Ramblings Week 2 NFL Picks

Week 2 of the NFL season and this is the week the overall picture of where teams are headed starts to come into focus.
Browns at Colts, 12:00 pm CBS, both teams are coming off a tough week one loss but for very different reasons. The Colts produced nothing on offense with Kerry Collins at the helm and I don't expect that to be fixed this week, but they should score a little more than 7 points this week. The Browns were disappointing on the defensive side of the ball especially and need to improve to give McCoy and the offense a chance. Winner: Colts 17-14, ATS: Colts +2
Bears at Saints, 12:00 pm FOX, the Bears surprised a lot of people in last weeks beat down of Atlanta and I expect that to continue as the offense should be able to move the ball with some ease against the Saint's D. The Saints on the other hand will need to do a better job on the ground than they did at Green Bay last week and whoever has more success up front wins this game. Winner: Chicago 27-20 ATS: Chicago +7
Packers at Panthers, 12:00 pm FOX, Cam Newton lit it up in his NFL debut, but it was against a very bad Arizona defense. I think the Packers test how well Newton can adjust to big time pressure and how far he has progressed in his reading of defenses. Winner: Green Bay 38-17 ATS: Green Bay -10
Raiders at Bills, 12:00 pm CBS, for games in which a west coast team travels to the east coast for a noon start I will always take the east coast team as long as the talent is relatively close. Winner: Buffalo 28-17 ATS: Buffalo -3
Jaguars at Jets, 12:00 pm CBS, the Jets are the more talented team in this match-up and they are at home so the edge goes to them coming in. Add on the fact that there is a McCown playing QB for the Jaguars and you have yourself a winner. Winner: Jets 24-10 ATS:Jets -9
Ravens at Titans, 12:00 pm CBS, the Ravens and Titans meet week 2 and I think this game comes down to who controls the other teams rushing attack. I think the Ravens have the better front seven even if it is aging. Ngata and Cody scare the living crap out of me and that is the difference in this game. Winner: Baltimore 27-17 ATS:Baltimore -3.5
Cardinals at Redskins, 12:00 pm FOX, for games in which a west coast team travels to the east coast for a noon start I will always take the east coast team as long as the talent is relatively close. Winner: Washington 24-10 ATS: Washington -4.5
Chiefs at Lions, 12:00 pm CBS, the chiefs are coming off a blowout loss to Buffalo which set football 85 years. The Lions come off a sloppy but important win over the Bucs last week and carry the momentum back home to Detroit. I don't like the Lions secondary but I think they have too much firepower to succumb to that flaw. Winner: Detroit 30-17 ATS: Detroit -7.5
Buccaneers at Vikings, 12:00 pm FOX, the bad and the ugly from last week meet in an old NFC Central match-up at the Metrodome. Peterson should run for a good amount on the young Bucs but I think Tampa has the more talented team. Winner: Tampa Bay 24-17 ATS: Tampa Bay +3
Seahawks at Steelers, 12:00 pm FOX, for games in which a west coast team travels to the east coast for a noon start I will always take the east coast team as long as the talent is relatively close. Winner: Steelers 38-20 ATS: Steelers -14
Cowboys at 49ers, 3:05 pm FOX, the battle of great quarterbacks happens this week in San Fran as Tony  Romo faces off against Alex Smith. I think this game comes down to which secondary has the better day. Winner: San Francisco 20-17 ATS: San Francisco +3
Bengals at Broncos, 3:15 pm CBS, like the Raiders-Broncos game last week I just don't care much about this game other than for fantasy football implications. Winner: Denver 17-14 ATS: Cincinnati +3.5
Texans at Dolphins, 3:15 pm CBS, a battle of much maligned quarterbacks, Schaub and Henne face off in this one which will tell us if the Texans D is improved or if Henne has improved going forward this year. Winner: Houston 35-28 ATS: Houston -3
Chargers at Patriots, 3:15 pm CBS, a battle of high powered offenses and two of the best at QB. I think the Chargers hold Peyton under 350 yards and 3 TDs and think we see Rivers throw all over the Patriots secondary. I think the Pats will have some good luck with the run game and are at home. Winner: New England 24-21 ATS: San Diego +6.5
Eagles at Falcons, 7:20 pm NBC, Michael Vick's return to Atlanta should be an interesting one but I don't think it much effects the outcome of this game. If the Falcons don't improve their defense of pass catching RBs and find a way to keep Vick in the pocket they are going to have trouble this week. Winner: Philadelphia 31-20 ATS: Philadelphia -2
Rams at Giants, 7:30 pm ESPN, this looked a lot more promising a match-up before injuries decimated both teams, Giants in the off-season and Rams Week 1. I think both teams rally after week 1 defeats and it comes down to who makes the best adjustments. Winner: New York 20-14 ATS: Push (NYG -6)


Please feel free to leave comments and to make suggestions in the comments section below and enjoy your football viewing this weekend. CFB review will be up on Monday and NFL Review on Tuesday.