NFL Week 1 Picks From Patriots Fans' Perspective

First, my apologies to Glenn Card who gave me his picks a week ago and I am just now getting them posted.  12-14 hour work days unexpectedly interceded in the important things in life!

Following are this week’s picks from a Patriots fans’ perspective.  Yes, I know I am posting this late and the first game is already over but I will post that anyway.

This week features my patient friend Glenn Card and yours truly.  Hopefully we will rope the rest of the gang in as the season progresses.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Minnesota Vikings @ New Orleans Saints

GC:  The defending champion Saints host the Vikings in this season opener. Expect the Saints to crack open the throttle of their high powered offence from the beginning of the game. By the end of the game the Saints will be in overdrive at cruising speed. I’m hoping that Brett doesn’t start making mistakes from his very first outing but I don’t think is going to matter anyway. The Saints should win this but it might not be easy.

DB:  I have the Saints going to the Super Bowl again this year and the Vikings struggling with Sidney Rice out and Percy Harvin struggling with headaches.  Meanwhile Bernard Berrian had a horrible preseason so if he doesn’t step up, I see the Vikings offense struggling for a while.  I take the Saints.

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans

GC:  Nice way to open up the AFC South division. The Texans always seem to be improving their team year after year but it never seems to be enough to keep up with the Colts. Manning won’t let the Colts lose this one.

DB:  Every year it seems people expect Houston to take a step up and this year it appears even more people are on their bandwagon.  I’ll believe it when I see it.  Colts.

Cleveland Brown @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

GC: Have the Browns done enough to pull themselves out of the cellar? Don’t know.

What I do know is the Bucs seem to have had a resurgence in their famed defense and I think that is what will end up allowing them to take the game and the win.

DB: If this were taking place at the end of the season nobody would be watching it.  Both teams are trying to improve on a dismal past several seasons.  My gut tells me the Buccaneers are closer to respectability than the Browns and are the better team.  Tampa Bay.

Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants

GC:  Yeah, Okay, Eli has proven he’s tough. I have little doubt that the Giants can win this opener at home.

DB:  This is a tough game for me to call.  I think the Giants are on a downhill slide at the moment while Carolina is remaining steadily just above mediocre.  I think the Panthers are going to pull the upset in this game with a tough defense and running game.

Cincinnati Bengals @ New England Patriots

GC:  The Bengals are looking very scary this year and I’ll admit I’m a bit worried about the Patriots secondary. Not only that I didn’t see Patriots show any real positive signs of a strong pass rush to help the guys in the back field.

This game may turn into a shootout. That is one thing the Patriots are good at, scoring points. I don’t think the Bengals have enough to walk away from the Razor with a win. Patriots post their first “W” by the end of this game.

DB:  Our young cornerbacks better get ready for a lot of trash talking from Chad Ochostinko and Terrible TO.  This will be a tough matchup for the Patriots secondary and it frankly scares me a little bit. 

Add to that Brady’s car accident, which regardless of what people want to believe, is going to have some lingering effects on his body come Sunday.  I hope the chiropractors and training staff worked him over good this weekend.  I still see the Patriots coming out with a win as our offense looks very good.

Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans

GC:  I hate to say it but I think the Raiders have finally put together a team that can have a winning season. It just means we’ll be hearing a lot more crowing from their fanbase. I actually think the Raiders could steal this game from the Titans.

DB:  Jason Campbell never really had a chance in Washington but I really don’t think he is a great quarterback.  While I see the Raiders as an improved team this season, I don’t expect much from them, or the Titans.  But the Titans have more talent so I’ll go with the Titans.

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears

GC:  I’ve never really been a Jay Cutler fan. I know he was supposed to be the savior of Chicago, but I say he’ll try to force the ball and he’ll end up giving away this game to the Lions.

DB:  Chicago and Jay Cutler are an enigma.  I really don’t know what to expect from them this year, especially since their offensive line seems a porous as ever.  The Lions should be an improved team this year.  But if Matt Forte and Cutler and get it going in the running and passing game, they should be okay.  I take Chicago.

Denver Broncos @ Jacksonville Jaguars

GC: The Jaguars are building a good team but, there’s always a “but,” I don’t think they have everything in place to make a run for it this year. The Broncos on the other hand seem to have picked up the right players to be successful this year. Broncos win this one.

DB:  I am not a big believer in the Jaguars and Del Rio.  They have one weapon on offense, Maurice Jones-Drew and decent but not overwhelming defense.  Denver has had a lot of injuries but I expect them to come out with a win in this one.

Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams

GC:  The Cardinals are looking to dump Lienhart and it looks as if they are going to go with Derek Anderson as the starting quarterback. I really like this move because the Cardinals should still be good offensively. While on the other side of the ball, the play of the Rams so far this year has impressed me. This could be a really close game and if it is I give the win to the home team the Rams.

DB:  While Derek Anderson is a wait and see, the Cardinals offense is still stacked and should easily win against the Rams.

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles

GC:  This game will be all about the quarterbacks. The Packers return with Arron Rodgers as their QB again this year. You just know that he needs to step up his game this year. The Eagles will be showcasing Kolb as their starter and by all accounts this young man has the maturity to lead the team. The Eagles get this home team win.

DB:  Wow, what a great game to start off the season with.  I think the Packers will take their division this year despite their troubles on offense and I am very interested to see what the Eagles will do with their young team.  I think the Eagles will give the Packers defense a hard time, but foresee a Packers victory in this one.

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins

GC:  All I’ve been reading during the preseason is how underperforming the Cowboys seem to be playing. I think it’s a little dangerous to underestimate this team. The Redskins look to be competitive this year with the changes that they have made. Look for the Redskins to win this home game but if the Cowboys bring their “A” game it will be a tough win.

DB:  Well, Danny Boy hired another coach with a strong will to win and do things his way.  Wonder how long he will last, will the $100 million fat man slouches.  I think the Redskins should improve this year under Shannahan, but the Cowboys are better and will take this one.

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks

GC:  There are a lot of expectations for both of these teams this year. The 49ers have been making steady progress towards becoming a competitive team again, and the Seahawks are looking to make an early come back from oblivion. The 49ers will upset the Seahawks at home.

DB:  The Seahawks suck a lot and the 49ers are on their way up.  49ers.

Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburg Steelers

GC:  The Falcons are the real deal and the Steelers are struggling to fill the quarterback position until Roethlisberger returns. Despite the vaunted Steelers defense, I think the Falcons can win this away game.

DB: With Dennis Dixon at quarterback I think the Steelers will struggle and the Falcons will win as a result.

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills

GC:  In this AFC East divisional matchup we get to see if either one of these teams have upgraded or did a little backslide. I expect this to be a hard-fought game as neither one of these teams wants to fall 1 behind in the division so early in the season. The Bills will prevail.

DB:  As with other mediocre teams around the league, Miami seems to be on the way up while the Bills seem to be standing in place.  Miami.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Baltimore Ravens @ New York Jets

GC:  The Ravens walk into the Jets new stadium to face a team that has proclaimed it is Super Bowl bound. Don’t expect the Ravens to roll over for that. The Ravens are the bully who will be taking the Jets candy.

DB:  I can’t wait to see the Ravens wipe the smirk off the fat man’s face.  The Ravens are reloaded on offense and their defense remains one of the best.  Watch out Sanchez.  Ravens.

San Diego Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs

GC:  I hate to knock the Chiefs so early but it kinda sucks that they have to play this competitor in their first regular season game. The Chargers have all the right personnel to continue their winning ways. I don’t think the Chiefs have the offense to keep up with the Chargers.

DB:  Well, the AFC West ain’t what it used to be and I don’t think the Chargers will be as good as they have been in the past. Nevertheless, the Chiefs are still