NFL Week One Game Predictions

T-minus 24 hours and counting.

Twenty-four more hours and the official kickoff to the 2009 NFL season will begin.

Most fans are anticipating the return of football, especially if their baseball team is not doing so well. Others just might be as excited for the season to start to go along with playoff baseball.

Week One of the NFL is always a hard one to judge. Teams are fresh coming off the preseason and it's difficult to tell how their seasons will go.

One of the most impactful events did happen in Week One last year: Tom Brady was hit in the knee in the first quarter, and ended up missing the entire 2008 season, after surgery.

Hopefully, no one will be seriously injured in the first week and games will go according to plan.

Here are my predictions for all of the games for Week One.

Thursday Night Football: Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The Super Bowl Champion Steelers open up the NFL season ready to defend their title and have retained most of their championship roster from a year ago. The Titans will still have Kerry Collins starting at quarterback, but with the departure of Albert Haynesworth up front, the Steelers running game may be too much for the Titans defense to handle.

Final Score: Steelers 27-Titans 16

Washington Redskins @ New York Giants

For the second year in a row, the Giants will open up at home against the Redskins. The Giants have a vastly improved defense with Osi Umenyiora returning to team up with Justin Tuck, and they will have most of the starters who were out in the preseason back in the lineup.

The Redskins must be able to stop the running game of Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, but most of the NFL couldn't do that, and I don't expect Washington to on Sunday.

Final Score: Giants 34-Redskins 20

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts

The Colts are under a new head coach with Jim Caldwell, but don't expect things to change. It's still Peyton Manning's team, and he's got a ton of weapons to throw to in Reggie Wayne, Anthony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark, and Joseph Addai.

The Jaguars were awful in 2008 and Jack Del Rio may be on the hot seat if they don't improve in 2009. It's tough opening on the road to one of the most consistent NFL teams in the league.

Final Score: Colts 27-Jaguars 17

New York Jets @ Houston Texans

The Jets begin a new regime with a new head coach in Rex Ryan and a new starting quarterback in Mark Sanchez. The defense should be improved with the addition of Bart Scott to go along with Kris Jenkins, David Harris, Kerry Rhodes, and Darrelle Revis.

The Texans are a team on the rise. Andre Johnson is quietly becoming a top-tier NFL receiver and, when healthy, Matt Schaub is a good quarterback. Steve Slaton came out of nowhere to be a great rookie running back, but the key might be defensive end Mario Williams chasing Sanchez around all day.

Final Score: Texans 24-Jets 20

Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Cowboys will be without Terrell Owens for the first time since 2006. Tony Romo will be without Jessica Simpson, so maybe he'll concentrate more on football—at least until the next hot blonde comes along. Roy Williams must step up to be more productive, but Dallas might rely on Marion Barber and Felix Jones in the running game.

Tampa Bay is in total re-building mode with Raheem Morris as the new head coach. Jon Gruden, Monte Kiffin, Jeff Garcia, Warrick Dunn, and Derrick Brooks are all gone. So are any chances of Tampa being good in 2009.

Final Score: Cowboys 35-Buccaneers 10

Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers

The Eagles will have to wait to unveil Michael Vick, but won't have to with LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin, two rookie additions to the offense of Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook. Westbrook's health has been a concern and if he's injured, the Eagles go nowhere.

The Panthers were very good in 2008, but Jake Delholmme's lousy playoff performance ended Carolina's season. If Carolina sticks to the "Smash-n-Dash" running attack of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, they should be able to pound Philadelphia's defense, which will be under the successor to the late Jim Johnson, Sean McDermott.

Final Score: Panthers 28-Eagles 20

Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints

The Lions went 0-16 in 2008. They rebuilt a lot of this team with a new coach in Jim Schwartz and a new quarterback in Matthew Stafford, and should be improved.

The Saints are one of the most fun teams to watch on offense. Drew Brees threw for more than 5,000 yards in 2008 and still has a ton of targets to throw to. Reggie Bush will attempt to be the premier running back with Deuce McAllister now gone. For a rebuilding team like Detroit, I don't like their chances in the Superdome.

Final Score: Saints 38-Lions 14

Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns

This will be the first official game with Brett Favre as a Minnesota Viking. The Cleveland crowd will probably come out just to see Favre, because the Browns are not very good. New coach Eric Mangini hasn't decided who the starting quarterback is, although most feel it should be Brady Quinn.

Cleveland will have a tremendous time trying to stop one of the game's premier running backs in Adrian Peterson. Favre should be able to have a decent day with Cleveland's awful defense.

Final Score: Vikings 27-Browns 7

Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals

This might be a game with two desperate teams looking to get off to a good start in 2009, because expectations aren't high for either. The Broncos traded away Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall doesn't want to be in Denver, and rookie head coach Josh McDaniels looks like he's already losing control.

The Bengals will hope Carson Palmer can stay healthy enough, because if he can, it can control Cincinnati's success. Chad Ochocinco is looking to have a bounce-back season after a disappointing 2008. Marvin Lewis is on the hot seat if the Bengals don't produce.

Final Score: Bengals 24, Broncos 14

Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens

The Chiefs have a new coach in Todd Haley and traded for quarterback Matt Cassel, who will have to prove he was no fluke in New England. The Chiefs did release veterans Amani Toomer and Zach Thomas, players I felt could have made a difference on this young team. Larry Johnson must grow up and become the elite running back he started out to be.

The Ravens made it to the AFC Championship Game last year, and should be a good team again. Joe Flacco will have to show he was not a one-year wonder. With Ray Lewis and Ed Reed on defense, Baltimore should still be scary to deal with.

Final Score: Ravens 21-Chiefs 10

Miami Dolphins @ Atlanta Falcons

This is a battle of two surprise teams in 2008. However, one should still be a playoff contender while the other might be taking a step back—that team being Miami. The wildcat offense caught everyone off guard in 2008, but now teams are preparing for it, which could set Miami back. Chad Pennington is the starter for now at quarterback, but people are awaiting Chad Henne's chance.

Matt Ryan was outstanding for Atlanta in his rookie season, leading Atlanta to the playoffs. He has Michael Turner in the backfield and a new target to throw to in Tony Gonzalez, one of the best tight ends in football. Ryan should get the season started in the right direction for the Dirty Birds.

Final Score: Falcons 34-Dolphins 24

St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks

Last season, both of these teams were dreadful. They have new head coaches, but only one should show improvement.

The Seahawks should have Matt Hasselbeck healthy and ready to go. They drafted Aaron Curry at linebacker and many feel he will be a star on defense. They also added Edgerrin James to compliment Julius Jones at running back, and James will look to show critics he still has his A-game.

St. Louis brought in Steve Spagnuolo as head coach, but the team is still in a mess, so it will take a while for the Rams to re-build into anything respectful.

Final Score: Seahawks 28-Rams 7

San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals shocked the world last year by winning the NFC Championship and were 20 seconds away from winning Super Bowl XLIII. Kurt Warner was re-signed and Anquan Boldin wasn't traded, so put them along with emerging superstar Larry Fitzgerald, and the offense should be dynamic to see.

The 49ers took a step in the right direction with Mike Singletary as the head coach, but I still feel this team needs to draft or trade for a quarterback. For now, Shaun Hill is the guy, but for how long? Michael Crabtree also needs to grow up and cut out the rookie baby attitude he is showing.

Final Score: Cardinals 38-49ers 21

Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers

The Bears have a new and much better quarterback in Jay Cutler, who is 100 times better than Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton. Matt Forte emerged onto the scene as a great running back in his rookie year and must duplicate that success.

Green Bay was in transition last year, going from the Brett Favre era to the Aaron Rodgers era. Rodgers took his growing pains and learned how to be an NFL quarterback, which should help in 2009. He has great weapons in Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, and Greg Jennings.

Green Bay will be a much improved team in 2009.

Final Score: Packers 28-Bears 24

Monday Night Football: Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots

Tom Brady returns to the Patriots to make them a Super Bowl contender once again. His knee should be healthy, and with Randy Moss and Wes Welker ready to catch more touchdowns, the Patriots should roll in 2009.

The Bills brought in Terrell Owens to improve the offense. Owens is looking for a new contract, so expect him to TRY to behave, but if Buffalo struggles, who knows how long that lasts. Even with Owens, Buffalo is going to struggle to stop Brady-to-Moss.

Final Score: Patriots 42, Bills 17

Monday Night Football: San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders

The Chargers are easily the favorites to win their division and they should start out well on the later Monday night game. When healthy, LaDanian Tomlinson should be a force to deal with in the backfield and is still one of the best running backs in the game. Philip Rivers continues to get better every year.

The Raiders are still a mess. Tom Cable apparently is punching out assistant coaches, newly traded-for defensive tackle Richard Seymour has yet to report to Oakland and Al Davis still owns the team. Don't expect much from Raider Nation in 2009.

Final Score: Chargers 37-Raiders 14

There you have it. 16 games to start off 2009.

Are you ready?