NFL Picks Week 1: Playoff Contenders Who Will Fall in Season Openers

Even though all 32 teams believe they are playoff contenders prior to the start of the season, everyone knows that only a select few actually have a chance at playing in January and hopefully February.

Of course, for those few teams, the weight of expectations can be overwhelming. It comes with tremendous pressure, and you have to get off to a good start or else the media and fans will be all over you with questions. 

Week 1 is a blessing and curse for the contenders, because it is our first chance to see what they have to offer in a real game situation. At the same time, it is also our only piece of evidence to judge what you have done, so there will be far more analysis now than in Week 14 or 15. 

Here are the playoff contenders in trouble, at least in Week 1. 

Atlanta Falcons (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

Once again the Falcons are starting a season with great expectations. They did make the playoffs in 2012, though no one was championing them as a serious Super Bowl threat. 

Now, with Julio Jones and Roddy White on the outside, there seems to be a growing sentiment that the Falcons will boast one of the best offensive units in the NFL. They have talent—let's not forget Matt Ryan—but they have yet to evolve into a dynamic scoring team that can put up points at will. 

The Chiefs are not exactly a point-scoring dynamo, but with Matt Cassel and Jamaal Charles coming back after lost seasons, they will certainly be better. 

Playing in Arrowhead Stadium right out of the gate is no easy task. The Chiefs have weapons to match the Falcons point-for-point. When you get into a pick 'em scenario, you have to feel better going with the home team. 

Chiefs 24, Falcons 20

Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Denver Broncos)

Admittedly, both of these teams are playoff contenders, so I could go either way and be justified. That said, there is something about the Steelers that worries me this season. 

I can't quite pinpoint exactly what it is, but I know they don't seem like the lock they usually do. It could be that their running back corps is battling injuries right now. It could be the fact that key players like Troy Polamalu and James Harrison are closer to the end of their prime than the beginning. 

Whatever it is, the Broncos look awfully intriguing in this matchup. Of course, they have their own question mark at the quarterback position. We can talk about what Peyton Manning used to be, but until he plays in meaningful games with the Broncos, we don't know what he is. 

The Denver defense didn't get enough credit last year because everyone was too busy watching Tim Tebow airmailing throws and calling him the best quarterback in the history of the world, but they are going to be even better with even an average Manning under center. 

Plus, the absence of Ryan Clark in this game is a huge loss to the Steelers secondary. 

Broncos 27, Steelers 23

San Diego Chargers (vs. Oakland Raiders)

I have wanted to believe in the Chargers for the last four years. On paper, they should be one of the three or four best teams in the AFC every year. Few teams could match their talent on both sides of the ball. 

They now enter the season with minimal expectations, but are still talented enough to make the postseason, yet I have no idea what they are going to do. 

Philip Rivers turned into Carson Palmer last year with 20 interceptions. He is still an elite-level quarterback, but he needs to get back to only throwing 10-12 picks per year if this team will succeed. 

The Raiders are hoping that Palmer can find his old mojo after a rough debut last season. Even if he doesn't, getting a healthy Darren McFadden back is going to work wonders for this offense. They have holes in the secondary, so don't be shocked to see this turn into a shootout. 

Raiders 34, Chargers 28

Follow @adamwells1985