NFL Week 1 Predictions: 10 Games That Could Come Down to the Final Minute

The best part about the NFL is the drama in the fourth quarter—one team driving down the field trying to win the game while the other tries to preserve the lead.

It's what made the Super Bowl and the playoffs last year so great. The Saints had two great wins to win a championship. First they defeated the Vikings in overtime, and then they picked off Peyton Manning for a touchdown to seal a victory in the Super Bowl.

That's what makes football great, and with it returning tonight, here are 10 games this weekend that can give you your fix of football drama.

No. 10: Dallas at Washington

Elsa/Getty Images

MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Tony Romo #9 of the Dallas Cowboys runs the ball against Ray Edwards #91 of the Minnesota Vikings during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on January 17, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings

Division games are always close, especially in the NFC East (let's just act like those two final Eagles-Cowboys games never happened). I'm expecting a close one this Sunday between Dallas and Washington.

I think that Dallas' offensive line troubles are going to carry over to this Sunday even if Albert Haynesworth isn't suiting up for the Redskins (and we don't know that that's the case). It's going to cause problems for the Cowboys all day long and keep the score down.

If Donovan McNabb can play effectively on that sprained ankle, he knows the Cowboys, and he'll be able to keep Washington in the game. It's going to be another knockdown, brutal NFC East street fight game, and those are never blowouts.

No. 9: Denver at Jacksonville

Nick Laham/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - AUGUST 13: David Garrard #9 of the Jacksonville Jaguars passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during their preseason game at Lincoln Financial Field on August 13, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

I feel like when two middle of the road teams get together, the only thing that can happen is a close game.

Both teams have coaches under fire in Josh McDaniels and Jack Del Rio. Del Rio should have been fired years ago, and people may start calling for McDaniels' head if there aren't results soon.

This game has battle of attrition written all over it, although if Maurice Jones-Drew has a big game, he could blow it wide open. However, I think some mediocre coaching may keep this score closer than it should be when it's all said and done.

No. 8: Oakland at Tennessee

Grant Halverson/Getty Images

NASHVILLE, TN - AUGUST 23: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans drops back in the pocket against the Arizona Cardinals during a preseason game at LP Field on August 23, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. Tennessee defeated Arizona, 24-10. (Pho

The key factors in this game are going to be the quarterback play and the play of Oakland's defense.

If the Raiders' defense can control Chris Johnson, and if Vince Young and Jason Campbell both have poor games (something that hasn't been exactly an anomaly over the past few years), this could be a tight game.

Jeff Fisher isn't exactly known for running the score up either, so the Titans never really blow teams out. In fact, they usually play not to lose, and it costs them a few games each year. I could see this game coming down to a last-second field goal.

No. 7: Cleveland at Tampa Bay

J. Meric/Getty Images

TAMPA, FL - JANUARY 03: Quarterback Josh Freeman #5 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers hands the ball off against the Atlanta Falcons during the game at Raymond James Stadium on January 3, 2010 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by J. Meric/Getty Images)

I really have no hunch as to why this will be a close game other than the fact these are two bad, bad teams playing each other.

Cleveland and Tampa Bay are two teams going nowhere really fast, not to mention that Eric Mangini and Raheem Morris won't be winning any coach of the year awards any time soon. I just think this is going to be a sloppy, boring game that will feature few big plays and a lot of headaches for both teams.

I guess that both fanbases should just be thankful that football's back. They'll be wishing the season was over by Week 9, but they should be thankful now.

No. 6: Arizona at St. Louis

Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images

ST. LOUIS - SEPTEMBER 2: Sam Bradford #8 of the St. Louis Rams passes against the Baltimore Ravens during an NFL preseason game at the Edward Jones Dome on September 2, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

Game 1 of the Sam Bradford era has the former Oklahoma Sooner taking on what's left of the Arizona Cardinals.

It's rare that you see a team go from playoff team to hopeless case by simply losing one player, but that's what happened with Arizona. Kurt Warner leaves, and now they're stuck with Derek Anderson. It's going to be a rough year for Cardinals fans.

Bradford has looked good in the preseason but will struggle at times this year, and I think this could be a battle of attrition between the quarterbacks. This game will be won with running back play, and it could be a drawn-out slugfest in St. Louis that ends with a field goal.

No. 5: Atlanta at Pittsburgh

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

PITTSBURGH - AUGUST 14: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs by Zach Follet #49 of the Detroit Lions during the preseason game on August 14, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

This is a tough game to read, and it's why I think it's going to come down to the wire.

Dennis Dixon is starting for Pittsburgh in this game, and while people are automatically writing the Steelers off without Ben Roethlisberger, I think Dixon's more than capable under center. Expect Dixon to surprise some with the added dimension he brings to Pittsburgh's offense.

Meanwhile, Atlanta is another tough team to gauge this year. After a playoff appearance, Atlanta kind of floated under the radar and had a mediocre season. I don't know how to feel about the Falcons this year, and I just think Pittsburgh's D and Dixon will do just enough to keep the Steelers in this game.

No. 4: Minnesota at New Orleans

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 16: Reggie Bush #25 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball against Greg Toler #28 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Louisana Superdome on January 16, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints won 4

Tonight's season opener (football is back, baby!) features an NFC Championship rematch that ended in overtime. I have no choice but to say this is going to be a close game.

There's been a lot of words exchanged between the two teams after the season and leading up to this game, and I think we're in for a great show tonight. I'm not sure how much defense is going to be in play tonight, but watching Drew Brees and Brett Favre face off is going to be great drama.

I'm not calling an overtime game, but I think this game may come down to who has the ball last. Enjoy the ride tonight.

No. 3: Cincinnati at New England

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a touchdown pass in the first quarter against the New York Giants to teammate Rob Gronkowski (not pictured) on September 2, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East

Another interesting game this week is the new-look Bengals heading into Foxboro to take on the Patriots. I'm expecting more of an offensive shootout than a defensive struggle in this game.

The Patriots have looked awful on defense in the preseason, and while I know that defensive looks aren't exactly complex in those games, the New England defense should be playing better than they did. I'm not a huge Carson Palmer fan, but he's got plenty of targets, and I think he'll make a few big plays in the secondary.

The Bengals played plenty of close games in 2009, and I think that trend is going to continue this year. Let's just hope that the opener goes better for Cincy this time around.

No. 2: Baltimore at NY Jets

Nick Laham/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - AUGUST 16: Quarterback Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets passes against the New York Giants during their game at New Meadowlands Stadium on August 16, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images)

This is going to be a defensive war in every sense of the word. Don't get me wrong; Joe Flacco and the high-powered offense he's running are going to make plays—it's almost inevitable—but when it comes down to it, this game is going to be won and lost in the trenches.

We're going to have two teams with lofty goals this season, and we're going to see a battle for AFC supremacy on the first Monday night of the season. There's really no more you can ask from an opener.

Look for this game to stay close throughout and end on a last-second drive. Who wins the game? I'm not sure, but I'm leaning towards the Ravens.

No. 1: Indianapolis at Houston

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

GLENDALE, AZ - AUGUST 14: Wide receiver Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans catches a 44 yard touchdown reception past Justin Miller #47 of the Arizona Cardinals during preseason NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on August 14, 2010 in Gle

This is my top game for one reason and one reason only: The Texans almost always play the Colts close.

Houston has this bad habit of getting so close to beating Indianapolis only to choke and lose the game at the last second. The Texans are 1-15 against Indy, but that record doesn't tell you how close this series has been between the two teams.

There's a lot of hype around the Texans as usual this time of year about them finally making the playoffs. I wouldn't hold my breath on that, but I do think they're going to give the Colts quite the run and bring this game down to the wire.

However, I would be holding on to my lucky rabbit's foot if I were a Texans fan. They'll need it.