Week 1 Picks | Week 2 Picks
Notes and observations from the experts…
The NFL Minute
Denver over Oakland - The scoreboard exaggerated last week’s narrow victory over Buffalo. The Broncos did what they wanted on offense, but couldn’t put points on the board. That won’t happen this week when they face an Oakland team that is trying to find itself.
New England over San Diego - If anyone can find a way to control LaDainian Tomlinson, it’s Bill Belichick. And if LT can be kept from the endzone, the Chargers will struggle on offense. And the way New England played last week, Tom Brady and Co. should have their way with the Chargers’ defense. No matter the outcome, however, this should be one fun game to watch.
RobinSports.com’s Josh Stapleton
Green Bay over NY Giants - It’s hard to imagine we would see the Giants at 0-2 and conversely, the Packers at 2-0, but that looks to be what we are staring straight at. The Giants offense was nothing short of explosive in Week 1 against the Cowboys, but the losses of Jacobs and Manning will certainly be felt. Reports out of New York have Manning as a game-time decision, but with the pressure the Packers defense will bring, it will only be a matter of time before he is right back on the bench. Despite the Packs’ lack of offense, they get this one done on the road and move to 2-0 on the year.
St. Louis over San Francisco - The Rams were knocked around the field by a tenacious Panthers D last week on their own turf. To compound the problems, Orlando Pace is out for the season. Once he left, the offense was completely out of sync as the pressure got to Bulger turning him from accurate to wild after Jenkins mammoth hit. The Rams will settle down this week and the 9ers didn’t impress me. They come off a short week into a hornets nest in St Louis.
Tampa over New Orleans - Upset special here as the Bucs take down the Saints. Following an opening game embarrassment, the Saints will be looking to rebound following the long week. They will get their opportunity when they travel to Tampa for an important matchup. The quartet of Brees, Colston, McCallister, and Bush will certainly bounce back as the Bucs allowed the Seahawks to amass a healthy 4.1 ypc rushing the football. Despite the statistically bad showing by the Bucs defense, they were in the game with Seattle up until Cadillac, followed by Garcia, left with injuries. For the Bucs to win, they must control the ball, milk the clock, and remain close at the end. They will do just that as they send the Saints to an 0-2 start to begin 2007.
Fantasy Football Goat
Green Bay over NY Giants - Brett Favre and the offense will find their rhythm against this awful defense, even if Manning plays.
Pittsburgh over Buffalo - Don’t let last week’s close game with Denver fool you. Denver did pretty much anything they wanted to on the ground and in the air.
Minnesota over Detroit - Close call but Minnesota defense will do enough. Also, if you can’t stop LaMont Jordan how are the Lions going to stop the bigger, faster, quicker Adrian Peterson running on that all-pro left side?
Baltimore over NY Jets - No Pennington and the Raven are feeling cheated.
New England over San Diego - San Diego’s secondary will be exposed yet again.
RobinSports.com’s Dank
Cincinnati over Cleveland - “The Battle of Ohio” Part 1 will be held in Cleveland this weekend and what a tumultuous week it’s been for the Brownies. Charlie Frye is out and Derek Anderson is in…for now. It looks like my prediction of Brady Quinn starting for the first time in Week 3 will become reality! After the Bengals send Romeo Crennel and company to 0-2, the team will have no choice but to hand over the reigns to Quinn in Week 3 in a must-win against the Raiders. Bengals 31, Browns 17
Indianapolis over Tennessee - Although this isn’t the most intriguing game of the week, I think it will be a nice test for the Colts run defense. After getting torched for most of the ‘06 regular season, they miraculously turned it on in the playoffs to help bring home the crown. Well last week Chris Brown, LenDale White, and Vince Young tallied up 263 rushing yards against the Jags. In the end, the prolific Colts offense will rise up. Colts 27, Titans 20
New England over San Diego - This was already the game of the week and now you throw in the video tape cheating controversy! All you have to do is have Randy Moss crack LT over the back with a collapse-able chair and you’ll have yourself a WWE Wrestlemania! In reality this game could go either way, but I’m going to give the nod to the Pats due to the home field advantage. Patriots 24, Chargers 21
Indianapolis over Tennessee - Young will give these Colts fits all game long. However, just not enough to produce a home win.
FanProphet.com
Green Bay over NY Giants - Eli or not the Giants will not stop anyone this season. If Favre does not torch this defense, then maybe it is time for him to hang em’ up.
New Orleans over Tampa Bay - Brees will have a better showing then he had on opening night, however, the run game will dictate the flow of this game.
Detroit over Minnesota - Minnesota defense showed some serious intensity last Sunday. Will they repeat that intensity? Yes! Will it be enough to win this game? Not at all!
Arizona over Seattle - Things could’ve been different on Monday night and the Cards should’ve won that game. They won’t let this one slip through the cracks.
Dallas over Miami - Miami might hit stride somewhere around mid-season when it’s already too late. The Dallas defense will not allow the same point production that the Giants had on Sunday night.
New England over San Diego - Belichick will never allow this team to be distracted. New England wins this in a hard fought matchup.