2011 NFL Week 1

Gard · #1 09-08-2011, 01:45 PM

...already?!?!?!

Awesome!!!

Hmm...well, things get started with a BANG tonight, my beloved black & gold up in Lambeau to take on the Cheezits...

...gonna be a tough one, I'm guessing, last two SB Champs, last two SB MVP's goin' head to head...and as it's week 1, who knows what any one REALLY looks like yet?

Gotta be a homer:

Saints @ Packers: Tough, close one for a while, but in the end, Brees is just better than Rogers. Comeback win for the Whodats, late rally puts them over the top - Saints 34 Packers 27

On to the weekend!

Pittsburg @ Baltimore: Home field advantage...BARELY - Steelers 17 Ravens 20

Atlanta @ Chicago: As much as I hate to pick the Failcons (and they WILL live up to that name this year...), the Bears O-line looks like a worn out spaghetti strainer, and Cutler isn't the ideal guy to deal with that - Failcons 23 Bores 13

Cincinnati @ Cleveland: Whew...what's that smell???

Oh, the Bengals! Yeah, neither team is all that and a bag of chips, but at least the Browns have a bag of chips - Bungles 10 Brownies 24

Indianapolis @ Houston: Houston ain't THAT good (don't let their preseason win against the Saints fool anyone...), but it appears that the only actual NFL player on the Colts roster is out. No Manning, no chance - especially in Houston - Colts 20 Texans 27

Tennessee @ Jacksonville: Interesting matchup. Not because they're both "good teams", but they're evenly matched "mediocre teams". Jax is just a bit less mediocre - Titans 13 Jaguars 20

Buffalo @ Kansas City: Another interesting matchup. KC blew up the AFC West last year, and almost made the post season. Are they for real? Who knows. Buffalo is a much better team than their record last year. Upset special - Bills 24 Chiefs 17

Philadelphia @ St. Louis: I will always pull for whoever is playing the Eagles now. I will take great pleasure watching the 100M investment in sVick blow up in the face of the Eagles. It starts with upset special #2 - Beagles 23 Rams 31

Detroit @ Tampa Bay: As a big NFC South fan, Tampa is scary...but not THAT scary. Close game, but the Lions are for real this year, I think - Lions 17 Yucs 13

Carolina @ Arizona: What happens when you draft JaMarcus Russell v.2.0? Watch - Pampers 10 Cardinals 24

Minnesota @ San Diego: Yeah - Whinequeens 13 Chargers 31

Seattle @ San Francisco: I have a special hatred for the Seaturkeys.

They begin their death spiral in the city by the bay (I hope!) - Seahawks 12 49ers 21

NY Giants @ Washington: Giants have a team. Washington... - Giants 24 Redskins 10

Dallas @ NY Jets: Jets have a team. Dallas... - Cowpatties 13 Jets 24

New England @ Miami: Uh... - Patriots 27 Dolphins 10

(Bonus prediction: despite all the hoopla about the trade, Reggie Reggie Reggie continues to be more potential than production - he gets less than 2 yards per carry in this one)

Oakland @ Denver: What is worse than the NFC West? The AFC West. Who cares? Not me, really, however, home field 3 - Raiders 17 Broncos 20

...lotta spaghetti thrown at the wall here...mostly guessin' and hopin', not really knowin'...yet...

Darkstrike · #2 09-08-2011, 01:51 PM

Looks like tonight's game should be fantastic, if both teams bring it.

Very hard to call, eh? Maybe the Packers, coming off the Superbowl win, and being at home, though I'd prefer the opposite result.

LilRay · #3 09-08-2011, 04:10 PM

I'm on my phone, so I ain't copying and pasting but I just wanna say "eat me" on the Dallas pick.

Although I'd rather pay your eating tab for the night vs the Brothers Ryan on Gameday

God Bless, Ray

JBFLA · #4 09-08-2011, 05:56 PM

After this off season (or lack-thereof), the first week has got to be a crapshoot.
Here's my picks (from my office pool sheet) - <20% confidence...

Green Bay vs Saints - GB ( sorry G)
Falcons vs Bears - Falcons
Bengals vs Browns - Browns
Bulls vs Chiefs - Chiefs
Eagles vs Rams - Eagles
Lions vs Bucs - Lions (HEY! I was born/raised in the Motor City!)
Titans vs Jags - Titans
Steelers vs Ravens - Steelers
Colts vs Titans - Titans
Giants vs Redskins - Giants
Seahawks vs 49's - Seahawks (but really - who cares?)
Vikings vs Chargers - Chargers
Panthers vs Cardinals - Cards
Cowboys vs Jets - Jets (sorry Ray)
Patriots vs 'Fins - Pats ( yeah, I live in S FLA: inside info)
Raiders vs Broncos - Broncos (as long as Tebow doesn't play)

Like I said - it's a crapshoot Week 1 this season - all we've got is gut feeling.

LilRay · #5 09-08-2011, 10:02 PM

Man! That was a lot closer a game than it started out being.

Looked at first like GB was going to wipe the floor with Nola's D.

Sorry to say it Gard, but I hope this is one of two picks you get wrong this week.

Good game and a great effort by Sproles. Smart move by Payton and crew picking him over Bush.

God Bless, Ray

Darkstrike · #6 09-08-2011, 10:05 PM

Yeah, at first I was worried it was gonna be a blowout, but in the end it turned out to be one of the top games I've watched.

Barrel roll was the highlight for me, magnificent move.

A+ to the Saints fighting to the last moment, heart!

Gard · #7 09-09-2011, 07:26 AM

...basic football 101: TACKLE THE GUY FIRST!!!

Defense looked like a deer in the headlights last night...what the...

...good to see the offense still has "IT" in spades, and considering that was against the best defense in the NFC (2nd best in the NFL) last season, that was comforting.

I feel sorry for the Bears next week...they're likely to get blown out of the 'Dome so hard, they don't need an airplane to get back to Chicago.

...good effort, exciting game, but the D and special teams needs to clean it up...

VroomVroom · #8 09-09-2011, 08:53 AM

I really enjoyed that game, even if the wrong team won. Big kudos to the Saints for going into that environment, against a really, really good team...and keeping the game in doubt until the very last play.

That said, my takeway was a question mark on two critical offensive plays...the fourth & less-than-one in the third quarter, and of course the last play from scrimmage. Against that defense...and worse yet, given the speed, creativity, and masterful accuracy of Brees' arm...why were those particular plays called? I'd bet a few cups of coffee that a draw, play action...something...would've worked much better.

Alas, water under the bridge. It was fun watching football, especially since my Cubs are 196,315 games out of contentions, and the Mrs.' Giants are on life support. Now I can look forward to the Steelers/Dog-ass Ravens 3-2 slugfest.

Darkstrike · #9 09-09-2011, 08:59 AM

I think the Steelers/Ravens game should be fun too, looking forward to it.

LilRay · #10 09-09-2011, 09:42 AM

C'mon Ryan Bowl!

All hail the Hippie!

God Bless, Ray

Clark Dark · #11 09-09-2011, 10:31 AM

I thought I was watching the Arena League last night. One second of real football when the Saints #27 put a good lick on a Pack receiver, blowed him up real good. Other than that it was garbage. The Packs showed they can get scored on despite their nickle coverage. The Saints showed their vaunted "D" isn't what it once was.

LilRay · #12 09-09-2011, 11:25 AM

On to the weekend!

Pittsburg @ Baltimore: Looking for brownie points with Jerry B - Steelers 24 Ravens 10

Atlanta @ Chicago: Couple of ex Cowboys now on the Bears roster. Barber which is a decent but aging back, and Williams which was a dud ever since he donned an NFL uniform.- Failcons 16 Bores 13

Cincinnati @ Cleveland: I loathe Cris Collinsworth. My Pop calls him "that kicker"

Simple "that guy used to play for them " pick - Bungles 10 Brownies 24

Indianapolis @ Houston: Houston ain't THAT good, and they will lose to a ticked off Colts squad that's heard nothing but "no Manning, no chance" so far - Colts 31 Texans 27

Tennessee @ Jacksonville: Interesting matchup. Not because they're both "good teams", but they're evenly matched "mediocre teams". Jax is just a bit less mediocre - Titans 13 Jaguars 20

^^AGREED^^

Buffalo @ Kansas City: Going for picking the DALLAS Texans- Bills 14 Chiefs 17

Philadelphia @ St. Louis: I will always pull for whoever is playing the Eagles now. >AGREED. Reid has to go.

Beagles 23 Rams 31

Detroit @ Tampa Bay: As a big NFC South fan, Tampa is scary...but not THAT scary. Close game, but the Lions are for real this year, I think - Lions 17 Yucs 13

Go Lions! Detroit fans deserve a winner this year.

Carolina @ Arizona: Panthers lose Minnesota @ San Diego: Yeah - Whinequeens 13 Chargers 31

Seattle @ San Francisco: FIRST EVER DOUBLE LOSS? I hope.

NY Giants @ Washington: Giants have a team. Washington... - Giants 24 Redskins 10

Dan Snyder the wannabe Jerry Jones. Bentley budget, Dodge Dart business savvy.

Dallas @ NY Jets: . Dallas... Begins WORLD DOMINATION Against the Jets. Hippie Ryan beats foul mouthed Ryan Cowboys 24 Jets 17

New England @ Miami: Close Game... - Patriots 27 Dolphins 24

Oakland @ Denver: What is worse than the NFC West? The AFC West. Who cares? Not me, really, however, home field 3 - Raiders 17 Broncos 20

^^Agreed^^

I WOULD Have picked the Saints, not for Gard, but just in hopes they beat the Packers. But there are my picks!

God Bless, Ray

Darkstrike · #13 09-11-2011, 02:07 PM

So, earlier this week, the Steeler brass knobs got together and had a movie night, you know, chips, dip, beer, popcorn, all the good stuff. Seems one of the movies was Waterboy, and these guys thought "Yes! This is a viable tactic. The Ravens will have no clue whats up."

Hmm...

Clark Dark · #14 09-11-2011, 07:14 PM

I hope the League isn't trying to turn my favorite game into a version of two hand touch. I must be a neanderthal because I like seeing people getting blowed up and getting up and continuing to play. The defenders seem to be thinking instead of letting their instincts take over. Maybe because there were no OTA's and a longer training camp this year teams are still rusty.

**Bipslapper** · #15 09-11-2011, 07:39 PM

Ray- happily watching your Boys beat the Jets in NY. Me Likey!!!!!!

Go Cowboys (*Well, for tonight at this point)

Jerry- sorry for ya man, The Steelers looked like JV today

Also Congrats to the Lions, you boys finally looked like varsity.

Darkstrike · #16 09-11-2011, 09:45 PM

Bloody hell Cowboys!

Never has "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" been more apt...

**Bipslapper** · #17 09-12-2011, 05:02 AM

Just Romo being Romo......sheesh, had me all excited to see the Jets lose then,.........Uggg!

LilRay · #18 09-12-2011, 06:44 AM

Just Damn! That's all. Upside is, it wasn't a blowout like everybody hoped for.

At least the Saints lost too.

God Bless, Ray

Clark Dark · #19 09-12-2011, 07:11 AM

What's the over and under on how long Coughlin lasts ?
I don't care anything for the giants organization but those guys just keep quitting on him.
The Ravens spanked the Steelers. Punched them in the mouth !!!
Cam kept it close and tied a record but Arizona played like veterans do.
The Lions look good but Stafford ought to relax with the afterscore jump and bump. He is fragile.
After some early looseness the Eagles tightened up and did what they were supposed to do to a second year QB.
The Jet's embarrassed the Boys. How long before Jerry says NoMo to Romo ?
The Bengals surprised me. Carson must've been thinking "where did all this come from".
49's win...gotta see where they go from here.
Washington spanks Giants...can they keep it up ?
Chicago looked good ! As the season goes on we'll see if age slows them down defensively.
Atlanta looked like some high school team.
Still lots of rust throughout the league at this point.

**Bipslapper** · #20 09-12-2011, 07:30 AM

^^ Agree on most if not all points, especially Coughlin. That guy is tough to look at, let alone play for (I imagine). Steelers - Doh!
Jets have a big ole horseshoe up dey butts if you ask me- Lucky!
Bengals were a big surprise, so was Cam Newton. Bears; didn't see that coming. Where was Matty Ice?
Not sure what to expect from Pats / Dolphins tonight!