The NFL finally returns to us and like any other opening week, there is anticipation and excitement.

In today’s NFL where a team can go from squeaking into the playoffs to winning a Super Bowl (which has happened the last two years), hope spring eternal for all teams.

Let’s get it started.

Here are the picks:

Dallas at New York Giants

The Giants are raising their championship banner and they’re playing one of the biggest rivals in their division. This could easily be a memorable night for Giants fans or it could just be a nightmare.

I think New York’s front four’s ability to get to the passer gives them an advantage and that’s why I’m picking them.

Pick: GIANTS 23, COWBOYS 17

Miami at Houston

Usually when a team is on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks,’ the program finds one or two players and makes them look really good and you usually come away thinking the featured team has a chance to do pretty well in the upcoming season.

The Dolphins’ Hard Knocks season was most noticed for the cutting of a washed up Chad Johnson and the trading of Vontae Davis, the team’s best corner.

Needless to say, I‘m not picking them in a lot of games this year.

TEXANS 34, DOLPHINS 10

New England at Tennessee

I have no clue what to expect from the Titans this year. Is Jake Locker taking over at QB? Is Chris Johnson going to return to form?

I do know the Patriots bring back much of a roster that went to the Super Bowl last season.

PATRIOTS 41, TITANS 17

Washington at New Orleans

Sean Payton got a lot of credit for the Saint’s high powered offense and he probably deserves it. It’ll be very interesting to see how this team fares with him being suspended for the year.

SAINTS 33, REDSKINS 10

Buffalo at New York Jets

The Jets really struggled to move the ball in preseason and I know they weren’t running their best plays. But it still has to be a major concern when you can’t even get the ball in the end zone.

BILLS 23, JETS 9

Jacksonville at Minnesota

If the Vikings get off to a quick start, maybe they pick up some momentum and get going. If they drop this one, it could be a disappointment that they never recover from.

Pick: VIKINGS 19, JAGUARS 9

Indianapolis at Chicago

Jay Cutler will get re-acquainted with Brandon Marshall early in this one.

BEARS 30, COLTS 17

Philadelphia at Cleveland

What a better way for the Eagles to get over last season’s shortcomings than to play a team that is hoping a rookie running back and rookie quarterback can ignite it’s offense?

EAGLES 27, BROWNS 3

St. Louis at Detroit

The Lions will be lighting it up against a pretty bad Rams team.

LIONS 41, RAMS 13

Atlanta at Kansas City

If the Chiefs can stay healthy, they can make a run at the playoffs and they could be this year’s sleeper team that sneaks up on people.

CHIEFS 24, FALCONS 21

Seattle at Arizona

I watched Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson with the Badgers last season and the guy can get it done. He can pass with accuracy on the run and he can also tuck it and pick up a first down on the ground when needed.

It’ll be fun to watch him as a pro.

SEAHAWKS 27, CARDINALS 23

Carolina at Tampa Bay

The Bucs were supposed to be ready to take the next step last year after just missing out on the playoffs two years ago. Instead, they fell apart and Josh Freeman had a terrible letdown in his second year at quarterback.

I wonder which of those seasons was a fluke and which one will be the trend?

BUCS 31, PANTHERS 30

San Francisco at Green Bay

I would feel a lot better about the Packers’ chances if San Francisco was coming to Wisconsin in December or January. Still, you have one of last year’s best defenses (SF) against an offense (GB) that had the second most points in NFL history last season.

In today’s NFL of cutting back on contact, a good offense should always beat a good defense.

PACKERS 33, 49ERS 24

Pittsburgh at Denver

Peyton Manning will have Denver absolutely buzzing. If these fans actually thought Tim Tebow was a good quarterback, wait until they see the 4-time MVP light it up.

BRONCOS 24, STEELERS 21

Cincinnati at Baltimore

Andy Daulton is a quarterback on the rise for the Bengals and the Ravens are missing Terrell Suggs. But I can’t pick against Baltimore at home.

RAVENS 16, BENGALS 10

San Diego at Oakland

For the last five years the Chargers were hyped as an up and coming team to look out for and they never delivered. This offseason, I haven’t heard much of them, which means this time they will actually deliver.

CHARGERS 29, RAIDERS 21