Week 2 Picks

DP: Week 2 Theme: I have no fucking idea so I'll take the points!

WASHINGTON (-4.5) vs Arizona

DP: Arizona struggled last week at home against a crappy Carolina team and now has to travel across the country. I'll take the 'Skins but I'd never lay real money on it.

TJ: Arizona is my NFC West pick this year, and if they’re going to come through for me, they need to beat shitty teams like Washington on the road.  The Cardinals’ pass defense is scary bad, but I’ll rely on Rex Grossman to make them look a little better this week.  Pick: Cards.

Kansas City (+8.5) vs DETROIT

DP: I know KC looked bad at home and Detroit won on the road, but since when have the Lions become 8.5 point favorites? I'll take the points and hope for a close game.

TJ: I think Kansas City has the potential to go from first to worst in the AFC West this year, and although I’m not sold on the Lions, even I can’t deny they looked great last week.  8.5 seems like too many points, until you remember how horrible KC’s pass defense is.  I’ll take the Lions.

Tampa Bay (+3.5) vs MINNESOTA

DP: I watched most of the Minnesota-San Diego game last week and I was not all that impressed with Minnesota. Take away the kick-off return for a TD and you're left with 10 points on offense. Yikes. The good news for Minny is that Tampa doesn't have much of a defensive front yet, so maybe McNabb and Peterson will get untracked. Still, I'll take the points as I think Tampa Bay is frisky.

TJ:  I still don’t like Minnesota, and I think Tampa will show some fire after a tough loss last week.  I expect them to generate a lot of turnovers and win a close game.  Pick: Tampa.

Green Bay (-10.5) vs CAROLINA:

DP: 10.5 is a lot of points, but I think we'll see a much more accurate picture of Cam Newton and it’s not gonna be a pretty picture. I'll take the Pack.

TJ: Yeah, I agree that Carolina is absolutely terrible, no matter how well CaM Newton plays.  And he won’t play well against the Pack’s pressure defense.  Aaron Rodgers should have another career afternoon, and they should cover the 10.5 with ease.  Pick: Pack.

Chicago (+6.5) vs NEW ORLEANS

DP: Another big line I don't understand. I like the Saints chances of winning, but covering by a TD? That's a lot. I'll take the Bears.

TJ: I also think this line is too high, but it’s still not high enough to make me take the Bears on the road.  Consider this more of a pick against the Bears than for the Saints.  Pick: Saints.

BUFFALO (-4.5) vs Oakland

DP: Everything points against the Raiders: on the road, short week, 1 PM start. Normally, I'd be contrarian, but I actually like Buffalo's spirit. If the Bills can slow down the Raiders rushing game, I like Fitzpatrick to cover the points.

TJ: There are things to like about the Raiders, but playing on the road isn't one of them.  I don't think the Bills will play the rest of the season as well as they did last week, but they have a couple good skill position players, and maybe they have the AFC West's number.  Pick: Bills.

Cleveland (-2.5) vs INDIANAPOLIS

DP: The Juice may call it a reverse jinx, but I didn't like what I saw from the Colts last week. They just look beat. I like the Browns to cover on the Road.

TJ: Man, I knew the Colts’ offense might be a little anemic without Manning, but I didn’t realize their defense was that bad.  They looked atrocious against Houston.  Meanwhile, the Browns ruined any chance they had at competing for a playoff spot with that loss to shitty Cincy.  I expect them to bounce back a bit here, and I think 2.5 isn’t too much to cover.  Pick: Browns.

Jacksonville (+10.5) vs NY JETS

DP: Another surprisingly big line. I didn't see anything about the Jets that made me think they can cover 10.5 points against a game Jax team.

TJ: Although I agree that the Jets weren’t that impressive in week 1, I think their defense will give Jacksonville fits.  The Jets should generate multiple turnovers and give up few points, so I’ll take them to cover even a line as huge as this.  Pick: Jets

Seattle (+14.5) vs PITTSBURGH

DP: I just can't give away 14.5 points to a team that looked old on defense. I think the 'Skanks can keep it from being a blow-out.

TJ: My lovely wife pointed out something to me about this game: in their 9 regular season losses last year, the margins of loss were: 17, 17, 30, 34, 15, 18, 19, 16, 23.  Not a single loss by less than 15 points.  And I think they’re a worse team this year!  I’ll give the 14.5 and take the Steelers!

Baltimore (-6.5) vs TENNESSEE

DP: This game scares the crap out of me. It screams 'Let down' game for the Ravens. But I'll take the Birds because I think the Titans are still a little behind the rest of the league with their new coach, new QB and out of shape RB.

TJ: I’m not overreacting to Baltimore’s Week 1 performance.  They’ll still have trouble on the road against Tennessee.  But 6.5 isn’t as big a line as I would have expected, so I’m going to shy away from the Titans and their clusterfuck situation.  Pick: Ravens.

SAN FRANCISCO (+3.5) vs Dallas

DP: Every summer Peyton Manning takes one weakness in his game and works on it. Every summer Tony Romo works on his golf game. It’s that lack of discipline that leads to 4th quarter melt downs like we saw on Sunday. This is my upset special of the week. San Fran sneaks up on an unprepared Cowboy team and wins a close one at home.

TJ: I like the Doc’s logic, and I agree that Romo just hasn’t become an elite QB yet.  However, San Fran’s win last week was over a terrible Seahawks team, and I expect Rob Ryan’s defense to give Alex Smith some problems.  Likewise, I think Romo will look good against the 49ers’ weak defense.  Pick: Dallas.

Houston (-2.5) vs MIAMI

DP: Hard to tell how good Houston is after the Colts mailed in last week’s game. I will stand by my pre-season prediction, that they will be pretty good. Pick: Houston

TJ: I’m not sold on Houston, and I like this line for Miami.  If Houston runs really well and kills Miami, I’ll change my mind, but until then, I’ll stay skeptical.  Pick: Dolphins.

San Diego (+6.5) vs NEW ENGLAND

DP: I think you can throw against the Pats. I like Phillip Rivers to have a big game and keep things close enough to cover.

TJ: Bullshit.  New England will roll, and Ochocinco will contribute more than one catch.  Brady will make sure of both.  Pick: NE.

Cincinnati (+5.5) vs DENVER

DP: This line surprised me too. The Broncos struggled last week and the Bengals won on the road (even if it was the Browns). I'll take the points and hope for a close, ugly game.

TJ: Don’t like either team, but 5.5 seems like a lot of points for a team that won last week.  I actually fear Gronkowski, and think that Dalton’s injury may be the best thing that happens to Cincy all year.  Pick: Bengals.

ATLANTA (+2.5) vs Philadelphia

DP: Philly certainly looked like the better team last week, but I think you can run on the Eagles. I like Atlanta to pound Michael Turner and come away with a surprising win.

TJ:  I also like Atlanta at home getting points.  This might be a learning experience for Philly, and I think they’ll get better as the year goes on, but they’re not ready for a tough road game like this yet.  Pick: Atlanta.

St. Louis (+6.5) vs NY GIANTS

DP: No game exemplifies Week 2's theme better than this game. Neither team looked good and both have a lot of injuries. I'll take the points and hope that the Rams can keep it close.

TJ: I don’t like taking the Rams travelling to the East Coast, but 6.5 is a lot to give them against what might wind up being a horrible Giants team.  I say Bradford finds a rhythm in this game, and the Rams keep it close.  Pick: Rams.