NFL Picks Week 2: Predicting the Top Defensive Performances

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Sunday is just three days away and that means Week 2 of the 2010-11 NFL season.  Many people at this point in the week are making decisions on who and who not to start on their fantasy teams.

Defense was the name of the game last week, with several low scoring games during the opening week of the season.

Here are five defenses that you can count on to keep the opposing offense in check.

Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week 1 Stats: 295 yards allowed, nine points allowed.

Week 2 Opponent: Tennessee Titans.

The Pittsburgh Steelers defense looked great against the Atlanta Falcons last week, shutting down Michael Turner and Matt Ryan.

This week the Steelers face defending rushing champ Chris Johnson and the Tennessee Titans. The Steelers have only given up three 100 yard rushing performances since 2006, and Johnson has never rushed for more than 70 yards vs. the Steel Curtain.

This game should be low scoring and the Pittsburgh defense should keep the Steelers in the game all day long.

Kansas City Chiefs

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Week 1 Stats: 389 yards allowed, 14 points allowed.

Week 2 Opponent: Cleveland Browns.

Although the Kansas City Chiefs allowed a lot of yards to the San Diego Chargers on Monday, they were able to limit them off the scoreboard.

The Cleveland Browns might be starting their second string quarterback Sunday, Seneca Wallace, instead of Jake Delhomme, which could make the Chiefs job a little bit easier.

The Chiefs defense should have a good day against this inept offense, while their offense lights up the Browns defense. 

Chiefs win this one in a blow out.

Green Bay Packers

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Week 1 Stats: 320 yards allowed, 20 points allowed.

Week 2 Opponent: Buffalo Bills.

The Green Bay Packers showed that they have an elite defense when they completely shutdown the Philadelphia Eagles offense.

The Buffalo Bills only scored 15 points last week, while C.J. Spiller was basically invisible.  The Packers are a better defense up front and in the secondary than the Miami Dolphins, which doesn't bod well for the Bills.

The Packers defense picks off three Trent Edwards passes and the Packers roll by double digits.

New Orleans Saints

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Week 1 Stats: 253 yards allowed, nine points allowed.

Week 2 Opponent: San Francisco 49ers.

The New Orleans Saints defense showed up and shut down the Minnesota Vikings last Thursday only allowing nine points.

This week the Saints get the San Francisco 49ers who only scored a mere six points last week against the Seattle Seahawks.

Frank Gore should have a bounce back week, but Alex Smith makes entirely too many mistakes and the Saints defense will capitalize on them. Saints will win on a defensive touchdown. 

Atlanta Falcons

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Week 1 Stats: 354 yards allowed, 15 points allowed.

Week 2 Opponent: Arizona Cardinals.

The Atlanta Falcons were in a defensive struggle with the Pittsburgh Steelers last week.  Although the Steelers were a little light on offense, the Falcons defense was still pretty impressive.

The Arizona Cardinals are nowhere near the same team without Kurt Warner, which could be seen by the 17 points they put up last week against the St. Louis Rams.

Derek Anderson played pretty well last week, but he makes a lot of passes that are off the mark.  Add that to the fumbles the Cardinals had last week and the Falcons defense could put up more points than the offense.