NFL Picks and Predictions

Finally the dress rehearsals are over. Week One of NFL football is upon us.  No more Sunday afternoon wishing, and no more guessing about who is good and bad.  This week we will begin to find out which NFL teams are for real, and which NFL teams are just playing for a draft pick.  We welcome you to NFL picks and predictions if you are a new visitor, and we hope you will sign up for our weekly NFL picks. We have a long and storied history of success, and this year will be no different. Without further ado, here are the Free 2009 NFL Week One Picks and Predictions:

THU, SEP 10

2009 Week One NFL Matchup – Tennessee at Pittsburgh

What a heavy weight matchup to have at this time of year.  Every season we see what might be a preview of a conference final in week one, and this certainly qualifies. Both teams have their share of supporters for a Super Bowl visit, and both are highly talented. The difference here is that Pittsburgh is at home.  Big Ben and the boys will be riding high after this Thursday night match up. A week one loss for the Titans is nothing to worry about.  They will make it back soon enough.

Winner – Pittsburgh Steelers

SUN, SEP 13

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Miami at Atlanta

This game highlights two teams who have spent a great deal of time proving others wrong during the last year.  The Dolphins came from nowhere to win the division from the Patriots (albeit with Brady hurt) and the Falcons turned a team led by a rookie quarterback into a winner.  They are both in position to continue their improvement, but Atlanta seems more ready to me.  With the addition of Tony Gonzalez, the Falcons are an offensive juggernaut. I expect the wildcat will give them some fits here and there, but they will win at home in the end.

Winner – Atlanta Falcons

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Denver at Cincinnati

The Denver Broncos have been in major turmoil this past off season. The loss of Jay Cutler and the controversy surrounding Brandon Marshall have left the squad in a mess. With Cincinnati, it is all about second chances (sometimes third, fourth, and fifth as well). Carson Palmer, Ochocinco, and Mr. trouble Chris Henry are all trying to make a comeback of sorts.  Palmer is back after injuries yet again.  Ocho is trying to prove he is still an elite receiver (and kicker?) and Henry is trying to prove he can still play at this level without getting into trouble.  Henry has been incredibly impressive this preseason, and the Bengals are excited.  With that, I am picking an upset this week for this game.  The Bengals will get off to a great start at home.

Winner – Cincinnati Bengals

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Minnesota at Cleveland

The Brett Favre era begins….This game will get a lot of press and rightfully so.  The problem is that the game will not be decided by Brett Favre.  The game will be decided by Adrian Peterson and that Vikings defense.  This one should be ugly, though Cleveland might put up a fight.  I think the biggest mistake they made in Cleveland this season is waiting so long to name the quarterback for their team.  The Browns could have really used a month of playing with the same quarterback for continuity.  We will see where that leads them. This week it will be a loss, but I think Cleveland will show improvements this season over all.

Winner – Minnesota Vikings

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Jacksonville at Indianapolis

The Jaguars had a really odd preseason looking great in one week and terrible in another. The Colts are in a bit of a mixed up season as well without the leadership of long time coach Dungy.  Expect that the Colts will get better at home, and quickly with Manning leading the way.

Winner – Indianapolis Colts

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Detroit at New Orleans

This game is one that is fascinating on several fronts.  For one, the Lions are trying to break one heck of a losing streak, and have some peices in place that might just do it.  Second, the Saints are in dire need of getting off to a hot start playing in the up and coming NFC South. They can ill afford to get behind early like the last couple of seasons. Carolina and Atlanta are far too good for that.  This game will be won by the Saints with Drew Brees passing for over 300 yards at a minimum.

Winner – New Orleans Saints

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Dallas at Tampa Bay

Dallas really needs to win this opening match up against the Bucs.  They are entering a win or else year for head coach Wade Phillips regardless of what Jerry Jones says publicly.  This game will be a very interesting mix of running backs.  For Dallas you have the three headed monster of Felix Jones, Marion Barber, and Tashard Choice.  For the Bucs you have former Giant Derrick Ward.  You might be surprised who actually wins the match up.  Upset alert right here.

Winner – Tampa Bay Bucs

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Philadelphia at Carolina

This game is a very tough call.  Philly looks awfully strong, and the Panthers have not lost at home in over a year.  The Panthers also have not unveiled even a little of that rushing attack from a year ago due to Stewart being out with injuries.  He is back now and fully healed, and that is bad news for the rest of the NFL.  Throw in the electric Mike Goodson and you have a rushing attack that is second to nobody.  I give the Panthers the win due to being at home, a superior running attack, and DeAngelo Williams being healthy.

Winner – Carolina Panthers

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Kansas City at Baltimore

This game will be ugly from start to finish. The Chiefs have no chance whatsoever to penetrate the Ravens D.  This game will be a blowout.

Winner – Baltimore Ravens

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - NY Jets at Houston

Quietly, the Houston Texans have built one hell of a football team.  They won regularly last year at the end of the season, and they look ready to continue that trend.  The Jets have hot shot new quarterback Mark Sanchez and little else.  I expect that the Texans will win this one due to a more balanced attack but I expect big things from Sanchez.  He has that look of a future NFL star.

Winner – Houston Texans

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Washington at NY Giants

You got to love the NFC East.  The Giants and the Redskins.  This is what Sunday afternoon football is all about.  Unfortunately this season, the Giants are much more ready to win than the Redskins.  The Skins will put up a fight as always in these matchups, but the Giants will win this one going away.

Winner – NY Giants

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - San Francisco at Arizona

Too much airpower in play here for Arizona.  The Cardinals will win this one in a laugher.

Winner – Arizona Cardinals

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - St. Louis at Seattle

Now this is the real NFC West match up this week.  The Rams are not as bad as some might have you think, and the Seahawks are sporting new players all  over the field.  It seems that the Rams drew a pretty good matchup this week and will get out with a win to start their rebuilding season.  The Seahawks will have all kinds of trouble with Steven Jackson.

Winner – St Louis Rams

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Chicago at Green Bay

The best game of the week will be played in Green Bay.  This game is going to be a slobberknocker of all time proportions.  In case you did not notice, Aaron Rodgers has become a pretty fine NFL quarterback in spite of the naysayers.  Jay Cutler will get to enter the NFC with a bang with this one.  How would you like this to be your first game with a new team?  Cutler will shine brightly this first week, and it could be the start of a huge year in Chicago.

Winner – Chicago Bears

MON, SEP 14

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - Buffalo at New England

New England is about to explode.  Look out below in Buffalo.

Winner : New England

Tiebreaker Score:  New England 32   Buffalo 14

2009 Week One NFL Matchup - San Diego at Oakland

The Chargers are ready to break out this season as they finally have all their parts in place.  The Raiders are close, but not their yet.  Expect the Chargers to win this one, but in a much closer game than you would expect.

Winner – San Diego Chargers

Tiebreaker Score – San Diego Chargers 28  Oakland Raiders 17

Season Record – 0-0

Tom Brady

Well, my fantasy draft is over and I could not be more pleased.  I got pretty much everything that I wanted, including my target running backs and depth.  It looks like this is going to be a banner year for my fantasy football team.  Here is a look at the NFL players I drafted, along with some quick thoughts as to why I did:

Tom Brady - Brady is coming off major injury, so I am not sure what to expect.  I know that whatever the case he will be a quality option, and early reports are very good on him being fully recovered.  Also, I got him much cheaper than I thought I would.

DeAngelo Williams- This was my primary target for this draft as Williams is one of the better running  backs that still gets little respect.  I expect he will have another huge year.  (I sure hope so)

Brian Westbrook - Westbrook is also dropping in fantasy circles due to injury and age, and I got him for a cup of coffee.  Tons of upside here, and I have plenty of back up if he falters.  It is always good to have a couple of picks like this that could potentially put you over the top if they have comeback years.

Pierre Thomas - Speaking of back up, this kid looked awesome last year.  This year he should get lots of carries.

Dwayne Bowe - Bowe is going to be getting much better looks from Matt Cassell than he is used to.  I expect a huge year from him.

Vincent Jackson – Jackson is going to benefit from having a healthy LT on the field.  That will open up the passing lanes.

John Carlson – Carlson will break out this season as a fantasy star.  He was right on the edge last year, and this year Hasselback is healthy.

Titans D/ST - Even with the losses on defense, the Titans are still super strong.

Nate Kaeding – One of the best kickers in the NFL.

Chad Ochocinco – Ocho is far from one of my favorite players, but I had to take him when he dropped to the bottom of the barrell.  Again, a player that has tons of upside and a healthy Carson Palmer.

Julius Jones – Another fine back up running back just in case of emergency.  Jones could end up among the better running backs in the NFC.

Donnie Avery – High impact speedster over in St. Louis.  He had some head turning plays last year and I got him very cheap.  With Holt gone, he could blossom.

Matt Hasselbeck – Solid, dependable back up quarterback that might be due another great year.

Zach Miller – Back up tight end with plenty of upside.

Panthers D/ST – Good solid back up defense.

Chris Chambers – The steal of my draft.  Chambers finds ways to get into the end zone, and I expect this season will be no different.

Overall, my team is balanced and solid.  I see plenty of room for the wins to flow, and I hope this NFL fantasy football season is as good as I think it will be. I will update you each week on my progress throughout the NFL football season.

DeAngelo Williams goes into the NFL Football season in a very unusual position as a Carolina Panther running back.  He is being mentioned in the same breath with the best running backs in the game.  Having an NFL season such as his last year will do that.  Think about it:

Over 1600 plus total yards

Leading the league with 20 touchdowns…

Those numbers made him the fantasy football MVP and put him into consideration for the NFL MVP award.  How then is it that many are calling DeAngelo Williams overrated?

Part of it is the development of Jonathan Stewart.  Part of it is the fact that the Panthers are facing the one of the toughest NFL Schedules this year.  And part of it is because he is just not given the respect he deserves.

The fact is, DeAngelo Williams is an elite NFL talent that is still not getting his due.  I have watched his career since the Panther’s drafted him.  I have seen every single game, and every single carry.  The naysayers are wrong.  DeAngelo Williams will be a huge part of a huge season for the Panthers.

For now, it is worth it to have everyone question him.  That just makes the Panthers that much more deadly as a team, and Williams that much more deadly as a running back.

Will DeAngelo match last year’s stats?  Probably not.  But he will break 1200 yds and have around 15TDs.  That is elite running back status no matter who you are.  When are people going to give this guy the proper respect?

Image Credited To Flickr User kevin813

When the Panthers drafted Jonathan Stewart last season, they did not realize that DeAngelo Williams was going to be the breakout star in the NFL. Williams went on to score 20 touchdowns, and completely dominate the competition with multiple 40 yard runs every week it seemed. Stewart was no slouch either, scoring 10 Tds, and gaining 800+ yards in the process. Going into the NFL season, which running back should start and get the bulk of the carries?

What seems like a simple answer is not as easy as you might think. DeAngelo Williams has certainly earned the position, but he is not built to carry the load. The smaller Williams is more of a third down type back, and many think that he should be moved into that type of role. Stewart is a bruising, every down type of back, and might just be the star of the future.

While Stewart is a fantastic back, and might just be the Panthers future at the position, he was the back that was injury prone. I do not buy the whole “DeAngelo Williams is too small” argument at all. Think of Barry Sanders, for example. He was a small back that was built very similarly to Williams. Williams is the running back of Carolina’s present. Period.

DeAngelo literally ripped apart every ball club he faced. Stewart had moments, and was quite impressive, but DeAngelo was unstoppable. He was the best running back in the NFL over a period of about twelve weeks. Week after week, he suited up and literally ran all over the opposition.

While the Panthers are fortunate to have them both, this position has to be Williams’ to lose. If not, then someone down in Panther land is not paying attention in the least. Stewart will get his chance, and plenty of carries this season to boot.

Tony Romo is about to experience life without Terrell.  The former Dallas Cowboy All Pro is gone, and Romo may not yet realize just how good he was.  Make no mistake, Owens was a major distraction.  He will likely be addition by subtraction overall.  Still, the Cowboys have to replace double digit touchdowns somewhere, and Jason Witten can not do it by himself.

Who are the potential replacements?  Dallas did sign a great wide out in Roy Williams, but he disappointed a bit in his brief stint with the Cowboys.  Williams has not shown he can be the main man in the offense, but that could change with Owens gone.  Williams is a special talent.

Patrick Crayton is a great receiver in situations, but he is no number one man.  He makes the perfect second or third receiver, and will be effective in any role he is asked to fill.

The real wild card for the Cowboys receiving corp is going to be Miles Austin.  This guy can burn and will likely be asked to pick up a ton of slack.  Is he ready for that?  Maybe, and maybe not.  We will have to wait and see.  The guy has only 18 catches ….  ever.

Witten will be as reliable as ever, and will pick up some slack.  The problem with Witten is that Owens actually opened the lanes for him.  Nobody really knows that better than Witten, and he is likely going to miss Owens secretly if not openly.

The answer to whether the Cowboys can survive the after-Owens effect is still yet to be answered.  Knowing Jerry Jones, he just might swing a signing before all is said and done.