NFL Picks Week 1: Predictions for Every Remaining Game in NFL's Opening Week

Week 1 of the NFL season got under way Wednesday night, with the New York Giants falling at home to the Dallas Cowboys. Fifteen other games remain on the opening-week schedule. 

Here's some quick-hit predictions for each of the remaining games in Week 1.

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Minnesota Vikings

It's hard not to like the progress of Jacksonville's second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert, but the Vikings are further along in their rebuilding process and get the comfort of playing at home in the opener.

Adrian Peterson (knee) may not play many snaps, but neither will Maurice Jones-Drew (holdout). Close game, but the Vikings are better across the board at this point in the process. 

Vikings 21, Jaguars 17

Miami Dolphins vs. Houston Texans

If there's a laugher on the Week 1 schedule, it's probably Texans-Dolphins. The only area in which the Dolphins may be slightly better than Houston is on the offensive line, and even that is arguable. 

Dolphins rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill will likely struggle in his return to the state of Texas. There just aren't enough weapons on the Miami offense for him to move the football against one of the NFL's better defenses. 

The Texans, playing at home, have a multifaceted offense and a defense that creates problems on each level. They'll run away with it early. 

Texans 34, Dolphins 10

St. Louis Rams vs. Detroit Lions

New Rams coach Jeff Fisher will eventually help the defense in St. Louis, but this is too early in the rebuilding process.

The Lions, anchored by Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, throw the football more than most teams in the NFL, which puts a lot of pressure on a still-gelling Rams secondary. Unless St. Louis generates a ton of pressure up front, look for Detroit to pass its way to a double-digit win. 

Lions 30, Rams 17

Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals

Trusting a rookie quarterback is never easy, but most rookie quarterbacks aren't Russell Wilson. He continues to prove his doubters wrong, and anyone who doubts he can win his first NFL start on the road will become his next believers.

Wilson might not put up glaring stats, but he'll do enough to leave Arizona with a W. Seahawks have the talent advantage across the board. 

Seahawks 28, Cardinals 20

San Diego Chargers vs. Oakland Raiders

The Chargers and Raiders' intradivisional matchup may be one of the closer games of Week 1. San Diego has a more talented roster, but playing in Oakland is difficult and the Chargers offense was up and down this preseason.

The Raiders need to lean on Darren McFadden to pull out a win in the opener. He's the obvious key. 

Raiders 21, Chargers 20

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are still probably figuring out a way to keep rookie Brandon Weeden upright in this game.

The Eagles defensive line is so dominant, and it goes beyond just the first four guys starting up front. Philly can rotate in other starting-caliber guys to collapse the pocket on Weeden. It will be a rough start to the Weeden era in Cleveland. 

Eagles 27, Browns 13

Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

One of the more fascinating Week 1 matchups, as both clubs look ready to move up the standings in the NFC South. At the very least, both rosters are more polished than their 2011 counterparts. 

In a close game to call like this one, I'll take the best quarterback every time. Cam Newton represents that player to me. Panthers in a close one on the road. 

Panthers 24, Buccaneers 23

New England Patriots vs. Tennessee Titans

Jake Locker absolutely has to avoid turnovers in his first NFL start. The Patriots will smell blood if the Titans are giving New England extra offensive chances early in this game—Tom Brady can make turnovers into crooked numbers in a hurry.

If Locker stays clean, this game stays close. If he struggles, look out. 

Patriots 34, Titans 21

Washington Redskins vs. New Orleans Saints

Robert Griffin III will have a difficult NFL debut. Not only will he need to go toe to toe with one of the better scoring offenses in football, but he'll be facing a Superdome crowd that will be ripe with emotion after a difficult offseason.

I don't think Griffin III plays poorly, but this won't be some coming-out party like Cam Newton had in his 2011 debut. Saints do enough offensively to control the contest. 

Saints 30, Redskins 23

Buffalo Bills vs. New York Jets

I'm trying to picture what the New York media would do to the Jets if they lost their home opener. It's not pretty. There would be a feeding frenzy of people calling for Tim Tebow and proclaiming the Jets' season dead.

That said, I think this hypothetical future becomes reality, at least on the scoreboard. The Bills defensive line will harass a really poor Jets offensive line. Ryan Fitzpatrick makes enough plays in the passing game to score points. 

Bills 17, Jets 9

Indianapolis Colts vs. Chicago Bears

If you're not at least a little excited for Andrew Luck's NFL debut, you probably don't like football. This guy is the real deal, and despite the Bears' clear talent advantage, I think Indianapolis hangs around on the road.

Luck can make plays behind a patchwork offensive line. It won't be enough, but the Bears won't walk through the opener. 

Bears 27, Colts 20

Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs

This game is flying under the radar, but I think Falcons-Chiefs could be one of the better Week 1 matchups.

Matt Ryan's new high-tempo, pass-heavy offense is one thing to watch, but the Chiefs have the running look they possessed in 2010, when Kansas City led the NFL in rushing yards. 

When the clock hits zero, I think Ryan makes one more play than Matt Cassel. The Falcons cornerbacks force a late turnover to seal it. 

Falcons 30, Chiefs 24

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens

The Bengals and Ravens represent one of the three games between two 2011 playoff teams. This is one of the better games on paper, but I think the Ravens don't have much trouble with their AFC North rivals. 

Baltimore swept Cincinnati last season, and I'm not sold on the Bengals yet. They beat no one on their way to nine wins in 2011. 

Ravens 24, Bengals 13

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Denver Broncos

Peyton Manning's debut in Broncos orange comes Sunday night in one of the best games of the weekend. Some are concerned with what they saw in Manning this preseason, but I wasn't one of them. He's not the same MVP-type guy he used to be, but he'll be effective. 

On the other side, the Steelers are lucky Ben Roethlisberger is the quarterback in Pittsburgh. The offensive line is again a patchwork unit. Does he make enough background plays to win on the road?

I don't think so. 

Broncos 20, Steelers 16

Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers

The best game of Week 1 features two franchises which could meet again in the NFC Championship Game in January. The Packers and 49ers combined for an eye-popping 28 wins during the regular season in 2011. 

To begin 2012, it's strength vs. strength in Aaron Rodgers and the 49ers defense. In the end, I think the Packers pass defense makes one game-changing turnover against Alex Smith to seal the home win.

It wasn't easy, and I went back and forth several times, but the Packers narrowly escape. 

Packers 27, 49ers 24