2011 NFL Schedule: Breaking Down Week 1's Best Matchups

The 2011 NFL regular season is a little over a month away. Anticipation for the season to begin is higher than usual because of the mystery surrounding the NFL's future.

With a new season comes new storylines, new coaches, new rookies, and a new schedule to decide who gets to continue playing after the regular season concludes.

The matchups differ in importance. Some matchups help to decide division winners, and others are simply for bragging rights between two proud teams.

No matter the particular week, one thing is for sure. Each week there will be matchups not worth paying attention to, but there will also be games worth gluing yourself to the television to watch from start to finish.

In Week 1 there are several matchups worth paying attention too.

Here are previews and predictions for the top five matchups being played in Week 1:

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Jets

The first matchup on Sunday Night Football in 2011 will be the Dallas Cowboys against the New York Jets.

Both of these teams have something to prove this season.

The Cowboys return Tony Romo's primary weapons outside of Marion Barber and Roy Williams. Both of whom defected for Chicago. Miles Austin returns looking to improve on his seven touchdown performance of a season ago. Sophomore sensation Dez Bryant will also look to improve on his hot and cold rookie season. Bryant has all the ability, either as a return man on special teams or as a receiver. Felix Jones will be the top running back lined up behind Romo with Tashard Choice also in the mix.

The Jets' story remains the same. The defense is riddled with talent and looks to remain as one of the most feared defenses in the NFL. The Jets were able to resign talented cornerback Antonio Cromartie. Cromartie, paired with Darrelle Revis, gives the Jets one of the top corner tandems in the league. On offense, the Jets will rely on the run game while Mark Sanchez looks to improve with experience.

The Cowboys have major expectations every season because of the personality of their owner Jerry Jones. The Jets have expectations because of their coach Rex Ryan's mouth, and because of an eager fan base.

No matter the reason, expect both teams to come out with a sense of urgency.

In the end, the Jets will come out on top. Sanchez will make enough plays through the air against Dallas' weak secondary, and the run game will control the clock. Rex Ryan always has his defense ready to play and this game will be no different.

Prediction: 24-14 Jets

New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

The first Monday Night Football of the 2011 NFL season will feature two games. The first game is a potentially great matchup pitting the New England Patriots against the Miami Dolphins.

Last season the Dolphins were trounced twice by their AFC East rival.

However, this season the Patriots are probably more talented than they were last season, with the additions of Albert Haynesworth and Chad Ochocinco into the fold in Foxboro. Haynesworth and Ochocinco give the Patriots two very talented but slightly controversial additions to their already great team. Tom Brady, well, he is Tom Brady. He is a tremendous winner and he continues to win without big stars surrounding him. Deion Branch and Wes Welker are returning as starters, and Ochocinco should infuse a lot of talent into the offensive fold very early.

Defensively, the Patriots are young but aggressive. The Patriots could use a rusher off of the edge, but other than that the Patriots' defense is set to improve off of their 30th ranked pass defense in 2010.

The Dolphins success relies heavily upon the success of its defense. Ranking seventh in passing yards against, and eighth in rushing yards against in 2010, the Dolphins have a talented bunch hunting the ball. Cameron Wake and Channing Crowder control play in the middle of the field. Vontae Davis is an emerging talent at cornerback and Chris Clemons is a solid presence at safety.

On offense, the Dolphins will need Reggie Bush to live up to the hype, or they will need a big rookie season from Daniel Thomas at running back. Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess return at wide receiver, but the quarterback situation is very unsettled. Chad Henne has been shaky when he has been healthy. Tyler Thigpen and Patrick Ramsey are not quarterbacks that will take a team to the playoffs.

The Dolphins will rely on their defense to win games. The Patriots will rely on their offense.

In this battle it is impossible to go against the aerial assault of the Patriots. Brady is too much for the underrated Dolphins' defense.

Prediction: 35-17 Patriots

Atlanta Falcons @ Chicago Bears

The Atlanta Falcons will face off against the Chicago Bears in Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season.

Coming off a 13 win season, the Falcons are looking to get to the Super Bowl this season. The Bears are also looking to return to the playoffs.

In Atlanta, the Falcons have one of the league's best offenses. Led by Matt Ryan, Michael Turner and Roddy White, the Falcons can move the ball in several different ways. Ryan has matured into a franchise arm and he is just entering his prime. Turner is a consistent runner in the backfield. He has incredible strength and is very difficult to bring down in the open field. Roddy White has blossomed into one of the top receiving targets in the NFL, and the addition of rookie Julio Jones should only make White better.

The Bears are talented as well, especially on defense. Julius Peppers is still an enormous presence off of the edge. His huge frame and deceptive quickness make him a tricky matchup for offensive lineman. Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher once again lead the Bears' linebacking core. In the secondary, Charles Tillman and Danieal Manning provide two quality veteran playmakers.

Offensively, the Bears go when Jay Cutler goes. Cutler has a great arm, but his decision making and attitude make him an unpredictable performer. Matt Forte, along with new addition Marion Barber should provide a solid one-two punch on the ground. The passing game did lose tight end Greg Olsen when he was traded to the Carolina Panthers, but the addition of Roy Williams should make up for some of that loss. Williams will provide a big target to go along side of speedy receiver Johnny Knox. Williams' familiarity with Mike Martz's offense is another huge plus.

In this game you can expect the Falcons to make too many plays for this Bears defense to handle. Their ability to hit you from all angles on offense makes them very tough to stop. The Falcons defense will not have to be great against Cutler's decisions, but will be good enough to make sure Atlanta walks away with a victory.

Prediction: 28-13 Atlanta

New Orleans Saints @ Green Bay Packers

The first game of the 2011 NFL regular season will be at Lambeau Field between the New Orleans Saints and the Green Bay Packers.

These two teams are also the last two teams to win the Super Bowl.

In 2009, the Saints took home the Lombardi Trophy. This season the Saints will look to return to that level.

Offensively the Saints still possess all of the same weapons. Lance Moore, Robert Meachem, and tight end Jimmy Graham are all dangerous targets. Marques Colston is probably the Saints best target, but is currently questionable. Drew Brees runs this offense with scary precision, and is virtually unstoppable when given time to operate.

The Packers won last season's Super Bowl. Coming into this season the Packers return most of the key parts from last season's team. Aaron Rodgers is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. He can hurt you with his arms or his legs, and he makes big plays at big times. Greg Jennings and Donald Driver form a very good duo at receiver. Jennings is a true big-play threat and Driver is a solid possession receiver. Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley are both set to return to the lineup after sitting out last season with injuries.

Defensively both teams are good, with the Packers having the slight edge. They absorbed a loss to middle linebacker Nick Barnett last season and found a way to execute their aggressive scheme. Clay Matthews is a premier sack artist. Nick Collins, Charles Woodson, and Tramon Williams give the Packers one of the best secondaries in the NFL.

This is a dream matchup sure to draw huge television ratings. Expect fireworks on both sides of the ball.

In the end, the Packers slight edge on defense and the lack of a consistent run game for the Saints will allow the Packers to slip by in what should be a very tightly-contested game.

Prediction: 27-21 Packers

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Baltimore Ravens

The Pittsburgh Steelers will travel to Baltimore to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. The magnitude of the rivalry makes it Week 1's best matchup.

Bottom line is, these two teams do not like each other. After several wars in the trenches, and defensive standstills, the Steelers and the Ravens seem to take their game up a notch when they step foot on the field together.

The Steelers came up just short of winning their seventh Super Bowl last season. This season the Steelers should be just as talented. Ben Roethlisberger is back to lead the offense. Roethlisberger has ice in his veins. He makes big plays at the biggest times, and he simply has a knack for winning when it counts. He also know how to use his teammates efficiently.

Mike Wallace is an emerging star in the NFL. His speed makes him a very tough matchup. Hines Ward is a cagey veteran, and although he has lost some speed, he is still a dangerous red zone presence. In the backfield, Rashard Mendenhall continues to get better. He is very explosive, and possesses a great blend of size and speed.

The Ravens were 12-4 in 2010. So far this offseason the Ravens have trimmed a lot of veterans off of their 2011 team. Kelly Gregg, Willis McGahee, Derrick Mason, and Todd Heap all will not be returning to Baltimore this season. Quarterback Joe Flacco does still have Anquan Boldin to throw too. Rookies Tandon Doss and Torrey Smith could make an impact early on. Smith is a burner on the outside while Doss uses his size to overpower smaller defenders. Ray Rice is a young star at running back. He has the ability to run the ball or catch the ball, and his versatility is what makes him very dangerous in the AFC North.

Defensively, both of these teams are stellar. The Steelers managed to resign veteran cornerback Ike Taylor. Although cornerback is still a weakness in Pittsburgh, this helps the situation. James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley form an excellent duo off of the edge and James Farrior still makes tackles in the middle.

The Ravens use a similar scheme and also return many of the same faces to their defense. Ravens' first-round pick Jimmy Smith should make an impact in the secondary right away.

In this game look for the Steelers to come out on top. Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense holds a slight edge over the Ravens' defense. Their ability to hurt a defense through the air or on the ground will allow them to score just enough to beat the stingy Ravens. Don't expect the Ravens to score all that much.

Prediction: 17-10 Steelers