NFL Week 2: Ranking the Top Five Games

Week 1 of the NFL season is now in the books, so it's time to look ahead to the second week of 2010.

This week doesn't feature a bunch of terrific matchups, but it does have some great teams going at each other.

For one reason or another, each of the teams in this slideshow need to either win or keep an eye out for their opponent.

The following is a ranking of the top five games for NFL Week 2.

5. Houston Texans at Washington Redskins

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 12: Running back Arian Foster #23 of the Houston Texans avoids a tackle by defensive back Melivn Bullitt #33 of the Indianapolis Colts during the NFL season opener at Reliant Stadium on September 12, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by

It may not seem like a sexy game, considering they are two teams who haven't had much recent success, but both the Houston Texans and Washington Redskins won their opening games and are talented.

The Texans, my pick to finish 11-5 and win a Wild Card spot, looked overly impressive on Sunday beating Peyton Manning and the Colts.

Running back Arian Foster was unbelievable, rushing for 231 yards, and that alone led Houston past the Colts, although Manning threw for 433 yards.

Their win was at home though, and now they must travel to the Nation's Capital to face a Redskins team who surprisingly beat the Cowboys.

Donovan McNabb and his new bunch fended off Tony Romo in his final attempt to win the game, and the Redskins set up a battle of two 1-0 teams for Week 2.

It's a game that will get one of these teams off to a surprising 2-0 start.

Game: Sunday, 4:15pm at FedEx Field

4. Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings

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NEW ORLEANS - SEPTEMBER 09: Quarterback Brett Favre #4 of the Minnesota Vikings at Louisiana Superdome on September 9, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

What a strange matchup. When do you ever see the Dolphins and Vikings hook up? It's happening this Sunday and it's a pretty good battle between the ageless Brett Favre and the Dolphins rushing attack.

The Dolphins are actually the lone 1-0 team in this game, coming off a victory over the lowly Bills. They only scored 15 points, including an intentional safety on Buffalo's part, and now have to face the Vikings at the noisy Metrodome.

Favre didn't have a great first game back from "retirement," not looking sharp or even mobile in the Vikings' 14-9 loss to the Saints last Thursday. The good thing for the 40-year-old quarterback is that he'll get an extra three days of rest to recover for Miami.

This will be a really tough game for the Dolphins to win. If their defense can pressure Favre enough, like the Saints, and they can put some points up with Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams, and Brandon Marshall, then they can escape with a victory.

Chad Henne has to be ready to play long ball inside the dome with Favre in order to put up the necessary points to win.

Is this a potential Super Bowl preview? I'd say three of 10 on that scale.

Game: Sunday, 1pm at Mall of America Field

3. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 13: Tony Richardson #49 of the New York Jets stiff arms Ray Lewis #52 of the Baltimore Ravens during their home opener at the New Meadowlands Stadium on September 13, 2010 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew

This game is a tale of two teams who went in opposite directions than expected in their first games. The Baltimore Ravens pulled off a semi-shocker by beating the Jets in the New Meadowlands, and the Bengals lost to the Patriots, who many picked to lose.

Now, the two AFC North rivals will meet in Cincinnati, trying to get an early season edge. The Bengals couldn't get anything done early on in their game against the Patriots, and considering New England wasn't supposed to have a great defense with a lot of younger players, that was shocking.

Tom Brady and his offense powered by Cincinnati and the duo of Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens to earn an impressive home victory.

Meanwhile, the Ravens upended the big, bad Jets (or at least, how the Jets think of themselves) to foil New York's home opener on national television. Ray Lewis was the most impressive player on the field, knocking out multiple Jets receivers.

The Bengals at home will be looking for a win, which is really a must, as many people's AFC North favorites don't want to start out 0-2.

The Ravens would love to win their first two games, with both coming on the road.

Game: Sunday, 1pm at Paul Brown Stadium

2. New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts

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HOUSTON - SEPTEMBER 12: Quarterback Peyton Manning #18 of the Indianapolis Colts in the NFL season opener against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium on September 12, 2010 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Not to brag, after all, this isn't about me, but I picked the Texans to beat the Colts in a previous article. That doesn't mean Colts fans are happy with the situation.

Now, they do say that great teams should go 7-1 at home and 4-4 on the road, but even so, the Colts are the Colts. They started last season 13-0 before bowing down to the Jets. This season, they are in danger of starting out 0-2.

It won't be easy for Peyton Manning and his team to avoid the disappointment, as his little brother Eli and the Giants are coming to town.

These two teams last faced each other to open up the 2006 NFL season, and Peyton got the edge over Eli, 26-21. That was the season that Peyton won the Super Bowl. How ironic that the following year, Eli would do so as well.

The Colts will be without Bob Sanders in this game, making it even easier for Eli to throw against the Colts, after a great passing game on Sunday against the Panthers.

The Giants defense though, has to step it up against Peyton after his 433-yard clinic against Houston.

It should be a wild game, with a lot of excitement.

Game: Sunday, 8:20pm at Lucas Oil Stadium

1. New England Patriots at New York Jets

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SAN DIEGO - JANUARY 17: Darrelle Revis #24 of the New York Jets runs with the ball against the San Diego Chargers during AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Qualcomm Stadium on January 17, 2010 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The biggest and most interesting game of Week 2 has to be the Jets against the Patriots. There are a lot of storylines for this game.

First off, the Jets would be so ashamed of themselves to start the season 0-2 after their bold predictions. Not only 0-2, but with both losses coming at home.

Secondly, Patriots receiver Randy Moss and Jets star cornerback Darrelle Revis have already started the trash talking.

Last season, Revis locked down Moss on "Revis Island" in both meetings, and called Moss in the offseason a "slouch."

Moss responded on Tuesday saying he has prepared all summer to face Revis, and that he was impressed with Revis's play in last season's meetings.

The Patriots offense looked great on Sunday, and so did receiver Wes Welker coming back from serious injury.

It's a huge intra-divisional matchup between two teams with different mindsets. The Jets desperately need to win the game for their own psyche, and the Patriots would love to shut the Jets up and start the season 2-0.

Game: Sunday, 4:15pm at New Meadowlands Stadium

Picks For All Five Games

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 02: Head coach Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots looks on as his team play against the New York Giants on September 2, 2010 at the New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Giants defeated the Pa

Now it's time for my picks. Here is how I think each of the five games will end up.

Patriots 21, Jets 13

Colts 31, Giants 28

Ravens 16, Bengals 10

Vikings 38, Dolphins 24

Texans 21, Redskins 17