Week 2 NFL Picks

           My picks were mostly terrible last week (unless you ignored the spreads and played the money line), but at least we offered a second set of picks that went 10-5-1 last week.

San Diego Chargers (0-1) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)

Sunday, 1pm, CBS, O/U 55.5
            San Diego was solid for three quarters against one of the AFC’s elite teams, so I’m not ready to sign off on Philly being favored by more than three points against them.

Chargers (+7) over EAGLES

 

Cleveland Browns (0-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (0-1)

Sunday, 1pm, CBS, O/U 43.5
            This is a rough match-up for Cleveland, who catch Baltimore the week after they got humiliated in prime time, and the same day that Ravens are raising their Super Bowl banner.

RAVENS (-7) over Browns

 

Tennessee Titans (1-0) @ Houston Texans (1-0)

Sunday, 1pm, CBS, O/U 43
            One of the few things I had right last week was Tennessee’s improved offensive line making a difference. They didn’t run wild against the Steelers, but did just enough to maintain field position and keep Jake Locker upright. If the defense shows up for a second straight week, the Titans could establish themselves as a dark horse playoff contender.

Titans (+9.5) over TEXANS

 

Miami Dolphins (1-0) @ Indianapolis Colts (1-0)

Sunday, 1pm, CBS, O/U 43.5
            Lost in the shuffle of week 1 were the Colts nearly suffering a horrendous home loss against Oakland, who most experts regarded as the NFL’s worst team heading into the season. 

Dolphins (+3) over COLTS

Carolina Panthers (0-1) @ Buffalo Bills (0-1)

Sunday, 1pm, FOX, O/U 43.5
            We’ll combine Carolina attempting to bounce back from a tough home loss with Buffalo dealing with the disappointment of a blown lead against New England as reason to believe the Panthers will cover. To be honest, I considered flipping a coin for this one.

Panthers (-3) over BILLS

St. Louis Rams (1-0) @ Atlanta Falcons (0-1)

Sunday, 1pm, FOX, O/U 47.5
            Even with a hobbled Roddy White (thanks for announcing that he had a high ankle sprain before I drafted him on one of fantasy teams, assholes), Atlanta is too good to fall to 0-2.     

FALCONS (-6.5) over Rams

Washington Redskins (0-1) @ Green Bay Packers (0-1)

Sunday, 1pm, FOX, O/U 50.5
            Ditto for this game. Aaron Rodgers is going to eat the Redskins secondary for lunch.

PACKERS (-7.5) over Redskins

 

Dallas Cowboys (1-0) @ Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)

Sunday, 1pm, FOX, O/U 46.5
            Andy Reid historically was usually the winner whenever his Eagles faced the Cowboys (granted most of those Cowboys teams stunk in the early ‘00s, but whatever), and we’re forecasting the same thing here. This game could be Kansas City’s coming out party.

CHIEFS (-3) over Cowboys

 

Minnesota Vikings (0-1) @ Chicago Bears

Sunday, 1pm, FOX, O/U 42
            Blaine Gabbert was the clear winner of “most inept week 1 quarterback”, but coming in a distant second place was Christian Ponder. I think Chicago does whatever they want too in this one.

BEARS (-6.5) over Vikings

 

New Orleans Saints (1-0) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)

Sunday, 4pm, FOX, O/U 48
            I don’t get this line. I really don’t. Go ahead and mortgage your house on the Saints.

Saints (-4) over BUCCANEERS

 

Detroit Lions (1-0) @ Arizona Cardinals (0-1)

Sunday, 4pm, FOX, O/U 48.5
            Detroit looked really good in Week 1, but that could just be because the Vikings suck. Not willing to invest on the road yet until I see them do it.

CARDINALS (+2.5) over Lions

 

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) @ Oakland Raiders (0-1)

Sunday, 430pm, CBS, O/U 40
            It’s a shame we couldn’t of scheduled this game for Week 16 so both teams could try to out tank each other on the same field to get the #1 overall pick. It feels ridiculous to take the Raiders when they are favored by anything more than three points (or for that matter, taking the Raiders when they are favored period), but betting on the Jaguars on the road was even scarier until Chad Henne was announced as the Week 2 starter. I don’t know what the over/under for turnovers is, but you’d be wise to bet the over.

Jaguars (+6) over RAIDERS

Denver Broncos (1-0) @ New York Giants (0-1)

Sunday, 430pm, CBS, O/U 56
            On the surface this looks like the classic “we underestimated the Giants but then they won by two touchdowns” kind of game, but this is as flawed a Giants roster as we’ve seen since 2006.

Broncos (-4) over GIANTS

San Francisco 49ers (1-0) @ Seattle Seahawks (1-0)

Sunday, 830pm, NBC, O/U 45
            I think the 49ers are the better team, but it’s irresponsible to bet against Seattle at home.

SEAHAWKS (-2.5) over 49ers

Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) @ Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)

Monday, 830pm, ESPN, O/U 40.5
            If the Titans shut down Pittsburgh, what are they going to do against the Bengals? Cincinnati might only have to put up 14 points to cover this spread.

BENGALS (-7) over Steelers

 

            Ethan was too busy to type explanations this week, but here are his picks for the rest of Week 2. We were missing his Monday night pick at press time, so we’ll add that via Facebook as soon as it’s available.

Chargers

Ravens
Titans
Colts
Panthers
Falcons
Packers
Cowboys
Bears
Saints
Lions
Raiders
Broncos
49ers
 

My Week 1 Record = 5-10-1

Ethan’s Week 1 = 10-5-1
My Thursday Pick = 1-0
Ethan’s Thursday = 1-0