NFL Week 2 Predictions
As much uncertainty as there is heading into the first week of play in an NFL season, often it’s week 2 that has more questions than week 1. It’s very easy to make some snap judgments on how some teams came off the blocks last week, but often times it takes a few weeks before we can really get a feel for how teams are going to play.
Obviously, the biggest story from week one is the Patriots and their loss of Tom Brady for the year. Brady is so much a part of the Patriots formula for success, that it’s going to be very hard now that he’s out of the picture. With that said, if any team can move on from that kind of a loss, it would have to be the Patriots. Time will tell, but for now my condolences go out to Patriots fans everywhere, because it might be a bumpy ride.
I’m going to get right to the picks now and keep this post brief as there are some far more important things going on in my life this week. My wife and I are expecting the birth of our first child any day now! So, in the interest of catching some rest before life changes forever, here are my picks for week 2:
| Away | Home | Comments | Pick | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Last week’s record: 11-5 (68.8%) | ||||
 Bears(1-0) |
 Panthers(1-0) |
Great showing by both of these teams last week, so this game should be close. | |
|
 Titans(1-0) |
 Bengals(0-1) |
I’m not sure if Vince Young being out for a few weeks is bad for the Titans or not. | |
|
 Packers(1-0) |
 Lions(0-1) |
Aaron Rodgers looked great in his first career start against a decent Minnesota defense. | |
|
 Bills(1-0) |
 Jaguars(0-1) |
Jacksonville lost 2 starting guards last week, so I’ll stick with what worked and take the Bills again. | |
|
 Raiders(0-1) |
 Chiefs(0-1) |
The Chiefs didn’t look great last week against the Patriots, but this week they’re at home against the Raiders and should do a little better. This one could go either way though. | |
|
 Colts(0-1) |
 Vikings(0-1) |
Peyton Manning should have an easier time against the Vikings pass defense this week than he did against Chicago last week, but he needs to be better. | |
|
 Giants(1-0) |
 Rams(0-1) |
Are the Rams this year’s leading candidate to go 0-16? | |
|
 Saints(1-0) |
 Redskins(0-1) |
Good start for New Orleans last week, let’s see how they do on the road now. | |
|
 49ers(0-1) |
 Seahawks(0-1) |
I’m very hesitant to pick the Seahawks after their showing last week, but I’ll go with them at home in a tight match. | |
|
 Falcons(1-0) |
 Buccaneers(0-1) |
Very surprising start for the Falcons last week, but the Bucs are a better team than the Lions. | |
|
 Dolphins(0-1) |
 Cardinals(1-0) |
With the injuries that Seattle is dealing with, the time is now for the Cardinals to make their move in the NFC West. | |
|
 Chargers(0-1) |
 Broncos(1-0) |
The Broncos looked awfully good last night and I have a feeling that Jay Cutler is going to have a big year. | |
|
 Ravens(1-0) |
 Texans(0-1) |
Rough start for Houston, but I think they’re much better than what they showed and I’ll take them to win a nail-biter. | |
PPD |
 Patriots(1-0) |
 Jets(1-0) |
The Patriots should still be a good team this year, but I think they’ll experience some growing pains with Matt Cassel. | |
|
 Steelers(1-0) |
 Browns(0-1) |
The Browns just didn’t look good, but the Steelers looked like one of the best AFC teams last week. | |
|
 Eagles(1-0) |
 Cowboys(1-0) |
If the Eagles play like they did last week, this should be an exciting game. | |
|
Here also are this week’s ESPN Expert Picks. Who are you picking in week 2?
Comments // rss
web // #
Sep 9, 2008 // 12:32 pm
How quickly you doubt the Patriots. They have done a lot more with less talent. Also I think your wrong with the chargers and broncos.
Chris // #
Sep 9, 2008 // 4:20 pm
I took San Francisco (Burleson is out for the season with a torn ACL, leaving only 3 healthy WR’s on the roster, none with a lot of experience), San Diego, and New England (too much talent in NE, and Favre is still just tossing up floaters)
Ryan // #
Sep 10, 2008 // 11:38 am
Bears, Jags, Raiders, Falcons, Pats, Eagles, opposite your picks.
This could be a big gamble this week for me. I think several of last weeks surprises will reveal their true colours. There were a number of mismatches last week. Lots of big teams against weak ones. I think some of the oddities were due to opening week kinks (Jags, Colts), some will grow in their confidence (Falcons, Broncos), some will overcome adversity (Pats, Raiders), and some have lost their spark (Chargers, Seattle).
Either way, this season sure started very interesting.
Kudos to Merriman in opting for the surgery.
andu // #
Sep 10, 2008 // 3:21 pm
i love this game:)
Tracy // #
Sep 12, 2008 // 5:31 pm
Although I do think the Patriots are a great team I have to go with the Jets as well this week. I am putting my trust in Farve since the Pats will be without Brady.
My other picks are Chicago over Carolina, Jax over Buffalo, Washington over New Orleans, and Baltimore over Houston.
Tracy
Jonathan Eckmier // #
Sep 14, 2008 // 12:37 am
@web: I don’t know that I’d say I doubt the Patriots or their ability to recover from the loss of Tom Brady for the year, it’s just that I think it’ll take them a week or 2 to adjust. They should still be a playoff team, that I have no doubts of (at least, not yet).
@Chris: SF/Seattle could go either way. Seattle’s a tough place for opposing teams though. Same goes for Denver. Favre only threw up one “floater” last week against Miami and that was on 4th and 22 from the Dolphins 22 yard line. The Jets had a gimpy kicker that they couldn’t go to, so they really only had one choice, to go for it. I don’t think Favre’s throw was a bad decision at all, it was really his only option. Had it been intercepted, I don’t think it would’ve done much damage.
Other than that, Favre played a very smart game and really didn’t take many chances, so I wouldn’t characterize him as “tossing up floaters.” Just my 2¢ though :)
@Ryan, @Tracy: I guess we’ll just have to agree to disagree really… there aren’t a whole lot of holes I can poke in your picks, especially after I opened the post saying: “often it’s week 2 that has more questions than week 1.”
@Ryan: Kudos to Shawne Merriman indeed, I guess smarter heads prevailed. It makes me wonder though if there was some big-money bonus that he was due to receive if he was on the opening day starting roster. Usually decisions like these (choosing to go against doctor’s recommendations) are made because of financial motivation… who knows though.
Ryan // #
Sep 14, 2008 // 6:35 pm
I have to comment on the Favre floater. IMHO it was pure luck. He was going for the back of endzone and was hit on the release. A rookie receiver just so happened to be underneath to make the grab. Other than that it was a solid safe game from favre. Looking at the replay the throw lost some steam from the hit if you ask me.