NFL Week 1: Games to Watch

The NFL season officially kicked off Thursday night with the Saints and Packers at Lambeau Field; it was a great game to start the 2011 season. But the real plum of the weekend will be the jam-packed Sunday with NFL games from rail to rail. We’ve been waiting for it for months, wading through piles of garbage from collective bargaining to holdouts to player arrests. It’s time for football!

Here’s a look at a few of this weekend’s biggest games.

Steelers @ Ravens – This contest is always a slugfest, and this game will be no different. As AFC North division rivals, these two tough teams play twice every season and the battles are fierce. It’s unusual for them to start the season with this game, but it’s a treat for us fans. Pittsburgh has won 10 of the last 18 games, but the team has only scored seven more points than Baltimore. That’s how close these teams are. The Steelers take it on the road.

Pittsburgh 17, Baltimore 16

Eagles @ Rams – Philadelphia comes in with the “Dream Team” moniker from the national media because of all the skill position players on their roster – Vick D Jax, Maclin, McCoy, Asomugha, DR-C, etc. However, they look pretty soft up the middle, playing rookies or first-year starters at key positions like center, middle linebacker and safety. The Rams look dramatically better this season, executing with sharpness in the pre-season. I’d love to pick the Rams, but Philly has too much talent to be overcome by a young, up-and-coming team.

Philadelphia 27, St. Louis 24

Lions @ Buccaneers – Tampa Bay surprised a lot of people last year, finishing 10-6 and just narrowly missing the playoffs with an incredibly young and inexperienced team. Detroit is a sexy pick to make this year’s playoffs but have a tough division to navigate. If they are going to meet expectations, games like this against a solid opponent are ones they have to take care of. Stafford and Suh lead the charge, and the Lions take it on the road.

Detroit 21, Tampa Bay 17

Indianapolis @ Houston – If Gary Kubiak is ever going to save his job as Texans coach, this is the year. Peyton Manning is finally out of his way with the neck injury, and the rest of the division is pretty weak. Houston has the offensive weapons (they always have), but now the defense has to step up. If Wade Philips can turn it around with the 3-4 like he has in other places, the Texans will win the division. This is a must-win game for them … and they will.

Houston 31, Indy 24

And I have the Chiefs beating the Bills at home in close one. Jamaal Charles running the ball is the difference.  Kansas City 24, Buffalo 20

Enjoy the weekend, NFL fans. Until next time, thanks for reading.

Steve