Week 1 Preview

Has it been seven months since, Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy got the collective monkey off of their backs after beating Chicago 29-17 in the 41st Super Bowl? Now the destination for the 32 teams in the NFL is Glendale, Arizona. Specifically University of Phoenix Stadium site of the 42nd Super Bowl. Some teams have a more realistic shot than others. But no one knows who will blow up big and what team will simply blow up. 17 weeks, 32 teams 256 games. Lets get started.



Odds provided from Yahoo Sports and are for entertainment and comparison purposes only. So if you get housed by the numbers don't come looking for me.

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 1

Thursday, September 6

Saints (10-6 in 2006) @ Colts (12-4 in 2006)
RCA Dome, Indianapolis 8:30 (NBC)
Favorite-Indy by 6


As defending NFL champs the Colts get the plum date of the NFL opener against last years cinderella team. The Colts still have the explosive offense, and the Saints have plenty of weapons of their own, this looks to be a shootout, but the Colts will be riding high from the emotion of being in front of their fans in game that count.
Pick-Indy


Sunday, September 9

Falcons (7-9) @ Vikings (6-10)
HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite-Vikings by 3

The Falcons now begin the post Michael Vick era with more questions than answers, a lot of the dilemmas that Vick would pose are gone, The Vikes have a decent defense but their offense save the promise of hot rookie Adrian Peterson. The Vikes play good at home and get the slight edge, not because they are still this humble scribes favorite squad.
Pick-Minnesota


Panthers (8-8)@ Rams (8-8)
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Rams by 1

The Rams have the potential to put a bundle of points on the board, while the Panthers boast a solid if unspectacular defense. This will look to be a close one.
Pick-St. Louis


Broncos (9-7) @ Bills (7-9)
Ralph Wilson Stadium Orchard Park, NY 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Broncos by 3

The Broncos have a solid running game with the latest Shanahan insert running back here to gain a thousand yards. The Bills have cast their lot for better or worse with JP Losman. Broncos QB Jay Cutler has a distinct advantage with having Travis Henry as opposed to unproven rookie MarShawn Lynch having to replace Willis McGahee
Pick-Denver


Chiefs (9-7) @ Texans (6-10)
Reliant Stadium, Houston 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Texans by 3

The Chiefs have LJ and thats about it and he cant carry the ball 70 times. They barely have a defense...and this was a playoff team last year! I'm gonna hate myself when Matt Schaub proves why he was a perennial backup. But I cast my lot this time with the Texans
Pick-Houston (upset pick of the week)


Dolphins (6-10) @ Redskins (5-11)
FedEx Field, Landover, MD 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Redskins by 3

Remember when this would have been an elite matchup? Both teams have QB questions and both teams have decent defenses that are overworked since their offenses are so inept. I'll bank on Clinton Portis being able to keep the Skins defense off the field long enough to force the Dolphins weak offense to try keep up
Pick-Washington

Patriots (12-4) @ Jets (10-6)
Meadowlands Stadium East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Patriots by 6.5

The last time the Jets saw the Pats they were getting run out of Foxboro in the wild card weekend. Whats changed since then? Um...the Pats have a better offense, better than the Pats squad that hung 37 on the Jets last January. This Mangini bowl may get ugly early.
Pick-New England


Eagles (10-6) @ Packers (8-8)
Lambeau Field, Green Bay 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite Eagles by 3

Favre's last stand? He gets to face a fast furious Eagles team that has something to prove. The problem the Packers day care camp...err youthful squad has is that the Eagles are a veteran team hungry for a fast start. They'll get it
Pick-Philly


Steelers (8-8) @ Browns (4-12)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Steelers by 4.5

Hey no fair! The Steelers rookie coach gets the closest thing to a gimme. Facing a weak Browns team with a QB identity problem. Jamal Lewis is not the feared RB that he once was and that bodes well for Mike Tomlin, the Steelers roll
Pick-Pittsburgh (Lock of the Week)


Titans (8-8) @ Jaguars (8-8)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Jags by 6.5

The Jags rock 'em sock 'em D has the first opp to try to corral the irrepresible Vince Young. I think this game will be closer than the odds makers want you to believe. This is David Garrard's team now, lets see how he handles it.
Pick-Tennessee

Bears (13-3) @ Chargers (14-2)
Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Chargers by 5.5

Two of the leagues best from '06 lock horns in one of the best games of the week. Can LT do to the Bears what he did to them in the commercial. He could very well do that and more. This game will be too close to call, give it to Chargers at home.
Pick-San Diego


Lions (3-13) @ Raiders (2-14)
McAfee Stadium, Oakland 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Raiders by 1.5

Meanwhile 600 miles to the north, one of the biggest snoozers is also on the docket. Jon Kitna is under the delusion that the Lions can win ten. The Raiders have a stud defense but the offense is a joke. Even more so without Randy Moss or any semblance of a running game. Kitna can live in his fantasy world for at least another week as he has more options at offense that the Raiders defense can handle.
Pick-Detroit

Buccaneers (4-12) @ Seahawks (9-7)
Qwest Field, Seattle 4:15 (FOX)
Favorite Seahawks by 6

The Bucs are still trying to figure on who will run their offense, Jeff Garcia has the helm for now, but the Hawks no-joke defense will give the Bucs trouble from the word go. Look for Shawn Alexander to get his and more.
Pick-Seattle

Giants (8-8) @ Cowboys (9-7)
Texas Stadium Irving, TX 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite Cowboys by 5.5

The Pokes get the night game and Eli and the G-Men are already at midseason bickering form. Can Brandon Jacobs be the running force that Tiki Barber was? The short answer is no. TO has been quiet and he has bragged that he may score 13 times, he may get a couple toward that on this night.
Pick-Dallas


Monday, September 10


Ravens (13-3) @ Bengals (8-8)
Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati 7:00 (ESPN)
Favorite Bengals by 2.5

The Stripes host their divisional nemesis in the first of two Monday night affairs. The Bengals have the offense, and they will have to contend with Ray Lewis and the usual suspects in a Ravens D that is its usual miserly self. The Ravens have a decent RB in Willis McGahee and the Bengals troubles with solid RB's are legendary. I should know better, but the Bengals seem to play over their heads when the primetime lights are on and it will happen again.
Pick-Cincy

Cardinals (5-11) @ 49ers (7-9)
Monster Park, San Francisco 10:15 (ESPN)
Favorite- Niners by 3

The opening weekend closes by the bay, the Niners are a sleeper pick for big things. But I'm still not sold on if Alex Smith and Frank Gore can take that next step. The Cards have soooo much potential, but that defense is weak and the Niners will exploit it.
Pick-San Francisco


Last Year 155-101