NFL Predictions Week 2: Chris Simms' Weekly Predictions

The Giants defense held onto a lead. Carson Wentz looked like an eight-year veteran. And behind Alex Smith, the Chiefs came all the way back.

The NFL is back and as unpredictable as ever. But Bleacher Report pays me to see football things before they happen. A shootout between the Raiders and Saints? A low-scoring slugfest in Seattle? An upset road win by the upstart Lions? Called all three.

Keep in mind: I've watched hours of film from Week 1, making a note for each and every trend I saw. Those trends—combined with what I know about roster composition, player development, scheme fit, team chemistry, coaching style and matchup advantages—all help to make these predictions as solid as you can get. They're more like educated guesses.

I know which games you should be watching in Week 2. I know which teams should feel a little nervous about an 0-2 start. And I really know if you read these predictions, you'll sound like the smartest football fan huddled around your water cooler.

Upset Alert!

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Prediction: Buccaneers over Cardinals

The film on Arizona's cornerback play opposite Patrick Peterson wasn't pretty.

Now, one of the most gifted downfield throwers gets his shot to exploit it. Suddenly, 0-2 feels like a possibility for this talented Cardinals team.

Jameis Winston picks on Brandon Williams all game long. Mike Evans can get behind Peterson for a few of Winston's deep tosses, too. On the rare occasion that a receiver can't separate downfield, Charles Sims can eat up yards underneath. I really like his prospects as the third-down, move-the-chains back in this offense.

Make no mistake about it: The Bucs can put points on the board. Carson Palmer and Co. better keep up—or else.

Biggest Cakewalk

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Prediction: Giants over Saints

Last season's best shootout could be this season's biggest blowout.

Why? Because the Saints already enter Week 2 as a one-dimensional offense. Big Blue just shut Ezekiel Elliott down behind a Cowboys line that's so much better. The Giants shouldn't struggle to get to Mark Ingram.

It's on Drew Brees to move the ball yet again. He's faced with a lose-lose task: Spread the Giants out and deal with a secondary that's four-deep at cornerback, or don't and deal with Jason Pierre-Paul and Olivier Vernon off the edge.

The Giants have the defensive talent to slow Brees down at least. They also have Odell Beckham Jr., who'll take his snaps across from a player who isn't Delvin Breaux. Bonus points if you can name him.

More Passing Yards: Alex Smith or Brock Osweiler?

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Prediction: Brock Osweiler

For one glorious afternoon, Alex Smith was no longer such a Checkdown Charlie.

In my book, Alex Smith will always be a Checkdown Charlie.

Forget you saw No. 11 throwing it all over the yard in Week 1. That's not what he generally does in this offense, regardless of the situation. Don't believe me? Rewatch the AFC Divisional Round game against New England. The stakes were as high as Smith's yards per attempt were low.

Give me an increasingly confident Brock Osweiler. More importantly, give me Osweiler's trio of freaks out wide. DeAndre Hopkins, Will Fuller and Braxton Miller can get separation. He'll have the passing-yardage edge Sunday.

Matchup Nightmare of the Week

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Prediction: Ezekiel Elliott vs. Redskins Defense

Here's a wild thought.

Maybe—and stick with me on this one—the Redskins should've improved their abysmal rushing defense from a season ago. That way, they'd stand a fighting chance when a top-five offensive line tries to run it down their throats.

Now, in come the Cowboys, fresh off an underwhelming rushing attack and righteously pissed off about it. The Washington defense is about to be their punching bag.

You'll see a top-five pick in Ezekiel Elliott carve his way through this defense. You'll see Tyron Smith and Zack Martin decleat a few linebackers. And now, you'll know a little offseason action could've prevented this bloodbath.

More Passing Touchdowns: Jameis Winston or Carson Palmer?

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Prediction: Jameis Winston

Carson Palmer is no stranger to the six-point pass.

But I'll take Jameis Winston—a uniquely gifted thrower of the football—in a touchdown-off at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Here's my thinking: Palmer can and will air it out, but when his team is close, he still has David Johnson to lean on (side note: Johnson looked unbelievable on tape this week).

The Bucs aren't built for power runs. They're built for Winston throws. In scoring range, it's hard not to look at three towering targets in Mike Evans (6'5"), Vincent Jackson (6'5") and Austin Seferian-Jenkins (6'6"). They're instant mismatches.

Sleeper QB

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Prediction: Trevor Siemian

Peyton Manning shattered offensive records with this offense in the not-so-distant past.

I'm not saying Trevor Siemian will too. But save for a few exceptions, he can lean on Peyton's old supporting cast of playmakers. That's a huge advantage. I think we're quick to forget what Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders and others can bring.

The Colts are about to remember. They're thin at cornerback (yikes), can't generate pressure (double yikes) and struggle to tackle cleanly (triple yikes). Siemian should pick their defense apart.

More Receiving Yards: A.J. Green or Antonio Brown?

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Prediction: A.J. Green

Do I really have to pick one of these guys?

Fine. Give me A.J. Green, who torched a really good secondary, over Antonio Brown, who torched a bad one. That's what separates these two at the moment.

Brown will work the underneath routes more. Cincinnati's safeties do a good job of keeping the ball from going over their heads. I'm sure Marvin Lewis is drilling it this week, anyway.

Meanwhile, Andy Dalton showed a willingness to go deep last week. He'll have his shots with Green against an inexperienced Steelers secondary.

Sleeper RB

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Prediction: Tevin Coleman

Let's not forget who really won last year's running back job in Atlanta.

Tevin Coleman, not Devonta Freeman, was the RB1 before his injury. You can see why the Falcons thought so highly of him now that he's healthy and back in the offensive mix.

I think Coleman is in for a better rushing day (only 22 yards in Week 1) against the Oakland run defense. He'll also turn a few Matt Ryan checkdowns upfield for chunk plays (95 receiving yards in Week 1).

The committee approach doesn't concern me. Coleman will get his.

Over/Under: Quarters Sam Bradford Sits

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Line: 2

The Vikings don't want to open their state-of-the-art new stadium and drop a game to the rival Packers.

They can't lose sight of the bigger picture, though. If Sam Bradford enters this game, say, down 10 in the third quarter, a comeback won't be easy. Then, he'll hear some familiar hot takes involving the phrases "bad trade," "total bust" and "not worth a first-round pick."

Mike Zimmer won't throw his new quarterback into that scenario. Shaun Hill will play and play adequately, and Bradford can focus on what comes after.

Prediction: Over

Sleeper WR

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Prediction: Chris Hogan

When the status of his Hall of Fame quarterback changed, so did Chris Hogan.

The ex-Bills slot receiver isn't exclusively a short-to-intermediate guy. He's running five-to-20-yard patterns that accentuate Jimmy Garoppolo's arm. I love this new wrinkle in New England.

Take this play from early on Sunday Night Football. You'd rarely see it from a Tom Brady-quarterbacked team, but Garoppolo isn't Brady. He has different strengths that Bill Belichick wants to harness.

Let's see if Hogan goes more vertical again Sunday. I think there are plays to be made against a Dolphins secondary that struggles to stop any kind of throw.

More Receiving Yards: Giants or Saints?

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Prediction: Saints

It's tough to turn away from a group that boasts the flashiest receiver in football.

I'm still doing it. I like Brandin Cooks (maybe not for 143 yards, but I like him). I love Willie Snead as a true No. 1 wideout. And I'm sure that Drew Brees will take to the skies far more than Eli Manning will.

Beckham, Victor Cruz and Sterling Shepard will get theirs when the game is close. It won't stay that way for long; the G-Men will start running, Brees will keep passing, and the Saints' receiving stable takes a close call.

Immediate-Impact Rookie

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Prediction: Tyler Boyd

I couldn't say enough good things about Tyler Boyd from watching his preseason tape. He still won't receive any attention—from the national media or the Steelers secondary.

Instead, Pittsburgh will opt to double A.J. Green. The Steelers don't have a choice after what he did to Darrelle Revis. But the Bengals took Boyd to make opponents pay for this exact scenario.

The Pitt product will be ready to ball in front of his old home crowd at Heinz Field.

Best Game No One's Talking About

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Prediction: Jaguars vs. Chargers

It feels like this is a win-or-bust kind of game. And it's only Week 2.

The Jags can't afford to lose. They just concluded one of the most promising offseasons in recent memory…before the Packers outclassed them. Gus Bradley knows he can't fly across country, lose again and fly back to Jacksonville with an 0-2 record. It'd look like his team is stuck in the mud.

The Chargers can't afford to lose. They just blew one of the biggest leads in their club's history—and lost Keenan Allen in the process. Mike McCoy can't possibly avoid the hot seat with a second loss. It'd look like the nightmare that was 2015 all over again.

Jobs might be on the line. Playoff hopes certainly are. Other contests might be flashier, but I'll go with two desperate teams fighting to stay above water.