Week 1 NFL Predictions by the Average Sports Fan (2011 NFL Season)

The 2011 NFL season is ready to kick off and that mean it is time for the average sports fan to start with my Week 1 NFL predictions. In 2010 my predictions compiled a 181-75 record last year when it came down to who was going to win the game.

New Orleans Saints vs. Green Bay Packers

The Saints and Packers open up the 2011 NFL season in what promises to be an offensive shootout. The Packers will be injury free and ready to defend their Super Bowl title while the Saints are eager to make everyone forget their playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. The Saints’ defense will look better than they did last time but will not be enough as the Packers earn a close win at home.

Packers 24 Saints 20

Atlanta Falcons vs. Chicago Bears

The Falcons are eager to show last year was not a fluke and will be ready to take their passing game up to Solider Field and face a Chicago team that many expect to fall off in 2011. The Bears’ offense is going to ride on the success created by their ability to gain big yards after the catch. The Falcons will benefit from this game being in September and will arrive back in Atlanta with a win.

Falcons 28 Bears 21

Philadelphia Eagles vs. St. Louis Rams

The Eagles spent the off-season with the intention of making 2011 ‘Super Bowl or Bust’ and will kick off their adventures against an underrated Rams team that has the ability to take home a division title this year. The Eagles will use their speed on offense to wear down a Ram’s defense in what should be a close game until the fourth quarter.

Eagles 31 Rams 21

Detroit Lions vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Lions and Buccaneers left 2010 with high hopes for the coming season and will be ready to showcase their young quarterbacks on the field Sunday. The Lions’ defense line is one of the best in the game and will put a lot of pressure on Josh Freeman during the game. In the end, the Lions will earn a win thanks to making the least amount of mistakes on the field.

Lions 24 Buccaneers 17

Tennessee Titans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

This game features two teams who have little hope if any at all to reach the playoffs in 2011. The Titans’ will be relying upon Chris Johnson and his lucrative contract to carry the load for the offense. Jaguar fans will be counting down the days until they can see Blaine Gabbert behind center. You can expect the scoring to be low in this game and it will be won by a field goal.

Titans 17 Jaguars 14

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans

Let’s face it; the biggest story leading up to this game is going to be the health status of Peyton Manning and Arian Foster. Based on what has been said in the media and discussed by the NFL experts, there is a good chance Manning and Foster are going to be sitting this one out. If that happens, look for the Texans to benefit and get an early jump on the division lead.

Texans 31 Colts 17

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Cleveland Browns

Two years ago, this game would have been an easy win for the Bengals in a tough AFC North. Times have changed and the Bengals are a team going through a major rebuilding process while the Browns have been creating the foundation on both sides of the ball. The Browns will have an easy time notching their first win of the young NFL season.

Browns 24 Bengals 10

Buffalo Bills vs. Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs were the surprise hit of 2010 and will have a hard time earning another AFC West title in 2011. The Bills, who seem to be forever stuck in rebuilding mode, will need to find an identity on defense if they want to win this year. Even if quarterback Matt Cassell is not at 100% for the Chiefs, the running game is enough to keep the Bills on their heels and earn a win at home.

Chiefs 17 Bills 10

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens

If you are looking for the best modern day rivalry in the game, look no further than this match between AFC foes. The Steelers are ready to push aside how their 2010 season ended and take on a Ravens team that is ready to get back to their roots by running the ball. When it comes down to it, this is going to be the top game of the weekend. The Ravens will secure a narrow victory and send the Steelers home.

Steelers 24 Ravens 21

New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins

The Giants have several questions, including the suspect performance by Eli Manning during the preseason, as they enter the 2011 season. On the flip side, the Redskins are still a jumbled mess from last year and look to have even more questions. The Giants will utilize their running game to set the tempo and earn a narrow victory over a division rival.

Giants 17 Redskins 14

Minnesota Vikings vs. San Diego Chargers

Not only do the Vikings find themselves starting on the road with a new quarterback in the form of Donovan McNabb, they will start their 2011 NFL Season on the West Coast against the Chargers. This is going to be a make or break year for the Chargers who have a healthy wide receiving group and will be led by the 2011 NFL MVP, Phillip Rivers. The Chargers will roll easy in this home opener.

Chargers 31 Vikings 14

Carolina Panthers vs. Arizona Cardinals

This game marks the starting point of two quarterbacks; Cam Newton and Kevin Kolb. The Panthers have opted to go with Newton as their starter even though he has should the lack of a backup quarterback when passing the ball and the Cardinals have banked their future on Kolb who has shown mixed success in the handful of games that he started. Kolb will find more success this day as the Cardinals roll to an easy road win.

Cardinals 27 Panthers 10

Settle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers

The battle for the NFC West title begins when the Seahawks travel down to take on the 49ers led by rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh. Even though the 49ers have a question at quarterback, the Seahawks have them a every skilled position. The 49ers defense is going to rebound this year and put a clamp down on a Seattle team that could be one of the worst this year.

49ers 21 Seahawks 7

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Jets

The Cowboys look to forget their disastrous 2010 season when they take on the Jets who are still smarting from another pivotal playoff loss that left them out of the Super Bowl picture. The key to this game is going to be which team can find more success running the ball. Felix Jones is going to be a terror in the Jets’ defense and help the Cowboys squeak out a win.

Cowboys 28 Jets 24

New England Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins

The Patriots will be ready to defend their AFC East title on Monday night as they head to South Florida and face a Dolphins’ offensive unit that was in need of a change. We know the Patriots can score but their defense is full of questions. They should have an easy go of holding the Dolphins’ offense in check and being able to put up enough points on the board.

Patriots 31 Dolphins 17

Oakland Raiders vs. Denver Broncos

The Raiders have become a favorite sleeper team for the NFL pundits this year thanks to the emergence of Darren McFadden last year and their underrated defense. They will be facing a hated division rival, the Broncos, who are going to need their defense to succeed if they want to win in 2011. The game will be a close one through the first half but a few long plays by the Raiders offense will put the game out of reach.

Raiders 24 Broncos 14

2011 NFL Season Record 0-0-0


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