(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
The NFL is finally here! On Thursday, Sept. 9, the season will kickoff with Pittsburgh-Tennessee, and then the rest of the games will continue on Sunday and Monday. I am here to predict those games (and will weekly). This edition features small previews of each team, but future editions will focus more on actually predicting specifics about each game.
Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee (GAME OF THE WEEK)
These two teams had the best two records in the NFL last year, along with two of the best defenses. This should be a nasty, hard-hitting game without much offense.
Pittsburgh is defending its title against the very team that stomped on its beloved Terrible Towel last year. Big Ben plays his first meaningful game since the sexual assault allegations, so we'll see how he responds. Parker and Mendenhall are a good one-two punch, but we'll have to see if the offensive line can be better than last year. The defense returns most key players from last year. They could probably lose everybody but Harrison and Polamalu and still be one of the best in the league.
Those guys are crazy good.
Tennessee gets a harsh test early on facing the defending champs on their home turf with Kerry Collins at the helm. There is no way he is the quarterback of a playoff Titans team at the end of this year, despite getting better recievers, including former Steeler Nate Washington. Johnson and White are as good of a running back combo as any in the league, but they'll have trouble against Pittsburgh. The defense was great last year, but star DT Haynesworth is gone, so we'll have to see if they are as effective.
Pittsburgh has a superior offense and defense. They are playing at home and coming off a Super Bowl Championship. The crowd is going to be into it, and historically the former Super Bowl champs don't lose this game. I'm taking the Steelers.
Pittsburgh 20, Tennessee 10
Atlanta vs. Miami
Miami gets to show that last year was for real with a week 1 matchup with the Falcons.
Rookie sensation Matt Ryan could develop into a legitimate top QB this year, if they don't run 7,000 times with Michael Turner. It's hard to run so much when Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White are targets to throw to, though. Maybe they'll open up a bit more.
The Atlanta defense might be one of the leagues worst this year, having no strengths anywhere on it.
There is no way the Dolphins offense will have the same success as last year. Pennington is due for an injury after a healthy 2008 season, and Ronnie Brown is their best weapon—that is a big problem.
Joey Porter had a nice comeback year on defense and they welcome back veteran Jason Taylor, now an outside linebacker. After an off year in Washington, Taylor should have a mini-revival, being back in a familiar setting.
These are two teams I feel could drop off dramatically this year. The Falcons have a bad defense and Miami has a bad offense; on paper at least. The Falcons offense is slightly better than Miami's defense though and that will be the difference.
Atlanta 24, Miami 14
Cincinnati vs. Denver
Denver has had a whole slew of problems this offseason, as well as continuing problems with Brandon Marshall, and don't look great going into the season against the Hard Knocks stars of the Cincinnati Bengals.
Carson Palmer is back and Chad Ochocinco looks to be nearly back to his old self. Palmer is still fragile and remains behind a bad O line. Cedric Benson shouldn't be threatening to Denver.
The D might be better this year with Mike Zimmer calling the shots.
Denver is in disarray everywhere. Brandon Marshall is still at odds with management, Knowshon Moreno might not play Week One, and Kyle Orton hasn't looked good in preseason.
Not to mention that the defense is not much better than last year.
This is gonna be a high-scoring game. Both of these defenses are very bad. Bottom five is not out of the question for either team. The Bengals are gonna kill Denver through the air, but only if Palmer is really healthy. Orton has struggled and has an injury, so look for the Broncos backs to have a good game. Cincinnati will win because Palmer will outduel Orton.
Cincinnati 31, Denver 21
Cleveland vs. Minnesota
Two New York Jets outcasts meet here in week 1. Brett Favre will start against his former coach when Minnesota travels to Cleveland on Sunday afternoon.
Cleveland doesn't have a whole lot going for them right now. Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson haven't looked overly impressive and neither has anybody on either side of the ball. The only way the Browns can be successful this year is if Jamal Lewis and Braylon Edwards have major revivals, which is very unlikely.
Packers fans will cringe when Brett Favre takes the field in Cleveland as a hated Minnesota Viking, but whatever you say he is an upgrade over Tavares Jackson. Jackson was dreadful in their playoff game last year and can take them out of games with mistakes. Not that Favre can't, but Favre can make more big plays and provides better leadership.
The defense will once again be one of the best in the league.
This will be an interesting game in determining the Browns' season this year. Will they bounce back to 2007 form or continue down the path of awfulness like their 2008 year. Brady Quinn will have a bad time against the pass rush of Minnesota and Jamal Lewis and/or James Davis aren't exactly superstar runners. Brett Favre gets an easy game in his first "real" game since un-retiring. He could actually have a good game here, but Peterson will have a huge game. Minnesota will win.
Minnesota 24, Cleveland 16
Indianapolis vs. Jacksonville
Jacksonville enters the year as a legitimate bounce-back team, and they face a legitimate fall-to-earth team in Indy. Manning won't let their season be ruined though, and this should be a great division shootout.
Two long time staples—Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison—are gone from Indy this season. It is a lot to ask for Jim Caldwell and Anthony Gonzalez to fill those guys' shoes. Peyton Manning is essentially a coach though and will rally the troops around him. Don't think the Colts are going away this year.
Jacksonville is an intriguing AFC team this year. In fact, they are my sleeper pick to make the playoffs. That being said, they still have a lot of questions on defense, especially in the secondary. They need to generate a great pass rush for their secondary to be good this year. Going against Peyton Manning isn't the best ingredient for a so-so pass D.
Their offense will be good though with underrated David Gerrard, multi-purpose Jones-Drew, and newcomer/veteran Holt. They will score a lot this season.
The season kicks off for these two with a great division rivalry. The Jags and Colts have become nice foes over the past few years, and this game should be another great one. Manning needs to get out of the gate hot for Indy and the Jags need MJD to be healthy and productive. Indy will pull out a squeaker.
Indianapolis 31, Jacksonville 26
New Orleans vs. Detroit
The Saints host the history-making Detroit Lions in the Week One debut of Matthew Stafford. Drew Brees is coming off a record-breaking season of his own and should be able to pick apart this Lions D.
The Saints come into this game as the favorites of the NFC South. Dree Brees is of course excellent, and maybe Marques Colston will be able to stay healthy, but they still have many offensive questions. Will Bush stay healthy? Will Lance Moore be as effective? Can Shockey be a part of the offense? The defense will not help much more than last year, with the same core of players back.
Go ahead and lay down all the money in the world—the Lions will win 100 percent more games in 2009 than in 2008. Matthew Stafford can bring a glimpse of hope to the hopeless city of Detroit with a good first start and first season. Having Calvin Johnson to throw to doesn't hurt him either. The offensive line will be bad, but they have the talent to overcome that. The defense was the worst part of that 0-16 Lions team and Larry Foote won't change that. The Lions won't be winning any 10-3 games this year.
Detroit is going to be a lot better than last year. Calvin Johnson finally has a competent quaterback throwing to him. That is bad news for the Saints' excuse for a defense. Kevin Smith is dangerous on the ground as well. This might be the best game to watch of any this week. Both teams will score a lot and it's going to ba a lot closer than people think. Drew Brees will not let his team lose though. He's just goning to explode for some odd 400 yards and four touchdowns in this game. New Orleans will win a great shootout.
New Orleans 34, Detroit 28
Tampa Bay vs. Dallas
Tampa starts their rebuilding with a date with the Terrell Owens-less Cowboys. It will be interesting to see how Tampa can recover from losing veterans like Jeff Garcia and Derrick Brooks.
The Buccaneers face some major issues on offense. Anytime Byron Leftwich is your starter, things are not well. They have a trio of dangerous backs, but none of them will kill you. Ward is the most explosive, but he might still only get the same amount of work that he did in New York. Bryant had offseason surgery and will probably not be healthy for this first game. The defense really had a let down at the end of the season, and only time will tell how important Monte Kiffin was to them.
The Cowboys entered last season as Super Bowl favorites, but now come into this season as NFC afterthoughts. They disappointed last season, but this team is basically the same as last year's, minus TO. Tony Romo was injured for a crutucal stretch last year and he is one of the best in the league out there. Running the ball should be a breeze. DeMarcus Ware leads what should be a better defense this year.
This game might be rough for Tampa since all of the coaching overhaul in the offseason, as well as not really having a good starting quarterback. Demarcus Ware is going to be putting licks on Leftwich all night. The only way Tampa stands a chance if their running game just comes out and kicks butt, which it could very well do. It's hard to see a whole lot of things going right though. Dallas will win a game closer than the score indicates.
Dallas 24, Tampa Bay 13
Carolina vs. Philadelphia
Michael Vick may not be playing, but this game will be one of the best of the week. Two of the final four NFC teams from last year face off in Charlotte in what should be a well-balanced game.
Jake Delhomme is fresh off of a five-interception game in the playoffs at the very same stadium. He is not as bad as some are making him out to be and can still win the Panthers some games with his gutsy late-game play. DeAngelo Williams might be flying without Jonathan Stewart a lot this season as Stewart has had an unpromising Achilles injury nagging him. Smith is still one the elite guys at wide receiver.
The loss of Kemoeatu hurts the Panthers, but if Jon Beason plays, the run defense shouldn't be too bad. The pass defense should improve with Gamble and Mashall continuing to get better.
Philadelphia is being hyped as a much better team this year than last, and its hard to argue offensively. They went out and got a good tackle in Peters, as well as grabbing Maclin and LeCoy in the draft. McNabb is very good when healthy, but Vick could be the league's best backup when he is eligible after Week Two.
The Eagles will be hurt by Brian Dawkins' departal, but Jim Johnson's death will effect them more. Many of the players were close to him and may not be able to concentrate while on the field with somebody else leading them on. It will be interesting to see if their pass rush is as aggressive this season.
This is probably the second most intriguing matchup of Week One. People are really sleeping on Carolina in this one. They are basically the same team that went 12-4 last year. They lost one key player on defense and they are now being written off. They will come out with something to prove in this game, especially Jake Delhomme. Donovan McNabb will also come out firing, as it has appeared he is bothered by the whole Michael Vick signing. This is gonna be a great game, but the Panthers get the edge because of the home field advantage (8-0 in regular season last year).
Carolina 27, Philadelphia 21
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