NFL Picks Week 2: Road Teams That Will Steal Victory

The Green Bay Packers are headed to an 0-2 start, with both losses coming disturbingly on their own turf. 

While optimism in Green Bay is just slightly more cautious after their Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, that will turn into full-blown panic mode after the upcoming loss to the Chicago Bears. 

Here is why they, and two other home teams, are going to crush the hearts of their hometown fans in Week 2. 

Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers

How the mighty have fallen. It was not that long ago that Green Bay was threatening to run off a perfect record and repeat as Super Bowl champions. 

Now they have lost their last two games that counted, and both came at home. In those two losses, the mighty Packer offense—which in 2011 scored more points in an NFL season than any team except the 2007 Patriots—scored 20 points in the playoff loss to the New York Giants and then just 22, with 15 not coming until fourth-quarter desperation time, in the Week 1 loss to the 49ers. 

Now, I don't think the Packers offense is done being elite, but as their run game has become non-existent, teams are going to have an easier time slowing them down. 

That is bad news for the Packers because their defense is terrible. They were last in 2011, and they did next to nothing to improve that side of the ball during the offseason. 

They looked downright lost at times against the 49ers. Randy Moss scored a touchdown on a simple seam route that not one Packer felt compelled to try to guard. 

That defense is not going to stop Jay Cutler, Matt Forte and the Bears offense. They have way too many weapons, and Chicago's defense will be able to slow down the one-dimensional attack of the Packers enough to pull out a victory. 

Prediction: Bears 31, Packers 27

Oakland Raiders at Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins have destroyed the Raiders in each of the last two seasons, but this is a new era for both franchises.

Neither era got off to a particularly good start as both teams enter this game 0-1. 

However, it is the Raiders that have the superior side. This starts at the quarterback position. Carson Palmer looked good while throwing for nearly 300 yards and no picks in the opener. Rookie Ryan Tannehill did not fare as well; he chucked three picks. 

Granted, that was against one of the league's best defenses with the Houston Texans, but this Oakland defense is drastically improved.

While run defense has been a glaring weakness for the Raiders for years, new coach Dennis Allen has wasted no time making improvements in this area. The Chargers ran for just 32 yards on 20 carries in their Week 1 matchup. 

With this newly stiff run defense, the Raiders will force Ryan Tannehill to beat them, and he is not ready for that challenge. 

Prediction: Raiders 20, Dolphins 10

Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks 

Much like the game we just talked about, the Dallas Cowboys are going to pull out a victory because they will make life miserable for a rookie quarterback. 

The new-look Cowboys secondary looked outstanding while the Cowboys took down the New York Giants in Week 1. The Giants mustered just 187 passing yards in that game. The Seahawks won't get that many. 

They do not have the receivers to get separation, and rookie QB Russell Wilson is going to have a hard time deciphering the many different blitz looks of the Cowboys. 

Seattle will need a huge effort from its defense to stay in this one, and it has a solid defense, but the Cowboys will wear them down over the course of the game as they will force numerous three-and-outs. 

Prediction: Cowboys 24, Seahawks 13