Thursday
Game: NY Jets at New England
Pick: New England - For as average as the Patriots looked against Buffalo this past weekend, I give veteran Tom Brady the advantage in the shortened week over rookie Geno Smith and the visiting Jets.
Result: New England 13 NY Jets 10
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: St. Louis at Atlanta
Pick: Atlanta - Coming off a disappointing loss to the Saints, I look for the Falcons to bounce back nicely at home against the young Rams.
Result: Atlanta 31 St. Louis 24
Record: 2-0
Game: Carolina at Buffalo
Pick: Carolina - This was arguably the most difficult pick I made this week. While it appears as if Buffalo has some definite young talent on the offensive side of the ball, they sounded pretty devastated after their last-second loss to the Patriots this past weekend, and while I still don't think Carolina is a playoff team, their defense is looking new and improved, and Cam Newton will present a very unAFC East-like presence the Bills may have difficulty in stopping.
Result: Buffalo 24 Carolina 23
Record: 2-1
Game: Minnesota at Chicago
Pick: Chicago - Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the game and arguably the best player in the game, but he's only one guy, and in the typically awful field conditions at Soldier Field against the still stingy Bears defense, I give Chicago the definite edge in this one.
Result: Chicago 31 Minnesota 30
Record: 3-1
Game: Washington at Green Bay
Pick: Green Bay - The loser of this game will be 0-2. I still don't think Robert Griffin III is 100% and with the game at Lambeau and Aaron Rodgers looking as good as ever, I like for the Packers to even their record following a two-score win over the 'Skins.
Result: Green Bay 38 Washington 20
Record: 4-1
Game: Miami at Indianapolis
Pick: Indianapolis - Even though I still don't think the Colts are going to be a great team this year and every time I pick them, I'm nibbling my nails until the clock reads zeroes, I will give them the slight edge at home. Andrew Luck has just found ways to win games at the end, and I'm predicting the same kind of ending in this game as well.
Result: Miami 24 Indianapolis 20
Record: 4-2
Game: Dallas at Kansas City
Pick: Dallas - If it's ruled that Tony Romo won't be playing in this game, I will likely go with the upset and take the Chiefs. However, for the time being, it appears as if he's slated to start and even though I was impressed with the Chiefs' dominating win over the Jaguars in the first week of the season, the Cowboys are far better than the Jaguars. Then again, that's not saying a whole lot. I'll take the Cowboys in a close one.
Result: Kansas City 17 Dallas 16
Record: 4-3
Game: Cleveland at Baltimore
Pick: Baltimore - While the Browns shined in the preseason, there's a reason they call it the preseason. Once the season got underway, the Browns of this year looked like the Browns of just about every year. Coming off a humiliating opening night loss in Denver, look for Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, and company to put up big numbers at home in this one. I look for the Ravens win by three scores.
Result: Baltimore 14 Cleveland 6
Record: 5-3
Game: Tennessee at Houston
Pick: Houston - The Titans may have defeated the Steelers this past weekend, but the way Pittsburgh played, I have a feeling many college teams could have beaten them as well. While Houston played pretty poorly for the first half of their Monday Night game, they rebounded in the second half to let people know, just like the past couple of years, they're a team to watch out for at the end of the season. I look for the Texans to improve to 2-0 with an easy win at home in this one.
Result: Houston 30 Tennessee 24 OT
Record: 6-3
Game: San Diego at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia - The Chargers impressed me for one half in their game against the Texans on Monday Night, but the way in which they ended the game was reminiscent of their losing season from a year ago. Chip Kelly's offense was high-flying and efficient in its first game, and I look for the team to frustrate their second straight opponent with that very offense in a narrow victory at home for the Eagles.
Result: San Diego 33 Philadelphia 30
Record: 6-4
Game: Detroit at Arizona
Pick: Detroit - I picked against the Lions in their first game, because I've been very disappointed with their defense over the past year or so. Following Adrian Peterson's 78-yard touchdown scamper on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage, though, the Lions bottled him up pretty well, and with dual-threat Reggie Bush scheduled to play in this game, I give Detroit a slight advantage in this one.
Result: Arizona 25 Detroit 21
Record: 6-5
Game: New Orleans at Tampa Bay
Pick: New Orleans - With Coach Payton on the sideline again, there's a sense of structure and leadership which was vacant from last year's squad. This was extraordinarily beneficial to the team in their opening week win against the Falcons. On the other side, Tampa is still killing themselves with numerous and ill-timed penalties, and I find it difficult, even though Doug Martin will likely light up the Saints defense for a few yards, that it will be enough to overcome the explosive Saints' offense.
Result: New Orleans 16 Tampa Bay 14
Record: 7-5
Game: Jacksonville at Oakland
Pick: Oakland - These could arguably be the two worst teams in football. With the game being at home, though, and with Raiders' quarterback Terrell Pryor presenting a dual-threat presence behind center the Jags' defense isn't accustomed to, I give Oakland a slight edge in this one.
Result: Oakland 19 Jacksonville 9
Record: 8-5
Game: Denver at NY Giants
Pick: Denver - With the game being at home and head coach Tom Coughlin being ticked at his team's six-turnover performance on Sunday night, I could very easily see the Giants pulling off the upset in this one. However, with three extra days for Peyton Manning to study film of the Giants' defense, and having thrown 7 touchdowns in the team's opener, the guy seems to be on a mission, and I'll be hard-pressed to pick against the Broncos anytime soon. I'm going with Denver, but in a game which is tighter than most people expect.
Result: Denver 41 NY Giants 23
Record: 9-5
Game: San Francisco at Seattle
Pick: San Francisco
Result: The Seahawks pounded the Niners at home last year, but that was when they were fully healthy on defense. They'll still be without some key players in the secondary due to suspension, and with the Niners offense looking more potent than at any point since the Steve Young days, I like for the 49ers to win a huge divisional road game in this one. Niners by two scores.
Result: Seattle 29 San Francisco 3
Record: 9-6
Monday
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - Like with what I said about the New York Giants, I could very easily see the Steelers pull off a mild upset here. The team, and especially coach Mike Tomlin, have to be embarrassed and angry about their opening-week performance. However, I just don't think the Steelers are anything special this year. Roethlisberger will continue getting pounded behind the line, and even more so now, since Pro Bowl center Pouncey is out for the season. The Bengals appear to be better on both sides of the ball, and with the game at home, I think they'll even their record at 1-1 with a win on Monday Night.
Result: Cincinnati 20 Pittsburgh 10
Record: 10-6
Week 2 Record: 10-6 (.625)
Overall Record: 22-10 (.688)
Game: NY Jets at New England
Pick: New England - For as average as the Patriots looked against Buffalo this past weekend, I give veteran Tom Brady the advantage in the shortened week over rookie Geno Smith and the visiting Jets.
Result: New England 13 NY Jets 10
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: St. Louis at Atlanta
Pick: Atlanta - Coming off a disappointing loss to the Saints, I look for the Falcons to bounce back nicely at home against the young Rams.
Result: Atlanta 31 St. Louis 24
Record: 2-0
Game: Carolina at Buffalo
Pick: Carolina - This was arguably the most difficult pick I made this week. While it appears as if Buffalo has some definite young talent on the offensive side of the ball, they sounded pretty devastated after their last-second loss to the Patriots this past weekend, and while I still don't think Carolina is a playoff team, their defense is looking new and improved, and Cam Newton will present a very unAFC East-like presence the Bills may have difficulty in stopping.
Result: Buffalo 24 Carolina 23
Record: 2-1
Game: Minnesota at Chicago
Pick: Chicago - Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the game and arguably the best player in the game, but he's only one guy, and in the typically awful field conditions at Soldier Field against the still stingy Bears defense, I give Chicago the definite edge in this one.
Result: Chicago 31 Minnesota 30
Record: 3-1
Game: Washington at Green Bay
Pick: Green Bay - The loser of this game will be 0-2. I still don't think Robert Griffin III is 100% and with the game at Lambeau and Aaron Rodgers looking as good as ever, I like for the Packers to even their record following a two-score win over the 'Skins.
Result: Green Bay 38 Washington 20
Record: 4-1
Game: Miami at Indianapolis
Pick: Indianapolis - Even though I still don't think the Colts are going to be a great team this year and every time I pick them, I'm nibbling my nails until the clock reads zeroes, I will give them the slight edge at home. Andrew Luck has just found ways to win games at the end, and I'm predicting the same kind of ending in this game as well.
Result: Miami 24 Indianapolis 20
Record: 4-2
Game: Dallas at Kansas City
Pick: Dallas - If it's ruled that Tony Romo won't be playing in this game, I will likely go with the upset and take the Chiefs. However, for the time being, it appears as if he's slated to start and even though I was impressed with the Chiefs' dominating win over the Jaguars in the first week of the season, the Cowboys are far better than the Jaguars. Then again, that's not saying a whole lot. I'll take the Cowboys in a close one.
Result: Kansas City 17 Dallas 16
Record: 4-3
Game: Cleveland at Baltimore
Pick: Baltimore - While the Browns shined in the preseason, there's a reason they call it the preseason. Once the season got underway, the Browns of this year looked like the Browns of just about every year. Coming off a humiliating opening night loss in Denver, look for Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, and company to put up big numbers at home in this one. I look for the Ravens win by three scores.
Result: Baltimore 14 Cleveland 6
Record: 5-3
Game: Tennessee at Houston
Pick: Houston - The Titans may have defeated the Steelers this past weekend, but the way Pittsburgh played, I have a feeling many college teams could have beaten them as well. While Houston played pretty poorly for the first half of their Monday Night game, they rebounded in the second half to let people know, just like the past couple of years, they're a team to watch out for at the end of the season. I look for the Texans to improve to 2-0 with an easy win at home in this one.
Result: Houston 30 Tennessee 24 OT
Record: 6-3
Game: San Diego at Philadelphia
Pick: Philadelphia - The Chargers impressed me for one half in their game against the Texans on Monday Night, but the way in which they ended the game was reminiscent of their losing season from a year ago. Chip Kelly's offense was high-flying and efficient in its first game, and I look for the team to frustrate their second straight opponent with that very offense in a narrow victory at home for the Eagles.
Result: San Diego 33 Philadelphia 30
Record: 6-4
Game: Detroit at Arizona
Pick: Detroit - I picked against the Lions in their first game, because I've been very disappointed with their defense over the past year or so. Following Adrian Peterson's 78-yard touchdown scamper on the Vikings' first play from scrimmage, though, the Lions bottled him up pretty well, and with dual-threat Reggie Bush scheduled to play in this game, I give Detroit a slight advantage in this one.
Result: Arizona 25 Detroit 21
Record: 6-5
Game: New Orleans at Tampa Bay
Pick: New Orleans - With Coach Payton on the sideline again, there's a sense of structure and leadership which was vacant from last year's squad. This was extraordinarily beneficial to the team in their opening week win against the Falcons. On the other side, Tampa is still killing themselves with numerous and ill-timed penalties, and I find it difficult, even though Doug Martin will likely light up the Saints defense for a few yards, that it will be enough to overcome the explosive Saints' offense.
Result: New Orleans 16 Tampa Bay 14
Record: 7-5
Game: Jacksonville at Oakland
Pick: Oakland - These could arguably be the two worst teams in football. With the game being at home, though, and with Raiders' quarterback Terrell Pryor presenting a dual-threat presence behind center the Jags' defense isn't accustomed to, I give Oakland a slight edge in this one.
Result: Oakland 19 Jacksonville 9
Record: 8-5
Game: Denver at NY Giants
Pick: Denver - With the game being at home and head coach Tom Coughlin being ticked at his team's six-turnover performance on Sunday night, I could very easily see the Giants pulling off the upset in this one. However, with three extra days for Peyton Manning to study film of the Giants' defense, and having thrown 7 touchdowns in the team's opener, the guy seems to be on a mission, and I'll be hard-pressed to pick against the Broncos anytime soon. I'm going with Denver, but in a game which is tighter than most people expect.
Result: Denver 41 NY Giants 23
Record: 9-5
Game: San Francisco at Seattle
Pick: San Francisco
Result: The Seahawks pounded the Niners at home last year, but that was when they were fully healthy on defense. They'll still be without some key players in the secondary due to suspension, and with the Niners offense looking more potent than at any point since the Steve Young days, I like for the 49ers to win a huge divisional road game in this one. Niners by two scores.
Result: Seattle 29 San Francisco 3
Record: 9-6
Monday
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
Pick: Cincinnati - Like with what I said about the New York Giants, I could very easily see the Steelers pull off a mild upset here. The team, and especially coach Mike Tomlin, have to be embarrassed and angry about their opening-week performance. However, I just don't think the Steelers are anything special this year. Roethlisberger will continue getting pounded behind the line, and even more so now, since Pro Bowl center Pouncey is out for the season. The Bengals appear to be better on both sides of the ball, and with the game at home, I think they'll even their record at 1-1 with a win on Monday Night.
Result: Cincinnati 20 Pittsburgh 10
Record: 10-6
Week 2 Record: 10-6 (.625)
Overall Record: 22-10 (.688)
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