NFL Kick-Off: Quick Picks for Week 1

It's like Christmas morning and I'm waiting for my dad to lumber out of bed a 4:00AM and get a cup of coffee so I can tear into my gifts.

The start of the NFL regular season is upon us and just over five hours away.

I decided this year I won't just scoff at others' picks but (if I remember each week) I'll make my own.

So here are my quick picks for week one.

Minnesota at New Orleans

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MINNEAPOLIS - SEPTEMBER 02: Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings yawns during warmups prior to an NFL preseason game against the Denver Broncos at the Mall of America Field at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, on September 2, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesot

No Super Bowl hang over here, Greg Williams defense is going to finish what they started in the NFC Championship game and that's the total destruction of Brett Favre.

The Saints go marching in and hand the Vikings a spanking 34-14.

Denver at Jacksonville

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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)

The Jags get off to a good start in 2010 and show that the Broncos slide last season wasn't a fluke.

20-7

Oakland at Tennessee

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CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 28: Quarterback Vince Young #10 of the Tennessee Titans throws during their preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 28, 2010 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Mary Ann Chastain/Getty

Vince Young continues to rebuild his career and the once powerful Titains.  The Raiders will look good but in a losing effort.  It's a barn burner but the Titains win 21-14.

Cincinnati at New England

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CANTON, OH - AUGUST 8: Terrell Owens #81 and Chad Ochocinco #85 of the Cincinnati Bengals look on against the Dallas Cowboys during the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame Game at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Field at Fawcett Stadium on August 8, 2010 in Cant

Batman and Robin descend on New England in quite possibly the game of the week.  Chad "Robin" Ochocinco plans to fire off one of the Patriot muskets if he scores, I believe he will and so will Terrell "Batman" Owens.

This isn't the team of the 2000's Patriots, this very balanced Bengals attack makes a statement on Sunday and the rest of the AFC better take notice.

Bengals win on the road 35-17.

Cleveland at Tampa Bay

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CLEVELAND - SEPTEMBER 2: James Davis #28 of the Cleveland Browns carries the ball up field against the Chicago Bears during the preseason game on September 2, 2010 at Cleveland Browns Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns defeated the Bears 13-10. (Photo

The Browns face an uphill battle in the AFC North this season.  They'll improve from last year and get their first win against a bad Tampa Bay team.

24-3.

Indianapolis at Houston

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HOUSTON - AUGUST 28: Wide receiver Jacoby Jones #12 of the Houston Texans celebrates his touchdown reception with Antoine Caldwell #62 and Andre Johnson #80 in the first quarter against the Dallas Cowboys in a preseason game at Reliant Stadium on August

The Texans will do something they've only done one other time in Franchise history, and that's beat Peyton Manning and the Colts. 

Houston wins a good old fashion Texas shoot-out 42-35.

Detroit at Chicago

Leon Halip/Getty Images

DETROIT - SEPTEMBER 02: Matthew Stafford #9 of the Detroit Lions drops back to pass in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Ford Field on September 2, 2010 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)

The Lions will rise while Jay Cutler and the Bears still adjust to their new offense.  These two will be battle later in the year for the bottom of the NFC North.

Lions go on the road and win (who knew) 17-13.

Atlanta at Pittsburgh

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DENVER - AUGUST 29: Quarterback Dennis Dixon #10 of the Pittsburgh Steelers scrambles against the Denver Broncos during preseason NFL action at INVESCO Field at Mile High on August 29, 2010 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Dennis Dixon told reporters after practice that he's just going to go out and have fun.  And the fun he'll have as the Steelers defense paves the way for his first regular season win.  Steelers over the Falcons 24-21.

Miami at Buffalo

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TORONTO, CANADA - AUGUST 19: C.J. Spiller #21 of the Buffalo Bills avoids the tackle of Antoine Bethea #41 of the Indianapolis Colts during game action August 19, 2010 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Brad White/Getty Images)

If this game were taking place after Halloween I'd take the Bills in the cold, but unless a freak lake-affect snow storm happens Sunday I don't hold out much hope for the Bills against my pick to win the AFC East.

The Bills won't be as bad as last season but the Dolphins are much better.

Dolphins get a scare but win 28-17.

Carolina at New York Giants

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Eli Manning #10 of the New York Giants throws a first quarter touchdown pass against the New England Patriots to teammate Kevin Boss (not pictured) on September 2, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford

There is no way the Giants lose to open up New Medowlands Stadium.

Giants start off right 21-6

Green Bay at Philadelphia

Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

GREEN BAY, WI - AUGUST 26: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks for a receiver against the Indianapolis Colts during a preseason game at Lambeau Field on August 26, 2010 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers defeated the Colts 59-24. (Photo by

Eagles fans are going to learn that Kevin Kolb (though good) is not the understudy to McNabb that Aaron Rodgers was to Favre.

Speaking of Rodgers he's going to put up big numbers for the Packers and my fantasy football team.

The Pack roll 34-10.

Arizona at St. Louis

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NEW ORLEANS - JANUARY 16: Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals runs for yards after the catch against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Louisana Superdome on January 16, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Saints w

Derrick Anderson isn't Kurt Warner and isn't the answer, but the Rams aren't the Saints either.  It's rocky start but the Cardinals get the win 17-7

San Francisco at Seattle

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SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 22: Alex Smith #11 of the San Francisco 49ers in action against the Minnesota Vikings at Candlestick Park on August 22, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Pete Carrol was the man at USC, but his two previous stops in the NFL have been downright forgettable, I'm not sold on him as an NFL coach and his first game back will be against the eventual NFC West Champions.  The 49ers get it done at the noisy Qwest Field 42-14.

Dallas at Washington

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LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 13: Donovan McNabb #5 of the Washington Redskins throws a pass during the preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at FedEx Field on August 13, 2010 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

With a rough going in preseason and reports of Mark Colombo out for the opener it is going to really tough for the Cowboys and Tony Romo in Washington (well actually Landover, Maryland), but the Redskins have found stranger ways to lose to the Boys.

However they actually have a leader at quarterback and a head coach who knows how to win tight division games.  Kyle Shanahan's offense with take its shots at the untested Cowboys safeties and with their question marks on the O-Line look for Jim Haslett to blitz Brian Orakpo early and often.

The Cowboys Super Bowl hopes get off to a thud with a loss to their rival 24-10.

Baltimore at New York Jets

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BALTIMORE - AUGUST 24: Mark Sanchez #6 of the New York Jets is hit by Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens in a preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium on August 24, 2009 in Baltimore, Maryland. Sanchez's pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown on

The Jets are all talk while the Ravens are the real deal.  Ray Lewis and the Ravens' defense are going to beat around Mark Sanchez while Joe Flaco and his new weapons are going to put up a ton of points.

Raves talk the talk and walk the walk with a 38-6 win.

San Diego at Kansas City

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS - AUGUST 27: Philip Rivers #17 of the San Diego Chargers in action against the New Orleans Saints at the Louisiana Superdome on August 27, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

The Chargers will win the AFC West once again as well as this game 31-7.

That's All Folks

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GLENDALE, AZ - SEPTEMBER 02: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth #92 of the Washington Redskins stands on the sidelines during preseason NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at the University of Phoenix Stadium on September 2, 2010 in Glendale, Arizona

Well those are my quick picks for this week.  Go ahead and call me an idiot in the comments section or on Twitter (@jomac006). 

Enjoy this unofficial holiday folks.