NFL Picks Week 1: Top Eliminator Picks

Week 1 of the 2011 National Football League regular season opens Thursday night with the Green Bay Packers facing off against the New Orleans Saints. Week 1 eliminator picks are due before the kickoff, so buckle down for a quick preview of the week's best options.

The key to winning your eliminator pool is to survive and advance. Safety first, especially in Week 1 when all 32 teams start out with a clean slate and team performance is hard to predict.

So if you are still stressing over your last-minute eliminator pick, sit back and relax. The following slides will outline the best options for Week 1 to make sure you are still around for Week 2. 
 


  

Arizona Cardinals over the Carolina Panthers

Arizona Cardinals? Safe? 

That's right, the Arizona Cardinals, led by new quarterback Kevin Kolb, will easily take care of business against the Carolina Panthers.

The rejuvenated Cardinals' offense is led by a happier, wealthier Larry Fitzgerald, who will be sure to catch a few more passes coming from the newly-acquired QB.

Cam Newton, announced as the Panthers' starter for Week 1, will struggle in his first regular season action in the NFL. Newton only completed 42.1 percent of his passes during the preseason and averaged only 5.3 yards per attempt.

Keep in mind it's never easy for an east-coast team to travel across the country and play on the road. The Arizona Cardinals will be able to load up against the Panthers' running attack and force the inexperienced Newton into rookie mistakes.   

Score Prediction: Arizona 21, Carolina 7 

Kansas City Chiefs over the Buffalo Bills

Take Eric Berry's advice and take the Kansas City Chiefs as a safe bet to win in Week 1.

The defending AFC West champs will host the Buffalo Bills at hostile Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Look for Jamaal Charles and company to run around, over and through a Bills' rush defense that was last in rush yards allowed during the 2010 season. The Chiefs also boast a formidable passing tandem in Dwayne Bowe and Matt Cassel, should Buffalo get over-eager in the box.

The Bills will look to a running attack of Fred Jackson and second-year electric running back C.J. Spiller to stay close in this one. They also will hope to improve on rush defense with third overall pick Marcell Dareus.

In the end, however, the Kansas City Chiefs will take advantage of a raucous home crowd and take care of business against the Buffalo Bills with an impressive running game and improved defense.

Score Prediction: Kansas City 27, Buffalo 13 

Cleveland Browns over the Cincinnati Bengals

Like the Cardinals pick, this may leave you scratching your head at first glance. But a closer look shows two teams in the Cleveland Browns and the Cincinnati Bengals going in opposite directions.

Colt McCoy has shown vast improvement in this offense during the 2011 NFL preseason. Completing over 60 percent of his passes, the Texas Longhorn product has accrued a 101.7 QB rating during the preseason tilts. Yes, it's just the preseason. However, McCoy and the Browns also showed flashes of brilliance at times during the 2010 season with two impressive wins over the New Orleans Saints and New England Patriots.

The Bengals, like the aforementioned Panthers, will start a rookie quarterback in Andy Dalton, who has struggled in the preseason with a QB rating of 59.6.

Expect this matchup to be closer than the previous predictions. But you can save the easy picks like the Patriots and Eagles for a later week. Take the Browns.

Score Prediction: Cleveland 17, Cincinnati 9 

Houston Texans over the Indianapolis Colts

If only Peyton Manning was healthy. That's what Indianapolis Colts fans are wondering, and that's exactly why the Houston Texans are a solid eliminator choice for Week 1. 

The Houston Texans are a popular choice to win the AFC South this season, even with a healthy Manning. Without him, a quick-strike offense led by Andre Johnson and Arian Foster have a chance to get a crucial division win to start the season. Foster is questionable for the start, but the Texans have capable fill-ins in Derrick Ward and Ben Tate to compliment a potent passing attack.

On the other hand, the Colts will have a harder time replacing Manning given the complexity of the offense. Kerry Collins, a veteran QB, will get the nod on Sunday in hopes of leading the Colts to an opening win.

The Houston Texans see this as a great opportunity to jump-start a potential division-winning season and will not take the Manning-less Colts lightly. Expect a win from the Texans this week.

Score Prediction: Houston 28, Indianapolis 17 

San Diego Chargers over the Minnesota Vikings

Another start to the NFL season brings another season full of high expectations for the San Diego Chargers. 

And for good reason.

The Chargers' high-octane offense is led by Philip Rivers, who will get the benefit of a full season with his No. 1 wide receiver, Vincent Jackson. Complemented by a strong running game from Mike Tolbert and Ryan Mathews, the Chargers look ready to reclaim the AFC West title in the 2011 season.

The Minnesota Vikings will try once again to revitalize an aging quarterback's career this season with the acquisition of Donovan McNabb. Fortunately for McNabb, he will have the best running back in the NFL in the backfield in Adrian Peterson to make matters easier.

The Vikings should improve this season with McNabb under center. However, the Chargers will put past slow starts behind them and take the victory in this AFC-NFC matchup.

Score Prediction: San Diego 31, Minnesota 20