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Sorensen picks the games and tells you why he's right:
CINCINNATI at BALTIMORE:
Baltimore rookie quarterback Joe Flacco gets a break. He gets to begin his NFL career against a terrible defense. The Bengals get a bigger break. They get to begin the season against the abysmal Ravens. Cincinnati by 3.
NEW YORK JETS at MIAMI:
I've always liked Brett Favre. I just don't like him, at the age of 38, with a new offense, not yet in football shape, in the Miami heat. Miami by 1.
KANSAS CITY
at NEW ENGLAND:
I'll play a hunch and go with the Patriots. That one-game losing streak of theirs has lasted seven months. New England by 26.
HOUSTON at PITTSBURGH:
I've liked Houston quarterback Matt Schaub since he played for Virginia. But you do not pick against the Steelers, not at home, not on opening day. Pittsburgh fans are the NFL's second best behind, of course, Green Bay's. Pittsburgh by 11.
JACKSONVILLE
at TENNESSEE:
The Titans are well coached and play superior defense. But I don't trust their offense. In fact, I hate it. This game is a cause for the Jaguars. Jacksonville by 6.
DETROIT at ATLANTA:
I can see the Lions winning more games than they lose. I can see Central Florida's Kevin Smith becoming the most effective of the rookie running backs this season. I can see the Lions winning this game for a variety of reasons, among them that somebody has to. Detroit by 4.
SEATTLE at BUFFALO:
Every season a surprise team emerges. Last season, the AFC's surprise team was Cleveland. This season it will be the Bills. Man, was that a tough sentence to write. Buffalo by 1.
TAMPA BAY at NEW ORLEANS:
The Bucs look used up. The Saints look like one of the NFC's best. Jonathan Vilma, another great linebacker out of Miami, was a great acquisition for the Saints. New Orleans by 11.
ST. LOUS at PHILADELPHIA:
The Eagles' receivers are banged up, but Donovan McNabb will make the rookies and reserves look like stars. Is there a more underrated quarterback than McNabb? Philadelphia by 10.
DALLAS at CLEVELAND:
The Cowboys are flawless. Plus, they are better people than they are players. Kidding. Dallas by 4.
CAROLINA at SAN DIEGO
I picked the Panthers to go 11-5 this season. This is one of the five. The Chargers are to the AFC what Dallas is to the NFC. They are the league's most talented team. San Diego by 7.
ARIZONA at SAN FRANCISCO
In aging quarterback news, Favre was born in 1969, Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia in '70 and Arizona's Kurt Warner in '71. Warner's youth shows. Until he gets hurt, he'll have by far the best stats of the three. He'll also have by far the best receivers. Arizona by 4.
CHICAGO at INDIANAPOLIS:
Today is Day One of the Kyle Orton Era. Today is the day everyone will point to and say, “Let it be known that on Sept.7, 2008, Kyle Orton emerged from the giant shadow of Rex Grossman and became Chicago's quarterback.” Let it also be known it doesn't matter. Colts by 26.
MINNESOTA at GREEN BAY:
Who do you like better, Orton or Aaron Rodgers? Good call. There is life after Favre, and on Monday night the Packers will prove it. Green Bay by 3.
DENVER at OAKLAND:
I would love to see Oakland's Al Davis celebrate his 103rd birthday with a victory. Maybe next year. Denver by 5.
