NFL Week 1 Preview
The 2010-11 NFL season kicks off on Thursday night, Sept. 9 with the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints hosting the Minnesota Vikings and ends on Monday Night Football with a double-header.
Let’s take a look at each Week 1 match up followed by some free NFL predictions.
THU, SEP 9 TIME (ET)
Minnesota at New Orleans 8:30 PM NBC – After being eliminated from the payoffs by the Saints in overtime of the NFC title game last season, Brett Favre and the Vikings will be looking for a little revenge to start their 2010 campaign. The reigning champion Saints should be favorites in this one as they prepare for thier first win over the Vikings in the regular season since 2001. Minnesota has won the last four meetings, including three at the Superdome including this one.
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SUN, SEP 12 TIME (ET)
Miami at Buffalo 1:00 PM CBS– Buffalo hasn’t made a playoff appearance in 11 years, but the Bills loyals will be as hopeful as ever rallying behind QB Trent Edwards and the new rookie running back C.J. Spiller of Clemson fame. Miami will need to make the Bills defend the entire field. Buffalo was one of the worst defenses against the run last season, which should bode well for a team that boasts the likes of Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown and a Wildcat offense. Look for the Fins to avenge last year’s 31-14 loss at Buffalo.
Oakland at Tennessee 1:00 PM CBS – If the Raiders can slow down RB Chris Johnson they may just have a chance. Oakland’s run defense was a problem last season, but the Raiders seem better equipped in 2010. After a miserable 0-6 start in 2009 the Titans finished a strong 8-8 campaign with eight wins in their last ten games. Tennessee will look to get off to a better start with a win over Oakland in this one.
Cincinnati at New England 1:00 PM CBS – Both teams made early playoff exits in 2009 despite finishing the regular season atop their respective divisions. Now the Bengals defense will set their sights on reclaiming top honors by throwing their tenacious D at Tom Brady and the Pats, in hopes of getting the season underway with a huge road win. At 40, Terrell Owens doesn’t impress me anymore, and I don’t think Cincinnati has enough offense to get it done in Foxboro.
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Carolina at NY Giants 1:00 PM FOX – The last time these two teams met the Giants were obliterated defensively, losing 41-9 late last season. But you can bet that they will be much more prepared as they look to open their new stadium with a win. Both teams failed to make the playoffs with 8-8 records to finish third in their respective divisions. Look for Eli Manning to find the holes in a mediocre Carolina secondary to get it done.
Atlanta at Pittsburgh 1:00 PM FOX – Neither team made the postseason in 2009. The Steelers will rely on Dennis Dixon, who will replace quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as he serves a 4-6 game suspension to start the season. The Falcons will test Dixon’s abilities and bring an offense that can get it done in the air as well as on the ground. As Ryan’s knowledge of his offense continues to develop, we could see this team back in the playoffs in 2010, staring with an early road win at Heinz Field.
Cleveland at Tampa Bay 1:00 PM CBS – Both teams continue to struggle and appear to be in a massive rebuilding mode, but did perform better towards the end of the 2009 season with the Bucs shocking win over eventual Super Bowl champion New Orleans, and the Browns winning its final four games. I like the Bucs at home.
Denver at Jacksonville 1:00 PM CBS – The Broncos and Jags just missed making a postseason run last season. Denver faded after starting off the year 6-0, while Jacksonville never really found their offensive groove. Neither team impresses me. The Broncos have a questionable running attack, and the Jaguars have question marks all over the offense. The team with the better defense will win this. 
Indianapolis at Houston 1:00 PM CBS – The Colts didn’t look good in preseason while Houston looked sharp on both sides of the ball. Despite losing both meetings to the Colts last season and missing the playoffs once again, the Texans and QB Matt Schaub is coming off one of their best seasons. While still being a formidable foe, Manning and the Colts aren’t as threatening as they once were, as the Saints proved in last year’s Super Bowl. The Texans are better on defense and are ready to take the next step beginning with a win over their division rival en route to making the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.
Detroit at Chicago 1:00 PM FOX – Well first of all I have to partial to Mike “Martz.” No were not related. But seriously, Jay Cutler has got to improve…right? He should see positive results from a more potent passing attack offense, as long as he can settle down and keep the INTs to a minimum. I do like the way the Lions are retooling, adding more talent around QB Matthew Stafford. He should have a breakout year. The Bears won both meetings with Detroit last year, including a 48-24 victory at Soldier Field. The Lions defense will be tough with the addition of DT Ndamukong Suh, but I think the Bears edge one out here.
San Francisco at Seattle 4:15 PM FOX – The Niners looked good in preseason winning all four bouts. They will field a top 5 defense this season and with a healthy Frank Gore, should tally up some nice stats with the running game. The Seahawks have the look of a team rebuilding, and QB Matt Hasselbeck will have to adjust to a new strategy as Pete Carroll takes command for his first game as Seattle’s head coach trying to patch a team together. It will show in this contest.
Green Bay at Philadelphia 4:15 PM FOX –In this QB duel there is no doubt that Aaron Rodgers will prove that he deserves to be hailed of one of the elite quarterbacks in today’s game. The Eagles’ Kevin Kolb meanwhile will look to lead Philly, in just his third career start, to a win with a practically brand new team. The Pack brings back most of their 2nd ranked defense from last season, and an offense with plenty of weapons. This one goes to Green Bay.
Arizona at St. Louis 4:15 PM FOX – I’m not sure what’s going on in the desert but maybe G.M. Rod Graves has a touch heat exhaustion, reducing the Cards to a mere fraction of what they were just two seasons ago. And was releasing Leinart such a good idea? Derek Anderson isn’t going to be any better. The only guy with a worse QB rating since 2008 is JaMarcus Russell. We all know that story. Sam Bradford, on the other hand, is the real deal and proved it throughout preseason and training camp. St. Louis probably won’t see the payoffs for another season or two, but I think Bradford, with the help of RB Stephen Jackson, gives them enough of a chance to win their home opener.
Dallas at Washington 8:20 PM NBC – In a repeat of both meetings last season, the Cowboys will prove to be too much for the Redskins in this one, with or without Donovan McNabb. It will be some time before NFL fans can look for some excitement to be put back in this long tome rivalry.
MON, SEP 13 TIME (ET)
Baltimore at NY Jets 7:00 PM – Smack- talking head coach Rex Ryan should be amped as he leads his “future Super bowl Champions” against his former employer to open the 2010 season at the new Meadowlands. New York returns most of its No. 1 defense from 2009, but will themselves have an encounter with one of the league’s best run stoppers. Raven’s QB Joe Flacco will want to spoon feed Ryan’s words to him personally, but will have to outduel a youthful Mark Sanchez. This will be smash mouth football at its finest as the Jets eke out a win against the favorites.
San Diego at Kansas City 10:15 PM – KC is a much better team than most think and after finishing last in the AFC West in 2009, are expected to be much improved under second year head coach Todd Haley. Still, there’s just not enough awe-inspiring talent on this Chiefs team to beat Phillip Rivers, Ryan Matthews and Co.
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Matt Martz is a freelance writer located in Central California. Blessed is the gambler who expects nothing, for ye shall not be disappointed.
