PICK: The Eagles probably won't be all that good this season, but I believe the Packers will be truly embarrassing. EAGLES BY 15.
Kansas City (9-7) at Houston (6-10) - 1:00 PM
Kansas City squeaked into the playoffs last season as the sixth-seed. They then got crushed by the Colts in the Wild Card Round, as just about everyone expected. QB Damon Huard looked very good in eight starts last year, but I suspect that was a fluke. Tony Gonzalez is still a star at TE. And it goes without saying that Larry Johnson will be solid at RB, although he's unlikely to be superhuman like the last two seasons.
The starting quarterback for the Houston Texans this season will be Matt Schaub, who has only started two games in his entire NFL career. His backup is Sage Rosenfels, who has also started in a grand total of two games in his entire career. And the OL remains one of the worst in the league. That's unfortunate, because RB Ahman Green and WR Andre Johnson could thrive if they had a real offense around them. Oh, and Mario Williams is a solid defense end, but he still wasn't worth a #1 draft pick.
PICK: I expect a mistake-filled opening game from both these teams, which makes this a difficult pick. But I'll have to go with the team that's least-bad. KANSAS CITY BY 3.
Denver (9-7) at Buffalo (7-9) - 1:00 PM
The Denver Broncos started the 2006 season 7-2, yet missed the playoffs due to a late-season collapse. Then things got even worse. Star CB Darrent Williams was murdered on New Year's Day in a drive-by shooting, and promising young RB Damien Nash died of an apparent heart attack after a celebrity basketball game in February. QB Jake Plummer was traded to Tampa Bay for a draft pick (then promptly retired), so now Jay Cutler is the undisputed starting quarterback. The defense remains better-than-average, and head coach Mike Shanahan will manufacture a strong running game as always.
The Buffalo Bills missed the playoffs last year, and look likely to repeat that feat this season. J.P. Losman is a good QB, but he doesn't have much to work with. Rookie Marshawn Lynch will start at RB, and could either be a pleasant surprise or a bust due to injury.
PICK: Buffalo's reputed home field advantage doesn't really kick in until November, and even then only against warm-weather teams. BRONCOS BY 6
Pittsburgh (8-8) at Cleveland (4-12) - 1:00 PM
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - DOM @ HSU
Hey man whats up good to see ur doing this again, sry I died off after the regular season last year, but i'll be with you the whole season this year. Im going to school at Humboldt State University in Northern California.
anyways been busy with school so don't know too much about the teams yet but its the first week I mean can anyone really predict with any type of precision?
INDY - would be very surprising if NO could pull off the w. should be a good game none the less. right?
HOUSTON - Tough call but I really think HOU has there s*** together more than KC
DENVER - I like BUF but Denver owns them.
PITTSBURGH - This is a tough call for me, it all depends on how a few key players will show up. CLEV should come out firing. but will it be enough?
JACKSONVILLE - Tell me how TEN will pull this one off?
ST. LOUIS - is CAR any good this year? and STL looks like they have a decent team? (as much as i dislike them) still stats showing coin flip game.
PHILADELPHIA - at first i had GB.. but then i remebered how they stunk it up last year at home the first few. plus Farve is now taking Viagra.
MINNESOTA - you tell me who will win i have no idea..
WASHINGTON - Both teams have lots of "ifs". flip a coin
TAMPA BAY - here's my big upset.. i really like TB this year from what i have read. and i dislike SEA.. if TB does win.. it will be in the last few minutes.
SAN DIEGO - be very surprised if CHI pulls a W here.
DETROIT - Being from Stockton CA (almost a sister city to Oakland about 1.5 hours east) i have a right to hate the Raiders due to the ignorant fans concentrated in Stockton. I think they have a great chance to win here, but i don't want to root for them.
DALLAS - another upset if NY could pull of a W.
CINCINNATI - these two teams always play each other hard.. I take CIN cuz home.
SF - Born and raised fan.. Dad is a die hard.. grew up in SF... greatest thing in the world would be for SF to take the NFC WEST.
2 - REMF
Steelers and Bears.
- Max Cleland
3 - RJ
You missed a game, DOM.
What about NE vs. the Jets?
4 - RJ
Thanks for the picks, Max! How's the PTSD going?
5 - alessandro nicolo
Ok, I'll bite. I say the Browns will take the Steelers and the Raiders defense will do bobo to the She-Lions.
6 - alessandro nicolo
I will also argue that the Eagles will challenge the Bears in the NFC.
7 - DOM @ HSU
NE - although the jets usually play the pats a tough dnt they? on a side note i say jets cover the 6 1/2..
8 - alessandro nicolo
um, how does google figure a cfl ad on this post? not that i'm complaining. we have bigger balls...
9 - Matthew T. Sussman
I'm tellin' you what I told everyone else:
Colts d. Saints
Steelers d. Browns
Redskins d. Dolphins
Eagles d. Packers
Broncos d. Bills
Texans d. Chiefs
Jaguars d. Titans
Patriots d. Jets
Rams d. Panthers
Vikings d. Falcons
Chargers d. Bears
Seahawks d. Buccaneers
Lions d. Raiders
Cowboys d. Giants
Bengals d. Ravens
49ers d. Cardinals
10 - RJ
Final Score:
Indy 41(!) - NO 10
RJ - 1-0
Suss - 1-0
DOM - 1-0
Cleland - 1 arm - 0 legs
11 - Alessandro
I want to add a couple. In addition to the Browns and Raiders. I will take the Eagles and Falcons.
12 - The Theory
Looks like I missed out on the Thursday game (what kind of sport kicks the season off on a THURSDAY for cryin' out loud??) but I'm here for everything else! Anyway, I don't know anything yet. I don't pay attention to football in the offseason, so I don't know who has who anymore. But I'll give it a try,..
Philadelphia (10-6) at Green Bay (8-8).. Philadelphia. If we lose this game, there will be no season.
Kansas City (9-7) at Houston (6-10) I love Houston. I want them to do well. But I have to be realistic. KC is going to destroy them.
Denver (9-7) at Buffalo (7-9)... I haven't the foggiest idea. I'll eenie-meenie-miney-moe for it... resulting in a nod toward Denver.
Pittsburgh (8-8) at Cleveland (4-12)... I think Pittsburgh's new coach is going to get really good results. Cleveland always plays Pittsburgh close but I can't see anyone but Pitts winning this.
Carolina (8-8) at St. Louis (8-8)... Coin-flip in favor of Carolina.
Atlanta (7-9) at Minnesota (6-10)... Minnesota was a disaster last year. Atlanta has had a hellish off season. But I think Minnesota, a year further removed from their troubles than Atlanta will be in a better state to take this game.
New England (12-4) at New York Jets (10-6)... I see the NY Jets winning this one, ending once and for all the "Will the Patriots go undefeated this season?" talks.
Miami (6-10) at Washington (5-11)... I really, really, really want Washington to lose. I don't think they will, though.
Tennessee (8-8) at Jacksonville (8-8)... I'm not voting against Vince Young. Tennessee.
Chicago (13-3) at San Diego (14-2)... This right here is a stellar matchup. I really want Chicago to get the year started off with a win... but they won't.
Tampa Bay (4-12) at Seattle (9-7)... Always go with Garcia. Tampa Bay.
Detroit (3-13) at Oakland (2-14)... Neither. Seriously. Actually, I'll go with Detroit. For the only time this year....
New York Giants (8-8) at Dallas (9-7)... They're both gonna suck this year. But it'll be an uphill battle for NYG in Dallas. Cowboys.
Baltimore (13-3) at Cincinnati (8-8)... Baltimore.
Arizona (5-11) at San Francisco (7-9)... I think San Fransico will be a lot better this year. They'll take the win here.
13 - RJ
Welcome back, Theory!
14 - RJ
Why dontcha just pick the rest, Alessandro? ;-)
15 - RJ
Final Score: Pats 38, Jets 14 - RJ 2-0
Broncos 15, Bills 14 - RJ 3-0
Titans 13, Jags 10 - RJ 3-1
Packers 16, Eagles 13 - RJ 3-2
Texans 20, Chiefs 3 - RJ 3-3
Carolina 27, Rams 13 - RJ 3-4
Redskins 16, Miami 13 (in OT) - RJ 3-5(!)
Vikings 24, Falcons 3 - RJ 4-5
Steelers 34, Browns 7 - RJ 5-5
Lions 36, Raiders 21(!) - RJ 6-5
Seattle 20, TB 6 - RJ 7-5
SD 14, Bears 3 - RJ 8-5
16 - RJ
NFL "Experts" -
Theismann 10-3
Salisbury 9-4
Hoge 9-4
Jaworski 10-3
Schlereth 8-5
Allen 4-9
Mortensen 7-6
Golic 8-5
Accuscore 7-6
17 - RJ
Final Score:
Dallas 45, Giants 35 - RJ 9-5
18 - DOM @ HSU
DOM 10-4.... KC Jags and Browns.. wow
19 - Matthew T. Sussman
13-3. Respect me.
20 - Matthew T. Sussman
Er, 11-3.
I should lose a win for that.
21 - The Theory
9-4 at the moment... Could definitely be worse.
22 - Alessandro
RJ,
0-4
Now you know why. I don't deserve to buy fruit of the loom.
23 - Alessandro
...but since I am such a sadist...
Cinci over Balti: In the immortal words of Diane Chambers: A Bengal versus a Raven? That's not a fair fight.
'Niners over the Diamond, er, Cardinals.
24 - RJ
"If (more like, "when") Steve McNair struggles at QB and/or suffers an injury, expect Kyle Boller to do a fine job as his replacement."
Boy, did I ever call that one...
25 - RJ
Final Score:
Bengals 27, Ravens 20 - RJ 10-5
Boller has a TD pass taken away from him by a bad call in the final minutes. Then Todd Heap misplays another would-be Boller TD pass, which turns into an INT and essentially ends the game.
Whatever. I still picked the winner. :-/