NFL Picks Week 1: Predicting Bengals vs. Ravens and Chargers vs. Raiders

One of the great things about Week 1 of the NFL season is the double dose of Monday Night Football games.

The first weekend of games will wrap up with the San Diego Chargers against the Oakland Raiders, but first the Cincinnati Bengals travel to face the Baltimore Ravens. These two divisional battles will be highly competitive from beginning to end and should be enough to keep even the most hardcore football fans satisfied.

Each team brings a little something to the table, but here is how these two games should play out.

Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens

Where: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, M.D.

When: September 10, 7 p.m. ET

Betting Line: Ravens (-7.5) according to Bovada

The Bengals had a surprise 2011 season when rookies Andy Dalton and A.J. Green helped lead the team to a 10-6 record and a wild card bid. The offense should only improve with more experience. 

However, going into Baltimore and expecting a victory is a tall order. The Ravens were undefeated at home last season with a schedule that featured the Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, San Francisco 49ers and the Bengals. Including the playoffs, they have not lost at home in 11 games. 

There is little reason to believe that trend will not continue in this Week 1 game. Even if the balanced defense of the Bengals can handle Ray Rice, Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin, the offense is not good enough to get the best of the Ravens. 

Cincinnati hoped to get an upgrade at running back by replacing Cedric Benson with BenJarvus Green-Ellis. Unfortunately, neither one of them have what it takes to take pressure off the passing game. Benson's 3.9 yards per carry last season was slightly better than the 3.7 that Green-Ellis had. The former Patriot was dead last among players with over 180 carries.

New Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees should have no problem finding a game plan that can stop this one-dimensional offense.

Final Score: Ravens 20, Bengals 10

San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders

Where: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, C.A.

When: September 10, 10:15 p.m. ET

Betting Line: Raiders (-1) according to Bovada

The Raiders had to deal with a number of injury problems last season, but they were still able to finish with the same 8-8 record as the NFC West-champion Denver Broncos. The addition of a healthy Darren McFadden should make a huge difference as they try to get back to the postseason.

San Diego did not make many changes to a defensive front that was 20th in stopping the rush last season, so the Raiders' running back should be able to carry the team offensively. In addition, Carson Palmer and Darrius Heyward-Bey developed quite a chemistry towards the end of last season when the receiver averaged 108 yards in the final four games.

On the other side of the football, the Chargers will have to rely on Ronnie Brown to be the lead running back with Ryan Mathews unable to play. It will also be interesting to see how Philip Rivers fares without Vincent Jackson, after one of his favorite targets over the last few seasons bolted to Tampa Bay.

Both teams had eight wins last season, but San Diego seems to have gotten worse while the Raiders made a coaching change and got healthier. Expect a better season from the Silver and Black and a better performance on Monday night.

Final Score: Raiders 27, Chargers 20

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