NFL Week 2: Picks and Questions

*insert “Wow, it felt good to have football Sunday back in our lives” cliche here*

Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger and *gulps* Josh Allen looked good in Week 1, leading me to a 3-1-1 start. Missed field goals by the Bengals and Titans cost me a perfect week, but I’ll happily take the early lead. Lauren’s belief in Kyler Murray paid immediate dividends, but her faith in Phillip Rivers and Baker Mayfield, uh, did not. Scott nailed his analysis of Ravens-Browns in Week 1, discussing how the Browns sucking is something we can all rely on in a wild 2020. Apparently, a few 50/50 plays turning Scott’s 4-1 week into a 1-4 week is something else we can count on.

Here’s where we stand after one week:

Last week/Season

• Lauren: 2-3
• Scott: 1-4
• Nolan: 3-1-1

Enough talk about our bad beats — time for this week’s picks. As always, we used the Vegas consensus lines.

Lauren’s Picks

Carolina +9 at Tampa Bay

So, what are odds of Tom Brady losing back-to-back games? It’s a very slim possibility, but I also don’t think the Buccaneers blow out a Christian McCaffery led Panthers’ squad. Carolina’s offense looked REAL good a week ago, and Joe Brady won’t make the mistake of handing the ball off to his fullback instead of CMC on fourth down again. I do think the Buccaneers pull this one out in Brady’s home opener in the Bay, but not by two scores.

San Francisco -7 at N.Y. Jets

With or without George Kittle, the 49ers get back on track this week. In fact, if I were Kyle Shanahan I would let Kittle rest the knee sprain — that limited him in the second half of last week’s loss — beyond this week of practice and into Sunday. Feed the three-headed tandem of Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman, and Jerick McKinnon and don’t overthink the game plan versus a badly-coached Jets team.

Minnesota +3 at Indianapolis 

Both of these teams are coming off tough losses and after the way the Colts did me last week in their faceplant to Jacksonville, I’m rolling with the Vikings. Maybe my annoyance of taking the “L” myself will come back to bite me, but I’ll take Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins, and the Minnesota defense bouncing back over old man Rivers.

Atlanta +4 at Dallas

Scott really believed in the Falcons in Week One and oh boy, how he was disappointed. I’m not saying Atlanta is going to win this one, but with the injuries the Cowboys endured, especially MIKE linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, the Falcons should be able to cash in offensively and keep this one within three points. The Falcons have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball and it’ll be up to Dan Quinn to get his defense out of its own way. Either way, expect this one to be high scoring with Ezekiel Elliott eating along the way.

L.A. Rams +1 at Philadelphia 

Imagine blowing a lead to the Washington Football Team and then having the Los Angeles Rams coming to town next. The Eagles are expected to have running back Miles Sanders back, but Aaron Darnold and that Rams’ defensive line won’t mind. L.A. looked like it was back in its old form in a win versus Dallas and is undoubtedly much better than this Philly squad. I’m going with the Rams here to continue to pour the struggles onto Carson Wentz and Doug Pederson.  

Scott’s Picks

Minnesota +3 at Indianapolis 

Baltimore -7 at Houston 

Buffalo -5.5 at Miami 

Pittsburgh -6.5 vs Denver 

L.A. Rams +1 at Philadelphia 

Nolan’s Picks

Green Bay -6 vs Detroit 

Good news: The Lions do get #3 overall pick Jeff Okudah back this week.

Bad news: He’ll line up against Davante Adams, not an ideal debut.

Worse news: There will be no Kenny Golladay for Matthew Stafford this week.

The Aaron Rodgers spiteful tour continues this week.

Indianapolis -3 vs Minnesota

If you liked either of these teams a week ago, they let you down big time. I did not take it easy on Phillip Rivers in my Week 1 victory laps article, but he should be fine against this disastrous Minnesota secondary. The Colts can run the ball efficiently with Jonathan Taylor and 919 legend Nyheim Hines, but won’t be afraid to air it out and force the Vikings out of their comfort zone.

Washington +7 -at Arizona 

I like the Cardinals, but laying a full touchdown seems extreme for a team that had just two wins by six or more points last season. The Washington defensive front is elite, arguably the best in the league. Against the porous Arizona offensive line, they will make life hell for Kyler Murray, whose prone to taking sacks. I don’t know if Washington will win this one — though it wouldn’t surprise me — give me RiverBoat Ron on the cover.

Kansas City -8.5 at L.A. Chargers 

You can’t make this line high enough. It’s gone up a full three points since it opened at KC -5.5 and I couldn’t care less. The Chargers couldn’t move the ball against the Bengals, who got absolutely cooked by the Browns on Thursday night. This is Patrick Mahomes’ first time playing in a dome with Tyreek Hill. Kansas City is going to put up points, which means L.A. will have to keep up to cover. Not happening.

N.Y. Giants +5.5 at Chicago

I don’t feel particularly great about this one, but finding a fifth game on this slate that I liked was tough. Warren Sharp discussed how Week 2 is often a trap for betting on favorites. I think this one fits the bill. Chicago barely won last week thanks to a classic Matt Patricia choke job and while the Giants lost somewhat handily, the Bears’ defense is actually an easier match-up than the Steel Curtain. I think the Terrible Trifecta (nickname still pending) can keep it close or sneak a late touchdown for the backdoor cover.

Answering Week 1’s Questions

Tom Brady, Tampa Bay Buccaneer?

Brady, and Brees for that matter, looked their age in Week 1. Brady threw two costly interceptions as the Bucs fell to the Saints. It’s too early to burry Brady, especially changing teams this offseason. The Panthers defense in Week 2 should be the cure for the Bucs offense.

Cam Newton, New England Patriot?

He didn’t do much through the air (only 155 passing yards), but dominated the Dolphins on the ground with 75 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sunday Night Football against Russell Wilson’s Seahawks awaits in Week 2.

How does Joe Burrow perform in his NFL Debut?

Due to the Bengals playing on Thursday night this week, I have a two-week sample to answer this one. When his offensive line gives him ample time, Burrow has looked sharp. In two-minute and crunch-time situations, Burrow has looked more like a ten-year vet than a rookie.

Oregon stud offensive lineman Penei Sewell to Cincinatti seems like the lock of the 2021 draft if the Bengals pick high enough.

What does the Carolina Panthers overhauled offense look like?

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but Teddy Bridgewater aired it out a bit in Week 1. He hit Robby Anderson for a 75-yard touchdown, granted he was wide open. The Panthers put up 30 points as Bridgewater through for 269 yards. Aside from a questionable 4th-down rush attempt for a fullback, Joe Brady’s offense looked the part.

Is this the year the Browns turn things around?

As with Burrow and the Bengals, I have a two-game sample to look at the Browns. Thank goodness for that, because the Ravens slaughtered Cleveland in Week 1. Baker Mayfield dominated against Cincy in Week 2 after struggling mightily against Baltimore. It feels like Week 1’s blowout had more to do with Baltimore’s brilliance versus Browns’ ineptitude, but the Bengals fall so far on the other side of the spectrum that we don’t really have a conclusive answer yet.

My Five Questions for Week 2

Who bounces back better: Phillip Rivers or the Minnesota defense?

Phillip Rivers versus the Vikings defense feels like the easily stoppable force meets a very movable object. It’s only Week 2, but Minnesota and Indianapolis have a lot on the line already. However, 0-2 can be an insurmountable hole, especially with Green Bay and Tennessee having easy match-ups (on paper) this week.

Who has more bullets in the chamber: Matt Ryan or Dak Prescott?

Atlanta-Dallas is another contest between 0-1 teams. Atlanta is pretty much done if they fall to 0-2 with four games against New Orleans and Tampa Bay left. I’m less worried about the Cowboys as they has an extremely winnable division even if they fall to 0-2. Dallas is decimated with injuries to key players on defense and the offensive line. This could be a “first to 40” type of game.

Which surprise Week 1 winner keeps it going: Washington or Arizona?

The Football Team and Cardinals stole a win in Week 1 against a divisional opponent. One of these teams is primed to start off 2-0 and kick off a potential playoff push, although a tie is never out of the question with these teams. I already discussed how Arizona’s weak offensive line could put Kyler Murray is a difficult position against Washington defensive front.

The Niners can’t actually lose to the Jets, can they?

I was low on San Francisco coming into the year becuase of a post-Super Bowl hangover and their wide receiver injuries. George Kittle and Richard Sherman have been added to the injury list and will be out for this one. This has all the makings of an 0-2 start, except for the fact that Adam Gase is on the other sideline. The Braxton Berrios breakout is coming, but it’s hard to believe the Jets can actually pull off the upset. But if they do…

Will Carson Wentz check down before Aaron Donald kills him?

The Rams grinded out a win last week, while Wentz threw away the Eagles win against Washington. Again, it’s only Week 1, but Philly fans won’t take it easy if the Eagles fall to 0-2. The NFC East isn’t particularly strong, but potentially falling back two games plus a tie-breaker could be devastating for Philadelphia. On the other hand, the Rams will look to bank a pair of early wins in their quest for a return to the postseason.