowl title against my pick to win this year's Super Bowl. The defending Super Bowl champ is 7-0 opening the season on Thursday night. Though I have the Saints winning their second Super Bowl in three years; I can't go against that trend.

Prediction - Green Bay 27 New Orleans 21

Pittsburgh (+3) at Baltimore
There's not a better way to kick off the season than Pittsburgh and Baltimore. As a Browns fan it pains me to say that this has taken over as one of the preeminent rivalries in the NFL. Expect another game of hard knocks. The road team won both games between these two last year. I'll stick with that.

Prediction - Pittsburgh 20 Baltimore 14

Detroit (+1.5) at Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay surprised everyone by posting a 10-6 record last season. Many expect Detroit to make that same type of jump this year. The Lions have some great young pieces to build around, but they still must learn how to win on the road.

Prediction - Tampa Bay 24 Detroit 20

Atlanta (-3) at Chicago
This is a tough one to call.  Both of these teams ended their run in 2010 with a loss in the playoffs to Green Bay. They both have aspirations of doing more. I think Atlanta will end up having the better season, but they struggle to win on the road at times.

Prediction - Chicago 23 Atlanta 19

Buffalo (+5.5) at Kansas City
Kansas City is looking to duplicate their 2010 season which brought them a division title. Buffalo hasn't won a division title since 1995. The Bills will have another losing season in 2011, but they will find a way to keep this one close.

Prediction - Kansas City 28 Buffalo 24

Indianapolis (+9) at Houston
The streak is over. The Colts made it official that Peyton Manning will not start the season opener. This will be the first time since 1998 that this has been the case. This is a perfect opportunity for Houston to seize early control of the AFC South.

Prediction - Houston 31 Indianapolis 21

Philadelphia (-4.5) at St. Louis
The "Dream Team" will take the field for the first time in St. Louis. The Eagles biggest offseason acquisition, Nnamdi Asomghua will be responsible for shutting down up and coming star Sam Bradford. This won;t be a blowout, but Philly gets the season started with a win.

Prediction - Philadelphia 23 St. Louis 20

Tennessee (+3.5) at Jacksonville
Jacksonville stunned the football world by cutting QB David Garrard and naming Luke McCown the starter. Tennessee will get Chris Johnson on the field for the first time, but will he be in football shape? There are plenty of question marks for both of these squads heading into the season.

Prediction - Jacksonville 19 Tennessee 17

Cincinnati (+6.5) at Cleveland
The Battle of Ohio has taken on a Texas flavor this season. Former Texas product Colt McCoy will look to build on an impressive preseason against the Bengals rookie QB from TCU,Andy Dalton. McCoy got his feet wet last season and will continue to improve as the year goes on.

Prediction - Cleveland 27 Cincinnati 17

NY Giants (-3) at Washington
Washington decided to go with Rex Grossman as their starting QB. Enough said. But they also don't have a feature back, and one of the league's worst receiving corps. The Giants defense will make it awfully difficult for the Redskins to score.

Prediction - NY Giants 20 Washington 7

Carolina (+7) at Arizona
Both of these teams usher in new QBs to lead them into the 2011 season. Carolina had the league's worst record last year, and turned that into Cam Newton as the #1 pick in the draft. Arizona traded for former Philly backup, Kevin Kolb. Kolb will get his new team off to the better start.

Prediction - Arizona 31 Carolina 22

Seattle (+5.5) at San Francisco
Every game in a wide open NFC West is pivotal, and this one is no exception. Even at 1-0, being over.500 can go a long way in this division. Seattle begins the Tarvares Jackson era, while San Francisco inexplicably has decided to give Alex Smith another year. Both teams will struggle so give me the home team.

Prediction - San Francisco 23 Seattle 17

Minnesota (+9) at San Diego
Can San Diego avoid their annual early season swoon? The Chargers have tons of talent and will have the services of Vincent Jackson from the opening kickoff this year. I don't think they will have the same difficulty this year. But giving more than a TD in the NFL is a lot.

Prediction - San Diego 28 Minnesota 20

Dallas (+4) at NY Jets
This should be an emotional game, with the 9/11 tributes slated to happen before the game. The team that channels that emotion and uses it to their benefit on the football field should win the game. Rex Ryan has a way of getting his teams emotions to work toward their benefit.

Prediction - NY Jets 23 Dallas 17

New England (-7) at Miami
The first of two Monday Night Football games kicks off in Miami. Tom Brady and the Patriots come to town with new additions, Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco. It's not every day that a 14-2 team returns the next season with more talent. Miami added the talented Reggie Bush but still don't have a QB.

Prediction - New England 24 Miami 16

Oakland (+3) at Denver
Oakland went 6-0 against AFC West foes last season. They get the chance to build on that in Week 1 this season. Many thought that this would be the beginning of the Tim Tebow era in Denver, but that's not the case. Regardless of who's playing QB in Denver throughout the year, expect it to be a losing season.

Prediction - Oakland 24 Denver 23