2011 Suicide Pool: Not Even Julius Peppers Can Overtake Peyton Manning's Neck

It's finally time to get down to football, instead of the business thereof, which means piling up the fantasy points, talking incessantly about your team and making that dreaded suicide pool decision. Since all it takes is one bad judgment to end your run for the entire season, the suicide pool provides the most pressure when making a call.

For those that don't know what a suicide pool is, it's simple and terrifying at the same time. You pick one team a week to win regardless of by how many points. If that team loses, you're out. If the team wins, you advance. Simple. However, the anxiety-inducing aspect is that once you pick a team, you cannot use that team again for the remainder of the season. Picking New England over Miami will keep the lights on for a week, but making the gutsy choice that pans out means you get to hold onto that Bill Belichick trump card.

The following slides count down the top five suicide picks for Week 1 of the NFL Season. Good luck. 

5. Rex Ryan's Jets Defense Is Among the Best but How 'Bout Them Cowboys?

Week 1 offers some difficult decisions because you never really know what a team is capable of regardless of how many articles you've read, message boards you've scanned or tweets you've sent to Peter King. That has never been more true than this year due to the shortened offseason and ensuing chaos after the lifting of the lockout. Continuity is going to be crucial in the early part of the season. The New York Jets bring back the bombastic Rex Ryan who returns the vast majority of his staff. The only losses were the player-tripping strength and conditioning coach and an assistant offensive coordinator. The Dallas Cowboys' Jason Garrett took over after eight weeks last season but still must integrate new defensive coordinator, Rex's brother Rob.

The Jets' defense will have its hands full with the return of Tony Romo and his well-stocked arsenal of weapons. The offensive line is unproven but the trio of Dez Bryant, Miles Austin and Felix Jones can make plays if given the opportunity. Yet Darrelle Revis is undoubtedly going to shut one stud player down and Bart Scott is ready to get back on the field after the "can't wait" quote. The Jets will get enough from Santonio Holmes and Shonn Greene to pull a close-but surefire-win.  

4. Peyton Manning's Neck Cuts Both Ways

Peyton Manning's ironman streak at quarterback is the best example of the consistent powerhouse that the Indianapolis Colts of the 2000s were. Now that is has been announced that Peyton will, in fact, miss this game, every outlet has been shouting about the Colts' demise. It is probably true that the Colts' championship window has vanished but the Houston Texans have been a model of mediocrity.

Michael Lombardi has pointed out the softness of the Gary Kubiak-led squad but as Eric Winston has reminded everyone, they did lead the league in rushing in 2010-11. Without the departed Bob Sanders, Indy's defense lacks the physical presence to stand up to the ground attack of Houston, even if Arian Foster's hamstring limits his effectiveness. Yet the Texans' defense is always capable of choking away a lead, even to a team employing Kerry Collins at quarterback. Then there is the question of whether you ever actually want to count on Houston?

So the Texans' win over the Colts will land at number four instead of further up the list. We need to see Houston consistently put games away before they can move up any higher. 

3. Matt Ryan Isn't Scared of Julius Peppers' Heat

Chicago was one of the biggest losers this offseason and it has nothing to do with the NFL draft and little to do with Free Agency. The NFL's oft-maligned rule to move kickoffs up five yards partially neutralizes the Bears' advantage in field position provided by the electrifying Devin Hester. Considering that the ridiculed offensive line's anchor, Olin Kreutz, is now a member of New Orleans Saints, the chances of Chicago prevailing in nearly as many close games as last year are incredibly minuscule.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Falcons look ready to rock on offense with the addition of Julio Jones. Many questioned the decision of trading away such a load of draft picks for one wide receiver but the buzz out of Atlanta is this kid has the ability to make an impact right away. The Falcons have quietly assembled some veteran talent on defense with the signing of Ray Edwards and Kelvin Hayden to go along with  returning veterans Stephen Nicholas and John Abraham.

The Bears cannot ride their wave of fortune from last season and the citizens of Chicago need to hunker down for a cold winter. The Falcons won't need any luck to start off 1-0.

2. Are You Seriously Considering the Cleveland Browns and Colt McCoy?

This is one of those picks that can make or break a suicide pool. As stated in the first slide, you want to be able to keep the great teams in your pocket until playing them is completely necessary. The battle for Ohio provides a chance to steal one with a sub-.500 team and that is the value required to bring home the championship.

Colt McCoy showed some flashes of being a capable quarterback in the league. Peyton Hillis of Madden 12 cover fame will be looking to start off fast against the Cincinnati Bengals and there haven't been any indications that he is declining due to his bruising style. Meanwhile, Cincinnati is starting a rookie who has been underwhelming in the preseason but the team is asking too much of a second round draft choice. Lastly, starting running back Cedric Benson is embroiled in off-the-field controversy following his latest arrest and it is difficult to gauge his level of focus.

The only problem keeping this choice from the number one spot is the fact that you have to rely on the Cleveland Browns. That's scary.

1. Tom Brady Can Do No Wrong Against the Miami Dolphins

Despite the lack of playoff victories for the New England Patriots, it is impossible to deny their success in the regular season. A 14-2 record last year, despite the lack of a running game, demonstrates that this team still understands how to put away a game. On the other side, you have a quarterback in Chad Henne that the Miami Dolphins attempted to replace all offseason. It has gotten so bad for the young signal caller that the fans began chanting Kyle Orton's name during an open practice early in training camp.

There isn't much to break down in this game. New England still has Bill Belichick, Tom Brady, Wes Welker and a reliable, albeit overmatched at times, offensive line. Miami does not have the horses up front on defense to exploit the Patriots' weakness and Brandon Marshall cannot line up at running back or throw the ball to himself. 

This one will not be close, as Bill Belichick never misses a chance to embarrass the competition. It is difficult to select the New England Patriots in the first week but you definitely will not be kicking yourself Tuesday when you have no selection to make.