NFL Game Predictions- Week 1

Well here we are football fans. The start of the NFL regular season is mere hours away, and I for one am looking forward to the first slate of games immensely. I mean, Saints vs. Packers tonight, thursday night football? Clock out of work early, skip your class, pay your bills tomorrow, because tonight, its ON. Lets start with our Thursday game:


Saints 28 Packers 24

An intense matchup of two marquee quarterbacks, this one goes down to the wire, but the Saints prevail with their passing game.

ESPN pick: Packers 33 NO 27

Now on to our Sunday and Monday games.


Atlanta 20 Chicago 14

A simple matchup of a great team and a good team, and the score will reflect that. Bears keep it close but don't pull it out.

ESPN Pick: Atlanta 28 Chicago 10 

Detroit 31 Tampa Bay17

Detroit rallies behind Stafford and lights up the Buc's depleted secondary as they continue their winning ways from the 2nd half of last season.

ESPN Pick: Detroit 24 Tampa Bay 17

Cincinnati 10 Cleveland 34


Peyton Hillis runs hard from the start and Andy Dalton doesn't keep the Bengals in this one. Cincy's defense struggles to make plays.

ESPN Pick: Cleveland 23 Cincinnati 17

Buffalo 17 Kansas City 27


Jamaal Charles keeps the offense rolling in this game, and the defense gets enough stops to get the team a win.

ESPN Pick: Kansas City 23 Buffalo 20

Philadelphia 21 St. Louis 17


St. Louis gives Philly a run for their money, but the Eagles overcome a jittery offense with strong defense, and shut down Sam Bradford to grab the W.

ESPN Pick: St. Louis 24 Philadelphia 17

Tennessee 27  Jacksonville 10

A happy (and wealthy) Chris Johnson runs rampant over a shaky Jacksonville team that never gets going in this one with Luke McCown at QB.

ESPN Pick: Tennessee: 21 Jacksonville 20


Pittsburgh 17 Baltimore 13


The rivalry continues to be a defensive struggle as Pittsburgh edges the Ravens behind a strong run game.

ESPN Pick: Baltimore 21 Pittsburgh 20

Indianapolis 21 Houston 27

Without Peyton Manning, the Colts do better than expected but still fall in Houston behind a big game from Andre Johnson.

ESPN Pick: Houston 20 Indianapolis 17

Carolina 14 Arizona 23


Cam Newton gets victimized by the Arizona secondary and fails to impress or win in his rookie start.

ESPN Pick: Arizona 27 Carolina 17

Minnesota 17 San Diego 24

Donovan McNabb gets out dueled by Phillip Rivers as the Vikings fall at San Diego.

ESPN Pick: San Diego 24 Minnesota 17


Seattle 24 San Fransisco 14

The Seahawks show glimpses of talent as they rough up the 49ers at Candlestick.

ESPN Pick: San Fransisco 24 Seattle 20

Giants 21 Redskins 17


The Giants survive a lack of depth at CB by getting after Rex Grossman with their D Line, as the run game carries them to victory. ( get it, carries? )

ESPN Pick: New York 20 Washington 17

Dallas 16 Jets 21

The Ryan brothers have their coaching duel, but Rex walks away with bragging rights as LT and the run game make the Cowboys wish they hadn't released Igor Olshansky.

ESPN Pick: New York Jets 23 Dallas 21

New England 34 Miami 14


The Patriots take this one easily, as Henne struggles to beat the Pat's secondary and Tom Brady has no trouble with Miami's.

ESPN Pick: New England 20 Miami 10

Oakland 31 Denver 21


Oakland gets off to a great start with the run game and never looks back, spoiling the return of QB Kyle Orton for Denver.


ESPN Pick: Oakland 20 Denver 14