NFL Week 2 Predictions

Heads up! NFL football is back and that means so am I and my self-proclaimed Nostradamus con act. Even stranger is that this is my first official blog post on Power Moves in TWO YEARS!! I blogged predictions and a bunch of other random stuff on Facebook, sure, but this platform was meant to be a permanent home for my sports musings.  

And who are we kidding? I’ve been performing pretty poorly for the past couple of years with my picks so I’m crossing my fingers and hoping that my coming out party is just that and not a flash in the pan!

So…

I started the season off 10-6 with the notable incorrect picks being Kansas City’s upset of San Diego and the HULK SMASH that Seattle put on San Francisco. Oh and I picked the Raiders, again. Here’s to a bounce-back Week 2 and a glorious blogging adventure!

Let’s get to it.

Cards @ Falcons

We can safely say that the Cards feel the absence of Kurt Warner. They squeaked by the Rams with a handful of turnovers and an ineffective offense that was so awful on the ground that it forced Derek Anderson to throw and that was ugly. The Falcons didn’t fare much better against the Steelers, honestly and one has to start wondering if maybe Matt Ryan’s sophomore slump isn’t actually a coming-back-down dance. Personally, I’m betting on a return to his rookie form (at least this weekend) connecting with Roddy White whom he targeted a whopping 23 times last week to cruise by the Cards by two scores, beating the 6 ½ point spread. There are countless issues in Arizona’s running game with a banged up Beanie Wells and an ineffective Tim Hightower. Beanie may help ease the pressure off DA but I just don’t know how much.

Falcons by two scores

Ravens @ Bengals

The Ravens outsmash-mouth’d the defense that had been running its mouth all offseason and their offense did just enough to get the W. The Jets, for their part, were vicious on the blitz and did a number on Baltimore’s new and improved offense (don’t you hate it when you got a new car and the only action you get is driving down the street to the grocery store?) but we should see more of it this weekend against the Bengals who aren’t as stout defensively as they were last year getting blown up for 24 quick points and nearly 250 yards in the first half alone by New England and had to play from behind. We all know the Bengals have an explosive passing game with the addition of TO but they’ll be pressed to play from behind week in and week out… especially against a defense like Baltimore’s although the Ravens' secondary is uncharacteristically human this year. This doesn’t mean that Cincy will come away with a third consecutive victory against their AFC North rivals. In fact, the Ravens will more than clear the 2 point spread they have on the Bengals and win by a touchdown.

Ravens

Chiefs @ Browns

The most impressive thing about Monday night’s thrilling upset over rival San Diego is that Kansas City did it with stifling defense. True, San Diego’s offense is hampered with the absences of Jackson and McNeill but the Chiefs were particularly tough on the run when it counted and showed lots of energy in the secondary creating turnovers and stops throughout the night. The Browns blew it Sunday with turnovers late in the game and could be asking for trouble against Romeo Crennel’s defense. Crennel is familiar with some of the personnel that’ll be on the other sideline. This is especially going to be the case with Delhomme out and Seneca Wallace trying to spark something. Matt Cassel will have an easier time playing his game than he did last week and should do just enough to pull a second straight upset out of his hat (helmet).

Chiefs

Bears @ Cowboys

The Bears very fortunately hung on against the Lions who lost Stafford early and practically threw the game away near the end. Forte ran all over the Lions but will find less room to work with against the Cowboys whose D is coming off of a decent performance in which they held the Redskins offense in check most of the night. Look for Tony Romo and company to get it together at home and win their first contest of the year. Can’t expect much from the Cowboys run game again as the Bears are pretty tough on the run (shut Best down last week) but they’ll get enough done to win the game though the Bears may cover the 8 ½ spread and lose by a mere score.

Cowboys win (Bears cover)

Eagles @ Lions

What a mucky muck. Kolb got knocked out and now we get Michael Vick… Stafford got blown up and now we get Shaun Hill… advantage… Eagles. The real determining factor here is that Hill is just blah and releases the ball like he’s fixed in J-ello. That won’t fly for long with the Eagles’ pass rush. On the flipside, I’m not so sure that a mobile QB like Vick won’t give the Lions fits and I expect him to have a monster game finding Maclin and Jackson for all sorts of nifty roll-out dump-and-runs. The Eagles are favored by a modest 4 ½ but I’m thinking more like two scores in the neighborhood of a couple TDs. The Eagles really want to rebound from a disappointing Week 1 loss that saw them claw back into a game against the powerful Packers but still fall short. The Lions are better than they were a year ago but this is still going to be tough.

Eagles beat spread

Bills @ Packers

The Bills are going to be the unfortunate recipient of Aaron Rodgers’ focused and concentrated baddassery. After having a frustratingly mediocre opener against the Eagles, A-Rod will be determined to get it on even against Buffalo’s decent secondary. Brandon Jackson, replacing Ryan Grant gone for the season, has a great match up to get it going and should have a strong game. The Packers defense was uncharacteristically average last week but should return to form this week, as well as they are likely to win by the two TDs they’re tabbed to win by in Vegas.

Packers beat spread

Steelers @ Titans

The Steelers got by last week on awesome defense and a great late run by Rashard Mendenhall but the offense’s otherwise average performance dampens hopes of another win this weekend in Nashville against a Titans defense that, while not as tough as in past years, can still smother you. It’s hard to tell just how good they are, obviously, as it is both early and their strong performance last week came against my, sadly once again, punchless Raiders. Chris Johnson, however, could run shod on just about anybody (although he’s not done particularly well against the Steelers in the past). It’ll be close and low scoring (anyone else get the feeling most of Pitts’ games are going to be this way for a while … at least until Big Ben returns?). That said, I give the Titans the advantage here on account of home field advantage (the Steelers are 1-6 all time in Nashville) and, of course, Chris Johnson.

Titans by a field goal (Steelers cover)

Dolphins @ Vikings

Hey Brett; miss Sidney much? Yeah, I know, everybody and their stepmother is making a big deal about it and while I don’t normally beat horses (dead or alive), I’ll beat this one into borderline sadism: Minnesota’s passing game has Swiss Cheese inscribed all over it. Rice is out, Harvin is no longer reliable, Berrian is a ghost, Camarillo is a noob and Shiancoe is pretty good but isn’t Antonio Gates and can’t do it all by himself. Adrian Peterson is going to have to run All Day ™ or else the Phins sneak into the dome and steal one. That, though, isn’t likely. Chad Henne hasn’t shown any signs of chemistry with newly acquired sportscar, Brandon Marshall, not in the preseason and not in the season opener. Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, so far, appear to still possess the bulk of the offensive strength for the Dolphins but will find a lot less room to work with against Minnesota than they did against Buffalo. Look for Brett to get a smidgy smidge more chemistry going with his receivers and the Vikes to do enough at home to get by the Phins with at least 6 points.

Vikings win by a TD

Bucs @ Panthers

Well, one thing is for sure: the Panthers really don’t want anything easy. The Giants must have given them the ball half a dozen times and the Panthers simply returned it to them every time en route to giving up 376 juicy yards. Not to mention that they couldn’t run the ball a lick with either De’Angelo Williams or Jonathan Stewart something they should be able to get done this week against Tampa who gave up a hefty 340 yards last week against the Browns (!!). These two NFC South rivals are gonna run up a basketball score Sunday. And Vegas has them at even. I’m giving the edge to the Panthers at home who will get it together just enough to get their first win. I'm betting on a train wreck crossed with a barn burner doused in a push.

Panthers

Seahawks @ Broncos

The Seahawks smashed on the Niners so hard, it made Matt Hasselbeck look 4 years younger. Pete Carroll is getting all sorts of hype right now but even he knows it’s too early to get excited about a win and without Seattle’s famed 12^th man, the Seahawks will have to contend with Denver’s own version of a raucous home field advantage. The passing game should take a slight step back for Seattle and they’ll be forced to rely on Forsett and Washington to move the ball. The Broncos didn’t look too good against Jacksonville, though, and could be in for their first 0-2 start in a decade. I don’t see the Seahawks playing as well on the road as they did last week and will find it hard to stop the Broncos from moving the ball on them (they just added Laurence Maroney to the mix, as well).

Broncos by a TD

Rams @ Raiders

Yay. Another 0-1 start for the Raiders. After a promising and exciting offseason, the Raiders showed up in Nashville nervous and overwhelmed with Chris Johnson. Truthfully, though, they were decent against the run outside of a couple of bad runs (including that big homerun they gave up early) and otherwise were simply ineffective offensively behind, yet again, a horrendously porous offensive line. They should find matters much easier this weekend against the Rams at home. Steven Jackson isn’t as fast as Johnson but he can bruise you in colors you didn’t know you could form but the rest of the offense is still weak and fledgling. Look for the Raider defense to look pretty good. Jason Campbell should get it together and bounce back hooking up with Zach Miller for a score or two. With Michael Bush coming back, the silver n black should be able to run all over St. Louis at home and win by a couple scores. And even if he doesn't, D Mac looks prime for a consecutive strong performance.

Raiders beat the spread

Patriots @ Jets

The Jets have gone to “grade school” while Brady and co. look poised to make like 6th grader bullies throwing Jets players into trash cans and kickin' em down bungalow ramps. While there’s always a chance that Randy gets stuck out on Revis Island, I don’t think Brady is concerned about it at all as Wes Welker was a monster last week and the rest of New York’s secondary (see: Cromartie and Wilson) looked down right noobish against Baltimore. The Jets’ offense didn’t do much to impress as Sanchez looked like a deer in headlights out there, Shonn Greene fumblin’, stumblin’ and bumblin’ about. That won’t hack it against the Pats. That said, I have a feeling the Jets get it together this weekend for their division rivals (you know Rex laid into them a good one). Patriots are 1 ½ point favorites but it don’t matta much, yo.

J-E-T-S, JETS! JETS! JETS! (that has to be the lamest chant of any kind ever)

Jags @ Chargers

Oh poor JAX, this is what you would call the WRONG time to run into San Diego. Favored by a TD, the Chargers are hot (not in the good way) coming off that crushing loss (Charger fans will deny it on account of it being early and typical but you’ve gotta admit, that STUNG) to the Chiefs in KC. The passing game was all the Bolts had goin for them but even super stud Philip Rivers couldn’t win the game all by himself as the motley crew of Floyd, Naanee, Davis, Alworth, Chandler... whomever... dropped a few balls and ran a few questionable routes in their debut without VJ. The Jags looked pretty good last week dispatching Denver by a touchdown but don’t count on Garrard throwing for another 3 TDs in a single game anytime soon. This will be much tougher in San Diego against a hungry Chargers team. Look for Mathews to get over that meh rookie debut and make some big plays with the crowd behind him giving him confidence.

Chargers beat the spread, win by two scores

Texans @ Redskins

Oooooweee. Two of the surprises from last week together in the nation’s capital! One team goes home 1-1… but WHO!? Well, it’ll be the Redskins, unfortunately. They barely squeaked by a Cowboys team that made more mistakes than a pop warner team and the Texans, or I should say Arian Foster, ran through the Colts like diarrhea through a tourist in Southeast Asia. I am proud to say that I own (and started Week 1) Foster in just about every one of my fantasy leagues. I’m banking that he’s the real deal. He’ll come back down to Earth this weekend against the skins to the tune of 100+ and a score (maybe 2) but the Texans will look to involve Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones more in the passing game and take a road win to jump out to a quick 2-0 start to the season.

Texans beat spread, win by a TD

Giants @ Colts

Hold EVERYTHING. BRO V. BRO. The Giants better hope they hold onto the ball better this week as they turned the ball over and generally played sloppier than Joe in a school cafeteria (where do I get this stuff? Yugh). No matter. The key matchup here will be to see whether Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs will run a muck like Foster did last week and burn the Colts for big yards or the Colts defense tightens up and shows that last week was the aberration that I think it was. That’ll need to happen to free up Hakeem Nicks for another big game. Either way, Eli is going to have to do some big league slingin’ to keep up with big brother Peyton who actually set a personal record last week (he still has personal records to break???) with 40 completions. I just don’t think Los Gigantes will be able to keep up with the Colts.

Colts by a TD

Saints @ Niners

Monday Night Football! I’ll be watching this… ON MY COMPUTER! YAY for poverty! Anyway, the Niners looked awful last weekend. Downright awful. Communication issues between Alex Smith and Mike Singletary? REALLY? Whodathunkit and whaddyaknow. And here I was pretty sure Alex Smith had communication problems with his arm already as it is. Well, he’ll have to get untracked and quick because the Saints made the Vikings (who, even without Sidney Rice, should have been able to score more than 9 points) flop about aimlessly every time they got the ball. If the Niners pull another performance like that dismal lack of PUNCH that they pulled against Seattle, you can chalk that 0-2 start up in a hurry. That said, I don’t think it’ll matter. As awesome as the Niner defense is (who in the world DOESN’T love 52???), if there’s a team that can still put up a decent 14-20 points on ‘em, it’s these Saints. They’re favored by 5 points and I don’t think that’s a stretch. This will likely be decided by a TD, maybe 10 points depending on how funky fresh Brees gets.

Saints beat spread

That’s it, kids! Happy Picking/Betting and I'll see ya next week!

Dig it.