NFL Picks Week 2: Bleacher Report's Expert Consensus Picks

The first week of the 2014 NFL season is in the books.

Some games went more or less according to script. For example, both of last year's Super Bowl participants looked dominant in beating playoff teams at home.

However, some games told a new tale. The Kansas City Chiefs were blown out at Arrowhead by the Tennessee Titans. The New England Patriots squandered a big second-half lead and fell in Miami.

And the Cleveland Browns nearly came back from 27-3 down to upset the Pittsburgh Steelers, an act that I'm pretty sure would have ripped the space-time continuum and killed us all.

So, as we give thanks for the fact that the universe still exists and prepare for a week of NFL action highlighted by some key divisional battles, here's a look at how the national lead and division lead writers here at Bleacher Report expect Week 2 to play out.

Roll Call/Standings

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

In many respects, Week 1 is the hardest week of the NFL season to predict.

For everyone from casual fans to seasoned sportswriters, much of our perceptions regarding 2014 are based either on how the last NFL season unfolded or player acquisitions that look good on paper.

Of course, games aren't played on paper, and a lot can change in the NFL from year to year.

That's reflected in a Week 1 where many of our pundits struggled a bit, and the group barely cracked the .500 mark.

Chris Simms had his tarot cards a-rockin', nailing 12 of 16 games to take an early lead among our panelists.

Bleacher Report NFL National Lead Writer Mike Tanier, on the other hand, would probably like to protest these results and demand a recount. Or a mulligan. A do-over maybe? Come on!

(Season standings listed in parentheses)

Matt Bowen: NFL National Lead Writer 8-8 (8-8)

Gary Davenport: NFL Analyst 9-7 (9-7)

Mike Freeman: NFL National Lead Writer 9-7 (9-7)

Erik Frenz: AFC East Lead Writer 8-8 (8-8)

Brad Gagnon: NFC East Lead Writer 11-5 (11-5)

Andrea Hangst: AFC North Lead Writer 9-7 (9-7)

Christopher Hansen: AFC West Lead Writer 10-6 (10-6)

Zach Kruse: NFC North Lead Writer 10-6 (10-6)

Rivers McCown: AFC South Lead Writer 10-6 (10-6)

Matt Miller: NFL National Lead Writer 9-7 (9-7)

Ty Schalter: NFL National Lead Writer 9-7 (9-7)

Michael Schottey: NFL National Lead Writer 8-8 (8-8)

Chris Simms: Former NFL Quarterback, Video Correspondent 12-4 (12-4)

Brent Sobleski: NFC South Lead Writer 9-7 (9-7)

Mike Tanier: NFL National Lead Writer 7-9 (7-9)

Aggregate: 9-7 (9-7)

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at Baltimore Ravens (0-1)

Gail Burton/Associated Press

The Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers (12-3)

The Baltimore Ravens are in trouble.

Not only did the Ravens drop a heartbreaker at home to the Cincinnati Bengals last week, but now, as they prepare on a short week to face their most hated rivals, the Ravens find themselves engulfed in the furor surrounding running back Ray Rice's release from the team and indefinite suspension from the NFL.

As veteran defensive end Chris Canty told Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, it's imperative that the team tune out the distractions and prepare for what's become a very important game:

"

Certainly, when you get this type of news [Rice's contract terminated], it doesn't make things any easier, but we have a job to do. We have to gather ourselves. We've got to move forward. The Pittsburgh Steelers are coming in here Thursday. From a professional standpoint, they could care less about what we're going through as a football team. We have to focus on what we need to do as a team to give us the best chance to be successful on Thursday night.

"

Canty's right. Simply put, the Ravens can't afford to lose this game. It would put them two games back of the Steelers both overall and in divisional play, never mind the unappealing thought of beginning the year with back-to-back home losses.

And yet, that's exactly what our panel expects to happen, with only NFL National Lead Writer Mike Freeman, NFC North Lead Writer Zach Kruse and Chris Simms taking the Ravens to win at M&T Bank Stadium.

Steelers: Bowen, Davenport, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Sobleski, Tanier

Ravens: Freeman, Kruse, Simms

Miami Dolphins (1-0) at Buffalo Bills (1-0)

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

The Pick: Miami Dolphins (12-3)

The last time the words "battle for first place in the AFC East between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills" were uttered, George Bush was probably president.

Not George W. Bush, mind you. His father.

Still, that's exactly what we have on Sunday in Buffalo. Both the Bills and Dolphins are riding high after huge wins, with the Bills stunning the Chicago Bears in overtime, while the Dolphins surged back in the second half to shock the New England Patriots in Miami.

However, the Dolphins' win came at a cost. Middle linebacker Koa Misi is now out indefinitely with a sprained ankle, and outside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe was lost for the year after tearing his pectoral muscle.

Miami defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle lauded the play of his reserves against the Pats, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.

"We went through three quarters of the game without a starting linebacker," Coyle said. "The other guys stepped in and played like starters. I was really impressed with the entire group. I can’t say enough about those guys."

With that said, a banged-up Miami defense and the Bills' stout defensive front against a so-so Miami offensive line (on the road) was enough for me to take the Bills to improve to 2-0.

I'm in the minority, though, one of only three writers to pick Buffalo to emerge with the victory.

Dolphins: Bowen, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier

Bills: Davenport, Hangst, Schottey

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) at Washington Redskins (0-1)

Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

The Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4)

Yes, you read that right.

After stunning the Philadelphia Eagles by racing to a 17-0 first-half lead before falling, 34-17, in Week 1, the Jaguars are our panel's overwhelming pick on the road against a Washington team that appeared disjointed and inept while getting blasted by the Houston Texans in its first game.

The Jaguars.

On the road.

That's how bad Washington looked.

In fact, given how head coach Jay Gruden talked about his head-coaching debut while speaking with Liz Clarke of The Washington Post, Gruden might pick the Jaguars, too.

“Sick. Sick. Sick. You only get one chance at your first time," Gruden said, "and I failed to get it done. We failed as a team to get it done.”

One thing's for sure: If Robert Griffin struggles again and the Redskins do get beaten by a team perceived nationally by most as a doormat, then the rumblings for Kirk Cousins to start at quarterback in D.C. are going to become a roar.

Jaguars: Bowen, Frenz, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Sobleski, Tanier

Redskins: Davenport, Freeman, Gagnon, Simms

Dallas Cowboys (0-1) at Tennessee Titans (1-0)

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

The Pick: Dallas Cowboys (8-7)

Last week, the Tennessee Titans looked as good as they have in any single game in years, shocking the Kansas City Chiefs, 26-10.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys looked, well—what's the opposite of good?

Oh yeah: Tony Romo.

Kidding aside, Romo and the Cowboys dug a very deep, very early hole last week against the San Francisco 49ers. Romo's three first-half turnovers had a lot to do with that, but wide receiver Dez Bryant defended Romo while talking with ESPN Dallas' Tim MacMahon.

"I’m going to tell you something, man," Bryant said. "That’s nowhere near the issue. I can’t believe you even asked me that question. Like I said, as a whole, we went out and we made some mistakes that we wish we could get back, but we can’t."

So with one team (the Titans) looking powerful while the other (the Cowboys) looked putrid, why is Dallas the panel's pick?

Who knows? The Cowboys constantly defy logic and reason. Might as well just roll with it.

Cowboys: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Gagnon, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Tanier

Titans: Frenz, Hangst, Hansen, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski

Arizona Cardinals (1-0) at New York Giants (0-1)

Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Pick: Arizona Cardinals (13-2)

OK, how can this be put in a way that's direct and honest, but not cruel?

The New York Giants offense looked like a flaming bag of dog crap against the the Detroit Lions on Monday night.

The offensive line was porous. The passing game was completely out of sync. Quarterback Eli Manning threw two more interceptions, including one that could have guest starred on an episode of DuckTales.

Suffice it to say, head coach Tom Coughlin was somewhat displeased when speaking to reporters, according to Ebenezer Samuel of the New York Daily News.

"It was a nightmare performance," Coughlin said. "I don’t think there’s anybody in that locker room that doesn’t realize the bubble’s been burst. There’s a lot of things that have to be improved upon, and it has to be pretty quick."

Apparently our experts don't see those improvements coming quickly enough to help Big Blue against the visiting Arizona Cardinals.

It would seem the theme of Week 2 (at least for the early contests) is road teams running wild.

Cardinals: Bowen, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier

Giants: Davenport, Freeman

New England Patriots (0-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-0)

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

The Pick: New England Patriots (12-3)

Given all of the success they've enjoyed during the past decade or so, the New England Patriots aren't a team that's prone to panicking after one loss.

However, after being outscored, 23-0, in the second half by the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, there are more than a few fans of the team a little freaked out.

Bleacher Report AFC East Lead Writer Erik Frenz isn't about to hit the big red button just yet, but he has suggested that the Patriots need to get back to basics.

Like, say, running the ball and blocking:

"

More consistency and a higher level of commitment to the running game (the Patriots rushed only 20 times in the game, and 14 times for 53 yards on first and second down) should give the Patriots a more effective third-down offense. If the Patriots don't start gaining more yards on those running plays, they may have a hard time sticking with it.

In the end, the problems come back to the offensive line. It's up to the offensive line to help give their running backs some room, but it's up to the runners to take advantage of holes when they appear.

"

The Patriots haven't started a season 0-2 since Tom Brady took over at quarterback, and our experts don't expect that to change this week in the Twin Cities.

Patriots: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Sobleski, Tanier

Vikings: Hangst, Hansen, Simms

New Orleans Saints (0-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-1)

Chris Graythen/Getty Images

The Pick: New Orleans Saints (14-1)

You know, under the right circumstances, this could have been a textbook "trap game."

A playoff team, on the road, against a Cleveland Browns squad that most would say the Saints should handle with relative ease.

Of course, with the Saints falling to Atlanta in overtime last week, they can't afford to overlook anyone right now.

The loss to the Falcons was a hard one to stomach for New Orleans head coach Sean Payton, according to The Associated Press (via ESPN).

"That's a tough game to lose," Payton said. "Every once in a while, you get in one of these games where the score goes back and forth. The smallest of details, especially in overtime, magnifies any little mistake."

Most of our voters expect a focused Drew Brees and the Saints to take care of business in Cleveland, with only NFC South Lead Writer Brent Sobleski climbing out on a limb and picking the Browns.

Saints: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Tanier

Browns: Sobleski

Atlanta Falcons (1-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-0)

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The Pick: Cincinnati Bengals (11-4)

The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals are both on top of the world right now.

For the Falcons, last week's big win over the Saints was the perfect start to the season after last year's 4-12 disaster. With that said, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan cautioned while speaking with the AP (via ESPN) that there's still a lot of football to be played.

"It's a good start," Ryan said. "But it's a long season."

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, on the other hand, opened the season with his first career win in Baltimore. Dalton told the AP the victory felt good, saying, "We did exactly what we set out to do. There are a lot of tough places to play in this league and this is certainly one of the toughest." 

Both these teams can put up a lot of points, but the Bengals have a much stouter defense and will be playing in front of the home crowd.

That's enough for our experts, who took Cincy by a ratio of more than two-to-one.

Falcons: Bowen, McCown, Schalter, Sobleski

Bengals: Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, Miller, Schottey, Simms, Tanier

Detroit Lions (1-0) at Carolina Panthers (1-0)

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Pick: Detroit Lions (10-5)

It's hard to trust the Detroit Lions, even after a victory as impressive as their trashing of the New York Giants in Week 1.

After all, this is a team in recent years that has mastered the art of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. Even in the first half of Monday night's win, the Lions committed several stupid penalties that kept the Giants in the game longer than they should have been.

Meanwhile, the Panthers' road win last week in Tampa was made all the sweeter by the fact the Panthers were able to do it without quarterback Cam Newton, who missed the game with injured ribs.

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera told Steve Reed of the AP (via ABC News) that his star signal-caller should be back for this battle of unbeatens.

"In the long run, win or lose, we're better off now," Rivera said. "He will be another week into his recovery. The doctors were all saying if we can get to this (week) we will all feel more comfortable about his situation."

Even with Newton back and the Panthers playing at home, however, the majority of the panel believes that the Lions are going to keep wide receiver Calvin Johnson and the good times rolling in Week 2.

And if Detroit can carry a nearly flawless second half in Monday's victory over into the matchup in Charlotte, it very well might.

Lions: Bowen, Gagnon, Hangst, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier

Panthers: Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Hansen, Kruse

St. Louis Rams (0-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

The Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (14-1)

When your starting quarterback gets hurt during a game and it's good news, then you know you're in trouble.

After a disastrous performance from Shaun Hill last week, that was essentially the position the St. Louis Rams found themselves in.

The Rams were annihilated at home, 34-6, by a Minnesota Vikings squad that isn't exactly a Super Bowl contender, but St. Louis head man Jeff Fisher insisted to ESPN's Nick Wagoner that he wants to stick with Hill.

"Shaun's our quarterback, so if he's healthy he starts, and that will be the case throughout the season," Fisher said.

However, Hill's considered a long shot to play, according to Dan Hanzus of NFL.com, and given how lopsided the vote here is, it doesn't look like our experts care who's playing at quarterback for the Rams.

Because Kurt Warner he ain't.

Rams: McCown

Buccaneers: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier

Seattle Seahawks (1-0) at San Diego Chargers (0-1)

John Froschauer/Associated Press

The Pick: Seattle Seahawks (15-0)

If this week's consensus picks are any indication, it's going to be an exciting week of football.

Because it took until the late games for us to finally get a unanimous pick.

In many respects, this is a perfect example of a trap game.

Yes, the Chargers were a playoff team last year, but this is a game the Seahawks will be expected to win without much trouble. Next week, a rematch of Super Bowl XLVIII with the Denver Broncos looms large on the schedule.

And yet, no one picked the Bolts. Not a soul.

Maybe it's the shellacking that the Seahawks laid on the Green Bay Packers last week. Or maybe it's a Chargers squad that looked herky-jerky in blowing a late lead at Arizona on Monday night.

After all, a trap's no good if you can't close it.

Seahawks: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier

Chargers: Isn't starting the season against the NFC West fun?

Houston Texans (1-0) at Oakland Raiders (0-1)

Patric Schneider/Associated Press

The Pick: Houston Texans (11-4)

It didn't show on the scoreboard, but Oakland Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater thinks that the team has found its quarterback of the future in Derek Carr, according to Bill Williamson of ESPN.com.

“The key is finding a quarterback you trust,” Streater said. “I have found that in Derek. We have to help him.”

Streater's confidence aside, things didn't go so great for the Raiders on offense in last week's loss to the New York Jets. The Raiders managed only 158 yards of total offense. Nearly half of those came on the team's last drive in garbage time.

This week, Carr and the Raiders get a Houston Texans team that completely shut down Robert Griffin and the Washington Redskins in Week 1.

Oh, and they get J.J. Watt.

Against a rookie quarterback.

Not surprisingly, our panel doesn't see that ending well for Carr, although four voters, including AFC North Lead Writer Andrea Hangst, like the Raiders' chances of pulling out a win at home.

Texans: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski

Raiders: Hangst, Hansen, Schalter, Tanier

New York Jets (1-0) at Green Bay Packers (0-1)

Jim McIsaac/Getty Images

The Pick: Green Bay Packers (14-1)

Quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers did not have a pleasant weekend.

The Packers had a few extra days to ruminate on the 36-16 pasting they received at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks to open the season Thursday night.

As Vic Ketchman of the Packers' website reports, Rodgers gave the Seahawks (and especially their defense) all due credit.

“This is the Seattle Seahawks, a great defense,” Rodgers said. “You don’t expect to move the ball on every drive, but you have to make the most of your opportunities.”

With that said, Rodgers and the Packers have also had extra time to stew and plot their revenge.

Against a New York Jets secondary that has all kinds of problems, and in the friendly confines of Lambeau Field, all of our panelists, save for AFC East Lead Writer Erik Frenz, think the Packers shall have it.

Jets: Frenz

Packers: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier

Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) at Denver Broncos (1-0)

Peter Aiken/Getty Images

The Pick: Denver Broncos (15-0)

If you want to see how much things can change in the NFL from one year to the next, look no further than the Kansas City Chiefs.

Last year, the Chiefs roared out of the gate at 9-0 en route to the playoffs.

In this year's season opener against the Tennessee Titans, the Chiefs left the tunnel, looked to the sky, then rolled over and died.

As if it weren't enough that the Chiefs were drilled at home, 26-10, by the Titans, the team lost inside linebacker Derrick Johnson and defensive end Mike DeVito to season-ending Achilles tears.

Head coach Andy Reid took responsibility for the dismal showing, according to Terez Paylor of The Kansas City Star:

"

My name is on this and this is my press conference. I’m the one accountable when it’s all said and done. ... I’ve got to do a better job on my end of putting the quarterback and the rest of the offense in a better position to make plays. Not giving (No.) 25 the ball more than seven times is negligence on my part, also.

"

Luckily for the Chiefs, they at least get a relatively easy game to lick their wounds.

Oh, wait. They're traveling to Denver to play a Broncos team that just dominated the same Indianapolis Colts squad that knocked Kansas City out of last year's playoffs.

So that's why no one picked them.

Chiefs: Anyone?

Broncos: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, McCown, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier

Chicago Bears (0-1) at San Francisco 49ers (1-0)

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

The Pick: 49ers (12-3)

The Chicago Bears stumbled badly in their first game of 2014, falling to the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field in overtime.

It was due largely to the appearance of a player that Bears fans have come to know and loathe.

"Bad Jay Cutler."

The villain was on display in Sunday's defeat, throwing a pair of interceptions, including a backbreaker in the fourth quarter.

Even the usually unapologetic Cutler admitted to having a bad game during his radio show, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com:

"The guys know, we're not idiots," Cutler said. "We all take accountability. Whenever we did mess up, we seemed to mess up pretty big. That last interception was a tough one. I've got to throw the ball away or run."

The last time the Bears traveled to San Francisco, Cutler was hurt and the 49ers flattened Chicago, 32-7.

With the exception of NFC East Lead Writer Brad Gagnon and AFC South Lead Writer Rivers McCown, our experts are predicting the same outcome this time, even if the score's a little closer.

Bears: Gagnon, McCown, Simms

49ers: Bowen, Davenport, Freeman, Frenz, Hangst, Hansen, Kruse, Miller, Schalter, Schottey, Sobleski, Tanier

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) at Indianapolis Colts (0-1)

Michael Perez/Associated Press

The Pick: Indianapolis Colts (11-4)

In recent years, since the advent of Sunday Night Football, the quality of the matchups on Monday night has sometimes been less than stellar.

In Week 2, fans have nothing to complain about, as Monday night's showdown features a pair of division champions from a year ago.

One of them—the Indianapolis Colts—has reason to complain, though.

As if it wasn't bad enough that the Colts lost to the Broncos last week, the team also lost outside linebacker Robert Mathis (who was out while serving a four-game suspension) to a season-ending Achilles tear.

Head coach Chuck Pagano didn't sugarcoat things while speaking with Steve Andress of the team's website.

"Tough, tough pill to swallow," Pagano said. "Right now they're still absorbing it, the enormity and shock of it, but the sun is going to come up. The thing about this league, nobody really cares what you're going through."

The Eagles' high-octane offense will pose a stiff test for the Colts, who weren't able to pressure Peyton Manning at all last week.

Still, the Colts circle the proverbial wagons as well as any team in the NFL, and the Eagles have problems of their own. The team fell behind 17 points to the Jaguars last week before coming back to win, and the loss of Pro Bowl guard Evan Mathis for two months with an MCL sprain is a devastating blow.

Four voters disagree, but the consensus is that the Colts will pull out a badly needed win at home.

Eagles: Davenport, Hangst, McCown, Miller

Colts: Bowen, Freeman, Frenz, Gagnon, Hansen, Kruse, Schalter, Schottey, Simms, Sobleski, Tanier