Week 1 NFL Preview - Late Sunday Games

Only four games fall under the late Sunday afternoon or Sunday night schedule. If you didn't get a peek at the early games, you can find that here.

Arizona Cardinals v St. Louis Rams
FOX/Ron Pitts and John Lynch

Arizona: The defending NFC West champs have some work to do. What better way to start the season than have a game against the Rams, right?

You can look at the losses on defense (Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle) and apply the "they're in trouble" tag. The defense won't be what it has been, but starting against a poor offense can help work out the kinks. Drafting Daryl Washington and signing free agent Joey Porter will provide some comfort. Having Kerry Rhodes isn't a bad thing either. The Cards still have Darnell Dockett.

But the biggest change will be felt on offense with Kurt Warner bidding farewell to the game. Derek Anderson, a free agent signee, takes over the reigns as the QB. Anquan Boldin? He's in Baltimore. Time for Early Doucet and Steve Breaston to upgrade their games.

The Cardinals couldn't have planned this any better...if they really had.

St. Louis: All the talk will center around RB Steven Jackson and rookie QB Sam Bradford. Rightfully so. They are the Rams offense. But don't dwell too much on Jackson and Bradford. The Rams young tackles (rookie left tackle Rodger Saffold and second-year right tackle Jason Smith) will have a stern test awaiting them today.

And don't forget that the Rams leading receiver from last year, Donnie Avery, is out for the season.

The defense was woeful in '09. To help, the Rams brought in three veterans in DT Fred Robbins (Giants), LB Na'il Diigs (Carolina) and CB Kevin Dockery (Giants). See a pattern? Somewhat? Two former Giants that will have no trouble adapting to head coach Steve Spagnuolo's scheme. The issue in St. Louis will be can the others on defense continue to develop. The Rams defense does have a few good players.

Cards should win as the Rams will continue to look for answers.

Green Bay Packers v Philadelphia Eagles
FOX/Joe Buck and Troy Aikman

Green Bay: The Packers are the sexy pick in the NFC to play in Jerry Jones' playpen for the Lombardi Trophy. I'm buying. Aaron Rodgers is on the cusp of being an elite QB in the NFL. He has weapons at all positions, but there could be the issue of the offensive line. At times in '09, Rodgers absorbed a lot of hits due to a lack of protection. The Pack looks to correct that in 2010.

Seriously, look at the depth at receiver and end on this squad. Donald Driver, James Jones, Greg Jennings, Jermichael Finley, Jordy Nelson, Donald Lee. Holy crap! Add RB Ryan Grant in with these guys and the Packers could own the most potent offense in the league.

But people will wonder if the defense can hold up. There's no Johnny Jolly, so the pressure will mount on '09 first-round pick B.J. Raji. The Packers are lucky that Raji has two vets in Ryan Pickett and Cullen Jenkins at the ends.

And the Packers also have depth at linebacker, but the questions will be mostly directed at the secondary. CB Charles Woodson is no young pup although he is coming off his best season in the league. The other corner, usually occupied by Al Harris, rests in the hands of Tramon Williams. Williams enters his 4th year and has filled in previously, but don't think teams won't be looking for him.

Philadelphia: The Kevin Kolb era begins with a Super Bowl contending opponent. He has to be wondering what he or Andy Reid did to piss off the schedule makers. Kolb showed during his two games last season that he is capable of playing, but can he do it for a 16-game season. There's no Donovan McNabb to bail him out either.

And there's no Brian Westbrook. This season's going to seem strange for the Eagles fans. But Jeremy Maclin, Desean Jackson and Brent Celek are still in Philly.

The trademark Philly defense did falter in 2009. A one time prominent top-10 defense stumbled, but help is on the way. Ernie Sims (trade with Detroit) and Stewart Bradley (injury) look to solidify a linebacking corps that produced a gazillion different starting lineups last year. And I do like the d-line. It's the secondary that will be tested in this game. A nickel defense and plenty of blitzing are on the horizon.

Just knowing that Rodgers has the experience has me leaning toward the Packers. Kolb has never experienced an opener as the starter.

San Francisco 49ers v Seattle Seahawks
FOX/Sam Rosen and Tim Ryan

San Francisco: Speaking of sexy pick, the Niners seem to fall under that as the NFC West champs. Be careful though.

The offense will center around RB Frank Gore. Nice pick there as the major question on the offense will be (still) QB Alex Smith. Like many "experts", I don't trust Smith, but I do like that San Fran drafted to o-linemen (Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis) to show the Niner faithful that they are not only sticking with Smith (which is important), but that they are serious about protecting Smith.

With a revamped o-line, I stand by my crazy prediction of Gore leading the NFL in rushing and TDs scored. And what about Vernon Davis now being the highest paid TE in NFL history? Send him the tab.

We all know the 49ers will play defense. They have no choice with Mike Singletary as the guy at the helm. There's not much to nit pick about the D either.

Seattle: Is Pete Carroll really ready to come back to the NFL? That's the big question, but the bigger question will be can QB Matthew Hasselbeck stay healthy this season. If he can, Seattle could fare far better in 2010 than they did in '09.

The biggest change on offense will be the retirement of Walter Jones. You don't replace a tackle like Jones, but Seattle attempted to in drafting Russell Okung. And Okung will not play today either.

Carroll made more roster changes in Seattle than Holmgren made in Cleveland. That's generally a sign that the times will be changing and Seahawks fans hope foe the better.

The defense is pretty much in tact from last season. If you're a fan of the Seahawks, you just have to hope it's better.

The Niners win because Seattle has had fits in containing Gore over the past few seasons.

Dallas Cowboys v Washington Redskins
NBC/Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Andrea Kremer

Dallas: People point to the Cowboys as one of the more talented teams in the NFL. Maybe at the skill positions, but there is concern with the o-line. That could prove to unsettling for the offense to have any continuity which was nowhere near present in the preseason.

The defense appears to be settled, until you get to the secondary and there's will trouble might, I stress, might, be brewing. That's where teams ate up the Cowboys last season. It will be interesting to see how the secondary is exploited by opponents this season.

But "everyone" is picking Dallas this year. Mainly because of where the Super Bowl is being held.

Washington: Not much has happened in D.C. this year...

Except for the whole Haynesworth episode, but things a re looking a little better for the Redskins. Donovan McNabb takes over for Jason Campbell, but the receivers just aren't there. The running backs just aren't there. Not sure how this experiment will work out for Mike Shanahan.

And the defense, which is the calling card for Washington, didn't exactly strike fear into opponents last season. Teams saw Washington and thought a win was almost a lock.

The one big change in Washington, as already exhibited, is the change in culture. A winning culture must take over before the days of yore return to Washington.

The offense are OK. The defense is OK.

I do think Dallas will prevail in this one...barely.