Week 2 Picks

I like to start off strong and a good deal of my picks were right on the money, no thanks to the Rams who took a puzzling loss at home or the Eagles or who had no business losing in Green Bay. Ya'll laughed at me when I picked the Texans (Yes you did, don't lie!) but the Chiefs-Raiders game may be a battle of the beatens when the meet up next month. Except where noted all lines courtesy of USA Today Sports Weekly and are for entertainment and comparison purposes only.

NFL SCHEDULE – WEEK 2

Sunday, September 16

Falcons (0-1) @ Jaguars (0-1)
Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville 1:00 FOX
Favorite- Jags by 10.5
Fast Fact- First meeting for these two teams in Jacksonville since December 1996

The Jags were embarrassed at home by a Titans team that they were supposed to manhandle. Pity the poor Falcons, they are catching them at the very worst time. You think that Bobby Petrino wished he stayed at Louisville? If the Falcons keep this up, Petrino might be reunited with his protege Brian Brohm.
Pick-Jacksonville


Bills (0-1) @ Steelers (1-0)
Heinz Field, Pittsburgh 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite- Steelers by 9.5
Fast Fact-The Bills never have to adjust to any time change, all 16 of their games are in the Eastern time zone

The Steelers fresh off a bye week...errr thumping of the Browns get a Bills team, still struggling with the injury of Kevin Everett, in their home opener. The Bills let a prime upset chance get away last week, I doubt that they will be that close in this one. If JP Losman can stay upright against the Steelers strong pass rush, he might be able to pick on the Steelers weak corners. I doubt that he will.
Pick-Pittsburgh

Bengals (1-0) @ Browns (0-1)
Browns Stadium, Cleveland 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite Bengals by
Fast Fact-The Bengals 30-0 shutout of the Browns was their first shutout since blanking the Browns 21-0 in 1989.

The Bengals defense shined on Monday Night, ballhawking and bighitting their way to a gutty, gritty win over division rival. They hope for no sort of let down when they travel north to battle their in state, in division rivals. The Browns are a mess and Derek Anderson will have a long afternoon.
Pick-Cincinnati

Packers (1-0) @ Giants (0-1)
Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite- Even (Line courtesy of Yahoo Sports)
Fast Fact Packer QB Brett Favre has guided the Pack to an NFL record 148 wins matching the total of Bronco QB John Elway

The Pack was the gift recipient of one of the two shouldn't haves last week. The G-Men are already in midseason meltdown form already. Look for "The Pack is Back!" talk to start anew as Favre gets another win he doesn't deserve. With Manning and the G-Men a hot mess, Tom Coughlin's already warm coaching seat will start to scald.
Pick-Green Bay


Texans (1-0) @ Panthers (1-0)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, NC 1:00 CBS
Favorite- Panthers by 6.5
Fast Fact-The Texans are sporting their franchise's first three game winning streak, winning the last two to end 2006.

The Texans are feelin' their oats after playing and fulfilling the unexpected role of favorite and bully in beating a hopeless Chifs squad last week. The curve gets a bit steeper as they face a Panthers team that pulled an unexpected thumping on the Rams. I cant see the Texans, who are starting to shed their pushover status, giving the Panthers anymore than token resistance. If the Panthers get the twin running threat of DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams rolling, the Texans will have a tough go.
Pick-Carolina


Colts (1-0) @ Titans (1-0)
LP Field, Nashville 1:00 (CBS)
Favorite- Colts by 7
Fast Fact The Colts have a three game losing streak against the AFC South

A funny thing happened to the Colts on their way to their Super Bowl win, they seem to get tripped up on the road in Nashville. The Titans want to pound the ball and force the Colts into impatience. The formula worked well last year. The Colts looked crisp and efficent in their opening night thrashing of the Saints and despite Vince Young's rapidly maturing game should be able to dictate the pace of this one.
Pick-Indy

Saints (0-1) @ Buccaneers (0-1)
Raymond James Stadium, Tampa 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite- Saints by 3
Fast Fact-The Saints were the first team the Bucs beat as they broke an NFL record 26 game losing streak in 1977

The Saints are hopping mad as they were humilated by a 31 point second half blitz by the Colts. The Bucs are not that good, as a sad sack game in Seattle proved what many thought, no offensive weapons give them little chance to win. Look for the Saints to bounce back and punish the Bucs.
Pick-New Orleans

49ers (1-0) @ Rams (0-1)
Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis 1:00 (FOX)
Favorite- Rams by 3 (Line courtesy of Yahoo Sports)
Fast Fact The Rams have won seven of the past eight meetings in St. Louis

The Rams were a sleeper pick in their division and sleptwalked through a listless 27-13 loss to a Panthers squad that they should have clobbered. The Niners rallied to beat the Cards late Monday and are fast improving to sleeper status themselves. I'll give the Rams one more shot. An 0-2 start with both coming at home, would bode badly.
Pick-St. Louis


Cowboys (1-0) @ Dolphins (0-1)
Dolphins Stadium, Miami 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite- Cowboys by 3.5
Fast Fact-First meeting of these teams since 2003

The Pokes are full of vigor after rolling up a frightening offensive show on a national stage last Sunday, the Fins offense cant seem to get out of its own way, letting a winnable game slip away in Washington. The devil in me wants to say that the Pokes wither in the south Florida heat, but I know better. The Fins don't have the horses and while the Boys might not drop 45 this week, they have enough to make a lead stick.
Pick-Dallas

Vikings(1-0) @ Lions (1-0)
Ford Field, Detroit 4:05 (FOX)
Favorite-Lions by 3.5
Fast Fact The Vikings have yet to be beaten by the Lions at Ford Field, winning all 5 meetings and have not lost to the Lions since 2001.

The Lions got to play bully to the one team that they know they could and should beat. The Vikes used a big play ballhawking defense to pound the Falcons. The Vikes have a budding star in Adrian Peterson. The Motor City Kitties have a bad habit of playing flat after a good performance. This game will be no exception.
Pick-Minnesota

Seahawks (1-0) @ Cardinals (0-1)
University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale AZ-4:05 (FOX)
Favorite- Seahawks by 3
Fast Fact Someone in the Seahawks front office must have made the schedule maker mad, the Seahawks make four trips to the Eastern time zone and will log better than 33,000 travel miles.

The Seahawks rolled to a rather easy ho-hum win against a sorry Bucs team. The Cards let a winnable game get by them. As much as the fates tell me that the Cards will come home and be flat. I smell an upset here, the Cards have long stopped being a pushover and a home crowd fast gaining a noisy rep will be just enough of an edge.
Pick-Arizona (upset pick of the week)


Chiefs (0-1) @Bears (0-1)
Soldier Field, Chicago 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite- Bears by 12.5
Fast Fact-Chiefs first trip to Chicago since 1999

That whimpering you hear is from the Chiefs who got pounded by the Texans and have to face a very angry Bears squad who got punched in the mouth by the Chargers. The Chiefs will get hammered, period. The Bears will be in no mood to feel sorry for anyone and do not want to spot any of their divisional foes a two game lead. This game will get ugly and not even Wreck Grossman could mess this one up.
Pick-Chicago (Lock Pick Of The Week)


NY Jets (0-1) @ Ravens (0-1)
M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite-Ravens by 10
Fast Fact-The Ravens have won the last four meetings.

The Jets are a mess (as usual) and looked like it in a sorry performance against the Patriots. The Ravens nearly pulled off the win in Cincy and are not the type of team a QB making his first start needs to face. This will be another late day thumping
Pick-Baltimore


Oakland (0-1) @ Denver (1-0)
Invesco Field @ Mile High, Denver 4:15 (CBS)
Favorite- Broncos by 9.5
Fast Fact Daunte Culpepper starts for his third different team in three seasons.

The Raiders looked pathetic against the Lions, and while the Broncos didn't play like world beaters in stealing one in Buffalo, they have more than enough to beat the Raiders. The Silver and Black's defense may keep it close for a while. But the Broncos would love nothing more than to bury their hated rivals in their home opener.
Pick-Denver

Chargers (1-0) @ Patriots (1-0)
Gillette Stadium, Foxboro MA 8:15 (NBC)
Favorite- Patriots by 3.5
Fast Fact The Chargers are 3-2 on the road against east coast teams in the past two seasons.

The Pats, stung by their league rebuke for their tape-gate scandal face the Chargers in the weeks best matchup. The Chargers need for all-everything LB Shawne Merriman to wreck havoc and keep Tom Brady from picking on their secondary much the same way he did in the Pats playoff win last January. The Pats need a solid game from Laurence Maroney to further control the clock and keep LT off the field. This game is too close to call but will be good one to watch. Flip a coin and take the home team
Pick-New England

Monday, September 17

Redskins (1-0) @ Eagles (0-1)
Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia 8:30 (ESPN)
Favorite- Eagles by 7
Fast Fact The Skins have 25 wins on Monday night, the Eagles 24.

The Skins stole a tight one at home while the Eagles looked lost in a puzzling loss. Needless to say Philly fan will be at full throat and should Gang Green start slow be extra nasty. The Eagles should bounce back strong in front of their home crowd. The Skins won't make it easier and should Clinton Portis open things up for a fast WR combo of Santana Moss and Brandon Lloyd it could get interesting. But I'm nowhere near sold on Jason Campbell. This is a road test he won't pass.
Pick-Philadelphia

Last Week and Overall 14-2