2011 NFL Predictions: 3 Powerhouses That Will Disappoint During Week 1

Are you ready for some football?

Surely, every team in the NFL is ready to get the 2011 season started, especially all the squads with realistic Super Bowl expectations.

Not that all of them will be quite so excited after what happens to them in Week 1.

Like, say, these three teams, each of whom will be up against it from the outset.

Philadelphia Eagles

The new "dream team" in Philadelphia will have a nightmare of a time in their debut on Sunday when they travel to St. Louis to take on the up-and-coming Rams.

The Eagles' retooled offensive line was more porous than a block of Swiss cheese in the preseason, which is to say they're no better than they were last year when they surrendered 49 sacks, the fourth-most of any unit in the NFL.

With Chris Long, James Hall and rookie Robert Quinn up front, the Rams defensive line will look to batter Philly's beleaguered front into submission while keeping Michael Vick on the run all day.

In a bad way, of course.

On the other side of things, the Eagles should hold their own against Sam Bradford and the Rams' aerial attack, though the same can hardly be said for Philly's depleted linebacking corps against the St. Louis ground game, led by Pro Bowl back Steven Jackson, which will play fast and furious on the turf at the Edward Jones Dome.

This one may not be ugly for the Eagles, but it certainly won't be pretty. 

New Orleans Saints

Don't get me wrong, the Saints are going to be a good team this year.

They just got a bit of a tough draw, to say the least—a date with the defending champs on Thursday night.

Green Bay looks primed to repeat their Super Bowl success from last season, while New Orleans would just as soon forget about the debacle that was their 41-36 loss to a 7-9 Seattle Seahawks team in the Wild Card round of the 2011 playoffs.

The Saints sport a solid defense that will be even better with the additions of free agents Aubrayo Franklin and Will Herring.

Just not good enough to stop Aaron Rodgers.

Not that anyone can stop Rodgers right now, as he may well be the best quarterback going in the NFL right now.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens and Steelers won't waste any time this season as they get back to determining whose offense can struggle more against the other's defense.

Speaking of which, Baltimore's offense didn't exactly do much to inspire confidence in the preseason, with Joe Flacco looking like he really is going to miss having Derrick Mason around to be his human security blanket.

That sad set of circumstances isn't likely to improve against the Steelers D, which makes even the best of 'em look bad (except for the Packers, of course).

Pittsburgh is no offensive juggernaut, either, but should be able to move the ball just well enough against aging wonders Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, the former of whom looked particularly dazed and confused on the field this summer.

This one will be a slugfest, as it always is—the kind of game that makes you wonder why you like watching football in the first place.

Especially if you're a Ravens fan.

Follow @J0shMart1n