I did better than I thought I would in Week One, going 10-6 with my picks. Now with a regular season game officially in the books, I have some actual data to look at and analyze. My accuracy should only get better from here on out (the occasional "fluke week" excepted, of course).
With that said, here are my Week Two NFL picks:
Sunday, September 17th
Buffalo (0-1) at Miami (0-1) - 1:00 p.m.
Buffalo lost a close one in New England last week. That should be seen as semi-encouraging news for the Bills. But Buffalo QB Losman will have to play better against Miami if the Bills are to avoid starting the season 0-2. As for the Dolphins, their entire offense looked out-of-sync last week against Pittsburgh. If Culpepper doesn't improve on his accuracy, we could be seeing Joey-freaking-Harrington starting under center before the season is out. And no one wants to see that. (The city of Miami doesn't need another street riot, thank you very much.) Miami by 3.
Carolina (0-1) at Minnesota (1-0) - 1:00 p.m.
Carolina QB Jake Delhomme was harassed into a disappointing start last week by Atlanta's defense. For their part, the Panthers D was as weak as a Carolina cheerleader's sense of self-control, giving up over 250 yards on the ground. Minnesota, on the other hand, looked impressive all-around in their win against Washington. Their defense didn't put a lot of pressure on Redskins QB Mark Brunell, but they didn't make many mistakes either. I'm starting to think Carolina could struggle this season. Vikings by 9.
Cleveland (0-1) at Cincinnati (1-0) - 1:00 p.m.
Cleveland lost to lowly New Orleans in Week One. At home. Cincinnati, meanwhile, handily beat Kansas City on the road. The Bengals defense was outstanding, recording seven sacks, causing four fumbles, and snagging an interception. This one will be ugly. Bengals by 18.
Detroit (0-1) at Chicago (1-0) - 1:00 p.m.
Before I make my pick for this game, I would like to make an announcement of sorts, about a particular idiosyncrasy of my weekly NFL Picks:
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Matthew T. Sussman
Down on Carolina just like that? Steve Smith begs to differ.
2 - RJ Elliott
I would like to think that NFL defenses have adjusted their Steve Smith strategies a little since he ran all over the Bears in the playoffs last season...
3 - Matthew T. Sussman
Well we don't know that, as he didn't play in Week one. I still posit he's always good for 7/100 against any defense.
4 - The Theory
Buffalo (0-1) at Miami (0-1)... I was not too keen on Miami this past week, though they were playing a good team. However, I wasn't jumping with joy with Buffalo's performance, either. Miami in a close game.
Carolina (0-1) at Minnesota (1-0)... I'm going to give Carolina the nod here because I *reallllly* don't want to see Minnesota win.
Cleveland (0-1) at Cincinnati (1-0)... Cincinnati in some kind of killing.
Detroit (0-1) at Chicago (1-0)... RJ imposes weird and dumb rules on himself, thus oddly handicapping his score. Just think about how much he would be slaughtering the "experts" at ESPN if he picked properly? Chicago.
Houston (0-1) at Indianapolis (1-0)... Houston showed potential for one great, crazy drive at the beginning of the game versus Philly. That sort of drive showed that Houston might be able to compete against other bad teams in the NFL, which is a marked improvement over last year. However, Indy is definitely NOT bad and, in fact, reside in the upper echolon of the Elite. Indianapolis.
New Orleans (1-0) at Green Bay (0-1... NO looked decent last week. And Green Bay did not. New Orleans will excite the faithful by starting the year off 2-0.
N.Y. Giants (0-1) at Philadelphia (1-0)... The Giants must have looked at their schedule and groaned. Start the year off right versus Older Brother, then head into Philly for a bam-n-ram scuffle. That groan turned into a headache when last week showed that Philly seems to be fairly healthy AND has a decent reciever not named T.O. This is a tough game to pick... but I think I have to go with.. NY.
Oakland (0-1) at Baltimore (1-0)... Baltimore. Unfortunately.
Tampa Bay (0-1) at Atlanta (1-0)... Atlanta.
Arizona (1-0) at Seattle (1-0)... Two teams I haven't really seen much this year. But we'll take the historical stand and pick Seattle.
St. Louis (1-0) at San Francisco (0-1)... St Louis may have been given a free-be last week, but that doesn't mean a team like San Francisco will do much better. St Louis.
Kansas City (0-1) at Denver (0-1)... Plummer can only improve over the first game of the season. Denver.
New England (1-0) at N.Y. Jets (1-0)... NE.
Tennessee (0-1) at San Diego (1-0)... SD
Washington (0-1) at Dallas (0-1)... Last year, and the year prior, I was rather a Dallas fan. Not so much to actively follow them... but I was happy when they won because people didn't expect anything from them. Now people expect them to make the playoffs AND they have the cuddly lil T.O. and to all of them I say NO. But Washington is probably my most hated team in the league. So this is an awkward pick. Neither played good enough last week to win... but then, neither was as steller as people hoped. We'll pick Dallas. Barely.
Pittsburgh (1-0) at Jacksonville (1-0)... With Rothlisbergherkjdljsoifu still reeling from injuries this game should be made more interesting than otherwise it could have been. But Pitts shall prevail and continue their bid to repeat.
5 - Jared Wright
I'm just waiting for someone to throw a fit over that airplane joke at the end. Although even as a Packer fan I found it humorous. Anyway, not too bad. I think you're discounting Carolina a bit too quickly, and all the drama last year disguised the fact that the core of the Eagles is still a good team. As long as at least one receiver shows up each week, they should be a contender in the very overrated NFC East.
6 - Matthew T. Sussman
All right, RJ, no mention of my 11-5 week. That calls for some added pain:
Dolfs over Bills
Panthers over Vikings
Bengals over Browngles
Bearss over Loins (yeah, I said Loins)
Texans over Colts. Just kidding.
Pack over Saints
Phiwwy over Giants
Ravens over Raiders
The Bay of Tampa over the sunken city of Atlanta
C-Hawks over Cardinals
Rams over 49ers
Broncos over Chiefs
Patriots over Jets
Steelers over Jag-you-ares
And just like 300 years ago, Cowboys over Redskins
Although if I mimic RJ's picks from here on out, I'll be guaranteed to do better than him this season.
7 - RJ Elliott
Matt:
You forgot Poland!
Sersiously, what's your pick for the SD vs. TN game?
8 - Matthew T. Sussman
Let me think about that one San Diego.
9 - The Theory
"Although if I mimic RJ's picks from here on out"
BUT there is no fun in that...
Besides, why would you mimic his Lions pick week after wek?
10 - MCH
Or his prediction that Ben Roethlesberger was going to suffer a sophomore jinx last year?
11 - rj
Hey, "MCH" - Are you actually gonna put your money where your mouth is this season?
12 - Emerson
miami by 10
Minnesota by 13
Cincinnati by 24
Chicago by 7
Indy by 27
Green Bay by 35, ( i hope its like last year 52-3)
Giants by 3
Baltimore by 7
Atlanta by 14
San Francisco by 6
Denver by 10
New England by 9
San Diego by 14
Dallas by 17
Pittsburgh by 4
Goodluck everyone and have a safe sunday. Also tomorrow 9/18 is my 21st birthday! later
13 - Emerson
also seattle by 10
14 - RJ Elliott
Happy b-day! Be safe... ;-)
15 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Buffalo wins in Miami 16-6 (RJ 0-1)
Losman only passes for 83 yards, but makes no mistakes in the road victory.
16 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Chicago crushes Detroit 34-7 (RJ 0-2)
Rex Grossman throws for four TDs, and passes for 289 yards with no INTs. Jon Kitna sacked six times, loses one fumble. Kevin Jones is pathetic, rushing 12 times for a mere 44 yards (29 of them on a single carry), and losing two fumbles. Matt Millen on suicide watch...we hope.
17 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Atlanta beats Tampa Bay 14-3 (RJ 1-2)
Chris Simms throws 3 INTs and "Cadillac" Williams drives more like a Yaris, rushing 15 times for a meager 37 yards. Vick and Dunn, however, gain a combined 261 rushing yards (though Vick fails to pass for more than 100).
18 - RJ Elliott
Indy dismantles Houston 43-24 (RJ 2-2)
Both Carr and Manning throw 3 TDs, but Manning has nearly double the passing yards, and also benefits from having an actual offensive line.
19 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Bengals 34, Browns 17 (RJ 3-2)
Rudi Johnson runs for 145 yards and two scores. Cleveland still looking for a running game.
20 - RJ Elliott
Baltimore buries Oakland 28-6 (RJ 4-2)
Andrew Walter throws 3 INTs, goes 10-for-27 passing, gets sacked six times, and fumbles three times (losing possession once) in his first NFL start.
21 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Minnesota over Carolina in OT (RJ 5-2)
Kicker Ryan Longwell makes three field goals and passes for a touchdown, accounting for all of Minnesota's points.
22 - RJ Elliott
Oh yeah, and the extra point kick, too...3+3+3+6+1=16...
23 - RJ Elliott
Grrr...and the final score was Vikings 16, Carolina 13 (in OT)...
24 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
New Orleans over Green Bay 34-27 (RJ 5-3)
Reggie Bush gains only 5 yards on 6 attempts rushing, but catches 8 passes for 68 yards. Favre goes 31-for-55 with 3 TDs and one INT in a losing effort.
25 - RJ Elliott
Final Score:
Giants over the Eagles 30-24 in OT (RJ 6-3)
What a game! The Giants came back from a 24-7 4th Quarter deficit (on the road!) to tie the game and force OT, where they eventually won. Manning was sacked eight times, threw one pick, and fumbled twice (although the Giants didn't lose possession either time). McNabb looked quite good, but it wasn't enough.