Week 1 of the NFL is upon us. Preseason games are a fading memory, as first teamers gear up for the real deal. Some intriguing matchups this week, Dallas Cowboys versus the New York Giants and San Francisco versus Green Bay both highlight the schedule. Each week, I will post game by game predictions based upon a straight up pick’em approach. I’ll keep count of my wins and losses, so that you can decide for yourself how valuable my picks are to your pool. I’ll go a step further and give you a lock of the week pick as well as an upset of the week pick. Alright let’s kick it off.
Dallas Cowboys at NY Giants
Giants keep the dominance of the Cowboys going, at least for another week. Giants win their home opener in a tight contest. Tony Romo puts up more passing yards, but the G-Men are more effective in putting points on the board. Pick: GIANTS
Indianapolis Colts at Chicago Bears
Let the Andrew Luck era begin, unfortunately this Bears team will shred the Colts. Cutler will be leading a more balanced attack and the Bears win this game easily. Pick: BEARS
Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs
If Atlanta wants to win the NFC South they need to win road games like this. Look for Matt Ryan to go vertical down the field and take advantage of his receiving corps. Pick: FALCONS
Philadelphia Eagles at Cleveland Browns
Brandon Weeden gets his first NFL start against a tough Eagles team. Trent Richardson is out and the Browns will not muster much of a running attack. Philadelphia wins this game running away. Pick: EAGLES
Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints
Another rookie quarterback takes the field, as Robert Griffin III leads the ‘Skins into New Orleans who look to show the world that Bounty Gate will not hold them back. A tough contest but Drew Brees has himself a game and pulls out a victory. Pick: SAINTS
St Louis Rams at Detroit Lions
The Rams are much improved from last season. With Sam Bradford healthy and Steven Jackson looking great again, the Rams will improve off their 2-14 record. Unfortunately the Rams start off 2012 with a loss. Pick: LIONS
New England Patriots at Tennessee Titans
Patriots have just too many weapons, too many options and just too good of a quarterback to let this game slip away. Tom Brady and the Pats will only lose a handful of games this season, and this just isn’t going to be one of them. Pick: PATRIOTS
Jacksonville Jaguars at Minnesota Vikings
This game has zero playoff implications as neither team is any good at all. Adrian Peterson is a maybe and Maurice Jones-Drew just reported to camp. In an ‘I can’t believe one of these teams will start the season undefeated’ someone must win here. Pick: VIKINGS
Buffalo Bills at NY Jets
All that hype on the Jets this year, but I am not ready to put them in the playoffs just yet. This is a tough Bills team, with a much improved defence and a confident offence. These two teams play each other pretty tight, so expect a close score. Pick: BILLS
Miami’s rookie quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, is in tough this week against a top tier defence. Houston’s offence is just too potent to be slowed by Miami’s defence. This game won’t be close. Pick: TEXANS
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Russell Wilson is getting the start for the Seahawks, while we still don’t know who the Cardinals starting quarterback will be. Wilson has shown what he can do, coupled with the stingy ‘Hawks defence, the Cards don’t have much of a shot. Pick: SEAHAWKS
San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers
I see this as the matchup of the week as both teams enter the season with aspirations of winning a championship. I think home field advantage doesn’t mean as much here as it would against other opponents. San Francisco will be primed to win this game and I see them coming out ahead on a last second score. Pick: 49ers
Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cam Newton will be out to disprove the sophomore slump theory as he rolls in to Tampa Bay. Newton will find a way to win this game and roll out with a victory. Pick: PANTHERS
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
Everyone wants to see Peyton Manning in real game action. Great test here against a tough Steelers team. I’m not as high on the Steelers as I have been years past. This year, I see them as the third best team in their division; while the Broncos are the class of theirs. Pick: BRONCOS
Cincinnati Bengals at Baltimore Ravens
These two teams will likely be battling for top spot in the AFC North. If this game were being played in Cincinnati, I might feel differently about the outcome. Pick: RAVENS
San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders
I don’t see the Chargers the way many others do. Most have the Chargers favoured to come out of the division, not me. Statistically, on paper last year the Chargers should have been a whole lot better than they were. Having said that, until the Raiders show they can win a few games, I’m not picking the silver and black. Pick: CHARGERS
LOCK OF THE WEEK: New England Patriots
UPSET OF THE WEEK: San Francisco 49ers