Week 1 of the NFL season is always somewhat surreal. A mix of months of pent-up excitement from a lack of football combined with the surprise on how fast the regular season snuck up on me.

On the one hand I get that 'Isn't it still summer? Has football really started?' feeling. But on the other hand I'm ready to ravenously jump in and eat it up. During the season opener on Thursday night, NBC kept putting the game on a small screen in the corner to update those of us in Philadelphia about a shooting. My thought process at the time - 'get this off the screen, it's interrupting football!' This of course made me feel like a jackass.

As for my prognostication, I got off to a good start. The beginning of the season allows for a few mismatched lines from Vegas, but if last year is any indication, after a good start I'll come crashing down in the second half of the season anyways. I'm just hoping to hold on to this success as long as possible.

Last week: 9-5-2
Season: 9-5-2
Lock of the Week: 1-0

Home team in CAPS

Chiefs (+1.5) over BROWNS
The Browns lost to lowly Tampa Bay while the Chiefs beat perennial power San Diego, yet the Browns are favored. Yes, Jake Delhomme is injured and might miss the game, but as bad as he is, that's no reason to actually favor the Browns.

PACKERS (-13) over Bills
The Bills have essentially no offense. New addition rookie sparkplug CJ Spiller accounted for 14 yards on 11 touches on offense. Not exactly the efficiency the Bills were hoping for. The Packers meanwhile are an offensive juggernaut who will likely surpass their 27 points from last week.

Ravens (-2) over BENGALS
I'm sticking with my prediction of the Bengals falling apart this year. If and when they do, it will be the most glorious train wreck any of us have ever witnessed.

Steelers (+5) over TITANS
Chris Johnson is going for this 13th straight 100-yard game, but the Steelers have only allowed one 100-yard rusher in the past two-plus seasons. The Steelers might not have Ben Roethlisberger but they still have the same defense.

Eagles (-6) over LIONS
I'm not big on Michael Vick as a passer, but I'm also not big on Shaun Hill as an anything.

COWBOYS (-7.5) over Bears
The Bears needed some luck and a Matthew Stafford injury to be able to beat the Lions at home. On the road in Dallas against a Cowboys team that will be desperate to avoid an 0-2 start this game might get ugly.

PANTHERS (-3.5) over Buccaneers

Any optimistic Bucs fans will be brought back to Earth as it is revealed a three point win over the Browns doesn't make you 'gutty' but makes you slightly above worthless.

FALCONS (-6.5) over Cardinals
The Cardinals almost lost to the Rams and a rookie QB playing his first NFL game ever last week. The sad thing is that the Cardinals could conceivably be the best team in the NFC West. It's entirely possible a 7-9 team could take that putrid division. Not being in the NFC West (and not being the Browns or Bucs) the Falcons should destroy them.

VIKINGS (-5.5) over Dolphins
This will be the telling game of the Vikings' season. If the offense looks as flat as it did in the opener then it's going to be a long season of regret for Brett and the Vikes.

RAIDERS (-3.5) over Rams
Do you like punts and turnovers? Well then tune in to see the Rams take on the Raiders!

BRONCOS (-3.5) over Seahawks
I refuse to believe that the Seahawks are a good football team and that Pete Carroll has turned them into a success this quickly. If they do manage to win this game they should ask the Broncos about last year and how it feels to be anointed a successful team early in your coaches first season and subsequently falling apart as everyone realizes you aren't actually any good.

Texans (-3) over REDSKINS
The Redskins defense and Kyle Shanahan's knowledge of the Texans will keep this game close, but the Redskins offense will have to actually score if they want to improve to 2-0.

Jaguars (+7) over CHARGERS
Since Norv Turner thinks this might be his best Chargers team yet they will be mediocre at best. Norv Turner will only tolerate success for so long.

Patriots (-2.5) over JETS
I know it's only one week, but the Patriots look frighteningly good on offense and the Jets frighteningly bad. I know the Jets have a great D, but right now it looks like they'll have to score more points on defense than their opponent does on offense to win games. It's gonna be hard to lead the league in wins that way.

COLTS (-5.5) over Giants
The Manning Bowl! Does anyone else think that Peyton will actually look kind of sad for Eli when he is making mistakes, but if Peyton messes up Eli will look giddy as a child because his perfect big brother did something wrong? That's just the Manning family vibe I get. Also, any chance Archie will be at this game? And if so, how many times will they show him on TV?

Saints (-5.5) over 49ERS
Lock of the Week
Lets all see how quickly we can backtrack from anointing the 49ers the champions of the NFC West. Somehow we all drank the Alex Smith Kool-Aid and just about everyone put the 49ers in the playoffs. Now, they can still end up there because, as mentioned, the NFC West is beyond horrible. Whoever does come out of that division will likely be 15 point underdogs at home in the first round of the playoffs.