Week 1: Picks

In addition to playing fantasy football, I play in a pickem league (where you select who you think will win each game every week) and a survival league (select one team every week that you think will win its matchup--you are out when you get one wrong and you cannot pick the same team twice). You can find all three football games on Yahoo!

Every week, I will give my football picks along with my thoughts regarding any particularly interesting matchups. As always, you should feel free to open up a discussion with comments. Here are this week's matchups with my picks in blue, and my survival pick in purple.

New Orleans vs. Minnesota
A rematch of last year's NFC championship. I like the Saints to repeat their win while Favre struggles to find new targets in the passing game.

Buffalo vs. Miami
C.J. Spiller is the only thing the Bills have going for them. The well-rounded Dolphins are my survival pick of the week.

Chicago vs. Detroit

Tennessee vs. Oakland

New England vs. Cincinnati
Tom Brady is still an elite quarterback and Randy Moss is still an elite wide receiver. Welker will be there to help in the short passing game, but with a weak defense and undefined running game, the Patriots have become 1-dimensional. The Bengals are anything but.

New York Giants vs. Carolina

Pittsburgh vs. Atlanta
The Steelers will lean on their running game and defense, rejuvenated by the return of Troy Polomalu. Dixon avoids making any big mistakes which is enough to win a close one against the Falcons.

Tampa Bay vs. Cleveland

Jacksonville vs. Denver

Houston vs. Indianapolis
I really like Houston this year, but as they spend the year figuring out just how good they really are, the Colts already know how good they are (having won at least 12 games for the last seven years). The Colts give Houston a lesson.

St. Louis vs. Arizona
The Cardinals are about to learn just how much they needed Kurt Warner to be a playoff team. The loss of Boldin just makes matters worse as Fitzgerald will see double coverage all day.

Philadelphia vs. Green Bay

Seattle vs. San Francisco

Washington vs. Dallas
The Cowboys will be in big trouble this season until they solve their offensive line issues. I actually wouldn't be at all surprised if Washington walked away with a win here, but I think the Cowboys slip through.

New York Jets vs. Baltimore
This may be the most intriguing matchup of the week as Rex Ryan takes on his old team. The Ravens are one of the elite teams in the AFC this year, but early growing pains for this offense will be exacerbated as they face the Jets' smothering defense. Mark Sanchez has to avoid turnovers to seal the deal.

Kansas City vs. San Diego