NFL Picks Week 1: Power Ranking the Most Exciting Clashes of Opening Weekend

If you thought the 2011 NFL Season Opener between the Saints and Packers was a great game, just wait until you see what the rest of the games in week one have in store.

After seven months of a nightmarish offseason, everybody is ready to dive back into the action. Opening day is a chance for teams to send a message to the rest of the league.

What type of message they send will remain up to them.

With heated rivalries, chances for redemption and big statement games lying ahead, there won't be a shortage of exciting matchups this weekend.

Here are the power rankings for the most exciting clashes of opening weekend.

No. 15: Cleveland Browns at Cincinnati Bengals

Why It's Exciting

This is a divisional matchup between two teams who are trying to prove their worth in the AFC North.

Both have seen struggles and are trying to put themselves on the same level as the division bullies, the Ravens and the Steelers.

The Andy Dalton to A.J. Green connection makes its debut and Madden cover representative Peyton Hillis will look to bulldoze his way to a big game.

Why It's Not

The Bengals might be the worst team in the league and the Browns don't have enough talent on either side of the ball to make anyone excited to watch this game.

It's going to be boring and neither team has a shot at being competitive in the division this year.

Browns 17, Bengals 10

It might be too generous to give the Bengals 10 points. They hemorrhaged talent this offseason and an inexperienced core is going to fall short time and time again this season.

The Browns aren't a great team by any means, but they are miles ahead of the Bengals.

No. 14: New York Giants at Washington Redskins

Why It's Exciting

The Giants could go either direction at this point. They may be a 10-win team again or they could tank this season. The question marks surrounding them make us want to watch how this season goes.

Similarly, a confident Rex Grossman could be a brilliant move or train wreck. He is confident they will win the East. We shall see.

Why It's Not

This is a battle for third in the NFC East. The Giants are falling apart, the Redskins are already there. Grossman isn't the answer and they don't have the offensive weapons to let us forget how terrible he is to watch.

Giants 17, Redskins 13

The Giants could struggle a bit offensively with the loss of Steve Smith.

Eli Manning should still produce enough to win and the Redskins offense is so terrible it seems unlikely they will render any more than 15 points tops.

No. 13: Buffalo Bills at Kansas City Chiefs

Why It's Exciting

The Bills nearly got the better of the Chiefs a season ago at Arrowhead. It's one of the hardest places in the league to play on the road and the Chiefs only dropped one game there last season.

The Chiefs want to reestablish their dangerous run game and the Bills want to prove they can win in close games.

Why It's Not

Nothing about the Bills is really exciting. We thought that would change with C.J. Spiller, but he's been virtually a non-factor in Buffalo.

The Chiefs lose Charlie Weis, so we could be looking at two teams who stumble out of the blocks.\

Bills 17, Chiefs 14

The Bills started out their season slowly and looked much better after the bye week. The Chiefs ended the season terribly. It's Arrowhead, but the Bills were unfazed there last season.

Don't be surprised if an improved Bills team shocks Kansas City at home.

No. 12: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers

Why It's Exciting

Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh don't like each other. They renew their rivalry and could both win the NFC West this season. Both teams appear to be on the rise and with play makers like Sidney Rice, Frank Gore and Patrick Willis on the field, it's going to be fun to watch this division rivalry.

Why It's Not

Tarvaris Jackson vs. Alex Smith. How bad does that sound? Both of these quarterbacks have been hard to watch at times in the past.

They are looking to prove their worth, but could easily regress to the quarterbacks many think they are.

49ers 21, Seahawks 17

Both teams could have problems scoring. The 49ers new offense and Seattle's bad offense could easily both get off to slow starts.

Frank Gore is going to be the difference in this game. Expect the 49ers to call on him early and often.

No. 11: Tennessee Titans at Jacksonville Jaguars

Why It's Exciting

Some of the best running backs in the game are going to put on a show. With Peyton Manning down, the division is wide open and both teams are looking to literally run to a division championship.

Newly inked Chris Johnson will try his best to be more productive than the always dangerous Maurice Jones-Drew.

Why It's Not

Neither team is all that great. Serious holes on defense and at wide receiver could make this game forgettable.

Electrifying running backs can carry their teams, but will they be able to be exciting enough to keep us fixated on this game throughout its entirety?

Tennessee 17, Jacksonville 14

Jacksonville is a better team than people give them credit for.

The difference maker in this game is going to be Matt Hasselbeck.  He gives the Titans a guy who can take advantage of a cheating defense bringing eight or even nine in the box to stop CJ2K.

No. 10: Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

Why It's Exciting

This is the year where the Texans can finally overtake the Colts as the best team in the AFC South. With Peyton Manning down, the door is open.

With a new defensive scheme, a stacked front seven, a legitimate No. 1 corner and their explosive offense, the Texans are looking to knock the Colts from their throne once and for all.

Why It's Not

Manning isn't playing. It's hard to remember what football feels like without Manning. He's been one of the constants on Sunday and the Kerry Collins doesn't exactly evoke the feeling of watching a master at work.

The Colts are a forgettable team. This one is more about the story lines and the premise of the game than the actual game itself.

Texans 35, Colts 20

Ya, it could be that sort of a game for the Colts. The Texans have some new faces in key roles and they are switching to a new scheme.

So it's safe to say the 20 point mark is attainable for the Colts, but they don't stand a chance at hanging with the Texans in what is sure to be a blowout.

No. 9: Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos

Why It's Exciting

It's Raiders vs. Broncos. These two rising teams hate each other and both will be looking to establish their dominance over the other early on.

Darren McFadden torched the Broncos both times he saw them last season. The Broncos have Von Miller and a now healthy Elvis Dumervil in place to try to stop him.

Why It's Not

The Broncos were a bottom feeder last season and the Raiders are hit or miss. This notion that John Fox can come in and turn the team around in a shortened offseason is ludicrous. Both teams are going to struggle on both sides of the ball, which doesn't exactly make this must-see-TV.

Raiders 24, Broncos 13

The Raiders are going to run the ball at will once again. The Broncos lose Josh McDaniels, which is great for personnel and terrible for Kyle Orton and Brandon Lloyd.

Look for the offense to be weighed down in this matchup.

No. 8: Minnesota Vikings at San Diego Chargers

Why It's Exciting

The Chargers and Vikings were both sorely disappointed by missing the playoffs last season. The Vikings have a new quarterback, new head coach and the best back in the league.

Philip Rivers will be looking to launch an aerial assault on the Vikings right out of the gate.

Why It's Not

These teams routinely disappoint us. The Chargers get off to a slow start nearly every year and the Vikings' blunders last season show us just how bad they can be.

Both of these teams missed the boat last season and could easily be sitting at home this postseason.

Chargers 28, Vikings 23

Minnesota is on the road and the Chargers have more talent on both sides of the ball. Peterson and Donovan McNabb won't let this get out of hand, but the Vikings face an uphill battle.

No. 7: New England at Miami Dolphins

Why It's Exciting

Tom Brady on Monday Night Football is always exciting. We get a look at Chad Ochocinco in a Patriots uniform and see if the Albert Haynesworth gamble is going to pay off. It's sure to be non-stop scoring from a potential Super Bowl contender.

Why It's Not

The Miami Dolphins. Chad Henne is the other gun slinger, so you can count on a miserable offensive outing from Miami.

Reggie Bush is going to have an anticlimactic change of scenery and this game is going to get out of hand early.

Patriots 41, Dolphins 13

The Patriots love to run up the score. What better opponent to do it against than a division rival and what better venue than on the road in week one on Monday Night Football.

We could be looking at the Super Bowl champion vs. the Andrew Luck sweepstakes winner here.

No. 6: Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals

Why It's Exciting

Cam Newton and Kevin Kolb are both supposed to save their teams from squalor.

Newton has all the making of being one of the most exciting players in the league and the addition of Kolb may mean we actually get to see Larry Fitzgerald at his best again.

Why It's Not

These aren't playoff teams. The Panthers were the worst team in the league last season and the Cardinals managed to lose to them.

Significant upgrades and two new promising quarterbacks don't make this matchup the best of the day by any means.

Panthers 20, Cardinals 17

The Panthers got the better of the Cards last season and Kolb isn't going to be able to mask the serious defensive flaws in Arizona.

Newton should have a better season than most anticipate and new leadership will do wonders in Carolina.

No. 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions

Why It's Exciting:

Detroit ruined  Tampa Bay's playoff chances last year in what was a must-win game for the Bucs. The Lions are an up and coming team, as are the Bucs.

Josh Freeman and Ndamukong Suh are both rising young superstars who are going to be NFL mainstays for the next decade.

Why It's Not

Neither of these teams made the playoffs last season and both could be out again. It's not as fun for some people to watch teams on the rise as it is to watch teams who have made it already.  

Detroit 28, Tampa Bay 27

A healthy Matthew Stafford is going to be too much for the Bucs to handle. Both teams are better than the last time they saw one another

Now that the Lions have their franchise quarterback under center, they get the edge.

No. 4: Dallas Cowboys at New York Jets

Why It's Exciting

These are the two flashiest "take a picture of me" teams in the league.

The Cowboys are coming off a terrible season, but their second season in Jerry World could easily be one that extends into the postseason.

The Jets are still trying to get over the hump and finally make it to a Super Bowl. One of these teams will see their high hopes dimmed slightly with a week one loss.

Why It's Not

There is a lot of hubbub surrounding this game. A lot of people hate the Jets and the Cowboys. They are marquee teams that don't always deliver to make good on the hype they dish out about themselves.

Jets 21, Cowboys 14

The Cowboys have a lot to prove before they get the nod over the Jets. The Jets lost Braylon Edwards, so their offense may see a minor setback.

Even so, their outstanding defense is going to put a lid on Tony Romo and the Cowboys.

No. 3: Philadelphia Eagles vs. St. Louis Rams

Why It's Exciting

Any game featuring the Eagles is exciting at this point. They have more hype going into this season than any team in recent memory after their huge offseason acquisitions.

Many people think the Eagles are going to coast to a Super Bowl, but Sam Bradford and the Rams could easily put up a better battle than anticipated.

Why It's Not

This game could be an anticlimactic start to the Eagles' season. The "Dream Team" could revert to the so-so team we saw at the end of last season and in the playoffs.

The Rams are a team on the rise, but they don't have exciting pieces aside from Bradford.

Rams 31, Eagles 28

This is a trap game for the Eagles. Thinking about a Lombardi Trophy in week one can be a recipe for disaster.

The Eagles could be this year's NFC East team with Super Bowl hopes that flops in the regular season. Bradford and the Rams are solid at home and would love to take down the Eagles to kickoff this season.

No. 2: Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears

Why It's Exciting

This game features what could easily be the best offense in the conference vs. the best defense in the conference. The Bears add Brandon Meriweather to go along with their already stacked defense.

The Falcons have the most complete offense in the league and Julio Jones gets a chance to show why the Falcons gave up so much to bring him in.

Why It's Not

The Bears offense vs. the Falcons defense isn't going to put on nearly the show that their counterparts produce. These teams are both stellar, but it's clear where the strengths of their team are.

We could see some sloppy football for at least a portion of this game.

Bears 24, Falcons 20

The Falcons and Bears were both terrific in the regular season last year. This one is going to be close, but Julius Peppers and the Bears' defense aren't going to allow Matt Ryan and the Falcons to pick them apart.

As long as Jay Cutler is on point, the Bears will emerge victorious.

No. 1: Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

Why It's Exciting

This is what football is all about. Two physical teams, squaring off in a defensive struggle and duking it out to prove they have the upper hand in the division.

There is no love lost between these two teams and five of their last six regular season games have come down to a field goal.

There are future Hall of Famers all over the field and each team features a number of players who could make a case for being Defensive Player of the Year.

Why It's Not

For people who want to see a shootout like the one we saw on Thursday, this game isn't your cup of tea.

This game is going to be won by the team who wins the battle of field position and makes the least amount of mistakes. The amount of hard hitting won't make up for the lack of scoring from both sides.

Ravens 17, Steelers 14 OT

This might be the last time Ray Lewis squares off against the Steelers in Baltimore.

The emotional leader of the team is going to have his troops fired up to ensure the Steelers suffer a Super Bowl hangover this season. Don't expect a blowout in this one by any means.