NFL 2010: Week 1

The regular season starts tonight, as the Super Bowl Champions New Orleans Saints play host to the Minnesota Vikings. This primetime game is a rematch of the NFC Championship in January. I'm sure the entire country is psyched that the season is now upon us, and obviously what a way to start it off. I'm going to only highlight a few of the games per week (Redskins preview will be separate of course), and I'll try my best to highlight each team at least a few times over the course of the season. Enjoy!


Week 1 Key Match-ups.

Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans

The Colts are still the tops in the AFC, if not at least the AFC South. It's not easy to bounce back from a Super Bowl loss, but I bet that just makes the Colts that more dangerous this year. How can you not believe in Peyton Manning and that offense? The Texans have lost 15 of 16 to the Colts and despite have the top QB/WR tandem in Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, could not win more than nine games last year. They were ranked 30th in rushing and will need to find a healthy balance in their offense. If they can beat the Colts at home, they can really pick that monkey off their back and constructively look real hard at making the postseason. Houston can't think of a better way to start the season.

Pick: Colts

Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints

Brett Favre is back....again. He only makes the Vikings better in my opinion. I'm sure the Vikes hope to get as productive a season from him as last year. They still have a tough divisional foe in the Packers, but for Week 1, heading to New Orleans is their task at hand. Drew Brees and the Saints can flirt with more history if they can make it back to the Super Bowl. Not too much has changed this offseason so I'd expect the same level of play this year. No significant losses or pick-ups.

Pick: Saints

Baltimore Ravens at New York Jets

The battle of the young quarterbacks, Mark Sanchez and Joe Flacco. Both led their teams to the playoffs in their rookie seasons, with Flacco one year older. But this match-up isn't really about these two. It's about defense. The Jets were the top ranked defense and the Ravens were third. Not surprising will be how disruptive the defenses will be. The Jets lost Thomas Jones but gained LaDainian Tomlinson, and cornerback Darelle Revis finally settled his contract and came back to the team. To some, he's the best player in the entire league. For the Ravens, the receiving corps get a little veteran upgrade with Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals and T.J. Houshmanzadeh from the Seahawks. Oh yeah, the Jets open up at home in the new stadium (still shared with the Giants).

Pick: Ravens