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NFL 2010: Week 1 Picks

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With the NFL season now in full gear, the SB Nation Dallas-Fort Worth staff takes a look at each scheduled game and predicts the winner of each game.

ARLINGTON TX - AUGUST 12:  Tony Romo #9 looks to pass the ball during the preseason game against the Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys Stadium on August 12 2010 in Arlington Texas.  (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON TX - AUGUST 12: Tony Romo #9 looks to pass the ball during the preseason game against the Oakland Raiders at Dallas Cowboys Stadium on August 12 2010 in Arlington Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
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Not even a week after posting our fearless NFL season predictions and picks for the playoffs, Super Bowl and player awards, the staff at SB Nation Dallas-Fort Worth takes on another tall task: predicting the Week 1 winners. As we all know, Week 1 is difficult to predict. New coaches have new schemes with new teams while new players - or injured players - can affect a team in ways we've yet to see. 

We'll see which staff member at SB Nation Dallas-Ft. Worth predicts the most games correctly here in Week 1 and throughout the season. 

Minnesota at New Orleans - A rematch of last year's NFC championship game, Brett Favre and the Sidney Rice-less Vikings head into New Orleans to try to extract revenge on Drew Brees and the defending Super Bowl Champion Saints.

  • Christopher Fittz: New Orleans
  • Brandon Worley: New Orleans
  • Jonathan Wall: New Orleans
  • Liam Ponting: Minnesota
  • Maurice London: Minnesota
  • Robbie Griffin: New Orleans
  • JP Starkey: New Orleans
  • Brett Perryman: New Orleans

Detroit at Chicago - Both teams have major additions on the defensive side of the ball as the Lions drafted former Nebraska defensive end Ndamukong Suh while the Bears added Julius Peppers. Both quarterbacks, Jay Cutler of the Bears and Matthew Stafford of the Lions, are expected to progress this year. 

  • Fittz: Chicago
  • Worley: Chicago
  • Wall: Chicago
  • Ponting: Chicago
  • London: Detroit
  • Griffin: Chicago
  • Starkey: Chicago
  • Perryman: Chicago
Oakland at Tennessee - The Raiders have finally rid themselves of all-time bust JaMarcus Russel and have Jason Campbell behind center. They'll need their defense to be stout against Chris Johnson and Vince Young of the Titans as Young looks to build on his excellent second half of last year.
  • Fittz: Tennessee
  • Worley: Tennessee
  • Wall: Tennessee
  • Ponting: Tennessee
  • Griffin: Tennessee
  • Starkey: Oakland
  • Perryman: Tennessee
Indianapolis at Houston - The Texas look to prove that they're finally capable of being a playoff team and no better way to prove that than to beat the perennial powerhouse Colts and Peyton Manning, who look to avoid a Super Bowl loss hangover.
  • Fittz: Indianapolis
  • Worley: Houston
  • Wall: Houston
  • Ponting: Houston
  • London: Indianapolis
  • Griffin: Indianapolis
  • Starkey: Indianapolis
  • Perryman: Houston
Miami at Buffalo - A new era in Buffalo begins with Chan Gailey installed at head coach, who looks to make C.J. Spiller the focal point of the offense. Chad Henne takes over in Miami who will have one of the best receivers in the NFL to throw to now in Brandon Marshall.
  • Fittz: Miami
  • Worley: Miami
  • Wall: Miami
  • Ponting: Miami
  • London: Miami
  • Griffin: Miami
  • Starkey: Miami
  • Perryman: Miami
Cincinnati at New England - The Bengals have added rookies Jermaine Gresham and Jordan Shipley to their passing game to go along with Chad Ochocino but in true Bengals fashion, they added Terrell Owens as well. The Patriots look to prove that they are not a team fading or in transition with a healthy Tom Brady, Wes Welker and motivated (read: contract year) Randy Moss.
  • Fittz: New England
  • Worley: New England
  • Wall: New England
  • Ponting: New England
  • London: New England
  • Griffin: New England
  • Starkey: New England
  • Perryman: New England
Carolina at New York - Jake Delhomme is gone from Carolina who will rely heavily on their two excellent running backs in DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Giants look to christen their new stadium with a win as they look to rebound from last year's collapse and disappointing season.
  • Fittz: New York
  • Worley: New York
  • Wall: New York
  • Ponting: New York
  • London: New York
  • Griffin: New York
  • Starkey: Carolina
  • Perryman: New York
Atlanta at Pittsburgh - Matt Ryan and the Falcons look to prove they're a legitimate playoff contender again as they look to improve upon their 9-7 record from last year. The Steelers will of course be without quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as he serves the first of his four game suspension for sexual assault - again. 
  • Fittz: Pittsburgh
  • Worley: Atlanta
  • Wall: Atlanta
  • Ponting: Atlanta
  • London: Atlanta
  • Griffin: Atlanta
  • Starkey: Atlanta
  • Perryman: Atlanta
Cleveland at Tampa Bay - Mike Holmgren is now in charge in Cleveland and has brought in veteran quarterback Jake Delhomme to start who looks to prove he has something left in the tank. The Bucs will get a good look at second year quarterback Josh Freeman who is now the starting quarterback in Tampa Bay. Hey, at least the Rays are good.
  • Fittz: Tampa Bay
  • Worley: Cleveland
  • Wall: Tampa Bay
  • Ponting: Tampa Bay
  • London: Tampa Bay
  • Griffin: Tampa Bay
  • Starkey: Cleveland
  • Perryman: Tampa Bay
Denver at Jacksonville - Josh McDaniels looks to prove to the NFL that he still has a good offense even without star wide out Brandon Marshall. The Jags will as always feed the ball to Maurice Jones-Drew as they look to return to playoff contention.
  • Fittz: Jacksonville
  • Worley: Denver
  • Wall: Jacksonville
  • Ponting: Denver
  • London: Jacksonville
  • Griffin: Jacksonville
  • Starkey: Jacksonville
  • Perryman: Jacksonville
San Francisco at Seattle - Expectations are high in San Francisco as the NFC West is in flux with Kurt Warner's retirement and Matt Leinart's release. The Seahawks, of course, welcome Pete Carroll back to the NFL as they hope he can revive an offense centered around Matt Hasselbeck.
  • Fittz: San Francisco
  • Worley: San Francisco
  • Wall: San Francisco
  • Ponting: San Francisco
  • London: San Francisco
  • Griffin: Seattle
  • Starkey: San Francisco
  • Perryman: San Francisco
Arizona at St. Louis - The Cardinals hope that Derek Anderson will be a suitable replacement for Kurt Warner after releasing Matt Leinart. The Rams begin the Sam Bradford era but will probably have to give the ball to Stephen Jackson many times since No. 1 wide receiver Donnie Avery blew out his knee in a preseason game in New England.
  • Fittz: Arizona
  • Worley: St. Louis
  • Wall: St. Louis
  • Ponting: Arizona
  • London: St. Louis
  • Griffin: Arizona
  • Starkey: St. Louis
  • Perryman: Arizona
Green Bay at Philadelphia - The Packers look to justify all their Super Bowl hype as Aaron Rodgers leads the Packers offense into a hostile environment in Philadelphia. Kevin Kolb takes over at quarterback for the Eagles as the Eagles hope their young offense of Kolb, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy is up to the task against a very good Green Bay team.
  • Fittz: Green Bay
  • Worley: Green Bay
  • Wall: Green Bay
  • Ponting: Green Bay
  • London: Green Bay
  • Griffin: Green Bay
  • Starkey: Philadelphia
  • Perryman: Green Bay
Dallas at Washington - Expectations in Dallas are sky high as we all know. The Cowboys will need their banged up offensive line to protect Tony Romo as America gets their first look at Dez Bryant and the Cowboys explosive offense. Mike Shanahan makes his Redskins debut, as does QB Donovan McNabb as the Redskins are out to prove they are no longer the NFC East doormat. 
  • Fittz: Dallas
  • Worley: Dallas
  • Wall: Dallas
  • Ponting: Dallas
  • London: Dallas
  • Griffin: Dallas
  • Starkey: Washington
  • Perryman: Dallas
Baltimore at New York - Anquan Boldin solidifies the Ravens offense which will still be centered around Ray Rice but Joe Flacco now has a legitimate No. 1 receiver to throw to. Darrelle Revis, who ended his holdout last week with the Jets, looks to take away Boldin on Revis Island as the Jets look to make a statement to the NFL that they are Super Bowl contenders on Monday Night Football.
  • Fittz: Baltimore
  • Worley: Baltimore
  • Wall: Baltimore
  • Ponting: New York
  • London: Baltimore
  • Griffin: New York
  • Starkey: Baltimore
  • Perryman: New York
San Diego at Kansas City - Philip Rivers won't have Vincent Jackson to throw to or LaDanian Tomlinson in the backfield but will have 6'5" Malcom Floyd and rookie running back Ryan Matthews as the Chargers have a new look offense. Scott Pioli has tried his hardest to get the band back together and turn Kansas City into New England: Midwest with Romeo Crennel at defensive coordinator, Charlie Weis at offensive coordinator and Matt Cassel at  QB.
  • Fittz: San Diego
  • Worley: San Diego
  • Wall: San Diego
  • Ponting: San Diego
  • Griffin: San Diego
  • Starkey: Kansas City
  • Perryman: San Diego
Think we're wrong? We encourage you to post your picks in the comments section and compete with the staff at SB Nation Dallas all year long. 

Photographs by jamesbrandon, jdtornow, phlezk, flygraphix, mcdlttx, tomasland, and literalbarrage used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.