-I fully disclose that I am a rabid Carolina Panthers football fan and that this can sometimes cloud my otherwise reasonable picks. Keep this in mind when it comes to their picks.
-I am a former Philadelphia Eagles fan that changed over when the Panthers came to town. Remnants of those former days still peek through in my picks from time to time.
-I only pick straight up and not against the spread for many reasons, but the primary one is because of timing. I like to get my picks out there early in the week for those with office picks and because of early games during the season.
-I despise Tom Brady(notes) and the Patriots. (See 2003 Super Bowl)
-While I do not claim to be perfect, my picks have helped many do well in their office pools, picks and predictions. I hope you will join and subscribe, if only to belittle me and talk smack.
Other than that, I am just a normal, everyday fan that loves NFL football and predicting games. Now on with the week one picks!
Thu, Sep. 8 Game
It is truly amazing when you look at the team stats for these two teams from the 2010 season—they are nearly mirror images of one another. Both teams are excellent passing teams with a sufficient running game. Both have top quality quarterbacks that know how to win the big game. Despite their relative similarities, the Packers are going to win the game. They are at home, they just won the Super Bowl and they have defensive play makers. Those three reasons are reason enough.
Winner - Green Bay Packers
Coach Payton inks three year extension with Saints
Monday September 5, 2011
New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton has agreed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the National Football League team until 2015, the club said on Monday.
Payton, 47, guided the Saints to the first ever Super Bowl triumph at the end of the 2009 season having turned-around the once struggling franchise, taking them to the playoffs three times in five years.
"I am very pleased to announce this contract extension today for Sean that will run through the 2015 season," said Saints owner Tom Benson in a statement.
"Our goal is to continue to build a tradition of winning here in New Orleans and Sean represents that tradition."
Before Payton joined the Saints, after working as assistant head coach at the Dallas Cowboys, the New Orleans team had only made one post-season since they entered the league in 1967.
Payton has a close relationship with quarterback Drew Brees, the pair having worked together throughout the last five years.
Brees, who is in the final year of his six-year deal with the Saints, has also been in discussions with the club over an extension.
The Saints kick-off the new NFL season at Super Bowl champions the Green Bay Packers on Thursday.
Sun, Sep. 11 Games
1:00PM (ET)—Atlanta Falcons (0-0) at Chicago Bears (0-0)
Being a Carolina Panthers fan, I willingly admit that I have no love for the Atlanta Falcons. That said, I do have respect for what coach Mike Smith and Matt Ryan(notes) have done. The Bears are a team that nobody seems to want to pick, but nobody is willing to say they stink either. Jay Cutler(notes) (he of the cannon arm that might hit the press box or might hit his receiver in stride) might be a big part of that problem. The truth is, Chicago will be pretty darn tough in 2011. They will show why at home in week one.
Winner - Chicago Bears
1:00PM (ET)—Buffalo Bills (0-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-0)
The Chiefs are my "where the hell did they come from" pick for 2011.
The Bills are my pick for "Man, I knew that would happen."
Winner - Kansas City Chiefs
1:00PM (ET)—Cincinnati Bengals (0-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-0)
In a preseason tilt against my Panthers, I got to see rookie Bengal quarterback Andy Dalton(notes) for several series and was impressed. Not only did he look good, but so too did the running game and Cedric Benson(notes). Unfortunately, Benson may or may not be in jail when week one comes around. As of now, he is in jail and serving his time for punching someone. He may be out by week one. Without him, the Bengals will struggle. With him, they have a shot at winning in Cleveland.
Either way, Colt McCoy(notes) and the Browns will be pretty tough at home and realize that this is one of those games they have to put in the win column. I think they will regardless of whether Ced is in the clinker.
Winner - Cleveland Browns
1:00PM (ET)—Detroit Lions (0-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-0)
This, to me, is one of the most exciting week one NFL picks on the list. Both of these teams are on the rise, and both are beginning to understand what it takes to become contenders. The Lions intrigue me a great deal because of the talent at wide receiver. Stafford and Johnson are going to be a great combo.
Facing Josh Freeman(notes) a couple times per season has taught me that he is a fiery competitor that has what it takes to win. Tampa Bay is no joke at home. This game is a tough call, but I think that Tampa will take it due to a stouter defense, and being at home.
Winner - Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1:00PM (ET)—Tennessee Titans (0-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-0)
This is one game that I might as well toss a coin to try to pick. The reason? Matt Hasselbeck(notes) is a wild card. Do we get the uber-motivated Hasselbeck from the good old days or the aging veteran that is declining rapidly? It is hard to say, but it will determine the game. While he is fully capable of putting up good numbers in a given week, I do not see him doing so regularly in 2011. With Johnson being out crying about how he is not getting paid like my boy DeAngelo, they have not had time to gel as an offense. Because of this confusion and Jacksonville being at home, I go with the Jags.
But CJ got paid so all is good. (Yes, he deserved the contract, but no, he should not have done it like that.)
Winner - Jacksonville Jaguars
1:00PM (ET)—Indianapolis Colts (0-0) at Houston Texans (0-0)
An off-season neck surgery is threatening Peyton Manning's(notes) consecutive games streak at 208 straight starts. Anyone that knows Manning knows that the odds of his not being on the field are slim to none—he would have to be dead. The real story here is that regardless of Manning playing or not, the Texans are ready. At home and with plenty of confidence, the Texans know they can beat Manning and the Colts. Manning and the Colts will make it back full force this season, but not in week one.
Winner - Houston Texans
1:00PM (ET)—Philadelphia Eagles (0-0) at St. Louis Rams (0-0)
The Eagles spent a large amount of money to improve during the off season, and it should pay off eventually in 2011. Right now, the Eagles seem to be getting used to one another defensively. On the offensive side, I think that Michael Vick(notes) will struggle some against the Rams. Not only that, I think that Sam Bradford(notes) is the next great quarterback in the NFL. This kid is going to make a huge jump in 2011 but it will not start with a week one match up against the Eagles. That secondary is nasty and the Eagles will get better quickly on defense in week one.
Winner - Philadelphia Eagles
1:00PM (ET)—Pittsburgh Steelers (0-0) at Baltimore Ravens (0-0)
The main reason that this game is so intriguing is defense. These two teams are simply going to knock the snot out of one another for four quarters or more. The reason I pick the Steelers is because offensively, they are much better. (In spite of Ray Rice(notes))
Winner - Pittsburgh Steelers
4:15PM (ET)—Minnesota Vikings (0-0) at San Diego Chargers (0-0)
San Diego will dominate this match up. Period.
Winner - San Diego Chargers
4:15PM (ET)—New York Giants (0-0) at Washington Redskins (0-0)
Ahhh, the NFC East. I remember those days of being a Philadelphia Eagles fan and watching them all slug it out. I always particularly loved it when the Giants and Redskins beat the crap out of one another, and not much has changed there. This game has all the smackings of a NFC East slugfest, but the Redskins appear ill equipped for the fight. Beck, Grossman or Clemens, it makes no difference. This game will be ugly for the Redskins and the reality of crappy quarterback play smacks the Skins in the face. I am going to go out on a limb and guess that an interception by a Redskins quarterback will determine this game.
Winner - New York Giants
4:15PM (ET)—Carolina Panthers (0-0) at Arizona Cardinals (0-0)
Of course this is the game you have all been waiting for. Wait, I mean that I have been waiting for.
Cam Newton makes his NFL debut and Carolina fans are excited. Arizona is the team that Jake Delhomme(notes) melted down against in the playoffs in January of 2009, so it is fitting to start off Cam's career here. What is good about this situation is that the Cardinals are not the same team they were back in 2009, and Cam Newton is no Jake Delhomme. His athletic ability will help the Panthers off to a great start in this game, as his legs will win the game.
Want another reason the Panthers will win? How about this from a former Eagles fan? Kevin Kolb(notes) is not nearly as good as everyone thinks. This guy is overrated and a year in Arizona will prove it. (I hope I am wrong because Kolb deserves to succeed.)
The NFL has not gotten accustomed to Newton and his running ability yet. They will, but until then he will win some games like this.
Winner - Carolina Panthers
4:15PM (ET)—Seattle Seahawks (0-0) at San Francisco 49ers (0-0)
Seattle made some moves for 2011 and they will be improved, but it will not be enough to beat the Niners at home. San Francisco is another team I can see flying in under the radar in 2011.
Winner - San Francisco 49ers
8:20PM (ET)—Dallas Cowboys (0-0) at New York Jets (0-0)
J-E-T-S-JETS! JETS! JETS!
I have always wanted to do that but rarely get the opportunity given my hatred of the Jets. When they play Dallas, however, it works.
Winner - New York Jets
Mon, Sep. 12 Games
7:00PM (ET)—New England Patriots (0-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-0)
I would not want to be a Dolphin right now. This one is going to be ugly.
Winner - New England Patriots
10:15PM (ET)—Oakland Raiders (0-0) at Denver Broncos (0-0)
John Fox is going to work the Broncos into shape come mid season or so, but they are not there yet. The one thing I know about John Fox is that he is predictable. Run, run pass. Run, run, pass. Over and over again he will do the same thing. That worked in Carolina on occasion with All-Pro running backs like DeAngelo Williams(notes). I do not think it will work in Denver this early.
Winner - Oakland Raiders
Season Record - 0-0
NFL - Preseason
Thursday, Sep 1
Detroit vs Buffalo
Detroit 16
Buffalo 6
Final Box Score
Indianapolis vs Cincinnati
Indianapolis 17
Cincinnati 13
Final Box Score
Baltimore vs Atlanta
Baltimore 21
Atlanta 7
Final Box Score
NY Giants vs New England
NY Giants 18
New England 17
Final Box Score
Dallas vs Miami
Dallas 3
Miami 17
Final Box Score
Tampa Bay vs Washington
Tampa Bay 24
Washington 29
Final Box Score
St. Louis vs Jacksonville
St. Louis 24
Jacksonville 17
Final Box Score
Philadelphia vs NY Jets
Philadelphia 24
NY Jets 14
Final Box Score
Cleveland vs Chicago
Cleveland 14
Chicago 24
Final Box Score
Kansas City vs Green
Bay Kansas City 19
Green Bay 20
Final Box Score
Houston vs Minnesota
Houston 0
Minnesota 28
Final Box Score
Pittsburgh vs Carolina
Pittsburgh 33
Carolina 17
Final Box Score
Tennessee vs New Orleans
Tennessee 32
New Orleans 9
Final Box Score
Denver vs Arizona
Denver 7
Arizona 26
Final Box Score
San Francisco vs San Diego
San Francisco 20
San Diego 17
Final Box Score
Friday, Sep 2
Oakland vs Seattle
Oakland 3
Seattle 20
Final Box Score
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NFL 2011 Week One
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