Bry’s Week-by-Week NFL Preview: Week Two

After an interesting Week One, we are on to Week Two.  (Winners in CAPS.)

Sunday, September 20:
1:00 – Houston (1-0) at TENNESSEE (0-1)
With 10 days to prepare, the Titans should be able to handle the Texans at home.

1:00 – CAROLINA (1-0) at Atlanta (1-0)
In the first big NFC South showdown, I really think that the Panthers can go into Atlanta and beat the Falcons.  Both are coming off nice home victories and both have tough road games in Week Three.  I just think the Panthers are a better team and will put a lot of pressure on Matt Ryan and win the game in Atlanta.

1:00 – MINNESOTA (1-0) at Detroit (0-1)
Again, the Lions will not go 0-16, but I think they will go 0-2.  The Vikings have an interesting start as they have two road games that they should win.  I have a funny feeling that they will split the first two games, and I think it will be the first game, which is why I asterisked it.  I do not think they will lose in Detroit.

1:00 – Arizona (0-1) at JACKSONVILLE (0-1)
The Curse of the Super Bowl Loser looks alive and well, as I think the Cards start 0-2.  A 1:00 game for a West Coast team should spell a loss in Jax.

1:00 – Oakland (1-0) at KANSAS CITY (0-1)
The best homefield advantage in the game and a 1:00 game for a West Coast team.  I like the Chiefs in this one.

1:00 – New Orleans (1-0) at PHILADELPHIA (0-1)
I like the Eagles a lot in this one, though starting with Carolina and New Orleans is scary.  Still, this one should avenge the playoff loss two years ago, right?

1:00 – Cincinnati (0-1) at GREEN BAY (1-0)
An easy win for the Packers, despite the possible letdown from the big Bears win in Week One.

1:00 – St. Louis (0-1) at WASHINGTON (0-1)
Spags does know the Redskins pretty well, so it might not be a walk in the park, but Spags doesn’t quite have the talent on defense that he had in Philly or New York, so the ‘Skins should be able to win this one at home.

1:00 – NEW ENGLAND (1-0) at New York Jets (0-1)
The Jets are bad.  The Pats are good.  Any questions?

4:05 – Tampa Bay (0-1) at BUFFALO (0-1)
I think the Bills might be pretty solid this year.  I think the TO addition should really free up Lee Evans for a monster year.  I think the Bills beat Tampa pretty easily this week, despite the short week of preparation.

4:05 – Seattle (1-0) at SAN FRANCISCO (1-0)
Are the Niners for real?  I like them to get another big divisional win, which means that, in the first two weeks, they have knocked off the two favorites for their division and sit atop the division at 2-0.  Singletary is breathing life into this franchise.

4:15 – Baltimore (1-0) at SAN DIEGO (0-1)
Coming off the stunning loss in Oakland Monday night, the Chargers should bounce back in a big way and get a real nice home win over a very good team.  If this game were in Baltimore, I would be just as confident in the Ravens as I am in San Diego.  That’s how much the home field probably means in this matchup.

4:15 – PITTSBURGH (1-0) at Chicago (0-1)
The Cutler Bears drop to 0-2?  I think so.  The Steelers have 10 days to prepare for this game, and the Bears are coming off an emotional Sunday night game with Green Bay.  I like the Steelers to go into Soldier Field and get a win.

4:15 – Cleveland (0-1) at DENVER (1-0)
The Cutler-less Broncos go to 2-0?  I think so.  A great homefield advantage and a mediocre (at best) opponent should give the Broncos a nice 2-0 start.

8:20 – New York Giants (1-0) at DALLAS (1-0)
This is the game of the week, and I have to go with the home team here, especially considering it is the grand opening of the new Cowboys Stadium.  The Cowboys will be pumped up and are usually real good in September and October, especially at home, that they should be able to pull this one out.  I just can’t wait for punts to hit the billion dollar screen.  I guess you just can’t buy intelligence, huh?

Monday, September 21:
8:30 – INDIANAPOLIS (1-0) at Miami (0-1)
Under the Monday night lights, I am going with the experienced Colts to improve to 2-0 in picking up a nice road win over the Dolphins.

To go to Week Three, click here

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 2:
NFC EAST:
2-0   Dallas
1-1   N.Y. Giants
1-1   Philadelphia
1-1   Washington

NFC NORTH:
2-0   Green Bay
2-0   Minnesota
0-2   Chicago
0-2   Detroit

NFC SOUTH:
2-0   Carolina
1-1   Atlanta
1-1   New Orleans
0-2   Tampa Bay

NFC WEST:
2-0   San Francisco
1-1   Seattle
0-2   Arizona
0-2   St. Louis

AFC EAST:
2-0   New England
1-1   Buffalo
0-2   Miami
0-2   N.Y. Jets

AFC NORTH:
2-0   Pittsburgh
1-1   Baltimore
0-2   Cincinnati
0-2   Cleveland

AFC SOUTH:
2-0   Indianapolis
1-1   Jacksonville
1-1   Houston
1-1   Tennessee

AFC WEST:
2-0   Denver
1-1   Oakland
1-1   Kansas City
1-1   San Diego