Steelers, and Brady, and Bears, Oh My: The NFL's Top Week One Matchups

Thank God, Allah, and Buddha, it's football season, ladies and gentlemen. 

The air is a little crisper, the kids are back in school, and finally sports radio has something relevant to talk about. 

The action doesn't get any better than the NFL, and football fans are already getting a healthy dose of marquee matchups in Week One. Here are some of the most interesting storylines for the week.

Be sure to watch my full NFL Week One Preview (click here) YouTube Video when you're done.

Towel-Stompin' LenDale White Heads into Heinz Field

While we like to think the pros are giving 110 percent every snap of every play, it’s amazing what a little locker room material can do.

Last year White and the Titans trampled on the Terrible Towel after rolling the eventual Super Bowl champs 31-14 in Tennessee. The best part is that LenDale White says he will deface Pittsburgh's yellow terry cloth icon again if he gets the opportunity.

News flash, Mr. White: You will be seeing about 65,050 of them flying high as well as 11 angry Steelers on Thursday night. 

Don't worry about the Pittsburgh being hung over from all the Super Bowl celebrations. White and the Titans have put a giant bull’s-eye on themselves to start the season.

Tom Brady's Head Versus His Knee Versus His Shoulder

The only thing that can stop Tom Brady against Buffalo is Tom Brady. He looks like he has recovered fully from his knee injury, but a jammed shoulder courtesy of Albert Haynesworth in the preseason may have him second-guessing and looking to get the ball out of his hands prematurely.

Buffalo's defense isn't one of the feared groups in the NFL, but they did hold New England to 33 points in two games last season. Nobody wants 6'6", 310 pound Marcus Stroud coming down on them either.

Expect the Pats to get Brady in rhythm through running the ball and with the highly effective dink-and-doink offense of screens and draws—although Randy Moss should get a deep look or two.

NE can win this game easily with a conservative approach. The Bills will be starting the most inexperienced offensive line in the NFL, they just fired their offensive coordinator, and starting tailback Marshawn Lynch is suspended for the first three games of the season. 

Buffalo's new no-huddle offense has an equally good shot of imploding as exploding—same goes for the newest Bill, Terrell Owens.

The New York Giants' Chess Match with the Newly Informed Redskins

Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants were very worried that Andre' Woodson would be spilling the beans on the Giants' scheme after being released and heading to the division rival Redskins.

It is a valid concern—in a post-Spygate era, nobody can underestimate just how far another team will go to get the upper hand. 

If anything, this is another piece of locker room material for the G-Men. They have to cheat us to beat us, and nobody likes a cheater.

If you are Eli Manning, you must plan for this accordingly. Change the snap count, reverse terminology, and give dummy calls—in other words, do your best impersonation of your brother.

If you are Manning, you are also looking for a new wingman to replace Plaxico Burress. Expect Hakeem Nicks to make a big splash in his first game. He had some monstrous plays in the preseason, and the other Giants receivers continually let Eli down late in the season last year.

The Redskins did add the mammoth Albert Haynesworth and dynamic rookie Brian Orakpo, but the Giants get Osi Umenyiora back at defensive end, and they have one of the most cohesive offensive lines in football, with all five members having played together since 2005.

LaDainian Tomlinson Against Oakland's Defense

In 16 regular season games against Oakland, LT has averaged 119.1 rushing yards per game and scored 22 total TDs.  In other words, he's had one of the greatest seasons of all time against the Raiders.

Last year LT was knocked off his perch as the league's top player not named Tom or Peyton, but he still managed to rush for 197 yards and three scores against San Diego's NorCal foes. 

Tomlinson knows Super Bowl XLIV is his best shot of winning a ring. The Chargers need a quick start to the season to earn home field advantage throughout the playoffs after an 0-2 start to 2008 had them playing catch-up all year.

The Chargers' 4,000-yard passing game is getting a lot of attention, but look for them to set the tone with the run, especially if Richard Seymour isn't ready to play by Monday night.

The 178th Bears-Packers Slugfest

Ding, ding, ding. This knock-down, drag-out battle has been a Midwest classic and anticipated matchup since 1921. 

Bears fans are welcoming Jay Cutler to the helm, a player some are calling the best quarterback the Bears have ever had in those 88 years of the NFL's oldest rivalry. 

From Brian Urlacher to Devin Hester, it seems like every week Cutler has been in a media mess with one of his current or former teammates or coaches, and nobody should be happier for the new season to get underway.

For the Packers, Brett Favre is an afterthought since Aaron Rodgers passed for 4,038 yards and 28 TDs with only 13 interceptions in 2008. 

The Packers have switched to the ultra-popular 3-4 defense now that Dom Capers is in town, but there are questions about whether they have the personnel to run it at a playoff-caliber level.

Before you crown the Minnesota Vikings NFC North Champs, be sure to give these two teams a look because they will be playing for more than just a wild card berth in 2009. 

DeAngelo Williams Faces a Jim Johnson-less Eagles Defense

Nobody finished the 2008 season hotter than DeAngelo Williams and the Carolina Panthers' two-headed rushing attack. Unfortunately, the other head—Jonathan Stewart—is entering the season with a serious Achilles injury, and rookie Mike Goodson might not be ready for a serious load.

Oh well, right? Williams averaged 5.5 yards per carry on his way to racking up 1,636 total yards and 20 TDs last year—just give him the damn ball.

Not so fast. The Philadelphia Eagles only gave up 3.5 yards per carry in 2008, and when Williams faced defenses of that caliber last year (Minnesota and Chicago), he was held to 2.7 yards per carry. 

But how do you make up for the loss of safety Brian Dawkins (Denver), linebacker Stewart Bradley (injury), and defensive coordinator Jim Johnson?

Something has to give. Expect the Eagles to be playing inspired football as a tribute to the late Johnson. 

Philly will continue playing that aggressive style of defense that teams struggle with, and they will be focused on shutting down Williams, forcing the erratic Jake Delhomme to beat them.

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