Week 2 Predictions

With week 1 in the books, we can all start to turn our attention to the upcoming week and the games it brings. Last week, the fellows at ESPN's Scouts Inc. got the slight edge on me, finishing 10-6 while my predictions put me at a mediocre 8-8. There were definitely some upsets and some surprising wins in last weeks action, as some teams put the "what lockout?" smack down on their season opener. Lets take a closer look at this week's games.


Chicago Bears vs. New Orleans Saints

ESPN Pick: New Orleans 24 Chicago 13
Committed Fan Pick: New Orleans 21 Chicago 17

I liked what I saw out of the Bears last week as they dominated a tough NFC South team in the Falcons. They had vicious defensive pressure, never allowing the Falcons to get into a groove. The Saints, however, have Drew Brees, a prolific quarterback who specializes in finding the open receiver, no matter the coverage.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Minnesota Vikings

ESPN Pick: Tampa Bay 21 Minnesota 17
Committed Fan pick: Minnesota 24 Tampa Bay 14

Listen, the Minnesota Vikings are far from being a well put together team. Donovan McNabb made a poor showing at quarterback last week, and failed to initiate the offense at all. I don't particularly like the O-line in Minnesota, but In Adrian Peterson I trust, and against Tampa Bay's young and untested defense, I think Minnesota prevails behind a big day from their star player.


Oakland Raiders vs. Buffalo Bills

ESPN Pick: Oakland 20 Buffalo 14
Committed Fan Pick: Oakland 31 Buffalo 28

This matchup puts two deceptively good offenses up against two mediocre defenses, and a firefight is sure to follow. The Bills seem to have found a pretty good QB in Ryan Fitzpatrick, and coupled with utility back Fred Jackson, the Bills could easily go punch for punch with Oakland and its 1-2 power running combo.


Detroit Lions vs. Kansas City Chiefs

ESPN Pick: Detroit 27 Kansas City 17
Committed Fan Pick: Detroit 23 Kansas City 17

Matt Cassel and co. will be looking for a bounce back win after last weeks drubbing by the Buffalo Bills, but they will not get a pushover team to get it against, as the streaking Lions come to town. Detroit has the best D-Line in the league and can put a lot of pressure on a QB very quickly. QB Matt Stafford looked in top form last Sunday, as him and Calvin Johnson are finally establishing good chemistry.


Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans

ESPN Pick: Baltimore 24 Tennessee 17
Committed Fan Pick: Baltimore 31 Tennessee 13

The Titans played a close, defensive struggle of a game last week, without managing to come away with a win. They face a very tough test in Baltimore, who are coming off a destruction against one of the leagues best defenses last week. Tennessee will have to utilize Chris Johnson more this week than last, but if the Ravens get ahead early, they will limit what Tennessee can do with their star player.


Indianapolis Colts vs. Cleveland Browns

ESPN Pick: Cleveland 21 Indianapolis 20
Committed Fan Pick: Cleveland 24 Indianapolis 17

The Colts certainly don't have the worst QB option at the helm without Peyton Manning, but last week Kerry Collins almost let the team get shut out by the Texans. If not for a late Texans turnover, that most likely would have happened. The fact that I've never seen the Colts get shut out while I've been alive should make it obvious that this team is in dire straits. This week, they face the tough ground game of Cleveland and bruiser back Peyton Hillis. If the Colts can stop Hillis, they could give Collins a legitimate  shot to get them a win.


Jacksonville Jaguars vs. New York Jets

ESPN Pick: Jets 27 Jaguars 14
Committed Fan Pick: Jets 23 Jaguars 17

Both of these teams had to fight for a win in week 1, as both of them could have easily lost their game. In this game, new Jags QB Luke McCown will have to duplicate his accurate passing against the beefed up Jets defense, including shut down corner Darelle Revis. On defense, the Jags will have to slow down the run game and force Mark Sanchez to throw to beat them.


Pittsburg Steelers vs. Seattle Seahawks

ESPN Pick: Pittsburgh 27 Seattle 20 
Committed Fan Pick: Pittsburgh 35 Seattle 14

I expect two things out of this game. (1) Pittsburgh doesn't lose two games in a row. (2) James Harrison knocks someone out cold in this one. Look, Seattle is on a collision course of destruction, where bad luck meets bad timing. Pittsburgh is angry after their week 1 drubbing and I fully expect them to let Tavaris Jackson know about it.  I expect the Steeler's D will be taking care of fundamentals this week, and on offense I see Ben Roethlisberger maybe getting some TD passes to go with the INT's he threw last week.


Washington Redskins vs. Arizona Cardinals

ESPN Pick: Washington 20 Arizona 10 
Committed Fan Pick: Arizona 21 Washington 17

Washington looked good last week, and I think they have potential as a possible Wild Card team this year, but they'll face a new look Cardinals team this week. QB Rex Grossman probably won't throw for more yards than Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb, but he could be most useful leading and organizing his team's offense on and off the field. This game could go either way, as there is alot of talent on both teams.


Green Bay Packers vs. Carolina Panthers

ESPN Pick: Green Bay 20 Carolina 14
Committed Fan Pick: Green Bay 24 Carolina 17

A lot of people underestimated Panthers QB Cam Newton going into last week, myself included. Lesson learned, with a grain of salt. Newton torched the Cardinals secondary for 422 yards passing, but faces a tougher secondary this week. Green Bay is a much better team defensively than Arizona, so Newton might find himself gambling and losing as he tries to replicate his success from last week.


San Francisco 49er's vs. Dallas Cowboys

ESPN Pick: Dallas 27 San Francisco 20
Committed Fan Pick:  Dallas 27 San Francisco 21

One of the more interesting match ups of this week, this game features to teams with something to prove and desperate to do so. Dallas needs to rally behind QB Tony Romo, a re-occuring problem just about every year now, and trust him to make plays late down the stretch. And oh yeah, he needs to actually do it. San Francisco needs to show life in an offense that relied on kick returns for half of its points last week. Unless Ted Ginn Jr. can bust one or two off every week, the offense needs to step up and produce some points.


Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos

ESPN Pick: Denver 24 Cincinnati 23 
Committed Fan Pick: Denver 27 Cincinnati 21

In a matchup between Kyle Orton and Andy Dalton, I'm gonna take Orton here. Orton also has a better team behind him, and a more capable receiving corp than Dalton. If Denver can throw some disguised blitzes at Dalton and stand steady against Cedric Benson and the run game, they should win this game.


Houston Texans vs. Miami Dolphins

ESPN Pick: Houston 24 Miami 20 
Committed Fan Pick: Miami 21 Houston 20

This pick depends alot on the status of Houston RB Arian Foster and his status for the game. If he isn't playing, I think Miami slips past Houston. If he does, I think Houston takes it. But I have to like the Dolphin's chances in this game. I mean, who didn't get even a little bit excited to see Chad Henne go off last week? He was Henne the Hulk, roughing up New England's secondary for 416 passing yards.


San Diego Chargers vs. New England Patriots

ESPN Pick: San Diego 27 New England 22
Committed Fan Pick: San Diego 23 New England 21

With Peyton Manning out for the foreseeable future, this has got to be the marquee quarterback matchup of the season. Phillip Rivers could easily abuse this secondary, still shaky after giving up more than 400 yards passing last week. Tom Brady and Co. will do whatever possible to test the Chargers defense, and this one could easily become a scoring clinic.


Philadelphia Eagles vs. Atlanta Falcons

ESPN Pick: Philadelphia 24 Atlanta 23 
Committed Fan Pick: Philadelphia 27 Atlanta 21

Another who matchup here, a must win games for both teams. For the "Dream Team" Eagles, a win against the Falcons could start garnering them some serious respect. For the Falcons, the game is a must win to avoid starting off 0-2. If the Falcons can't beat the Saints out in the NFC South division battle, they will have to try their best to secure a Wild Card berth, and that starts with winning this game.


St. Louis Rams vs. New York Giants

ESPN Pick: Giants 21 Rams 13
Committed Fan Pick: Giants 24 Rams 17

Both of these teams played a disappointing season opener last week, and that makes both of them looking for a rebound win. Two teams enter, one team leaves. Sam Bradford and the Rams are on their way to something special. But the Giants have already been there, and they have an edge in experience at basically every position. One glaring weakness is the lack of depth and skill at cornerback, which the Rams could exploit by using Danny Amendola all over the field at wide receiver.