2011 NFL Predictions: Game of the Week for the Entire 2011 Season

Well, could it happen? I am getting that tingling sensation up my leg like Chris Matthews of MSNBC fame said.

Could the lockout finally be coming to a close, or is this that prom date that gets all dolled up, whispers sweet nothings in our ear only to leave us with the dinner tab and saunters off with some guy named Tucker?

Circle your calendar for July 21, 2011. Hopefully that is the day we can all breathe a sigh of relief, football is back.

I mean come on, what were we going to do without football this season, hang out with the wife? Actually walk around the mall on a Sunday afternoon? Man, just typing that gave me the heebee jeebees.

Other than circling your calendar for the day the lockout ends, circle your calendar for every week of the 2011 season because there are some really compelling games that are bound to come down to the wire.

My attempt here is to look at the most compelling game of the week that is bound to be a nail biter. Sorry, but I cannot get in every game or every team.

Besides, if this year is anywhere close to last year, the NFL Network is going to make a killing on their new Red Zone package.

So, let’s get to it. And as always, scribbling a comment is welcome.

Week 1: Pittsburgh at Baltimore

I had several games to look at. Games like Atlanta at Chicago, New Orleans at Green Bay or even Dallas at the Jets, but I chose a division game because the nastiness gets ratcheted up a notch in these types of games.

Why is it that every year both divisional games seem to come down to a penalty, freak play, turnover or missed field goal that winds up making the difference in the game.

I have said in previous articles, there are no two teams more alike in the league than these two teams, and they just happen to reside in the same division. This is a game I will not miss.

It comes down to the wire, but a late Ben Roethlisberger INT enables the Ravens to drive a short field and kick a last minute field goal to steal game one.

Week 2: San Diego at New England

Come on, who wouldn’t be interested in this game? You have arguably the most talented team in the NFL against the most blue collar, team oriented organization in the league.

The Chargers are looking for redemption, and after taking out the Vikings in Week 1, they are looking to go on the road and let the NFL know they are not waiting until Week 8 or 9 to start playing real ball.

The Chargers have a chance to tie the game, but their hopes are dashed with a missed field goal.

New England survives the scare and Tom Brady tells Philip Rivers after the game, “Gisele looked awesome in the box tonight didn’t she? See you in January.”

Week 3: Tie Between Pittsburgh at Indianapolis and Green Bay at Chicago

Pittsburgh is coming off a victory in Week 2 after a disappointing loss in Week 1 to Baltimore. Indianapolis is 1-1, losing to Houston in the season opener but rebounding against the Browns in Week 2.

The winner has an early edge in terms of playoff seeding, especially head to head. Peyton, who did not look sharp in Week 1, gets it back together with back to back strong performances. He drives the Colts down the field and ices the game with a touchdown pass to Garcon.

As for the Packers and Bears, it’s NFC North pound and ground…or wait, Rodgers and Cutler, hmm.

No, it’s more like air and more air. The high scoring game is finally won by the Packers after Cutler throws his third INT.

Week 4: New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens

Earlier, I said the Steelers and Ravens were so alike it would be hard to tell the differences between them in the dark. Well, the same could be said here.

These two teams seem to be mirror images of each other. They want to intimidate and are very stingy on defense and pound the running game on offense. Both have young quarterbacks ready to put their stamp on the league.

What a game this is going to be.

The game is bloody, hard hitting and several turnovers later the Ravens emerge victorious at home.

Week 5: Green Bay at Atlanta

It’s redemption time for the Falcons as the Packers come strolling back to Atlanta after embarrassing them last year in the divisional playoff game.

Most people are ready to board the Starship Ryan and head off to the Super Bowl, but the Packers are defending champions, and they will not be so inclined to go quietly into that good night.

This close game comes down to the young guns, as always, and Ryan is the last man standing with the ball and the Falcons regain some respect and defeat the defending SB champs.

Week 6: Houston at Baltimore

No, I am not a Ravens fan, but for some reason their schedule looks very compelling, and the reason I chose this game is for one simple reason.

If the Texans want to jump on the porch and start barking with the big dogs, they have got to knock off one of the big dogs.

This is a watershed game for the Texans. The Ravens are a formidable opponent anywhere, but especially at home. If the Texans can sail into Baltimore Harbor, clip the Ravens and slip quietly out, they will have accomplished a great deal.

Ray and boys are too much and too often. The Ravens hold off a late game charge by the Texans and win by four.

Week 7: Kansas City at Oakland

I didn’t want you West Coast folks to think I forgot about you, so here is my choice nail-biter for Week 7.

The Raiders went 6-0 in the west last year, but the Chiefs won the division, makes for a good plot.

The burning question at the beginning of the year was whether the Chiefs were a fluke last year, or a legitimate contender.

In my estimation, the Chiefs come into Week 7 at 3-2, having Week 6 off. Meanwhile, the Raiders come limping in at 3-3. Their bye comes Week 8.

The Chiefs benefit by having the bye week and slip out of Oakland with a late game victory by intercepting Jason Campbell and running it back for a TD.

Week 8: New England at Pittsburgh

OK, I have to mention two other games real quick.

One is Dallas at Philadelphia. By this time, we will know if the Cowboys are back and if the Eagles are the team to beat in the East.

The other game pits two rookie quarterbacks against one another, Christian Ponder for the Vikings and Cam Newton for the Panthers.

It is safe to say the most likely both young men are now the signal callers for their respective teams. It should be a very good game.

So the Pats at the Steelers, is this a playoff redux or what? I know it shows as though I am favoring one division or conference over another, but it’s not my fault these games are scheduled the way they are.

Late in the fourth, the Steelers cause a sack and fumble to Tom Brady and the Steelers take the final drive and Roethlisberger seals the deal with a first down run and a subsequent field goal which results in a four-point victory.

After the game Roethlisberger asks Brady if he wants to go clubbin' that night. Brady reminds Ben that he is married.

Week 9: Can't Decide, Help!

There were several games, I could not decide, so here are four games, you pick your nail-biter of the week.

Rematch: Baltimore at Pittsburgh

Chicago at Philadelphia: A possible playoff matchup.

Atlanta and Indianapolis: The young gun against the grizzled veteran. Perhaps a passing of the torch.

New York Giants at New England: The Giants are challenging the Eagles for the division. A win in Beantown would be huge.

Regardless, all these games could possibly come down to the wire. If you do not have multiple televisions at this point, you may want to consider that now before the season starts.

Week 10: Oakland at San Diego

Another really tough weekend and to pick one game is brutal. Other notable down to the wire games that week include:

New England at New York Jets: East Coasters can’t type comments fast enough right now. Sorry, I am trying to balance things out here.

Houston at Tampa Bay: Two upstarts trying to make a push for the playoffs, the winner most likely sitting pretty good in their division.

Tennessee at Carolina: Another rookie quarterback battle, this one between Jake “the Snake” Locker and Cam “I’m not a Fig” Newton. That's fig, not, you know what I mean.

OK, onto the Raida’s and Bolts. Ten games in, things are set. The Chargers have rebounded from last year and are in the hunt for the division title, and one team that stands in the way is the Raiders.

Late in the game Philip Rivers further cements his legacy as the Chargers second best quarterback of all time by tossing a touchdown to Gates for a four-point victory.

I have already posted the winning touchdown in the picture.

Week 11: Philadelphia at New York Giants

Once again, another weekend filled with some great games, but an interesting game will be played in New England as the Patriots host the Chiefs in Matt Cassel’s return to where it all began for him.

The Patriots kindly show him the door one more time as they put away the Chiefs early in the fourth and win by 14.

As for the nail-biter of the week, the Eagles and Giants are playing for first in the East. The Eagles strike quick by jumping out to a 13-point lead, but the Giants rebound in the second half.

Michael Vick goes down and the Eagles replace him with, no not Kolb, they traded him, Mike Kafka.

Giants come back and win as Eli makes a key throw to get the Giants into field-goal range.

Week 12: New England at Philadelphia

Some other good games of the week.

Pittsburgh at Kansas City: The Chiefs try to rebound after an embarrassing loss to New England the week before. Chiefs play hard but are overmatched by the Steelers physical play.

New York Giants at New Orleans: Giants want to show the Saints they are a formidable team they may have to face in the playoffs. Saints win late, Brees to Devery Henderson seals it.

San Francisco at Baltimore: I don’t think this will be much of a game as brother versus brother gets a lot of press. The Harbaugh’s go at it, and Harbaugh wins it, the one in Baltimore that is.

To the nail-biter of the week: If Vick goes down in the previous week this is a no brainer, but he jogs out of the tunnel and the fans go wild.

Early on Vick looks good. He’s not running much but is effective enough in the pocket to give the Eagles an early lead.

I know, it gets old sometimes, but Brady leads his Patriots back to victory, not with a pass, but a run. Patriots score on a two-yard touchdown. The 53 seconds left in the game as Vick overthrows Plaxico Burress on 4th-and-13.

Week 13: Indianapolis at New England

Is this a tradition now, or what? The Patriots and Colts have played each other at least once per year since 2003 and every year but 2002 since Manning was drafted. Manning is 7-10 against the Pats since entering the league.

Last year the Patriots hung on for dear life and won the game 31-28. This year looks to be no different as Peyton and Brady deepen their love/hate relationship.

Last year Manning came up short, but this year he gets his as he hits Clark for a touchdown late and the Colts defense actually prevents the Patriots from adding gold to Brady’s Hall of Fame bust.

Other notable games this week:

Kansas City at Chicago: The Chiefs are finding out what it’s like to win a division and play a really tough schedule. Both teams are struggling right now, but the Bears pull it out with late heroics from Cutler.

Green Bay at New York Giants: Another great game that pits two teams that will most likely see each other again in the playoffs.

Rodgers has a spectacular game and riddles the Giants secondary at which Coughlin says after the game, “Can I get someone to play defensive back for the Giants, please?”

Atlanta at Houston: The proving ground continues as the young high flying Falcons face the high flying Texans. This good ol' fashion Texas shootout goes to the Texans who sack Ryan four times and get two interceptions.

Week 14: St. Louis at Seattle

Hang on there, excitement begins to build as the playoffs lie right around the corner and two NFC teams are battling it out for the division title.

Bradford gets his revenge as the Rams win it late and almost assure themselves of the division title.

Noteworthy game: Indianapolis at Baltimore

If I had put this down as nail-biter of the week, even I would have written a disparaging comment to myself because I could have put these two teams nearly every week.

Two tough road games for the Colts, and on this day, the Ravens defense proves deadly as they pressure Manning all game long. He throws three INT’s and is sacked three more times.

The Ravens run game proves too much, but it still goes down to the wire because no one, and I mean no one, flat out beats down the Colts as long as No. 18 is under center, other than the Chargers that is. 

Week 15: New Orleans at Minnesota

Some might be thinking, the Vikings and Saints in a nail-biter with Ponder at quarterback? Trust me Ponder will only be a side note to this game. This is all about finally getting the Saints in the Dome for the first time since that ill-fated championship game in 2009.

Dare I say it? In Week 15, the Vikings have an outside shot as a wild card and a victory over the visiting Saints will just add to that enthusiasm and determination.

Vikings win late when “All Day” Peterson breaks one for 52 yards to put the Vikings ahead for good. Brees makes a valiant effort, but he is intercepted to ice the game.

Other notable nail biters for Week 15.

Baltimore at San Diego: Both teams are headed for the playoffs and playing for playoff positioning. The Chargers get the best of the Ravens and secure the No. 3 seed with two weeks to play.

Dallas at Tampa Bay: Winner makes one step closer to the playoffs, the loser is out. Hmm, sorry ‘Boys, have to go with the young Bucs, get it, young Bucs? Hey, I tried.

New York Jets at Philadelphia: The Eagles late season swoon continues as they try to hold on to a possible wild card berth. The Jets defense sacks a quickly declining Vick five times.

Week 16: Atlanta at New Orleans

The winner wins the division, the loser settles for the No. 5 seed as a wild card despite both teams having better records than the West leading Rams and East leading Giants.

The Saints are coming off a shocking loss to the Vikings the week before and need to rebound quickly. On the other hand, the Falcons have had 11 days since dispatching the Jaguars on a Thursday night game.

Ryan shows the Monday night audience that he is about to step into the role of comeback artist. Late in the game, Ryan hits rookie Julio Jones with a deep ball to the Saints 7-yard line.

Subsequently, the Falcons slip by the Saints as Michael Turner bulls his way in to give the Falcons a six-point win.

Other notable games for Week 16.

Houston at Indianapolis: Strangely enough, a Houston win guarantees them at least a wild card; a loss forces them to win in Week 17 for the No. 6 seed.

Manning does it again, and this game is not as close as he Colts win by 13.

Chicago at Green Bay: The Packers are running away with the division as the Bears have suffered a few setbacks and are battling for a wild-card spot.

In the frigid Wisconsin air this Sunday night, Rodgers is hot and torches the Bears secondary for a second time this year. Green Bay wins going away.

Week 17: Dallas at New York Giants

The game basically becomes a formality as the Giants put away the Cowboys but not as easily as they would have hoped.

Romo throws a touchdown to Dez Bryant with four minutes left to play to put the Cowboys up by four, but Eli draws inspiration from his brother’s spirit and leads the Giants down the field.

The Cowboys commit pass interference in the end zone, and Jacobs punches it in from a yard out with 37 seconds left to play.

After the game, Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett proclaims the football gods are not shining down on the Cowboys this year. To which, a reporter responds, “Maybe it’s more about the Cowboys playing like a team with no identity.”

And there you have it. A season filled with more nail-biters than 100 teenage girls waiting on Justin Bieber to emerge from his tour bus.

How this all plays out, we will just have to wait and see. It might be pure speculation on my part, but you never know.