NFL Opening week discussion thread

[bdoughty]

One day to Patriots and Raiders...

Early predictions... Pats in a 2TD win (27-13)

Tampa Bay at Minnesota (Vikings 35-13)
Denver at Miami (Denver 24-10)
Tennessee at Pittsburgh (Steelers 31-13)
Chicago at Washington (Washington 24-21)
New Orleans at Carolina (Carolina 35-17)
Seattle at Jacksonville (Jax 17-13)
Houston at Buffalo (Buf 21-17)
Cincinnati at Cleveland (Cincy 28-3)
NY Jets at Kansas City (KC 24-14)
Green Bay at Detroit (GB 21-14)
Dallas at San Diego (SD 42-27)
St. Louis at San Francisco (St Louis 27-13)
Arizona at NY Giants (NY 20-10)
Indianapolis at Baltimore (Baltimore 24-23)

Monday Night
Philadelphia at Atlanta (Phily 35-31)

[sportdan30]

Liking that Rams prediction. I'll be in Vegas on Sunday. Where's the best place to catch all the games?

[dbdynsty25]

Liking that Rams prediction. I'll be in Vegas on Sunday. Where's the best place to catch all the games?

Caesars...the best sports book on the strip.

[sportdan30]

Thanks Db. Any idea how far that is from the Monte Carlo? We won't be having a car, but I didn't know if it was within walking distance.

[lexbur]

Liking that Rams prediction. I'll be in Vegas on Sunday. Where's the best place to catch all the games?

Caesars...the best sports book on the strip.

Not if you're betting the Rams. You're better off at the MGM or Mirage.

http://www.vegasinsider.com/nfl/odds/las-vegas/

Caesers has the Rams giving 5.5, MGM/Mirage has them only giving 4.5.

Research, people, research!

(btw, the MGM is right across the street from the Monte Carlo.)

[tsunami]

Thanks Db. Any idea how far that is from the Monte Carlo? We won't be having a car, but I didn't know if it was within walking distance.

All the hotels ON the strip are within walking distance. It's the ones that aren't, like the Palms, that you have to take a cab.

That being said, I don't think the Monte Carlo and Caesar's are that far away.

[sportdan30]

Cool. Thanks guys. This will be our first time in Vegas.

[tsunami]

I'm feeling a Raiders upset over the Pats. Moss will on display for the season opening game, the Raiders have a ton of weapons, and the Pats may have trouble stopping the run. If the Raiders can establish a running game early (which will open up the pass) and play a shred of defense I can see them winning this game.

I'm also looking forward to the Eagles/Atlanta game. It has a lot of interesting storylines, not to mention two of the best teams in the NFC. If TO and Donovan and clicking (like they did in last season's opener) I like the Eagles chances.

[TCrouch]

After watching the Raider games in preseason, I can tell you they'll play more than a shred of defense. Moving from the sorry attempt at the 3-4 back to the 4-3 has been huge. The starters were flying to the ball, making sure tackles, and generally holding opponents to little or no yardage.

The offense hasn't even shown a thing yet other than the final drive of preseason. They were just in base Ace sets and running dives or flare passes with the occasionall deep chuck.

As for NE, losing both coordinators is huge. Belichick hasn't had to call an offensive game in a decade, and Eric Mangini never has but he knows the scheme and he'll be able to pick Bill's brain during the game at least. Losing Bruschi and Johnson in the middle will be their undoing. They haven't shown the ability to stop the inside run at all yet, but they will solidify that soon enough. Just in week 1 they are nowhere near the team they will be at the end of the season.

2 years ago they get blasted by Buffalo 31-0 in the opener, then beat Buffalo 31-0 in the season finale. Super Bowl.

Last year the Colts beat them, and the Colts defense looked great, despite showing the rest of the year that they weren't exactly stellar.

Point being, NE isn't really "NE" until Uncle Bill gets some game film on you and can dissect what you do. He'll have some good ideas since he had so long to prepare, but it's not a gimmie.

Oakland has way, way, way too many weapons and has shown the ability to control the clock so far this year with the starters in. Jordan up the gut will force them to commit somebody, and when they do look out.

[tsunami]

Oakland has way, way, way too many weapons and has shown the ability to control the clock so far this year with the starters in. Jordan up the gut will force them to commit somebody, and when they do look out.

Damn...I wish the Jets could have kept Jordan! I don't blame him for leaving, the Jets only strung him along for 3 years. The timing was really bad. Just when it looks like the Curtis Martin era was coming to a close he goes and leads the league in rushing and they have no choice but to keep him and play him. Unfortunately, I am not anticipating a repeat performance like that from Martin and Jordan will certainly be missed...especially next year. I think he has a chance to be a star in this league...kind of like Preist Holmes when he left the Ravens and went to the Chiefs.

[Leebo33]

Last year the Colts beat them, and the Colts defense looked great

[ScoopBrady]

Last year the Colts beat them, and the Colts defense looked great

Yeah, I thought I was remembering it wrong. Didn't the Patriots end up winning that opening night game?

I hope you're right about the Raiders offense Terry, I selected Collins and Moss in anticipation of a big year from them.

Rookie and all, I think the Bears will surprise a lot of people this year. Their defense has looked outstanding in preseason and with Jones and Benson to run the rock Orton should be in a situation where he's trying not to lose, not trying to win.

Cardinals will challenge for their division.

Lions will still suck, I have no idea why so many people are expecting playoffs from them this year.

Packers won't win the NFC North.

Chargers will still charge.

Billy boy will sure impress the hell out of me if the Patriots make the playoffs with all of their losses.

Big Ben will struggle the first half of the season.

Culpepper will win MVP.

[TCrouch]

Could have ended up having it backwards, I thought the Colts beat 'em by a FG at the end in week 1. If I'm wrong, sorry.

But either way it wasn't even close to the asskicking the Colts took in the Playoffs (again). Their offense got shut down completely and the defense couldn't hold forever.

[Leebo33]

Could have ended up having it backwards, I thought the Colts beat 'em by a FG at the end in week 1. If I'm wrong, sorry.

But either way it wasn't even close to the asskicking the Colts took in the Playoffs (again). Their offense got shut down completely and the defense couldn't hold forever.

The weather was totally different for the two games. I think that had a lot to do with it. Regardless, the Colts defense was pitiful in week 1 last year giving up 402 yards, 4.8 yards a rush, 69% completion percentage, 8.4 yards per pass, etc.

[10spro]

Minnesota has a tough D with the late additons, despite the loss of Moss, they'll be in the hunt. Cinderella team will be Carolina and definetely the Raiders have a team to watch for this year.

[Brando70]

Chicago at Washington (Washington 24-21)

Those two teams couldn't score that mant points if they played the game twice.

I think the Foreskins will be the worst team in the NFL this year. They look like an expansion team.

[SoMisss2000]

Dallas at San Diego (SD 42-27)

Brees and LT are having a hell of a day in this one.

[bdoughty]

Dallas at San Diego (SD 42-27)

Brees and LT are having a hell of a day in this one.

Yes I figured a Cowboy fan would catch that. My hate for Dallas usually blinds me into unrealistic prediction scores. I actually messed up on that one and wanted it to be 42-2.

[tsunami]

Chicago at Washington (Washington 24-21)

Those two teams couldn't score that mant points if they played the game twice.

I think the Foreskins will be the worst team in the NFL this year. They look like an expansion team.

I couldn't believe it when I was watching "Quite Frankly" and Theismann said that he thought the Redskins would make it to the Superbowl. Too funny!! Salisbury almost fell out of his chair and said he would walk from Conn. to DC in the winter if the Redskinds make the SB.

Theismann is such an idiot!

[Brando70]

Chicago at Washington (Washington 24-21)

Those two teams couldn't score that mant points if they played the game twice.

I think the Foreskins will be the worst team in the NFL this year. They look like an expansion team.

I couldn't believe it when I was watching "Quite Frankly" and Theismann said that he thought the Redskins would make it to the Superbowl. Too funny!! Salisbury almost fell out of his chair and said he would walk from Conn. to DC in the winter if the Redskinds make the SB.

Theismann is such an idiot!

Wow...how in the hell can someone get paid to be an NFL analyst and make that kind of prediction? It's not like they are the Panthers from two years ago. That team turned it around because they were young and talented and got a great coach in Fox. Washington is awful, no QB, a crappy O-Line, and a no-name defense outside of Arrington. They are going to suck and suck hard this year. Gibbs will be calling in Mark Rypien before the end of the year.

[GridIronGhost]

Liking that Rams prediction. I'll be in Vegas on Sunday. Where's the best place to catch all the games?

Harrahs, Hilton, Caesars Palace, Mirage are good places within walking distance. Hard Rock Casino if your going without a girlfriend/wife. Lot's of pretty girls, young and hot!

If your in Vegas tonight, I'm throwing a HUGE Raider party, no love for Pats fans. I'll be out at the Green Valley Ranch for Sunday football and if I have enough energy, money, I'll hangout at the Olympic Gardens on Monday night. Best titty club in Vegas, even better if you like Heavy Metal! You gotta go to a titty bar at least once every football season on Monday night....my, my, my...I'm ready for some football!

Raiders will destroy the Pats!

[Leebo33]

a no-name defense outside of Arrington.

Sean Taylor is good and getting better. Shawn Springs is pretty well known. The Steelers tried very hard to sign Marcus Washington a couple years ago.

I think the Redskins can at least match their performance from last season.

[sfz_T-car]

I wouldn't go as far as Theismann, but I think the Redskins will improve from last year.

The return of Jon Jansen and addition of Casey Rabach to their offensive line should help Portis be more productive. He's as physically talented as any RB this side of San Diego. Washington's defense is average but far from the worst in the league. They'll be helped by a schedule that includes the Bears and the NFC West teams. I don't think Gibbs has forgotten how to coach.

QB play is obviously going to be key. Ramsey-Brunell is one step above Frerotte-Feely on the list of worst all-time QB controversies. If either can hold the job and not suck, I think the Skins will finish at .500 plus or minus two games. 9-10 wins should be enough to contend for the playoffs in the NFC.

[bdoughty]

Bizump for the Raider fans.

Raiders will destroy the Pats!

[Kruza]

I wouldn't go as far as Theismann, but I think the Redskins will improve from last year.

The return of Jon Jansen and addition of Casey Rabach to their offensive line should help Portis be more productive. He's as physically talented as any RB this side of San Diego. Washington's defense is average but far from the worst in the league. They'll be helped by a schedule that includes the Bears and the NFC West teams. I don't think Gibbs has forgotten how to coach.

You think Washington's D was average last year? The Skins D were among the Top 5 units in the league... and I think that's far from average.

Kruza