NFL Picks: Week 2
By Michael Schneid
Jets @ Patriots
This won't be the blow out people expect. Jets didn't look terrible last week and their defense is solid. But the offense still isn't good enough to hang with Brady and whoever is at WR and RB.
Winner: Patriots
Cowboys @ Chiefs
Cowboys beat the Giants by only 5 points despite a +5 turnover differential. Chiefs dominated the Jaguars and the Cowboys will provide a slightly greater challenge in week 2. Romo will settle down and be able to find Dez Bryant more often this week
Winner: Cowboys
Rams @ Falcons
Falcons lost a tough one on the road against their biggest rival. They won't start 0-2, despite the Rams putting up a tough fight
Winner: Falcons
Panthers @ Bills
This game is tough. Two teams who lost tough games and desperately need wins. Bills looked good last week but Panthers may open up their offense a little more, especially against a depleted Bills secondary.
Winner: Panthers
Vikings @ Bears
Christian Ponder looked awful last week and Peterson was held in check after an explosive opening run. Bears defense is much better than Lions and should provide even more troubles for the Vikes offense.
Winner: Bears
Redskins @ Packers
A pair of division winners from 2012 who lost emotional opening games. RG3 did not look good and didn't look 100%. Their secondary also didn't look 100% as Mike Vick threw all over them. Aaron Rodgers is better than Vick and Eddie Lacy may find more room to run against Washington than he did against SF.
Winner: Packers
Dolphins @ Colts
Colts escaped with a win last week and Dolphins defense was impressive against the Browns. Mike Wallace should do better than 1 catch for 15 yards but the Colts still have more fire power on both sides of the ball
Winner: Colts
Browns @ Ravens
This one is easy to predict. Brandon Weeden looked bad last week and this is the Ravens first home game since winning the Super Bowl. They got embarrassed last week and have had three extra days to stew over it.
Winner: Ravens
Titans @ Texans
Still not sure how the Titans beat the Steelers so easily last week, despite a lack of offensive production. They will need a lot more from Jake Locker and Chris Johnson if they want to beat the Texans, and they won't get it
Winner: Texans
Chargers @ Eagles
How much fun was watching the Eagles offense last week? Chargers will be more prepared than Washington was but it still won't help. Most importantly, Eagles defense looked very good and that will be key for Philly this year
Winner: Eagles
Lions @ Cardinals
Both teams played well in week 1 after miserable 2012 seasons. However only the Lions won. Cardinals should bounce back from a tough week 1 loss because Patrick Peterson can shut down Calvin Johnson. The question now becomes can the rest of defense stop Reggie Bush?
Winner: Cardinals
Saints @ Bucs
Bucs looked bad in a loss to Jets. Undisciplined, couldn't run the ball or throw. Defense had way too many gaps. That was against the Jets anemic offense. Drew Brees will be licking his chops to get out there Sunday.
Winner: Saints
Jaguars @ Raiders
Expect a much better game from Jags with Chad Henne at QB. Raiders will win because Terrelle Pryor showed excellent poise and leadership last week in Indy. McFadden will find more room to run.
Winner: Raiders
Broncos @ Giants
Peyton Manning had an extra 3 days rest after throwing 7 TDs last Thursday. Meanwhile, the Giants committed 6 turnovers in a loss to the Cowboys. The Manning brothers each threw for over 400 yards. Giants will need a run game to win but I think their defense steps up. Giants cannot afford an 0-2 start and I like talented desperate teams at home.
Winner: Giants
49ers @ Seahawks
Seattle hardly loses at home. Colin Kaepernick hardly looked human last week. Same for Anquan Boldin, who won't replicate last week's success, not against Richard Sherman. Fans will be singing and chanting "Russell" at the end of this game
Winner: Seahawks
MNF - Steelers @ Bengals
Steelers looked terrible in a loss to the Titans and the Bengals self-destructed in Chicago. Bengals lost to a good team. Not sure yet if Steelers did. AFC North went 0-4 last week but with all four teams paired up this week, two teams will get their first wins. Steelers can't run and Bengals play excellent defense, plus they have AJ Green
Winner: AJ Green
Jets @ Patriots
This won't be the blow out people expect. Jets didn't look terrible last week and their defense is solid. But the offense still isn't good enough to hang with Brady and whoever is at WR and RB.
Winner: Patriots
Cowboys @ Chiefs
Cowboys beat the Giants by only 5 points despite a +5 turnover differential. Chiefs dominated the Jaguars and the Cowboys will provide a slightly greater challenge in week 2. Romo will settle down and be able to find Dez Bryant more often this week
Winner: Cowboys
Rams @ Falcons
Falcons lost a tough one on the road against their biggest rival. They won't start 0-2, despite the Rams putting up a tough fight
Winner: Falcons
Panthers @ Bills
This game is tough. Two teams who lost tough games and desperately need wins. Bills looked good last week but Panthers may open up their offense a little more, especially against a depleted Bills secondary.
Winner: Panthers
Vikings @ Bears
Christian Ponder looked awful last week and Peterson was held in check after an explosive opening run. Bears defense is much better than Lions and should provide even more troubles for the Vikes offense.
Winner: Bears
Redskins @ Packers
A pair of division winners from 2012 who lost emotional opening games. RG3 did not look good and didn't look 100%. Their secondary also didn't look 100% as Mike Vick threw all over them. Aaron Rodgers is better than Vick and Eddie Lacy may find more room to run against Washington than he did against SF.
Winner: Packers
Dolphins @ Colts
Colts escaped with a win last week and Dolphins defense was impressive against the Browns. Mike Wallace should do better than 1 catch for 15 yards but the Colts still have more fire power on both sides of the ball
Winner: Colts
Browns @ Ravens
This one is easy to predict. Brandon Weeden looked bad last week and this is the Ravens first home game since winning the Super Bowl. They got embarrassed last week and have had three extra days to stew over it.
Winner: Ravens
Titans @ Texans
Still not sure how the Titans beat the Steelers so easily last week, despite a lack of offensive production. They will need a lot more from Jake Locker and Chris Johnson if they want to beat the Texans, and they won't get it
Winner: Texans
Chargers @ Eagles
How much fun was watching the Eagles offense last week? Chargers will be more prepared than Washington was but it still won't help. Most importantly, Eagles defense looked very good and that will be key for Philly this year
Winner: Eagles
Lions @ Cardinals
Both teams played well in week 1 after miserable 2012 seasons. However only the Lions won. Cardinals should bounce back from a tough week 1 loss because Patrick Peterson can shut down Calvin Johnson. The question now becomes can the rest of defense stop Reggie Bush?
Winner: Cardinals
Saints @ Bucs
Bucs looked bad in a loss to Jets. Undisciplined, couldn't run the ball or throw. Defense had way too many gaps. That was against the Jets anemic offense. Drew Brees will be licking his chops to get out there Sunday.
Winner: Saints
Jaguars @ Raiders
Expect a much better game from Jags with Chad Henne at QB. Raiders will win because Terrelle Pryor showed excellent poise and leadership last week in Indy. McFadden will find more room to run.
Winner: Raiders
Broncos @ Giants
Peyton Manning had an extra 3 days rest after throwing 7 TDs last Thursday. Meanwhile, the Giants committed 6 turnovers in a loss to the Cowboys. The Manning brothers each threw for over 400 yards. Giants will need a run game to win but I think their defense steps up. Giants cannot afford an 0-2 start and I like talented desperate teams at home.
Winner: Giants
49ers @ Seahawks
Seattle hardly loses at home. Colin Kaepernick hardly looked human last week. Same for Anquan Boldin, who won't replicate last week's success, not against Richard Sherman. Fans will be singing and chanting "Russell" at the end of this game
Winner: Seahawks
MNF - Steelers @ Bengals
Steelers looked terrible in a loss to the Titans and the Bengals self-destructed in Chicago. Bengals lost to a good team. Not sure yet if Steelers did. AFC North went 0-4 last week but with all four teams paired up this week, two teams will get their first wins. Steelers can't run and Bengals play excellent defense, plus they have AJ Green
Winner: AJ Green
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