NFL Picks Week 1: Predicting Every Game for League's Opening Week

With the first week of NFL football underway, the time for predicting every game on the schedule is upon us; let the fun begin!

There are plenty of divisional bouts, conference rivalries and possible playoffs matchups on tap, and even the most casual football fan has to be enthralled by what should be a spectacular start to the 2012 regular season.

Not only have we predicted every NFL game from Week 1 (excluding Wednesday’s New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys game), we have given you three upset specials that could make you some big money.

Thank us later.

Upset Specials

Buffalo over New York Jets

With the New York Jets offense in complete shambles and the improved Buffalo Bills defense attacking with all it has, no amount of Tim Tebow can save the Jets from dropping their first game to their division rival.

Buffalo’s offense was potent last year, but the tough Jets defense will keep the team in the game. In the end, the Bills will use Fred Jackson to control the clock and pull out an upset victory.

Denver over Pittsburgh

The key in this game will be how Peyton Manning plays against the tough Pittsburgh Steelers defense. Lucky for him, Ryan Clark will not be able to play in Mile High Stadium because of health issues.

If we learned one thing last year about the Broncos, it was that their defense is stout. As good as the air attack is in Pittsburgh, the lack of offensive line talent will cause serious trouble throughout the game and cost the Steelers a win.

Oakland over San Diego

It is never easy to predict division battles, but something tells me the notoriously slow-starting San Diego Chargers will face the same fate against a fully healthy Oakland Raiders team.

As much as Philip Rivers is a great quarterback, the lack of offensive weapons around him will lead to more three-and-outs and turnovers.

With a full offseason under QB Carson Palmer’s belt, Oakland will beat the Chargers on Monday night in surprise fashion. The Raiders have Darren McFadden healthy again, and he will run all over San Diego.

Book it.

Complete NFL Week 1 Picks  

(winners in bold)

Indianapolis at Chicago

Philadelphia at Cleveland

New England at Tennessee

Atlanta at Kansas City

Jacksonville at Minnesota

Washington at New Orleans

Buffalo at N.Y. Jets

St. Louis at Detroit

Miami at Houston

San Francisco at Green Bay

Seattle at Arizona

Carolina at Tampa Bay

Pittsburgh at Denver

Cincinnati at Baltimore

San Diego at Oakland

Check back for more on the National Football League as it comes, and don’t miss Bleacher Report’s NFL page to get your fill of all things football.

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