Week 1 Preview: Let's Get It On!

After months upon months of off-season transactions and weeks upon weeks of training camps and roster tweaking, the 2007 NFFL season starts tonight. I'm here to give you a few things to watch for this weekend and a little insight as to how things might turn out. As Week 1 is chock full of intra-division matchups, let's break the games down by division.

NFC NORTH

Boston Inferno vs. Halifax Armada

The Inferno are predicted to have one of the best offenses in the NFFL this year, boasting a passing attack of Peyton Manning, Lee Evans, Terrell Owens and Roy Williams. Manning should have a big game against the Saints in what figures to be a high-scoring affair. While Willams and Evans have tough matchups, both are top-tier receivers and are threats to score against any secondary. Owens could have multiple TDs against the Giants.

The Halifax passing game can almost keep up with their Boston counterparts. Tom Brady might be the best QB this side of Manning, and figures to throw a lot against the Jets. Larry Fitzgerald and Reggie Wayne both have favorable matchups. The number three option for the Armada has less big-play potential than any of the Inferno receivers, but Chris Cooley is playing against Miami and should be targeted early and often by his QB.

The running attacks on both teams are good-to-great. Boston has Laurence Maroney against the Jets, and I have a feeling he could struggle or Belichik could look to Kevin Faulk to try and surprise the Jets throughout the game. The other Inferno back is Willis McGahee, and if Jon Ogden proves to be in good health than McGahee should have a big game against Cincinnati. In Halifax, Cedric Benson takes over for the Bears and will face the Chargers, so he might be in for a rough game. On the other hand, Cadillac Williams faces a bad Seattle run defense and could have a 100-yard game to go along with a TD or two.

Defensively, the teams look pretty close, but Boston should have a slight edge. Jared Allen and Brian Urlacher are dominant at their positions, and Halifax doesn't have anyone quite as good as those two, although Antonio Pierce is close to Urlacher. Halifax DB Kerry Rhodes is probably the best DB in this matchup, but Boston has two good players in Ronde Barber and Ken Hamlin.

Boston was the best team in the NFC North in 2006 and improved their squad in the offseason. I think they jump out to an early division lead and win this game. Boston 141, Halifax 122.

Glasgow Warriors vs. Chicago Goodfellas

This matchup features the storied Chicago franchise against new addition Glasgow as well as different formations on offense and defense. In Chicago, they'll lineup up in a 2 RB, 3 WR set and while LaMont Jordan and Jamal Lewis aren't exactly spectacular plays every week, I love Jordan this week against Detroit. I think he can reach 100 yards and with any luck score a couple TDs. The WRs will be the strength of the offense unit most weeks, with Deion Branch, Plaxico Burress, and Braylon Edwards starting this week. Vince Young is in line for an up-and-down year, and against the Jaguars this might be one of the down weeks.

Glasgow will go with a 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE formation, with second-year TE Vernon Davis making the start for the Warriors. Davis faces a Cardinals defense ripe for scoring against and could score twice to go along with a decent amount of yardage. Torry Holt looks healthy, and he should have an excellent game against a bad Carolina secondary. It remains to be seen how well Chris Chambers will click with Trent Green, but until he proves last year was a fluke he can't be looked at as a great play most weeks. RBs Joseph Addai and Brandon Jacobs lead a promising, young rushing attack, although due to matchups this week both of their offenses figure to throw the ball more in their games. As such, Glasgow QB Eli Manning should have a stellar game against a banged up Cowboys secondary.

Defensively, Chicago has decided to employ the 2-3-3, sending out Charles Tillman, Troy Polamalu and Chris Hope at DB. All three are fine plays each week, with Hope expected to lead the group in scoring this year. Glasgow will go with the 2-4-2, with new addition Adalius Thomas lined up at LB along with Derrick Johnson, Jarrett Johnson and Cato June. June in particular could have great game, reaching a dozen points or more.

Glasgow appears to have the edge on offense, with Chicago's Young in a tough matchup and the Warriors having the best WR and the best running game. I don't think Chicago's defense has enough to make up the difference. Glasgow 128, Chicago 118.

NFC EAST

Lower Saxony Patriots vs. Utica Devils

The defending NFC champion Lower Saxony Patriots take on the Utica Devils in a game featuring three top-10 RBs. The Patriots have always excelled at RB, and the normal bruisers take the field again, with Larry Johnson lined up against the Texans and Rudi Johnson facing the Ravens. Larry's matchup might look easy, but coach Herm Edwards has vowed to rest him more during the game and as a result his RB could see less carries than he's used to. Not many RBs are better than Larry Johnson at the top of his game, but Utica's Steven Jackson is one of them. He takes on Carolina and should be good for at least 20 points. Ahman Green is the other RB for Utica and will face Kansas City this week.

Both quarterbacks in this game are good-but-not-great QB1s, but both have very favorable matchups. Patriots QB Ben Roethlisberger faces Cleveland, who will be without one of their starting CBs, making an already weak secondary even weaker. Devils QB Tony Romo faces the Giants, a team that was bad against the pass last year. The Patriots have a big edge at WR, with Anquan Boldin and Lavernanues Coles probably scoring more than Donald Driver and Drew Bennett.

Utica LBs London Fletcher-Baker and Lance Briggs should dominate the defensive scoring as the Patriots don't have any players as good as those two. Lower Saxony does have one of the best DBs in the business, Adrian Wilson, and his presence should close some of the gap that the Utica LBs will create.

This promises to be a close game, with Lower Saxony having the edge on offense and Utica having the edge on defense. It all might come down to how the QBs play, and I'll take Roethlisberger over Romo, who should have a good game but is very hit-or-miss. Lower Saxony 130, Utica 126.

Fairfax Foxes vs. Washington Braves

Fairfax's Philly connection of QB Donovan McNabb and RB Brian Westbrook were insanely productive last year before McNabb succumbed to injury, but he's back this year and they figure to pick up right where they left off. Green Bay, Philly's opponent, actually should have a pretty good pass defense this year, but McNabb is capable of putting up big points on anyone. Fairfax also will start Maurice Jones-Drew, and while he might not start against the Titans, all he needs is 10-12 carries and he should get a decent number of yards and a TD or two. Washington's superstar RB LaDanian Tomlinson has a pretty tough opponent this week, but like McNabb he can potentially dominate against any team in the league. Julius Jones is the other starting RB for Washington, and Matt Hasselbeck will start at QB. He faces a solid Tampa defense and could be in line for a mediocre day if Shaun Alexander gets hot early.

Washington picks up a huge advantage at WR, with a one-two combination of Chad Johnson and Andre Johnson (Washington is the third team to start two guys named Johnson at one position). Fairfax only has Marques Colston as far as big threats go, but both of Fairfax's other WRs are mediocre guys with great matchups, Isaac Bruce taking on Carolina and Amani Toomer facing Dallas.

Washington has the bigger names on defense, with Keith Brooking, Derrick Brooks and Keith Bulluck leading the team at LB. But Fairfax has some sleepers that have landed in good positions. Foxes LB Omar Gaither replaces Jeremiah Trotter at MLB in Philadelphia, and Bart Scott was an unheralded breakout star last season that should only improve. Fairfax also has two excellent DBs, Champ Bailey and Sean Jones.

Johnson, Johnson and Tomlinson give Washington a huge edge no matter who they play, but I can see the Fairfax WR unit stepping up to have a big game this week. This should come down to Monday night; both teams have two defensive players, but Chad Johnson could ice the game with a big performance for Washington. Washington 134, Fairfax 129.

AFC SOUTH

Bertrand Ground Force vs Anglia Dark Knights

The battle of "Best Team with Two Words in the Team Name" is on! The Ground Force might be looking into a name change, as they line up in a 1 RB, 4 WR formation in what might become the norm this year. Shaun Alexander is definitely capable of scoring enough points to make up a Force by himself. The Bertrand aerial attack (what about that for a new name?) is led by QB Carson Palmer, who faces a potentially difficult Baltimore squad on Monday night. After this week, Bertrand might secede the team name to Anglia, who will start Frank Gore in a very easy matchup against Arizona and Travis Henry, who faces the Bills. Anglia QB Jon Kitna will throw multiple touchdowns, but could also turn the ball over multiple times. Neither WR set is great, with both featuring one top option, Bertrand's Darrell Jackson and Anglia's Reggie Brown, and a bunch of average guys. Jackson is still recovering from injury and might not be able to take advantage of an easy matchup.

On defense, the Ground Force will trot out the 3-3-2, with top DEs Aaron Kampman and Aaron Schobel leading the defense up front and Jonathan Vilma roaming around the middle. Anglia has the best DE in the game, Jason Taylor, as well as a solid group of LBs led by A.J. Hawk and Will Witherspoon. Dark Knight DB Nate Clements should see a lot of opportunities against Arizona this week.

Alexander might be the best RB on the field in this game, though Gore is definitely challenging him. But the lack of a second option hurts Bertrand, especially when Anglia starts a back as good as Henry as the RB2. The Ground Force will need a couple big games from WRs and defensive players to win this one, but I think Anglia is the stronger team here. Anglia 129, Bertrand 106.

Greenville Storm vs. Cincinnati Keepers

Speaking of teams starting one RB, with the uncertainty of the Green Bay rushing attack in Week 1, the Keepers are looking to start four WRs in their game against Greenville to go along with RB Reggie Bush. Having better WRs than Bertrand, the Keepers might be able to get away with it. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is the number one and could have a big game even against the Ravens. Devery Henderson and Brandon Marshall are young guys with breakout potential, and both will probably see a lot of looks this week. Cincinnati QB Phillip Rivers might struggle to score points against Chicago. The Greenville signal-caller, Jay Cutler, should have a much easier time against Buffalo, but RBs Thomas Jones and Marshawn Lynch face teams with good defenses and could be held out of the end zone this week. The Greenville WRs are a solid group, though they lack a stud to burst through and potentially score 20 points.

Both teams have a great set of LBs, with Ray Lewis leading the Greenville squad and Mike Peterson leading the Cincinnati group. Both have young guys that should rack up points in bad defenses, Paul Posluszny for Cincinnati and Ernie Sims for Greenville. Cincinnati might have a little bit better defensive line, but the Storm has a better secondary.

This could be the best Week 1 matchup in the AFC, with both teams fighting it out until the last second. Greenville has more players on Monday, so if they can keep it close and get good production from both backs, they should get the victory. Greenville 135, Cincinnati 132.

AFC WEST

Austin Predators vs. New Mexico Raiders

Last year's top two AFC South teams square off in Week 1 with the NFFL-Champion Austin Predators facing the New Mexico Raiders of England. New Mexico swept the series last year, and the Predators have been anticipating this matchup all off-season, looking to settle the score. Austin QB Marc Bulger has an excellent matchup and should score 20+ points. But New Mexico QB Alex Smith also should put up points against the Cardinals. Raiders RB Clinton Portis is still recovering from injury and is expected to be limited on Sunday, but Fred Taylor could pick up a lot of the slack when he faces Tennessee. Austin RB Willie Parker could easily score the most points in this game as he faces the Browns, and Austin RB2 Ronnie Brown will get the start despite reports that his job was in jeopardy. The two WR units match up well, with top-notch WR1s (Austin's Marvin Harrison and New Mexico's Steve Smith), excellent WR2s (Austin's Hines Ward and New Mexico's Randy Moss) and solid WR3s (Austin's Joey Galloway and New Mexico's Jerricho Cotchery).

Austin has an advantage of defense, with LB Zach Thomas the star of the matchup on that side of the ball. New Mexico will start the 3-3-2, and DL Elvis Dumervil could potentially lose time in Denver to newly-signed Simeon Rice. Raider DLs Terrell Suggs and Derrick Burgess are two of the best DLs around, though Austin's pair of Robert Mathis and Luis Castillo are pretty good as well.

With Austin's advantage at QB and RB1 and the injury concerns of Portis and Moss, Austin looks like the favorite in this game. But you can throw out the lineups (almost) when these two teams play, as they throw the entire playbook at each other and fight till the last second each and every time out. Austin 145, New Mexico 129.

California Xtreme vs. Carson City Bandits

It's pretty hard to win when you don't start anyone, and it looks like Carson City hasn't even submitted a lineup for this contest. As such, I'll take a stab at who I think they'll go with if they do get a lineup in.

California will employ the singleback offense this week, sending Deuce McAllister out against the atrocious Indy rush defense. Xtreme QB Drew Brees should also have a solid game against the Colts. The Bandits figure to play Matt Leinart, who could have a multiple-TD game in a potential shootout with the 49ers. At RB, the Bandits will probably start Detroit RB Tatum Bell with Kevin Jones still a few weeks from playing. T.J. Duckett or Chris Brown could also see playing time in the Carson City backfield. The Xtreme WRs aren't the cream of the crop, but they are much deeper than their Carson City counterparts. The Bandits have a top-notch WR1 in Javon Walker who should score double digits, but there isn't much scoring potential behind him. California has two solid starters, Santana Moss and Donte Stallworth, and at least one of Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry should have a good game against a poor Detroit secondary.

Xtreme LBs DeMeco Ryans and Shawne Merriman are candidates to win the Defensive PoY award, and DBs Oshiomogho Atogwe and Roy Williams are fine starters in the secondary. The Bandits have a couple of good scorers on the line in Trent Cole and Trevor Pryce, and a few good options at LB with DJ Williams, Tedy Bruschi and Larry Foote. They'll have a tough time getting points from their DB2 slot though.

It's hard to pick a team that could potentially score zero points, and they're even tougher to pick when their best RBs are Bell, Brown and Duckett. California will get out to a big lead behind Brees and McAllister tonight, and I don't think Carson City will be able to catch up. California 122, Carson City 101.

Player of the Week Predictions:

Offense

AFC: Anglia RB Frank Gore (26 points)
NFC: Boston QB Peyton Manning (31 points)

Defense

AFC: Austin LB Zach Thomas (21 points)
NFC: Fairfax DB Sean Jones (17 points)