NFL - Week One Preview and 2011 Season Predictions

The NFL season kicks off Thursday night with the defending Super Bowl Champions, the Green Bay Packers hosting the New Orleans Saints at Lambeau Field.
The Packers are led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the Super Bowl MVP and a stifling defense that peaked at the right time last season to help propel Green Bay into the post-season, where they were quite dominant on the road en route to the Super Bowl victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers, 31-25.
The Saints, who won the Super Bowl the year before, are led by quarterback Drew Brees, who finished third in the NFL in passing yardage last season. Brees was the second quarterback ever (along with Hall-of-Famer Dan Marino) to throw for over 4,000 yards and 30 touchdown passes in a season three years in a row.

Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers (right) and teammate Clay Matthews celebrate Super Bowl title last February

It could very well be a shootout in Green Bay with the Packers prevailing, 31-26 in the Thursday Night Football opener.
The rest of the weekend action takes place Sunday and there are two Monday Night Football games in the opening week.
There are some intriguing match ups in Week One, especially a huge early season battle in the AFC North where the Pittsburgh Steelers go against the host Baltimore Ravens. These two teams should battle all the way until the end of the season for the division crown.
The brothers Ryan will try and out coach each other Sunday night in New York when the Jets play host to the Dallas Cowboys.

Rex Ryan

Rex Ryan is the Head Coach of the Jets and his brother Rob is the new Defensive Coordinator for the Cowboys. Their father Buddy, the architect of the famed 46 defense played to perfection by the 1985 Chicago Bears, will be on hand to watch the game.
The "dream team" Philadelphia Eagles will get a test on the road when they face the St. Louis Rams, led by second year quarterback Sam Bradford.
The Eagles have Michael Vick and a host of talent on both sides of the ball as they look to fly to the Super Bowl this season.
Atlanta and quarterback Matt Ryan will travel to Soldier Field in Chicago to face the Bears, who were just one win away from reaching the Super Bowl last year. Both teams lost to Green Bay in the post-season. Expect a physical battle in this one.
One more thing, the Indianapolis Colts will be without Peyton Manning (recovering from neck surgery) under center for the first time in fourteen years when they play on the road against the Houston Texans. Don't expect the Texans to go lightly on the Colts, as they are just 2-16 all-time against Indy.
It should be an interesting start to the season as there will be surprises, no doubt as well as the big plays and big hits that accompany the NFL.

Here are the Heftyinfo fearless predictions for Week One, with predictions as well for the upcoming 2011 season and playoffs.

(Home teams listed in BOLD)

Green Bay over New Orleans
Chicago over Atlanta
Kansas City over Buffalo
Houston over Indianapolis
Philadelphia over St. Louis
Detroit over Tampa Bay
Pittsburgh over Baltimore
Tennessee over Jacksonville
Cleveland over Cincinnati
NY Giants over Washington
San Diego over Minnesota
San Francisco over Seattle
Arizona over Carolina
NY Jets over Dallas
New England over Miami
Oakland over Denver 

2011 Picks for Division Winners and Playoffs (wild card teams in ITALICS)

AFC East 
(1) New England 12-4  (2) NY Jets 11-5  (3) Miami 6-10  (4) Buffalo 5-11

AFC North
(1) Pittsburgh 12-4  (2) Baltimore 11-5 (3) Cleveland 6-10 (4) Cincinnati 3-13

AFC South
(1) Houston 10-6 (2) Indianapolis 8-8 (3) Tennessee 8-8 (4) Jacksonville 5-11

AFC West
(1) San Diego 11-5 (2) Oakland 8-8 (3) Kansas City 7-9 (4) Denver 6-10


NFC East
(1) Philadelphia 12-4 (2) NY Giants 10-6 (3) Dallas 8-8 (4) Washington 6-10

NFC North
(1) Green Bay 12-4 (2) Chicago 9-7 (3) Detroit 8-8 (4) Minnesota 7-9

NFC South
(1) Atlanta 11-5 (2) New Orleans 11-5 (3) Tampa Bay 8-8 (4) Carolina 4-12

NFC West
(1) San Francisco 8-8 (2) St. Louis 8-8 (3) Arizona 7-9 (4) Seattle 4-12

AFC Playoffs
Wild Card Round
NY Jets over Houston, San Diego over Baltimore

Divisional Round
New England over NY Jets, Pittsburgh over San Diego

AFC Championship Game
New England over Pittsburgh


NFC Playoffs
Wild Card Round
Atlanta over NY Giants, New Orleans over San Francisco

Divisional Round
Green Bay over New Orleans, Philadelphia over Atlanta

NFC Championship Game
Green Bay over Philadelphia


SUPER BOWL 46

Green Bay over New England