NFL Predictions: MVP Philip Rivers Propels San Diego Chargers

Super Bowl: Chargers vs Saints. San Diego’s defense returns to form and supports the most balanced offense in the NFL. Another great season for Brees and a healthy Reggie Bush mean the Saints finally deliver on their potential. It’s not enough to beat the Chargers though.

MVP: Philip Rivers wins the award as he leads San Diego to another AFC West title. Rivers leads all quarterbacks in terms of yards and touchdowns while keeping his interceptions down as well.

Runners Up: Drew Brees, Donovan NcNabb

Defensive MVP: Demarcus Ware. He should have got it last season but is honoured after another consistent campaign. The relentless linebacker puts up massive numbers in a contract year.

Runners Up: LaMarr Woodley, Shawne Merriman

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Jeremy Maclin. The young wideout strikes up an instant rapport with McNabb and plays a big part in the Eagles redzone offense. Maclin forms an exciting tandem with DeSean Jackson.

Runners Up: Matthew Stafford, Knowshon Moreno

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Malcolm Jenkins. The 14th overall pick stars in the Saints secondary with big plays and solid tackling. The versatile DB lines up at corner and safety in a much improved Saints defense.

Runners Up: Brian Orakpo, Alphonso Smith

Comeback Player of the Year: Tom Brady. He is going to have an amazing season which makes him a lock for this award.

Runners Up: Matt Hasselbeck, Shawne Merriman

Offensive Player of the Year: Matt Forte. The Bears running back follows up his excellent rookie year with another impressive campaign. He could get 15 total touchdowns and 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

Runners Up: Adrian Peterson, Steve Slaton

Coach of the Year: Jim Schwartz. The rookie coach doesn’t work a miracle but his team should win five or six games. He instills a hard working philosophy into his players and there is a vast improvement in the Lions’ fortunes.

Runners Up: Norv Turner, Mike Singletary

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Rushing Game Problems for Pittsburgh Steelers are in the Back Field.

The biggest weakness of the Pittsburgh Steelers entering the 2008 offseason was the offensive line. After the Steelers management made no real effort to improve the unit, many believed the Steelers were in for a long year.

It is debatable that the reason for the Steelers rushing game finishing 23rd in 2008, was that the offensive line was just not able to do their job. Starting out the 2009 season, the real culprit reared its ugly head, and the true identity of the weakness is no longer a secret.

The running game of the Pittsburgh Steelers, if you want to call it that, was non-existent in the season opening game Thursday on NBC. Starter Willie Parker carried the ball 13 times for 19 yards.

To make matters worse, one of those carries was for eight yards. His average minus his long run was less than one yard per carry.

Former first round pick Rashard Mendenhall had four carries for six yards, with a long of three, meaning other than his long, he averaged one yard per carry as well.

In the fourth quarter of the game, when the Steelers went to the “Lightning” package (no huddle offense), Mewelde Moore was the only running back on the field, and he managed eight yards on five carries. After his long of four yards, he also averaged one yard per carry.

Frank Summers started his first game at full back, and to say he did not play well, would be a compliment. On two separate third-and-one situations, the Tank plowed over nothing but himself, missing two critical blocks, that cost the Steelers two first downs.

A cold hard reality now face the Steelers, what happens next?

“Fast” Willie Parker looked anything but fast. Every time he touched the ball, he seemed to run directly into the defense of the Titans.

Not taking anything away from the Titans, their defense played a fantastic game, but “Fast” Willie did not look very fast. Nearing the dreaded age of 30, Willie Parker can no longer rely on his speed to just out run everyone on the field.

Playing in his contract year, Parker needs to show that he still has what it takes to be the feature back in the NFL. If tonight is any indication of how the year will go, Parker could be in his last year in the NFL.

Rashard Mendenhall, who was the Steelers 2008 first round pick, has done less than Parker. A players first year with the Steelers, they normally do not get a lot of quality playing time. Mendenhall was lost for the season five games into his rookie year.

In the preseason, while Parker was nursing injuries, Mendenhall got the start, and his chance to show that he was ready to take over the featured back role. What he showed, was he was afraid of getting injured again.

Every time Mendenhall was about to get hit, he seemed to duck, or fall, or run out of bounds. That is not what Steelers running back do.

The Steelers have a long history of having punishing running backs. From Franco Harris, Barry Foster, Bam Morris, and Jerome Bettis, the Steelers have big backs to pound of defenses, to wear them out, and win at the end.

Rashard Mendenhall is not the typical Steelers big back.

Mewelde Moore was brought to Pittsburgh to be a third down back. That is his role, that is his job. Catching passes out of the back field is where Moore excels, and when he is asked to do that, and only that, he does it well.

But, Moore is not a starter. He is not a runner that scares defensive coordinators, at least not rushing the ball.

If Moore is asked to carry the ball, he will never last an entire season, and the Steelers ground game will get no better.

Where do we go from here?

The Steelers next game is in Chicago, against the Bears. The Bears are another team that prides themselves on punishing people with their defense, as were the Titans.

So, what does Pittsburgh do about their ground game? Simple, start from scratch.

The Steelers identity is no longer the power running game, and punishing defense. The defense is still punishing, but the ground game is just not there.

It is time to cut the trends, realize that these Steelers are not your parents Steelers, and start from scratch.

Right now, there is a man that played with the Steelers this preseason, his name is Isaac Redman, and he is currently on the practice squad. He needs to be signed to the active roster immediately.

Is he the next Jerome Bettis? Doubtful. Could he do worse than Parker and Mendenhall? How much worse than one yard per carry could he be?

Redman was signed this offseason as an undrafted free agent. During the preseason, he carried the ball 37 times for 145 yards (3.9 per carry), and three touch downs. What was most impressive, his touch down run against the Carolina Panthers came with the Steelers second team in the game, and the Panthers first team defense.

On the run, Redman piled into the Panthers secondary, broke four tackles, and plowed his way into the end zone. One of those broken tackles was Julius Peppers.

Redman also scored in practice three times out of six, during the Steelers goal line drill, pitting first team offense against first team defense. If he can pound it in the end zone against the Steelers defense, then he can do it against anyone.

Justin Vincent is in his second go around with the Steelers, and like Redman, is also on the practice squad. Vincent did no where near as well in the preseason as Redman did, but the heart and determination he displayed, should at least get him a shot. Vincent could spell Redman, or play if Redman is injured.

I will be the first person to tell you that I am not sold on starting a rookie, and having even one in the back field makes me nervous. But at this point, what do the Steelers have to lose?

As long as the only options the Steelers have are “Slow” Willie Parker, and Rashard “Don’t hit me” Mendenhall, I will take a running back that is not afraid to stick his neck out, and get the job done. Even if he is a rookie.

There is an old saying, those that do not learn from their mistakes, are bound to repeat them. The mistake the Steelers made this off season (and it is the only one I have noticed), was not bringing in someone that could push Mendenhall and Parker for playing time.

Keeping them could be a mistake that eventually costs the Steelers Lombardi No. 7.

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NFL Football: A Love Affair That Runs Deep

On Sunday, my undivided attention will be focused on one major sporting event: The NFL and Kickoff Sunday!

The opening day of the football season is the Christmas of all of sporting events. The giddy feeling of hearing—for the first time—the NFL “swan songs” of your favorite pregame shows.

The anticipation of seeing your favorite team make their virgin entrance onto the field, and the indelible roar of the crowd as we climatically watch the opening day kickoff.

Are you ready for some football?

The beauty and mystique of this glorious game is heavily steeped in tradition.

The notion of getting out on the field, week in and week out, giving 110 percent, and literally destroying your body seems intimidating to most of us, but to the various soldiers on that field, it’s all just a day’s work.

It is a game that teaches us the value of teamwork, communication, and never giving up. It’s a game where 1,696 players all chase the same dream every single week; a very powerful message.

You can sense the tension quicker than a cat can sense an earthquake. You can understand the energy between two bitter rivals without even having a clue as to how the game works.

You don’t even have to be fan of the game to know names like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or even legends such as Walter Payton, Joe Montana, or Johnny Unitas; somehow, you just do.

For me, there simply isn’t any other way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

This one day is almost ritualistic. The early venture to the Lord’s house, a quick game of catch with my son—who used to play some football—and a long relegation to the kitchen where my olfactory region is invaded with the pleasantries of whatever party favors I decide to whip up.

This, of course, is quickly followed by the arrival of various friends and family—some of whom who are my arch-rivals—and the early morn rapidly advances to stage two: Game time!

In the background are the echoes of children playing, in the foreground is today’s special feature; best served cold with a side of “your team sucks.”

This game is just different from every other sport.

I feel every hit, I simultaneously yell with the coaches on every bad call—as if my war cry will have any effect on the outcome—I seethe at every fumble, and dropped pass, and I dance around like a little kid after every score.

Football isn’t the kind of sport that reminds us of hot dogs and peanuts, or chewing gum. Football is the kind of sport that reminds us of Band-aids, and the importance of health insurance.

It’s the kind of game that proves you can run through a guy like a Mack truck and still get up to get a drink of Gatorade. It’s the kind of sport where trash talking is a whole new language understood by the player AND the fan.

It gets the blood moving faster than the residents of Haddonfield, Ill., on Halloween night, and keeps us satisfied till the very last tick of the clock—unless, of course, you happen to be on the losing end.

We wake up with headaches every Monday morning with our voices raped of all functionality, making most of us sound like Jimmy Durante on a good day.

This is FOOTBALL! There’s not a football fan alive who doesn’t have an undying love for this game.

This is tradition at its finest. It’s the one thing we relish for five months out of the year, and yearn for the other seven.

So, when it comes to deciding where my attention will be Sunday, there is no question. I’ll be one fan in a sea of thousands who will choose NFL Sunday Football!

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Giants-Redskins: Week 1 Preview

The season is finally here. NFL fans have waited for this day many months since the Steelers won the Super Bowl and now it is finally here.

On this opening Sunday of the year, at 4:00 EST the Washington Redskins will travel to play the New York Giants.

The Giants look like one of the NFC’s toughest teams, while the Redskins are expected to be at the bottom of the NFC East.

Last year, the Giants opened their season with a 16-7 win over these Redskins. But both teams are different this season.

 

Key Players for the Giants

Brandon Jacobs, RB

With the inexperience at the WR position for the Giants, Brandon Jacobs will have to have a good game for the Giants. Jacobs rushed for over 1,000 yards last season, but this year he won’t have Derrick Ward to share carries with.

 

Justin Tuck, DE

The Redskins will most likely run the ball more than they pass it, as they have one of the top backs in the league in Clinton Portis.

That being said, Tuck and this New York Giants defensive line needs to shut down the running game and force Jason Campbell and the Redskins to go to the air.

 

Kevin Boss, TE

Once again, going back to the WR’s, Eli Manning will have to look to someone that he is more comfortable and can rely on. Kevin Boss will be a reliable target for Eli to pass to, like he once did with Jeremy Shockey.

 

Matchup to look for

Brandon Jacobs vs. Albert Haynesworth

The Redskins brought in the big DT to shut down running games and get pressure on the QB. Well, I know I can’t wait to see Jacobs come running towards the line and Haynesworth trying to make the tackle.

 

Injury Report

Aaron Ross, CB, New York Giants- Out, Hamstring.
Adam Koets, T, New York Giants- Doubtful, Ankle
Clint Sintim, LB, New York Giants- Doubtful, Groin
Kevin Dockery, CB, New York Giants- Questionable, Hamstring

Carlos Rodgers, CB, Washington Redskins– Probable, Calf
Mike Williams, T, Washington Redskins– Probable, Ankle 

 

Results

Washington Redskins-10, New York Giants-20

This won’t be a very high scoring game for either team. The Redskins will have trouble moving the ball, with Campbell and Portis struggling against the tough Giants defense.

Both teams will have troubles at first, as it is the first game of the season and both teams need to gain a rhythm in their offense.

When it is all said and done, I see the Giants coming away with this Week 1 NFC East battle, 20-10.

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Brady Scores: Connects With Newest “Tight End” Bundchen

Tom Brady set the NFL scoring record in 2007, and it looks like he’s on pace to do it again.

After a record 50 touchdown season in 2007, Brady started off his 2009 season with a bang, finding new tight end Gisele Bundchen wide open in the end zone. 

In his career, Brady has connected with people like Donte Stallworth, Jabar Gaffney, Wes Welker, Ben Watson, David Patten, Deion Branch, Daniel Graham, Troy Brown, Randy Moss and Bundchen.

But his most famous connection, other than the recent one of Bundchen and the 23 to Randy Moss in 2007, was the late 2006 connection to tight end Bridget Moynahan, which ended up producing something more than six points. If you care to see what that touchdown produced, click the link below: http://abritishman.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/brady-with-his-young-son-jack.jpg

Brady missed nearly all of last season with numerous leg injuries, and wasn’t able to get any touchdowns. Hopefully Brady can stay healthy and keep pouring on the touchdowns.

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Fatty’s Iron-Clad NFL Picks for Week 1

Yes, the ultimate guru is back!

The paunchy prognosticator is in the house to provide his followers with his uncanny ability to pick football games.

Last year, the obese oracle went 41-10 in the regular season, and an incredible 10-1 in the post-season. When he speaks (usually with his mouth full), you should pay attention.

Week One’s Three Best Bets

SAINTS (-13) over Lions

The Lions didn’t win a game last season. Odds are they’ll win a few this year. This ain’t one of them. The Saints and Drew Brees can score loads of points on anyone, period. Detroit’s quest for a win will have to wait.

New Orleans will empty their guns on the improved Lions, who are starting a rookie at QB. This is a layup. If this were a boxing match, it would be like a heavyweight fighting a lightweight. Ugly. Lay that lumber.

Bears (+4) over PACKERS

Regardless of personnel, never lay more than three points in this rivalry. That being said, I am going to make a habit of taking points with Jay Cutler.

The Bears steamrolled the Giants‘ first-string defense in the pre-season. If they could do that, what are they going to do to Green Bay?

The Packers will need to score 30 points in this game to win. If you think they can do that, good for you. Hand over your money right now. This game is a take all the way.

BROWNS (+4) over Vikings

Everyone’s taking the Vikings, which is good. Maybe the spread will climb to five. Under Brad Childress, the Twin City chokers have gone 4-7 in the month of September.

Now they go to Cleveland, outdoors on grass—not their best venue—going only 4-11 over the past three seasons on natural turf.

Still wanna lay the points? Go ahead. They may win, but not by four…

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Falcons-Dolphins: Just a Game For Players, Something More For Blank

A quick lesson in recent Atlanta Falcons history: In 2007, Bobby Petrino did his best Baltimore Colts impression and snuck off in the middle of the night.

To fill the void in his team (and his heart), Arthur Blank courted Bill Parcells to run his team. As it turns out, the Falcons were nothing more than leverage for Parcells in his negotiations with the team he really wanted to run—the Miami Dolphins.

The Falcons and Dolphins meet on the field today in a winner-take-all grudge match that will determ…oh, who are we kidding?

On the field, what happened with Parcells—or Petrino, for that matter—has absolutely nothing to do with this game.

Most of the players who were scarred by the presence of Petrino have been shipped out to heal elsewhere. The ones who are still with the team probably couldn’t care less whether the man who assembled the team they open the season against is Bill Parcells or a driver for the United Parcel Service.

If it had been a player who had jilted the team in a cowardly and sniveling way, I could see that having some recourse on the field, but for an executive who will sit 300 feet from the field and who most of the players probably have never met? Not a factor.

What they care about is keeping Jason Taylor off of Matt Ryan’s back, tackling Ronnie Brown when he lines up at quarterback, and avoiding Chad Pennington’s right arm as it goes flying off of his fragile body. Because they know if they do all those things, they have a pretty good shot at winning the game.

This game is between two teams that had miraculous seasons a year ago and want to prove that it was no fluke.

The Falcons want to have a winning season for the second year in row for the first time in team history. A win today will put them one step closer to that goal. Nothing more, nothing less.

That’s the on-the-field story.

But what about Blank? No one likes being used as leverage, especially bigwigs who own NFL football teams. They want to be the one that someone else is being used as leverage for.

So while the players won’t get any extra satisfaction out of beating the Dolphins, something tells me that for Blank, there will be a slight hint of gratification at knowing that the Dirty Birds used Parcells’ Dolphins as leverage on their way to win No. 1 in 2009.

Tim’s pick: Falcons 34, Dolphins 30

 

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20 Years Ago, Barry Sanders Turned Lions Fans On From Carry No. 1

The rigors of another NFL training camp were past. The meaningless dress rehearsals known as exhibition games, all four of them, had been played. The fates of certain pro football players—the fringe guys on that imaginary “bubble”—were now hanging in the balance.

And the fate of a franchise tilted and swayed.

Would he, or wouldn’t he?

The Detroit Lions, 20 years ago last spring, became the beneficiaries of one of the most boneheaded, outlandish, and just plain stupid draft day moves—or non-moves—in league history.

Imagine—the Lions, taking advantage of someone else’s egregious personnel error.

But it happened, royally.

The Lions, with the third pick of the ’89 draft, prayed to the football gods that the jitterbug running back Barry Sanders, from Oklahoma State, would still be on the board. Only two teams would have to pass him up, and one of them—the Dallas Cowboys—seemed hellbent on selecting QB Troy Aikman with the No. 1 choice overall.

That left the Green Bay Packers.

The Packers were a rotten team in 1989—and a case could be made that they were more odiferous than the Lions, because of the four wins by the Lions in 1988, two of them were claimed against Green Bay.

A brand new, exciting running back like Barry Sanders would have been more than enough to put football back on the map in Green Bay, the tiny burg that once proclaimed itself “Title Town,” due to the championship ways of its pro football team in the 1960s.

The Packers had no running attack. They were a plodding, vanilla, boring outfit. Just like the Lions.

So with Sanders dangling in front of them, ripe for the picking, the Packers said, “Naah,” and drafted mammoth offensive tackle Tony Mandarich, from Michigan State.

I could scarcely believe my eyes and ears when NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle stood behind the podium at the draft and announced Mandarich’s name as the Packers’ pick with the No. 2 pick off the board.

I wasn’t alone.

Mandarich was a fine college lineman, and big as a house. He played left tackle, that prized position on the line, reserved for the very best blocker on the roster.

But he wasn’t worth that high of a pick, when Barry Sanders was also available.

The Lions, their prayers answered, nabbed Sanders. Rozelle might has well have just stayed at the podium and read Sanders’ name immediately after Mandarich’s.

Yet before Barry played one down, he was already showing off his elusiveness.

The Lions found out—the hard way, naturally—that it was much easier to draft Sanders than it was to sign him to a contract.

Barry was represented by dual agents, and neither of them were easy to deal with. And the Lions were represented by GM Russ Thomas, and no one gave old Russ bouquets for being an easy negotiator.

Training camp began in July, and when coach Wayne Fontes took attendance, there was a glaring absence: the prized rookie Barry Sanders.

Barry’s people wanted this; Thomas was offering that.

This and that weren’t jibing. Not even close.

Camp droned on. The media people and the fans kept talking about what Barry could add to the Lions’ moribund offense. If only he would sign a contract and actually suit up for them.

The talks between Barry’s people and Thomas became more and more acrimonious. Barry’s people made threats—likely empty, but who knew—of taking their client north of the border to play in the inferior Canadian League.

Lions fans became antsy. They wanted Barry on their team, and it’s always easy to spend other people’s money, so what’s the holdup?

Camp finished. The pretend games—the exhibition season—began.

Barry was nowhere near being signed, we were told.

The Lions’ other first-round pick that year, QB Rodney Peete from USC, was signed and progressing nicely. He was on pace to be the team’s starter.

Whether Peete would be handing the ball off to Barry Sanders was another matter indeed.

Some fans started to turn on Barry—accusing him of being just another spoiled brat athlete. Maybe he just wants to avoid training camp, they said. The word “lazy” reared its ugly head.

The week of the Lions’ regular season opener arrived, and Fontes took attendance once again. Barry was still absent, but with an excuse: he had no contract. Still.

The Lions prepared to play the Cardinals, at the Silverdome. The week marched onward. It was Friday afternoon—48 hours before the game—when the news broke.

Barry Sanders signed a contract!

He wouldn’t play in the tundra of Canada, after all. As if.

But he had no practices under his belt. No training camp to learn plays—although I’m not sure what Barry had to learn, in retrospect. Football players will tell you, though, that even a few practices are necessary—if nothing else but to get hit and immerse yourself into football mode, physically and mentally.

Barry would have little opportunity for that, since he signed his contract on Friday afternoon.

The Lions ran him through a few drills on Friday and Saturday, but certainly nothing too rigorous or involved.

On Sunday, Fontes inserted Barry into the game sometime in the second quarter. The Lions fans, maybe even those who spit on Sanders’ image and called him lazy, stood and roared.

Peete had been hurt in the final pretend game and so the QB was a journeyman—surprise, surprise—named Bob Gagliano. And so it was Gagliano who gave Sanders his first career handoff in the NFL.

And Barry, the ink barely dry on his contract, with little to no practice time, took the football from Gagliano and juked and slithered his way for a brilliant 19-yard run.

I was listening on the radio, and play-by-play man Mark Champion had a baby announcing Barry’s first carry. I might have risen from my seat, in my dining room.

So who needs practice? Who needs training camp?

That was 20 years ago this week. The adage is true: where does the time go?

Mandarich, by the way, got caught as a steroids user and was out of football within three years—one of the biggest draft busts in NFL history.

The Packers would make up for that transgression, however, while the Lions spun their wheels in the mud.

The Lions’ prized rookie of Sanders’ debut, 20 years hence, is QB Matthew Stafford, who was much easier to sign. He had himself mini-camps and regular camps and pretend games and everything. And his start Sunday in New Orleans is no less anticipated than Barry’s  20 years ago against the Cardinals.

Wouldn’t it be something if the kid tossed a bomb on his first throw?

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Intuition Or Idiocy? Predictions For Week One

So the NFL season has officially begun, with your author’s beloved Titans falling in OT to the reigning champ Steelers 13-10.

Obviously, each NFL season has its quirks and surprises: last year the Dolphins and Falcons shocked everyone by rebounding from a sucky ’07 to make the playoffs, for example. Thus, predicting the results of the first week’s games would seem an impossible exercise. But not at PaP. We think ourselves savvy enough to predict an entire week’s matchups correctly.

And it is with this idea in mind that we introduce our first round of Intuition or Idiocy predictions, wherein we will try and correctly guess each game’s result. Now, NFL scoring makes exact predictions a mite tricker than, say, soccer forecasts, so we’ll simply give you the winner and a points differential to follow, plus a few tidbits of (probably hokey) information.

In addition, each week we will choose the BORE (Brain-numbingly Obvious REsult) game of the week and the YAWN (Yeah, All We Need) low-scoring matchup of the week, as well as the AWE (Amazing Weekly End-result) shock result of the week. As regular readers will know, we are masters of the acronym, so hopefully this latest batch will live up to expectations.

 

 

The Predictions

 

BORE game of the week, sponsored by John Beck’s Mormon Childhood: Buffalo @ New England

The first week normally offers a lot of surprises, but not here. The Bills are in disarray, without a good left tackle, a(nother) brand new O-coordinator and an anemic preseason offensive display. By contrast, New England looked fierce and have a point to prove. Brady has just sired a child – no doubt also a future Hall-of-Famer – so he’ll enjoy playing with Buffalo’s defense like a kiddie rattle.

New England by a lot 21+

 

 

YAWN game of the week, sponsored by the Cincinnatti Police Department: St. Louis @ Seattle

 

Both these teams were incredibad last year, and both figure to be finding their stride. Both have new head coaches and new systems, so this will be a barometer game where the Rams and ‘Hawks start to fully grasp a new style of play. Boooooooring.

Seattle by 7+

 

 

AWE game of the week, sponsored by Joe Flacco’s Eyebrows: San Diego @ Oakland

 

OK bear with me on this. We are not a blog who thinks the Raiders team-build well. Between stupid draft picks and coaches punching coaches, they’re not a team many like in ’09. However, the Bolts are usually very slow out of the gate and the Raiders are going to run the ball like nobody’s business, so I’m going with the Silver ‘n’ Black to pull one out of the bag here and shock everyone.

Raiders by 3

 

 

The leftovers, sponsored by The Undrafted Rookie Association

 

Miami @ Atlanta: Last year’s two surprise teams meet in Week One. Miami will look to recreate last year’s Cinderella run, but it won’t start here. The Dirty Birds’ offensive quartet of Ryan, Turner, White, and Gonzalez will be too much for any Wildcat to overcome. Atlanta by 10.

Philadelphia @ Carolina: The Panthers inexplicably gave Jake “6 turnover” Delhomme the kind of moon-on-a-stick contract usually reserved for overrated free-agents in Washington, and Philly are this year’s chic Super Bowl pick. Philly to edge it in a minor shootout. Philadelphia by 10.

Minnesota @ Cleveland: The Brett Favre inevitable failure of a season Show starts here, and chances are it’ll start well. With the Williams Wall to play at least this game, don’t expect much from the Browns; they won’t be able to run it and Brady Quinn didn’t exactly set the world on fire in preseason. Minnesota by 14.

New York Jets @ Houston: Rex Ryan’s first game in charge, but don’t expect a win. With Glass-Bones Schaub healthy enough to start, the Texans have a good defense and the unstoppable Andre Johnson. That will be enough to squeak out a W here. Houston by three.

Jacksonville @ Indianapolis: After stinking it up last year, the Jags get the joys of playing Peyton Manning in Week One. New coaching staff or not, Manning is still Manning, and expect him to tear it up with TDs to Wayne, Clark et al. Jags will put up a fight, but it’s Indy’s to lose. Indianapolis by 10.

Detroit @ New Orleans: So obvious it almost eeked New England for the BORE game, the Saints are going to run amok against a Lions D that was horrible last year. Jim Schwartz is a defensive mastermind, but this job will take time. Expect Drew Brees to show Matt Stafford how it’s done. New Orleans by 21+.

Dallas @ Tampa Bay: The Bucs seem to have no idea what’s going on these days, changing starting QBs and RBs at will, and the ‘Boys should win this one. Plus, it’s September so Romo will actually be good. Dallas by 14.

San Francisco @ Arizona: The Niners are in transition, and the Cards are coming off one of the best offensive years outside of New Orleans. Fitzgerald to dominate, Arizona to walk it. Arizona by 17.

Washington @ New York Giants: Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell need the ‘Skins to do well this year to keep their jobs. However, a tough Week One matchup won’t help. Even without Burress and Ward, the Giants’ steady offense and brutal defense will be too much here. New York by 10.

Chicago @ Green Bay: Big early pace-setter in the NFC North here, with Da Bears on the shoulders of Forte and Cutler against the Pack on the shoulders of a 3-4 defense and Aaron Rodgers. I like the latter here, the Pack to win it in a physical affair with a big day for Rodgers to banish any lingering Favre memories. Green Bay by 13.

We’ll be keeping track of our overall prediction record as the season progresses, so check back next week for new predictions and to see how badly we messed these ones up.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Cleveland Browns-Minnesota Vikings Preview: Key Matchups To Watch

Finally the 2009 regular season begins for the Cleveland Browns with a home opener at Cleveland Browns Stadium for an unprecedented 11th straight year.

As the Minnesota Viking roll into town with their main circus attraction which is Brett Favre, they are a few other key matchups to watch out for during this Sunday’s game.

 

RB Adrian Peterson vs All 11 Browns Defenders

Peterson is easily the most exciting player in the NFL today, and is easily in the top 10 for the best overall player in the NFL too, and the Browns know this.

Everyone in the NFL whether it’s fans, players, coaches, so-called experts, or analysts know that the Browns run defense has been horrid since they came back into the league in 1999, but it is up to defensive coordinator (and offspring of one of the best defensive minds ever, Buddy Ryan) Rob Ryan to get the Browns unit prepped for Peterson.

Rumors have circled that Ryan will be using some of the 4-6 defensive scheme his father made so popular, but an aggressive attacking defense is needed to compete not only in the AFC North, but in the NFL in general.

Hopefully, the 2009 Browns defense will take a cue from Ryan’s own personal “pirate-look” appearance and incorporate that demeanor into their play.

 

DE Jared Allen vs LT Joe Thomas

Pro Bowler vs. Pro Bowler.

That’s is going to be an exciting matchup all game long.

Will Thomas continue his domination of the other teams’ best pass rusher?

Let’s hope so, otherwise it will be a long opener for new Browns starting quarterback Brady Quinn.

 

Brady Quinn vs The Pressure of Starting and the Die-Hard Browns Fans

Quinn has reportedly been named that starter so we will go with that report.

He will have a tough first game against one of the NFL’s best overall defenses and in order to successfully move the Browns offense down the field and score points, Quinn will need to study his butt off and watch a ton of tape so he can make the proper decisions at pre-snap and make adjustments accordingly.

His biggest challenge will be to perform in front of 73,000+ fans that have been dying to see him start this year and will be looking for Quinn to make some magic behind center in 2009.

The pressure will be the greatest for Quinn in the game since it is the first game of the season and his first official opener as the Browns starting quarterback.

 

The Browns Running Backs vs The Williams’ Brick Wall

With the exception of rookie running back James Davis, the Browns’ running back have had a bad preseason. Jerome Harrison has been hurt most of the time and starter Jamal Lewis has averaged less than 3.0 yards per carry.

Lewis will start and Harrison is questionable, which leaves the Browns with a aging starter and a rookie to shoulder most of the load with the rushing attack.

Oh, and they have to run against a 600+ pound wall named Williams.

Lewis is more than capable is attaining those hard to get short yards, but Davis needs to get the ball in his hands and run it outside of the tackle box to pick up good yardage.

 

Offensive Coordinator Brian Daboll versus Being a First-Time Coordinator

Hopefully rookie offensive coordinator, Brian Daboll, can devise a game plan that includes a good mix of pass and a running game that will keep the defense on their toes to keep pressure off of Quinn during the game.

But please don’t be too conservative in your play-calling and let Quinn show off his arm and throw downfield a few times, too.

 

Brett Favre versus Eric Mangini

This is like one of those battles where the announcer would start off by saying, “Sunday, Sunday, Sunday…” like in those monster truck commercials.

Favre and Mangini have a unique pass together seeing as how Jets upper management pressured Mangini into agreeing to take on Favre last year, Mangini dealt with that pressure and got the team to a good start, but then Jet management supposedly told Mangini that they still wanted Favre to play even though he was hurt, and the team fell apart in the last five games of 2008 causing Mangini to get fired.

Regardless of who is really to blame for the downfall of the Jets last year, Mangini v. Favre is one of the match-ups that make the weekly drama of the NFL so very entertaining!

Game prediction: Browns 28 Viking 24, in a very competitive game with a few big plays and all in all just a fun game to watch to open the regular season.

 

(Article originally posted on Dawg Scooper: An Unofficial Cleveland Browns News Source)

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