The Minnesota Vikings started out 4-2 last season, only to lose eight of their last ten games and (obviously) miss the playoffs. QB Brad Johnson was released in the off-season, so the unproven Tarvaris Jackson will be starting under center. The Vikes will need a strong season out of RB Chester Taylor in order to put many points on the board. The defense should be better-than-average.
PICK: I predict an ugly, low-scoring game. Overtime is a possibility, with an interception/fumble return for a TD providing the final score. (Sylvia Browne ain't got nothin' on me.) VIKINGS BY 6.
New England (12-4) at New York Jets (10-6) - 1:00 PM
Last season, the New England Patriots won the AFC East and made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game before losing a wild, high-scoring contest to eventual Super Bowl champion Indianapolis. They are a lock to return to the playoffs this season, and will almost certainly win their division for the fifth consecutive year. This is a team that was elite both offensively and defensively last season, but still managed to get even better. (So much for "parity"...) They added Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donté Stallworth at WR, Adalius Thomas at LB, and Tory James at CB. Admittedly, the addition of Randy Moss is just as likely to be very bad for the team as it is to be very good, but the other off-season moves are clearly positive. QB Tom Brady definitely has a talented receiver corps to throw to. The weak spot for the Pats, if there is one, might be the running game.
The Jets made the post-season last year by winning their final three regular season games. Then they were predictably bounced from the playoffs in the Wild Card Round by the Patriots. QB Chad Pennington has a couple of good receivers to throw to in Jerricho Cotchery and Laveranues Coles, and both Thomas Jones and Leon Washington are capable running backs. If the defense performs as well as it did last season, the Jets could make the playoffs again this year.
PICK: Expect the "Will the Patriots go undefeated?" nonsense to begin around Week Six. NEW ENGLAND BY 8.
Miami (6-10) at Washington (5-11) - 1:00 PM
The Dolphins missed the playoffs last year because they had Daunte Culpepper and Joey Harrington playing quarterback. This year they've got Trent Green at QB, which is a moderate improvement (even though he's getting pretty old). Unfortunately, he will have to play with a sub-par receiver corps, unless rookie WR Ted Ginn Jr. matures into a superstar overnight. The defense remains solid.
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. :-/