Here are my picks for Week 1 in the League Where They Play for Pay. I have done this over the past few years for a couple of message boards to which I have belonged, but since I have this blog, why not put it here?
By the way, Gribble Nation is the best site I have seen to compile the network coverage maps for NFL games. Here’s the map for CBS on Week 1. The map for the Fox early games is here. And the Fox late games and I think it looks like Chicago-San Diego will be going to most of the country (sarcasm added). Every week in the picks, I’ll give you the coverage maps and thanks to J.P. for allowing me to link to his site.
Let’s go to the games:
New England at NY Jets – CBS, 1 p.m.
A rivalry game right off the bat. Two franchises that have been linked ever since Bill Parcells left New England for the Jets and Bill Belichick left the HC position of the NYJ. Now, Eric Mangini, the former NEP Defensive Coordinator is the second year HC of the NYJ. It’s all incestuous. Anyway, the Jets defeated the Pats in Foxboro in their last meeting. The New York media is in love with Mangini and he managed to get a cameo appearance on “The Sopranos” out of it. This game has some question marks for the Pats. Safety Rodney Harrison is suspended for four games for admitting he ordered Human Growth Hormone from an Albany pharmacy that has been linked to Cardinals OF Rick Ankiel, Blue Jays 3B Troy Glaus and Dallas Cowboys QB coach Wade Wilson. DL Richard Seymour is out for six weeks as well. QB Tom Brady has shoulder problems and his accuracy is coming into question. It’s not known which Randy Moss will show up, the one that plays hard or the one who admits to taking plays off. But even with these question marks, the Jets have some of their own. They have a young offensive line. QB Chad Pennington is finally healthy, but the Jets are wondering about the future. If these things had happened to the Pats last season, I would be picking the Jets, but with the Patriots signing free agents galore in the offseason, I’ll take the Pats here by a score of 23-14.
Miami at Washington – CBS, 1 p.m.
The Miami Dolphins had a strange offseason. First Nick Saban denies that he’s leaving to go to Alabama, then seemingly 6 minutes later, he’s leaving on a private plane to Tuscaloosa to coach the Crimson Tide. Owner Wayne Huizenga has to scramble and settles on Cam Cameron to be the HC. During the NFL Draft (which I attended), the buzz was that the Dolphins were going to draft Brady Quinn in the first round. We all know what happened as Tedd Ginn, Jr. was introduced as the Dolphins’ pick. And the Dolphins went through a dog and pony show to finally get Trent Green from Kansas City. So you have the Dolphins who certainly know how to make things interesting. Their fans have a sense of entitlement even though they’ve won nothing since the 1970’s. Pats fans? I can understand. Cowboys fans? Not so much, but it’s understandable. But Dolphins fans? Please. Anyway, the Redskins have Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts to run the ball. QB Jason Campbell is a huge question mark. I like Dolphins DE Jason Taylor, always have. He’ll give Campbell some fits. Washington is favored at home by 3, but I’ll take the ‘fins (yes, even after bashing them here, but just wait, I’ve got more material on them down the line) by a score of 20-10.
Iggles at Green Bay – Fox, 1 p.m.
Donovan McNabb is healthy after getting hurt last season. He doesn’t have to worry about looking over his shoulder as Jeff Garcia has gone to Tampa Bay. The Packers have Brett Favre and that’s just about it. Even though McNabb likes to throw, expect to see a lot of running plays for the Eagles. Philadelphia is my pick to win the NFC East and their playoff campaign begins at Lambeau Field. Take the Eagles to win, 30-7.
Atlanta at Minnesota – Fox, 1 p.m.
Sunday begins the Joey Harrington Era in the A.T.L. With Michael Vick gone, the Falcons can move forward and focus on the task at hand. How to survive in the NFC South without Vick. New coach Bobby Petrino has a new offense which will be useful against the Vikings defense. Minnesota has a young QB. I’ll take the Falcons who will want to make a statement, 24-13.
Denver at Buffalo – CBS, 1 p.m.
I like Denver to take this one. Buffalo has too many holes plus Jay Cutler is coming into his own as a leader. Broncos, 30-19.
Carolina at St. Louis – Fox, 1 p.m.
The Rams generally do well in their home openers. Carolina has a tough defense. WR Steve Smith is a great fantasy pick (I had him last year on my team). Dante Hall now returns kicks for the Rams. I’ll take the Rams on the carpet, 27-24.
Steelers at my Browns – CBS, 1 p.m.
This game brings up many questions for the Browns. Charlie Frye will start at QB for the Browns, but he showed he could barely move a tree stump during the preseason. I’m not too confident he can use weapons like Braylon Edwards or Kellen Winslow. While Jamal Lewis looks to rejuvenate his career in Cleveland, I’m not sure this where it’ll happen. Ben Roesthlisberger wants to show he can throw. With DB Leigh Bodden arrested this week, we have another distraction for the team. Yet he plans to play. I throw up my hands. It pains me to write this, but Steelers win, 30-3.
Tennessee at Jacksonville – CBS, 1 p.m.
Yeah, right.
KC at Houston – CBS, 1 p.m.
You can’t pay me enough to watch this game.
Chicago at San Diego – Fox, 4:15 p.m.
One of the marquee games this weekend. LaDanian Tomlinson is going to run roughshod on the Bears defense. Now early last season, the Bears D was on a par with the 1986 Chicago “46” defense, but it fell apart later in the season. Watch LT run right for a TD. Watch LT run left for 15. Watch LT run up the middle for 20. The Bears may have won the last four meetings between these two teams, but this is a different Charger team and it wants to show that it’s not in the “Martyball” era anymore. With Norv Turner at the helm and seemingly in sync with GM AJ Smith, this game is a chance for the Chargers to make a statement to the rest of the league that last season’s 14-2 record was not a fluke. Watch San Diego have fun in this game. Chargers win, 39-14 over a Bears team with a journeyman Rex Grossman at the helm.
Tampa Bay at Seattle – Fox, 4:15 p.m.
Matchup of the two 1977 expansion teams. Seattle playing at home. I heard Peter King Friday on WEEI and he told Dale Arnold & Michael Holley that this Seahawks team is better than the one that went to the Super Bowl. Now Peter can be wrong, but he’s rarely wrong about assessments like this. Tampa Bay has Jeff Garcia as the new starting QB. Cadillac Williams has to get going to prevent the Seahawks home crowd from getting really loud. I do think Shaun Alexander still has something left in the tank at age 30, although he did show a few signs last season of slowing down. Take the Seahawks to win this one, 27-20.
Detroit at Oakland – Fox, 4:15 p.m.
Why is this game on television? I’ll pick Detroit to win this one outright,23-13.
NY Giants at Dallas – NBC, 8:15 p.m.
Like the other New York team, the Giants get a heated division rival in Week 1. This will be funny. Tiki Barber w
ill be on NBC’s Football Night in America before the game. He’s already questioned QB Eli Manning’s leadership and said coach Tom Coughlin was one of the reasons why he retired. Tiki, if you remember, Coughlin helped you to stop fumbling. Anyway, the Giants no longer care about Tiki. They have to contend with QB Tony Romo who won’t have WR Terry Glenn to throw to. But with a Giants secondary in shambles, Romo won’t need Glenn. And if the Giants defensive line doesn’t get pressure on Romo, he’ll be able to make some long passes. Manning won’t have to win the game by himself, RB Reuben Droughns comes over from the Browns to shore up the running game along wihth Brandon Jacobs. Take the Cowboys to win at home and you can rest assured that Romo won’t be holding on figgys and extra points anymore. Cowboys, 17-13.
Baltimore at Cincinnati – ESPN, Monday, 7 p.m.
I admit, the opening Monday Night doubleheaders are a good idea. To get two division games on the first night is good for the league and the Bengals want to prove their a playoff caliber team after missing the postseason in 2006. Carson Palmer is a good QB. Chad Johnson says he’ll do something on his first touchdown to ensure he gets fined. Now, if he does this with Ray Lewis watching, he’s a better man than me. For the Ravens, all Steve McNair has to do is to manage the offense and not put everything on his shoulders. The Bengals are favored by under a figgy. The Bengals won their last meeting on a Thursday night at home and they’re at home to start the season. This will be a knock out, drag out AFC North division fight. I’ll take the Bengals to win, 10-3.
Arizona at San Francisco – ESPN, Monday, 10:15 p.m.
When are the 49ers going to get out of Candlestick (Monster) Park? Most teams have joined the 21st Century and are playing in state-of-the-art facilities. And while there’s a lot of history in that stadium, the Niners won’t be competitive until they’re able to leave and play in a new place. That’s my feeling, at least. QB Alex Smith is an up and coming star. RB Frank Gore is well entrenched in the backfield. Arizona is playing a new defensive system under another new coaching staff. While I do think the Cardinals are improved, it will still take them a while to get to the next level. This is a battle of two teams who want to take the next step. I do think it’ll be the 49ers winning this game at home, 24-21.
Those are your picks. Late Friday/early Saturday links coming up.
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