Week 1 NFL Picks: Predicting Top Clashes of Opening Slate

After a long wait and too many preseason games, the 2012-2013 NFL season is just about to get underway.

Will the New York Giants win their third Super Bowl in six years? Will the Dallas Cowboys stop being inconsistent? Will the Pittsburgh Steelers get revenge on the Denver Broncos? Will the young Cincinnati Bengals ultimately rise up against a Baltimore Ravens unit that pushed them around last season?

So many questions. Here are my answers as Week 1 kicks off.

Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

The Cowboys look to lasso the foreboding Giants on Wednesday. Obviously, that's a tough task, figuratively and literally.

The Cowboys are trying to bounce back from a disappointing 8-8 campaign that saw them lose four of their last five games, which included two losses to the Giants.

Despite racking up 42 sacks last season, the Cowboys still allowed opposing quarterbacks to average 7.6 yards per attempt, 24th in the NFL. In the season-ending loss to the Giants on New Year's Day, Eli Manning went 24-of-33 for 346 yards and three touchdowns.

Of course, the Cowboys did pick up former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Brandon Carr to help in that area this season, while drafting former LSU star Morris Claiborne.

Still, I think there's some growing to do for the Cowboys' secondary and Manning is coming off a fantastic season.

Prediction: Giants 24, Cowboys 21

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos

The Steelers are still reeling after the divine being that is Tim Tebow stunned them in the playoffs last season.

Now they have a new challenge in future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning on Sunday, who is coming off three neck operations.

Manning last faced the Steelers in Week 10 of the 2008 season. He went 21-of-40 for 240 yards and three touchdowns in the Indianapolis Colts' 24-20 victory.

Manning does have some weapons to play with in the receiving corps this season, including promising youngsters Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas, but the main thing for the Broncos will be keeping him upright. The Steelers are sure to design some packages to pressure the veteran QB.

Despite some concerns about Pittsburgh's aging defense, it is still one of the top teams in the AFC and the defense's experience figures to make things tough for Denver. 

I do have issues with the Steelers' running game right now, though, with Rashard Mendenhall on the PUP list and Isaac Redman battling injuries this offseason.

I think the Broncos start the season off with a bang and stun the Steelers in Denver.

Prediction: Broncos 24, Steelers 20

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

After an uplifting campaign last season, the Bengals are looking to pick up where they left off on Monday, led by quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green. 

But it's not just about what is sure to become one of the most dynamic quarterback-receiver pairings in the NFL. Don't forget, the defense allowed just 20.2 points per game last season, ninth in the NFL. They also allowed just 25.48 yards per drive, fourth-best mark in the league (per FootballOutsiders.com).

Of course, it must be said that the Bengals had some troubles against top-tier teams, including the Ravens (who, I might add, have a pretty solid defense themselves). The Bengals allowed 55 points in two games against Baltimore in the second half of the season.

Terrell Suggs or not, the Ravens still have a great defense complete with fantastic corner Lardarius Webb and strong safety Ed Reed. On top of that, the offense showed strides last season, and second-year receiver Torrey Smith is only going to get better opposite Anquan Boldin.

I'm not ready to hand this game, or the division, to the Bengals just yet.

Prediction: Ravens 27, Bengals 21

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