NFL- Week 1 & 2011 Predictions

Tonight, football returns, after many thought that 31 NFL stadiums would be in the dark this fall. But, tonight, the NFL season begins where it left off with the last two Super Bowl champions squaring off in Lambeau Field as the New Orleans Saints visit the Green Bay Packers.

WEEK 1 PREDICTIONS:

GAMES OF THE WEEK:
New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers- Thursday @ 8:20PM

After President Obama's Jobs Speech, Football returns on NBC. The Packers are favored to repeat, and the Saints could return for another deep playoff run. Could this be a preview of the NFC Championship game in January?

Pick: Saints 31-27

New York Giants at Washington Redskins- Sunday @ 4:15PM

This game is on Sunday, the ten-year anniversary of the September 11 attacks. The marquee game on Fox features teams from two cities that were impacted by 9/11- the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, two NFC East rivals. The Redskins have a lot of questions to answer as inexperienced John Beck is the starter for the Skins. Can the Giants start and finish strong?

Pick: Giants 27-10

UPSET PICKS:
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns- Sunday @ 1PM

The Cincinnati Bengals could either (a) fly under the radar or (b) fall flat on their ass like the experts are predicting them to. Bengals Owner Mike Brown is the most incompetent owner in the world of sports. Which owner would let their All-Pro Quarterback walk out on their career? Which owner is the losingest owner in all sports? Mike Brown. On the other side, Mike Holmgren wants to make the Browns look like the Browns of Old (the team that moved to Baltimore- those Browns). Colt McCoy is the 10th Browns QB to start in what is now the 13th Season that the nu-Browns have been in the NFL. Back to the Bengals, rookie Andy Dalton has been named the starter. Does experience win out?

Pick: Bengals 20-17 in Overtime

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans- Sunday @ 1PM

When was the last time Peyton Manning did NOT start for the Colts? December 1997. Bill Clinton was President. Titanic sailed to the top of the Box Office. South Park was in its first season. Hanson was the Jonas Brothers of its time. Peyton Manning just lost the Heisman to Michigan's Charles Woodson, and the Colts were a measly 3-13. After 227 games, the starting streak that began with Peyton Manning's first game in September 1998 is over, as a neck injury is keeping Manning out longer than expected. 17-year NFL vet Kerry Collins will start for the Colts. The problem is that Collins has not yet mastered the Colts playbook fully yet. On the other side of the ball, The Texans are 2-16 all-time against Indy and are looking to get another "W" against them. I think that the Texans blow out the wounded Colts.

Pick: Texans 30-6

OTHER GAMES:
Detroit Lions at Tampa Bay Buccaneers- 1PM
Pick: Tampa Bay 24-20

Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs- 1PM
Pick: Buffalo 20-19

Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars- 1PM
On Tuesday, the Jags cut QB David Garrard, a move that could spell the end for coach Jack Del Rio down the road. The Mike Munchak era in Tennessee starts off with a "W".
Pick: Tennessee 20-9

Philadelphia Eagles at St. Louis Rams- 1PM
Pick: Philadelphia 28-20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens- 1PM
Pick: Baltimore 24-17

Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears- 1PM
Pick: Atlanta 16-13 in OT

Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers- 4:15PM
Pick: San Francisco 14-9

Minnesota Vikings at San Diego Chargers- 4:15PM
The Donovan McNabb era begins in the Twin Cities and starts with a road trip to San Diego.
Pick: San Diego 27-20

Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals- 4:15PM
Pick: Arizona 13-10

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins- 7PM on Sept. 12
Monday Night Football begins its 42nd Season in South Beach as the always red hot Patriots visit the Miami Dolphins with new toys Chad Ochocinco and Albert Haynesworth.
Pick: New England 31-7

Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos- 10:30PM on Sept. 12
Pick: Denver 27-7


NFL SEASON PREDICTIONS:
Well, the season can't begin without how I think all 32 teams will do.

AFC NORTH:
Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
Baltimore Ravens (10-6)
Cleveland Browns (7-9)
Cincinnati Bengals (4-12)

AFC EAST:
New England Patriots (13-3)
New York Jets (11-5)
Miami Dolphins (6-10)
Buffalo Bills (4-12)

AFC WEST:
San Diego Chargers (10-6)
Kansas City Chiefs (8-8)
Denver Broncos (5-11)
Oakland Raiders (5-11)

AFC SOUTH:
Houston Texans (11-5)
Indianapolis Colts (9-7)
Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9)
Tennessee Titans (7-9)


AFC Playoffs:
1) New England
2) Pittsburgh
3) Houston
4) San Diego
5) NY Jets
6) Baltimore

AFC Wildcard: Baltimore over Houston; NY Jets over San Diego
AFC Divisional: New England over Baltimore; Pittsburgh over NY Jets
AFC Championship: Pittsburgh 23-17 over New England in 2 OT

NFC NORTH:
Green Bay Packers (12-4)
Detroit Lions (10-6)
Minnesota Vikings (9-7)
Chicago Bears (7-9)

NFC EAST:
Philadelphia Eagles (13-3)
Dallas Cowboys (10-6)
New York Giants (7-9)
Washington Redskins (6-10)

NFC WEST:
St. Louis Rams (9-7)
Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
San Francisco 49ers (7-9)
Arizona Cardinals (3-13)

NFC SOUTH:
Atlanta Falcons (11-5)
New Orleans Saints (11-5)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-8)
Carolina Panthers (4-12)

NFC PLAYOFFS:
1) Philadelphia
2) Green Bay
3) Atlanta
4) St. Louis
5) New Orleans
6) Dallas

NFC Wildcard: Atlanta over Dallas, New Orleans over St. Louis
NFC Divisional: Atlanta over Green Bay, Philadelphia over New Orleans
NFC Championship: Atlanta 28-14 over Philadelphia

Super Bowl XLIV at Lucas Oil Stadium
Atlanta Falcons 35, Pittsburgh Steelers 28

Super Bowl MVP: Matt Ryan
Regular Season MVP: Michael Vick
Rookie of the Year: Hmmm....good question
Coach of the Year: Andy Reid
Where Will Andrew Luck End Up? The balmy 100 degree temperatures of Glendale, Arizona. That's right. Andrew Luck will be an Arizona Cardinal in 2012.