Mattie T’s Week 1 NFL Predictions

It’s that time again folks!!!! Now before i begin with my Week 1 Predictions, i’d like to extend an offer out to my fellow sports writers/radio hosts Paul Johnson, GI Wayne, Brian Sizemore & Ed The Sports Fan to see if anyone would like to compare picks on a week-by-week basis. If interested, let me know fellas!!!!!!!

Let’s start with the Thursday Night opener!!!!!

Tennessee at Pittsburgh

I am expecting for this to be a smashmouth & hard-hitting game from both teams. Tennessee is on a mission after being stunned by Baltimore in the AFC Divisional Playoffs, while Pittsburgh looks to get off to a good start in defense of their 6th Super Bowl win.

Kerry Collins’ best home game of 2008 came against Pittsburgh, as he completed 20 of 29 passes for 215 yards & 1 touchdown for a 101.1 rating, as the Titans also added 117 yards on the ground against the Steelers’ top-ranked run defense.

Should be a close game, but i like the combo of Chris Johnson & LenDale White over Willie Parker & Rashard Mendenhall. I am taking Tennessee here to win by a late field goal from Rob Bironas.

Minnesota at Cleveland

The Brett Favre era in Minnesota will begin on Sunday, and against a familiar foe.

Eric Mangini will make his Cleveland Browns head coaching debut & will face the quarterback that he coached last season, which did have some success before a late-season collapse cost the Jets a trip to the playoffs.

Mangini will reportedly wait until Sunday morning to name a starting quarterback between Brady Quinn & Derek Anderson, but i believe it will be Quinn behind center against the Vikings.

Don’t look for Quinn to have much success this week, as Minnesota’s defense should dominate this one in a blowout win.

Denver at Cincinnati

Josh McDaniels will try to win his head coaching debut with Denver, as they will go up against a Cincinnati team with a “revamped” Carson Palmer at quarterback.

The Broncos aren’t sure if Kyle Orton will be able to go on Sunday, as he’s still recovering from a dislocated right index finger that was suffered on August 30th in a pre-season game against his former Bears team.

If Orton can’t go, then Chris Simms will get his first start since his infamous “spleen” game on September 24th, 2007 against Carolina. (Simms was a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers).

Brandon Marshall appears as if he will play on Sunday, but the troubled Denver wideout has hauled in just 2 touchdown receptions over his past 7 games. I look for Cincinnati to win this one, as i think Palmer & the Bengals will move the ball often against a suspect Broncos defense.

Detroit at New Orleans

Matthew Stafford will get his first NFL start against a defense that needs to prove itself, as the New Orleans start their possible Super Bowl run on Sunday against the lowly Detroit Lions.

Drew Brees had no problem lighting up Detroit in Week 16 of last season, as he completed 30 of 40 passes for 351 yards & 2 touchdowns as New Orleans delivered a 42-7 thrashing at Ford Field.

Look for the same on Sunday, as Detroit will hang around for awhile before New Orleans puts it on cruise control for an easy win.

Philadelphia at Carolina

The Eagles will have to wait two weeks to show off Michael Vick, but in the meanwhile Jeremy Maclin & Sean McCoy will make their highly-anticipated rookie debuts against Carolina.

Steve Smith should be OK for Sunday after missing some time during the preseason with a shoulder injury. I think Philly‘s offense will have no problems moving the ball & will win this game.

N.Y. Jets at Houston

Mark Sanchez is set to make his NFL debut against a team that’s looking to take the next step towards the playoffs.

Matt Schaub will start for Houston despite suffering a sprained ankle during the preseason. If Schaub gets hurt on Sunday, then former Bear Rex Grossman will step in at quarterback.

I think that Mark Sanchez will have some success against a Texans’ defense that’s still trying to prove itself. Close game, but i like the Jets on the road here.

Dallas at Tampa Bay

The pressure is on Wade Phillips to lead Dallas back to the postseason, while Raheem Morris is simply trying to win his head coaching debut.

This game will feature two of the NFL’s elite tight ends, as Jason Witten & Kellen Winslow will square off against eachother for the 2nd straight season opener, as Witten outplayed Winslow during Dallas’ 28-10 win over Cleveland in Week 1 in 2008.

Tony Romo has his 2nd highest career QB rating against Tampa Bay, as he threw for 5 touchdown passes against them on Thanksgiving Day in 2006. He won’t get 5 TD’s against the Bucs this time around, but Romo will get enough offense to lead Dallas to a season-opening win.

Miami at Atlanta.

Two of the biggest surprise teams from 2008 will hook up Sunday, as each club will have tougher paths to try & get back to the playoffs. Miami basically returns everyone from last year’s offense with the exception of rookie Pat White, while Atlanta added future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez.

The Dolphins should keep Michael Turner in check (but i can be wrong!), but Matt Ryan will find enough holes in Miami’s secondary to lead Atlanta to a close win.

Kansas City at Baltimore.

After a surprise season which resulted in an AFC Championship Game loss, the Ravens are looking to take a step further in 2009. It all starts with their home opener Sunday against a Kansas City team that may not have the services of Matt Cassel, who is still recovering from a pre-season knee injury.

If Cassell can’t play, then Brodie Croyle will get his 1st start since December 30th, 2007 . Todd Haley’s KC coaching debut will be one to forget, as Baltimore should run away with an easy win.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis.

Jim Caldwell will make his NFL head coaching debut for Indianapolis on Sunday & could have headaches trying to stop Maurice Jones-Drew, who will go up against a Colts D minus All-Pro safety Bob Sanders.

Torry Holt will make his Jaguars debut & has good career numbers against Indianapolis, as he’s caught 13 receptions against them for 273 yards & 2 touchdowns in two previous meetings (136.5 yards per game is highest total against any opposing team).

However, as long as Peyton Manning has Reggie Wayne & Dallas Clark at his disposal, then the Colts will always be a top-notch offense. Should be a very close game, but i’m going with Indianapolis here.

San Francisco at Arizona.

These two teams will meet Sunday with new offensive coordinators, while one team is looking to change the style of its’ offense.

49ers new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye wants to use Frank Gore more in a power run game, who has strung together 3 good games against Arizona dating back to November of 2007.

Kurt Warner returns for his 12th NFL season & looks to continue his recent success against San Francisco, as he completed a robust 70.8% of his passes against them in 2008 & threw for 4 touchdowns without throwing an interception.

49ers will keep it close early, but Warner & the Arizona passing attack will be too much to handle for Mike Singletary.

Washington at N.Y. Giants

The Giants will play the Redskins for a 2nd straight season opener, as Brandon Jacobs & Co will get to go up against Albert Haynesworth & the Redskins defense.

Jacobs rumbled off 116 rushing yards in last year’s opener (only 1 of 4 100-yard games), but will have to deal with Haynesworth in his Washington debut.

Clinton Portis combined to rush for just 106 yards in 2 games last season against the Giants without getting into the end zone. That must change on Sunday in order for the ‘Skins to win, but i think the Giants will have enough defensively to squeak out a close one.

Rams at Seahawks

Steve Spagnuolo makes his Rams head coaching debut in a very unfriendly place, as the loud Qwest Field will surely give his team problems all afternoon long.

Matt Hasselbeck is looking to have a bounceback season & will show off his new receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh on Sunday, who now truly gives Seattle a true #1 wide receiver.

The Rams will be looking for a true #1 wide receiver themselves following the off-season depature of Torry Holt, as Marc Bulger will play on Sunday despite a broken right pinky finger that was suffered during the preseason.

This will figure to be a long day for St. Louis, as Seattle will steamroll their way to an easy win.

Chicago at Green Bay.

Should be one hell of a game with Jay Cutler & Aaron Rodgers squaring off against each other.

The man to watch for Green Bay will be wide receiver Greg Jennings, who has hauled in a touchdown in 3 of his last 4 games against Chicago dating back to October of 2007.

The Bears could be in big trouble if Charles Tillman is unable to go following a back injury, as he is reportedly “50/50” for Sunday night’s game.

This is a really tough pick for me being a Bear fan and all, but i am going with Green Bay to squeeze past Chicago in what should be a prime-time thriller.

Buffalo at New England

Tom Brady will look to prove that he is indeed back from last season’s devastating knee injury, as his Patriots will look to spoil Terrell Owens’ Bills debut on Monday night.

In Brady’s last 5 regular-season games against Buffalo dating back to October of 2005, he has thrown for a mind-blistering 15 touchdown passes and just ONE interception.

I’d like to send my condolences to the Bills secondary before they get torched on Monday. Look for New England to roll in this one.

San Diego at Oakland

LaDainian Tomlinson insists that he’s still the best back in the NFL. He’ll get a 1st chance to prove it Monday night against a hapless Raider defense that he’s rushed for 90 or more yards against in each of his last 3 games dating back to October of 2007.

Nnamdi Asomugha will play on Monday with a cast on his left wrist & will draw Vincent Jackson, who looks to continue his rising stardom as one of the NFL’s elite receivers.

San Diego has won 11 straight against Oakland, and will make it 12 after an easy win in Oakland.