Let the Games Begin

Here we go... it is the eve of another NFL season. Now it's time to start getting serious. Without further ado, here are my predictions for week 1:

Tennessee at Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)
Miami at Atlanta (Atlanta)
Kansas City at Baltimore (Baltimore)
Denver at Cincinnati (Cincinnati)
Minnesota at Cleveland (Minnesota)
NEW YORK JETS at HOUSTON (Houston)
Jacksonville at Indianapolis (Indianapolis)
Detroit at New Orleans (New Orleans)
Dallas at Tampa Bay (Dallas)
Philadelphia at Carolina (Carolina)
San Francisco at Arizona (Arizona)
Washington at New York Giants (Washington)
St. Louis at Seattle (Seattle)
Chicago at Green Bay (Green Bay)

Monday Night:
Buffalo at New England (New England 24-10)
San Diego at Oakland (San Diego 17-3)

For the Houston game, the one I'm concerned about, it all comes down to the starting quarterback. Mark Sanchez is slated to start for the Jets. Although Sanchez had a good preseason, he is still a rookie and the pressure is now on. Let's not forget, Jets fans were not exactly happy with his selection and he is going to have to find a way into their hearts. Even if Matt Shaub cannot start Rex Grossman will be ready to go. At this time there is no official word on Matt Shaub, but Coach Kubiak appears to be upbeat about Sunday's start.

Houston has the number 1 receiver in the game for 2008 (Andre Johnson) as well as well as a solid (but by no means elite) running game. Owen Daniels and Kevin Walter (questionable for Sunday) complete the core of the third ranked offense from 2008. The defense, anchored around Mario Williams and DaMeco Ryans, is much upgraded in terms of both personnel and coaching. I don't expect the Jets to roll over, but they won't pull out this win. In fact, there are a lot of people expecting the Jets to get off to a very slow start this season. Houston is going to be just the beginning of that slow start.

To make Mardi happy, I will make comments about the other game. Let's face it, Cleveland is a sorry team. I have a hard time seeing any of the positives about the Browns. It must be the Cleveland air because after the original Browns moved to Baltimore, they became good. Cleveland was given the new Browns, and they still haven't produced at good football team. According to Sports Illustrated, Brady Quinn will be starting. It doesnt' matter, he doesn't have the talent around him. I expect the Vikings to roll over on the Browns on Sunday and Mardi will probably be thinking of changing the channel by the middle of the third quarter.

I stuck mostly with home teams this week except in the cases of Minnesota, Washington, and San Diego. Washington has the number one defensive player last year (Albert Haynesworth) and the New York Giants have a mediocre quarterback and no number 1 receiver. As far as the land of fruits and nuts, from the little coverage I saw of Oakland over this preseason, they look to be even more sorry than the Browns.

I look forward to Mardi's predictions and GO TEXANS!