NFL Week 1 2009 Preview

Our ’09 NFL Week 1 Preview starts off with the Super Bowl XLIII champion Pittsburgh Steelers vs. the Tennessee Titans on September 10th, in now known as Six-burgh. This Thursday night football match up on NBC will be the perfect start to kick off the 2009-2010 NFL season. Will Pittsburgh repeat as Super Bowl champs and their 7th ring? Everyone will be looking to see if they start off playing with the passion that led them to the championship last season. With so many new player acquisitions in the off season, this NFL Week 1 will be intriguing for NFL fanatics to get their first look at their new team. The Falcons welcome future hall of famer Tight Eng Tony Gonzalez in hopes to help Quarterback Matt Ryan. Will he help improve the Atlanta offense into one of the explosive NFL offenses? Wide Receiver Torry Holt will give the Jacksonville offense a spark after a very unimpressive ’08 season. Now with Terrell Owen in Buffalo the post T.O. era begins in Dallas as Wide Receiver Roy Williams steps in as the top wide out for Tony Romo. The Chicago Bears finally have a franchise Quarterback in Jay Cutler, and in the soap opera of the summer, Brett Farve is now the man in Minnesota.

Last year in Week 1, New England Quarterback Tom Brady went down against the Chiefs with a season ending injury. As he went down, so did the Patriots chances of winning the Super Bowl. With Brady back in Week 1 of the NFL season the Patriots host the Bills on Monday Night Football. With Tom Brady’s return dominating the headlines in Week 1 of the NFL, the team he is facing the Buffalo Bills has it’s own media attention grabber Terrell Owens. T.O. has proven in the past that he is one of the most exciting Wide Receivers in the game, and on Monday Night who knows what he will do if he gets in the end zone. There will be no lack of drama to kick off the 2009 NFL Football season as it is filled with questions and story lines.

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Thursday September 10, 8:30 pm on NBC
Tennessee Titans @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers finished the ’08 season with the two best records in the AFC. Both teams get an early chance to battle it out in the opening game of the season. The Tennessee Titans and Pittsburgh Steelers both finished in the top 10 in all defensive categories last season, so look for this game to a low scoring affair.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on CBS
Miami Dolphins @ Atlanta Falcons
The Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons were both surprise the breakout teams of the ’08 NFL season. The Miami Dolphins won the AFC East division and finished 11-5. The Atlanta Falcons won an NFC wild card and finished 11-5. Look for both teams to pull out every trick in the their playbook to get a week one win.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on CBS
Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals
The Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals both had disappointing years in ’08. As they face off against each other in week 1 they will both try to get things going in the right direction. Denver fans hope new head coach Josh McDaniels can take the team back to the playoffs without Jay Cutler. Cincinnati fans hope the return of starting QB Carson Palmer can lead them back into the playoff hunt. Look for the Cincinnati and Ochocinco to pull out a close week one home win.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on FOX
Minnesota Vikings @ Cleveland Browns
The Minnesota Vikings made it to the playoffs in ’08, mostly due to the extraordinary play of RB Adrian Peterson. Minnesota got big time production from Peterson last season averaging 4.8 yards a carry and totaling 1,760 yards. Cleveland‘s defense allowed 151.9 yards on the ground last year, 4th worst in the NFL. Watch for Adrian Peterson to get an early start in ’09 against the Browns defense.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on CBS
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Indianapolis Colts
The Jacksonville Jaguars fell off the map last season posting a record of 5-11, their worst in the last five years. The Indianapolis Colts made it to the playoffs with a wild card selection, coming up 11 game short of the Titans with a record of 12-4. Indianapolis wants that top spot in the division back in ’09. Watch for Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts to take out last years frustrations out on the struggling Jags in Week 1.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on FOX
Detroit Lions @ New Orleans Saints
The Detroit Lions went 0-16 last year, and it looks like 17 in a row against the New Orleans Saints in week 1. New Orleans did not make the playoffs in ’08, but had one of the NFL’s top offenses. This match up should be a shoot out as neither team can play a lick of defense. Look for New Orleans to keep on firing when Detroit runs out of gas in the end.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on FOX
Dallas Cowboys @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Both the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Dallas Cowboys finished ’08 with a record of 9-7. However Tampa Bay hired a new head coach in Raheem Morris, and Dallas decided to keep their head coach Wade Phillips around for another season. Jerry Jones decision pays off early in week 1. Look for Tony Romo to move the ball over the Buccaneers “D” for an early NFC win.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on FOX
Philadelphia Eagles @ Carolina Panthers
Philadelphia and Carolina had high powered offenses last season and, the trend will likely continue at the start of the ’09 season. The Carolina Panthers have become a run first offense with big play ability out of their backfield. The Philadelphia Eagles have always relied on the pass, passing the ball for over 50 times in some games. This looks to be another NFC high scoring match up Look for Philadelphia to come in to Carolina with their minds set on an early upset over the Panthers.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on CBS
Kansas City Chiefs @ Baltimore Ravens
Kansas City Chiefs new head coach Todd Haley will have a chance to show case his new offense in week 1 of the ’09 season. But with new QB Matt Cassel out, the Chiefs will have to bring their A game against the Baltimore defense. The Ravens defense has been a staple example of what hard nose football is all about in the NFL. Look for the Ravens to prove that defense wins games.

Sunday September 13, 1:00 pm on CBS
New York Jets @ Houston Texans
The Houston Texans were another break out team in ’08 posting a record of 8-8 in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL. The New York Jets took home an average record of 9-7 home at the end of the ’08 season, but look for that number to go down this year. The Jets have decided to start rookie first round draft pick Mark Sanchez and with rookie quarterbacks comes rookie mistakes. The Texans roll over the Jets with a week one victory.

Sunday September 13, 4:00 pm on FOX
Washington Redskins @ New York Giants
The New York Giants once again won the NFC East division last season. The Washington Redskins won the 13th pick in the ’09 NFL draft and selected Brian Orakpo. Orakpo along with new free agent acquisition Albert Haynesworth on the defensive line should cause problems for the rest of the NFC East. Look for Washington to win this match up at home with their defense over the Giants.

Sunday September 13, 4:00 pm on FOX
San Francisco 49ers @ Arizona Cardinals
The San Francisco 49ers believe they can win the division this season, the only thing standing in their way are the ’08 NFC Conference Champion Arizona Cardinals. In week 1, San Francisco gets their chance to prove they can win the division once again. The San Francisco 49ers are hungry but, not hungry enough to stop the high powered Cardinals offense in this game.

Sunday September 13, 4:00 pm on FOX
St. Louis Rams @ Seattle Seahawks
The St. Louis Rams hired a new head coach but that might not be enough for a successful ’09 season. The Seattle Seahawks added pro bowl WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh to their roster and he might be that missing piece that Seattle needs to get back to the playoffs this year. The Seahawks should start off in ’09 as one of the better NFC teams .

Sunday September 13, 8:20 pm on NBC
Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers
The Chicago Bears might have pulled off the biggest trade in team history, if QB Jay Cutler can perform they way he played in Denver. The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears come into ’09 better than last year. This battle could be settled by a coin flip in OT that is how evenly matched these two division rivals are this season.

Monday September 14, 7:00 pm on ESPN
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots
This game has anticipated by football fans for weeks. New England Patriots fans are waiting for Tom Brady to surface again as the leagues best QB. And Buffalo Bills fans are waiting to see TO catch his first TD pass in a Bills jersey. Look for both teams to put up over 40 points each, in this must see game of the week.

Monday September 14, 10:15 pm on ESPN
San Diego Chargers @ Oakland Raiders
The San Diego Chargers get a chance to take an early division lead in week 1 but, the Oakland Raiders have other ideas. Oakland hopes last seasons first round pick RB Darren McFadden can carry a team that lacked all offensive big play ability. San Diego Chargers is expecting L.T. to get back to his old form, but he is on the wrong side of 30. San Diego pulls off a late 4th quarter victory, in a surprise match up.

Note: All Times are Eastern Standard Time