Week 1 Predictions

Green Bay Packers vs Seattle Seahawks

Even with a healthy Eddie Lacy the Packers will have their work cut out for them in the season opener. Packers had more total yards and passing yards per game last season while the Seahawks had more rushing yards and the number one overall defense. The offseason saw the Seahawks lose some of their defensive players to free agency but keep the core together. They will be hard to beat at home. Prediction: Seahawks

New Orleans Saints vs Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons had a terrible season last year plagued by injuries and a weak offensive line. The off-season saw them make moves to improve their offensive and defensive lines. A healthy Steven Jackson also returns. The Saints finished with an 11-5 record last season and lost to the Seahawks in the second round of the playoffs. Drew Brees is one of the top quarterbacks in the league with the top tight end in Jimmy Graham in the league. Prediction: Saints

Buffalo Bills vs Chicago Bears

EJ Manuel started off well then struggled last season before being hurt. The only statistic the Bills led the Bears in last season was rushing yards and this was mainly due to Matt Forte being out part of the season. Manuel has struggled in the preseason and even with the Bills making improvements on their defense this team will have a rough 2014. Cutler has an overall passer rating of 86.4 with 112 INTs over his career. He has a solid running game in Forte and a top receiver in Brandon Marshall. Prediction: Bears

Tennessee Titans vs Kansas City Chiefs

Jake Locker is back healthy but Chris Johnson is no longer with the Titans. Locker has missed part of the last two seasons with injuries and has an overall passer rating of 81.1 over his three years in the league. Titans did make a move in free agency to improve their offense with the signing of tight end Delanie Walker and on defense with several additions on their d-line. The Chiefs will be without Bowe for the first game of the season but do have Jamaal Charles in the backfield healthy. The Chiefs finished 11-5 last season and just signed QB Alex Smith to a long term deal. Smith has fourth best win loss record in the league. Prediction: Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings vs St. Louis Rams

The Vikings quarterback issue was a major part of their downfall last season. This season they hope to have resolved the issue with a healthy Matt Cassel and rookie Teddy Bridgewater as back-up. Vikings have the best running back in the game with Adrian Peterson. They made moves to improve their secondary with the addition of Captain Munnerlyn at cornerback. Rams are already off to a bad start with the loss of quarterback Sam Bradford for the season. The addition of WR Kenny Britt should help QB Shaun Hill. The Rams still have a solid defense that should help to keep them competitive this season. Prediction: Vikings

New England Patriots vs Miami Dolphins

Rob Gronkowski has been cleared to start week one. This is a solid offensive weapon for Tom Brady in addition to his two receivers and Stevan Ridley in the backfield. Pats brought in Darrelle Revis at corner and Dont'a Hightower at linebacker to shore up their defense. Brady is one of the top three passers in the league. Dolphins did sign CB Cortland Finnegan in the off-season to help their secondary. The Dolphins haven't had a winning season in the last five years and Tannehill's QB rating is only 59.4 over his two years in the league. Prediction: Patriots

Oakland Raiders vs New York Jets

Raiders have struggled for years to find a reliable starting quarterback. This season they've decided to start the season with rookie QB Derek Carr. During the preseason Carr had a 66.7 completion percentage with four touchdowns, one interception and a 108.7 QB rating. Raiders also brought in RB Maurice Jones-Drew to help in their backfield. Jets struggled on offense last year as rookie Geno Smith adjusted to the league. This season he'll have WR Eric Decker as a downfield threat. Decker finished with 1,288 yards and 11 TDs in Denver last season. The Jets also added RB Chris Johnson in the backfield. Johnson struggled last season averaging only 3.9 yards per carry but still finished with over 1,000 yards rushing. Prediction: Jets

Jacksonville Jaguars vs Philadelphia Eagles

Jaguars look to improve upon the league worst 2-14 season of last year. The first move was to trade away QB Blaine Gabbert and make QB Chad Henne the full-time starter. Henne has a 75.2 passer rating and did finish last season with 3,241 yards and 13 TDs last season.With WR Ace Sanders suspended the first four games of the season, Henne will rely heavily on WR Cecil Shorts. Jags also lost RB Maurice Jones-Drew to free agency and signed RB Toby Gerhart to replace him. Eagles released WR DeSean Jackson during the off-season so QB Nick Foles will have to rely on WRs Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper. They have LeSean McCoy in the backfield who rushed for over 1,600 yards last season. Prediction: Eagles

Cleveland Browns vs Pittsburgh Steelers

Browns will have to win this season without their biggest offensive weapon WR Josh Gordon. QB Brian Hoyer won the starting job over Johnny Manziel and will have WR Miles Austin as a deep threat. RB Ben Tate was signed in the off-season from Houston. He's been the back-up to Arian Foster and has yet to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Steelers have TE Heath Miller back and healthy after a ACL and MCL tear last season. Roethlisberger will also have WR Antonio Brown and RB Le'Veon Bell as offensive weapons. The return of  C Maurkice Pouncy should help the Steelers in their passing game. Prediction: Steelers

Cincinnati Bengals vs Baltimore Ravens

Bengals will start the season without WR Marvin Jones who had a pin surgically implanted in his left foot. He is expected to miss several weeks. This moves WR Mohamed Sanu to the starting position. Bengals come in off their third straight season making the playoffs behind QB Andy Dalton. Dalton has a 60.9 QB rating over his first three seasons in the league. With RB Green-Ellis gone, RB Giovani Bernard takes over the starting position. Bernard had 1,209 total yards and 8 touchdowns last season. Ravens start their season without RB Ray Rice for the first two games making Bernard Pierce their starter. The team brought in WR Steve Smith on the other side of Torrey Smith. Prediction: Ravens

Washington Redskins vs Houston Texans

Both the Redskins and the Texans start with new head coaches this season. With QB RGIII fully healthy the Redskins hope to improve from their 3-13 season last year. They signed WR DeSean Jackson, one of the fastest receivers in the league to play opposite of Pierre Garcon. Jackson had 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns last season in Philly. RB Alfred Morris had a less productive season last year than his rookie campaign but still finished with 1,275 yards and seven touchdowns. Redskins improved their secondary with the additions of safeties Ryan Clark and Duke Ihenacho. Texans signed QB Ryan Fitzpatrick in the off-season. The 10 year journeyman has an overall QB rating of 77.5. The team also has RB Arian Foster back healthy to start the season. This team improved their defense with the drafting of LB Jadeveon Clowney. Prediction: Redskins

San Francisco 49ers vs Dallas Cowboys

49ers have to start the season without LB Aldon Smith who is suspended the first nine games of the season. 49ers finished last season losing to the Seahawks in the NFC championship. QB Colin Kaepernick has a QB rating of 93.8 over his first three years in the league and signed a six year contract extension in the off-season. Romo returns to the Cowboys starting line up after an injury shortened season last year. WR Terrance Williams is now the starter with Miles Austin gone. The team will be without LB Sean Lee for the season due to injury. Strong safety Jakar Hamilton and CB Orlando Scandrick are both out the first four games of the season due to suspension. Prediction: 49ers

Carolina Panthers vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Panther won the NFC South last season and lost in the divisional round of the playoffs. With WR Steve Smith gone, the Panthers drafted rookie WR Kelvin Benjamin and signed WR Jerricho Cotchery to replace him. QB Cam Newton has a 86.4 QB rating over his first three years in the league. Panthers strengthened their secondary by signing FS Thomas DeCoud and SS Roman Harper in the off-season. Bucs start the season with a new head coach in Lovie Smith. They also start with a new QB in Josh McCown. McCown is a 12 year veteran with a 77.5 QB rating. He has two top receivers in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans and a good running game in Doug Martin. They improved their secondary with the additions of CBs Alterraun Verner and Mike Jenkins in the off-season. Prediction: Panthers

Indianapolis Colts vs Denver Broncos

Colts were knocked out of the playoffs last season by the Patriots. This season they will have to play without RB Vick Ballard who was lost for the season with a torn left Achilles. The Colts will have to rely on RBs Trent Richardson and Ahmad Bradshaw in the backfield. QB Andrew Luck has a QB rating of 81.5 over his first two seasons in the league and has rushed for nine touchdowns on top of the 46 he's thrown. Broncos look to improve their offense and defense this season. They signed WR Emmanuel Sanders to the offense and revamped the defense with the addition of DE DeMarcus Ware, CB Aqib Talib and SS T.J. Ward. QB Peyton Manning's 97.2 QB rating is one of the highest in the league. Prediction: Broncos

New York Giants vs Detroit Lions

Giants signed RB Rashad Jennings in the off-season. The five year veteran has 13 touchdowns over his professional career. The team will be without WR Mario Manningham this season who was lost to a calf injury in the preseason. QB Eli Manning has a 81.2 QB rating over his career though he struggled last season. The team improved their defense with the addition of CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and MLB Jameel McClain. Lions improved their offense with the addition of WR Golden Tate. QB Matthew Stafford has a 83.1 QB rating over his five year career but has been plagued by injuries. Prediction: Lions

San Diego Chargers vs Arizona Cardinals

Chargers lost to the Broncos in the divisional round of the playoffs last season. The team was decimated on offense with injuries. They start the season with all key players healthy. QB Phillip Rivers has an overall QB rating of 96.0 over his  career. He has a healthy Ryan Matthews in the backfield and one of the top tight ends in the league in Antonio Gates. Cardinals will be without defensive tackle Darnell Dockett all season with a torn right ACL. QB Carson Palmer has a 85.9 QB rating over his 10 year career. Prediction: Chargers