The Lowdown: Week 1

Welcome to my blog segment I like to call “The Lowdown,” where I will predict the winners of all the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. games and give a little reasoning why. Let’s get down to business.

Jay Cutler is going to be driven to drinking after his patchwork offensive line lets Ndamukong Suh run roughshod on him.

Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills
Sorry, Buffalo, but I’ve got a feeling that your team is going to be the league’s worst this year. I also have trouble believing you’re going to be able to move the ball with the quarterbacks you have against Miami’s Mike Nolan-coordinated defense.

The Pick: Miami

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears
Here’s a shocker pick, but give me the Lions. I just have trouble believing this Chicago team, with offensive line remaining its weakness, will be able to hold a player like Ndamukong Suh at bay. If I’m right, Jay Cutler struggles mightily and the Lions come away with a close one.

The Pick: Detroit

Tennessee Titans @ Oakland Raiders
I’ll preface this by saying I’m a Tennessee homer, but it doesn’t take a Tennessee homer to see that this matchup favors the Titans. If there’s one thing you as a reader should know, it’s that I believe strongly that football games are won in the trenches. The Titans defensive line wreaked havoc all preseason, and I expect that trend to continue.

The Pick: Tennessee

Cincinnati Bengals @ New England Patriots

I’m having a lot of trouble with this one. On one hand, the Patriots have been extremely disorganized and disgruntled this offseason. On the other hand, they are still led by Tom Brady, who’s still throwing to Randy Moss and Wes Welker. Give me the Patsies over the T.O. and Ochocinco show.

The Pick: New England

Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants
As much as I’d love to say the Panthers are going to continue the destruction they unleashed upon the Giants last year, it’s tough for me to go with them after their garbage preseason performance. Give me the Giants, even if the Panthers do get Steve Smith back.

The Pick: New York Giants

Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers
This week, we’re going to really see what Dennis Dixon is made of. If it’s anything like the Denver game, don’t expect much from Dixon. I think he has his peaks and valleys in this game, but it’s not going to be enough to lead the team past Matty Ice and the Dirty Birds. It’s time to rise up, Atlanta.

The Pick: Atlanta

Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Asking me to pick a winner in this game is like asking me if I’d rather get smacked across the face by a golf club or a tire iron. Well, of course, the answer is neither. But since I have to pick a team, give me the Brownies. I’m not sure I like the Bucs with QB Josh Freeman playing with a broken thumb and CB Aqib Talib suspended. It pains me to say this, but “In Delhomme I trust.”

The Pick: Cleveland

Denver Broncos @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Obviously, everyone’s a bit fixated on the Tim Tebow factor in this game. But this Denver defense is no longer led by Mike Nolan, and Kyle Orton is still their quarterback. Oh yeah, and they seem to have absolutely no running back worth mentioning. Give me the Jaguars in this one.

The Pick: Jacksonville

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans
Houston, I know you’re at home and all, and I’m-a let you finish. But Peyton Manning is arguably the greatest quarterback of all time.

… and you won’t have Brian Cushing.

The Pick: Indianapolis

Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams
The choice here is actually a lot tougher than you might think. Forgive me Arizona fans, but Derek Anderson doesn’t really strike me as the kind of guy that can lead his team to victory. That still won’t deter me from picking against the Rams, though. I am struggling with this one, but I feel as though the Cards still have enough talent on defense to shut down the Rams’ craptacular corps of receivers and come out with a close win.

The Pick: Arizona

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles
Yeah, I know. You’re sick about hearing how Aaron Rodgers is the second coming. So I’ll spare you the lecture and just say that he will be able to help his team jump start the “We want Donovan McNabb back” bandwagon in Philadelphia.

The Pick: Green Bay

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks
It’s kind of hard to get excited about a team that’s quarterbacked by Alex Smith, and I really disagree with making Vernon Davis the highest-paid TE in the NFL, but that’s neither here nor there. What is here and there is that Patrick Willis and the 49ers’ defense are going to destroy the Seahawks’ lackluster run game and be the force that guides the Niners to an easy win.

The Pick: San Francisco

Soon to come… the Sunday night pick. Who will it be? Tony Romo and the Cowboys or Sexy Rexy (or McNabb) and the Shanahans? Stay tuned…