NFL Picks Week 1: 2011 Playoff Teams That Will Lose 2012 Season Openers

The 2012 NFL season will kick off on September 5 and if my picks are accurate, several playoff teams from a season ago will be starting the year off with a loss.

The schedule has pitted a few teams that made it to the postseason in 2011 against each other, ensuring that at least three of last year’s top performers will be 0-1 by Monday.

Over the past 15 years, an average of six teams that reached the playoffs in the previous season failed to repeat their accomplishment, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Some the franchises that lose their Week 1 game will continue a downward spiral.

Here are the teams in danger of proving history correct by following a fine 2011 season with a poor start to 2012.

Kansas City Chiefs over Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons finished the 2012 season with a 10-6 record and made the playoffs as wild card. For the second consecutive year, the Falcons were blown out in their first postseason game.

Now, they will open up the 2012 season with a loss to the Chiefs, who look set for an impressive year after getting several impact players back from injury. This game is also at Arrowhead Stadium, which is an incredibly difficult place to play. The home team will roll to victory.

Green Bay Packers over San Francisco 49ers

These two teams do not appear to be among the 2011 playoff teams that will fall victim to the postseason turnover rate. The 49ers made improvements to their offense while the Packers upgraded their defense, and these two teams may finish first and second in the NFC again this year.

This is the marquee matchup of Week 1, and it will be a close game. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay offense will not put up a ton of points on Patrick Willis and the San Francisco defense, but the reigning MVP will get in the end zone at a crucial moment to earn a victory.

Denver Broncos over Pittsburgh Steelers

In a rematch of last year’s most shocking postseason upset, the Steelers will be unable to take revenge because of Peyton Manning. While few expected Tim Tebow to toss an 88-yard touchdown pass against the Pittsburgh defense, it will be much less surprising to see Manning carve up the Steelers’ secondary. 

This will be No. 18’s first game at Mile High Stadium, and he will be motivated to start off his career with the Broncos with a victory. Manning will beat Pittsburgh, proving that he is still one of the NFL’s premier players.

Baltimore Ravens over Cincinnati Bengals 

The Bengals were the most unexpected postseason participants last year, and Andy Dalton will face a difficult challenge in Week 1 against the Ravens.

Three teams from the AFC North made the playoffs in 2011 and each one of these division battles will be a physical and competitive affair. However, the Ravens are simply better on both sides of the ball and they will start the 2012 season with a win.