Week 2 NFL Predictions: Forecasting Winners in Top Inter-Divisional Matchups

The NFL season is not taking its time to get right down to the important stuff.

Doing well against the teams in your division is a must if you want to make the postseason. In terms of a playoff place, your divisional record isn't as important as your overall record. However, it's almost impossible to win your division if you finish below .500 against your inter-division foes.

None of the 12 playoff teams from 2012 had a losing record in their division.

For teams starting their divisional play in the upcoming slate of games, it's important to get that first win and build momentum early in the season.

Here's a quick preview and prediction for four of Week 2's best inter-divisional games.

Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears

Once one of the team's biggest issues, the Chicago Bears offensive line looked great in Week 1. The Bears failed to surrender even a single sack against the Cincinnati Bengals' vaunted front seven. Kyle Long in particular did very well, especially for a rookie.

In the Minnesota Vikings' 34-24 loss to the Detroit Lions, fans really didn't learn all that much. Adrian Peterson is still really good, while Christian Ponder is still really average. It's hard to see how the Vikings make the postseason with him under center. Ponder had three picks and a fumble that offset his lone touchdown throw.

The Bears defense will be able to handle Peterson enough to make Ponder win the game. If that's ever the case for Minnesota, it's in trouble.

Bears 17, Vikings 10

New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

What in the world has happened to Josh Freeman? He was so good in his sophomore season, yet he hasn't made that jump the next level. There was nothing in the Buccaneers' loss to the New York Jets that inspired much confidence, either. Freeman completed only 15-of-31 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The New Orleans Saints didn't have to worry about any quarterback issues in their win over the Falcons. Atlanta had no answer for Drew Brees and the Saints' air attack.

New Orleans has gotten so much better with Sean Payton on the sidelines. The team looks like a genuine Super Bowl contender.

Tampa has done a lot to improve the secondary, with the additions of Darrelle Revis and Dashon Goldson. It won't be enough, as the Saints will have too much offensive firepower for the Bucs to keep pace.

Saints 30, Buccaneers 17

San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks

There won't be a more titanic clash than the one Sunday night in Seattle. The Seahawks are coming off a hard-fought 12-7 win over the Carolina Panthers, while Colin Kaepernick outplayed Aaron Rodgers en route to a pivotal Week 1 win for the 49ers over the Packers.

Kaepernick won't have anywhere near as easy a time in Week 2. Seattle's secondary is one of the best in the league, and playing at home will give the unit a much needed boost. You're not going to see Anquan Boldin get anywhere close to 200 yards receiving here.

On the other side, the combo of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch will be able to control the pace of the game.

It won't be as lopsided a game as the Seahawks-49ers matchup last December, but it will be a double-digit win for Seattle as it pulls away late.

Seahawks 34, 49ers 20

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals were terrible toward the end of their 24-21 loss to the Bears. Cincinnati had to take two timeouts in the span of one play because it couldn't get 11 men on the field. Then the coup de grâce was Rey Maualuga's personal foul penalty after the Bengals got a key stop on third down with a minute to go.

Luckily for Cincy its opponent in Week 2 was terrible for the entire game. Pittsburgh's offense was downright awful. The Steelers gained a total of 32 yards on the ground, and Ben Roethlisberger was sacked five times.

For an offensive line that was already threadbare, it now has to deal with the injury to Maurkice Pouncey (h/f ESPN's Adam Schefter).

The Bengals have arguably the best defensive line in the league and should be able to get after Roethlisberger. It won't be pretty, but Cincinnati will get it done.

Bengals 20, Steelers 13