NFL Picks Week 2: Ten Shockers You'll Never See Coming
It's time to make some NFL Week 2 picks. We're not talking spread here, unless it's to determine who the favorite in the game is and who will be playing the role of underdog. This is just picking winners.
With the matchups coming down the pipe in the NFL's second week, we're not going to see too many blowouts. But what there will be are upsets. That's right, it's a rundown of every NFL game going on this week, ranked by the likelihood of upsets.
We'll be ranking the games by awarding Gussies, named after everyone's favorite excitable announcer, Gus Johnson. For those who haven't heard Gus call a game, look up some of his clips on YouTube. Trust me, he's well worth the effort.
16. Buffalo Bills at Green Bay Packers
1 of 16
The Lowdown
The Packers come in to this one having gotten an impressive win in Philadelphia last weekend, while the Bills were put to sleep by the Dolphins.
Why the Bills Will Win
The Packers are without starting running back Ryan Grant for the rest of the season. Grant wasn't as dynamic as Chris Johnson or Adrian Peterson, but he was incredibly consistent. Losing him is a big blow to the Packers offense. Buffalo's pass defense looked sharp against Miami in Week 1.
Why the Packers Will Win
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is infinitely better than Chad Henne at throwing the ball, and the Packers offense will run circles around the Bills' defense. Add to that the fact that Buffalo's offense was awful in the season opener, and an upset in this one seems unlikely at best.
Gussies
One. No chance for an upset here.
Final Score
Green Bay 35, Buffalo 7
15. Miami Dolphins at Minnesota Vikings
2 of 16
The Lowdown
Minnesota looks to show that its loss to the Saints in Week 1 was just a fluke. The Dolphins are riding high after a victory over Buffalo in their season opener, but they still have questions to be answered on both sides of the ball.
Why Miami Will Win
The Dolphins defense is solid against the run, meaning Brett Favre could find himself trying to win the game by himself. That's always been a dangerous game for Brett, as he tends to get bored and make throws that put him in trouble. Plus, Brandon Marshall could very easily own the Vikings corners all night.
Why Minnesota Will Win
The Vikings pass rush is more formidable than the Bills, so expect more than three sacks of Henne in this one. Plus, Minnesota's offense should be more than Miami can handle, and the Dolphins run game will be neutralized by the mighty Williamses.
Keys to the Upset
Brandon Marshall. If the former Bronco can have a big night, Miami's got a chance. The Dolphins will have to throw the ball because Minnesota won't let them run.
Gussies
Two. Upset is possible, but not likely.
Final Score
Minnesota 21, Miami 13
14. Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons
3 of 16
The Lowdown
Neither of these teams impressed in their season openers. The Falcons offense sputtered in a 15-9 loss to the Steelers, while Arizona let the lowly Rams hang around before holding on for a 17-13 win.
Why Arizona Will Win
The Cards receivers give them a puncher's chance every single week. Derek Anderson looked pretty good against St. Louis, and Arizona gets star running back Beanie Wells back for this one. If Anderson is clicking, the Redbirds could run roughshod over Atlanta in this one.
Why Atlanta Will Win
Atlanta's pass rush was lacking last week against Pittsburgh, but they get a boost with the return of Jonathan Babineaux to the defensive line. With him, the Falcons defense becomes much more formidable. Plus, Matt Ryan should be able to dissect the Arizona secondary with ease.
Keys to the Upset
Derek Anderson. If he's on, the Cardinals will have a good shot. If he's not it could be a long, long day.
Gussies
Three. Could be an exciting game, but I don't see the upset happening.
Final Score
Atlanta 27, Arizona 17
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13. New England Patriots at New York Jets
4 of 16
The Lowdown
Two teams trending in different directions. After their dominant performance against the Bengals, New England appears to have picked up where they left off after the 2007 season. The Jets, on the other hand, looked pretty awful offensively Monday night against Baltimore.
Why The Jets Will Win
New England can't score on New York's defense. The Patriots defense isn't as good as Baltimore's, which means more space to run and throw the ball. Last week was the exception offensively, not the rule.
Why The Patriots Will Win
Tom Brady and Randy Moss have the capability to make Rex Ryan's defense look foolish. The Jets don't have enough corners to stop all four of the Pats wideouts, and their tight ends make the passing attack just about unstoppable.
Keys to the Upset
Mark Sanchez. If the Jets want to win, Sanchez has to make plays in this game. If he doesn't, New York has no shot.
Gussies
Three. The Jets defense gives them a shot, but their offense could use some playmakers.
Final Score
New England 28, New York Jets 20
12. Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos
5 of 16
The Lowdown
Seattle looked awfully good dismantling the 49ers 31-6 last week. The Broncos defense just looked awful against Jacksonville. Something's got to give, and the Broncos are the favorite here.
Why Seattle Will Win
Matt Hasselbeck is back in the saddle and is healthy for the first time in several years. The run game has stabilized with Justin Forsett running the show, and Pete Carroll's high-octane defense could do to Kyle Orton what it did to Alex Smith in Week 1.
Why Denver Will Win
The Broncos secondary is excellent at locking down receivers. While they struggle against elite run offenses, Forsett is no Maurice Jones Drew. Kyle Orton is the master of the quick slant route, which is the perfect foil to the heavy pass rush. Orton won't be bullied into the mistakes Smith made, which means Seattle is in trouble.
Keys to the Upset
Justin Forsett. The diminutive back needs to have a big game against Denver because there's a good chance Matt Hasselbeck will struggle to find his best wideouts.
Gussies
Four. Seattle could pull the shocker again. But Orton is a moer savvy quarterback than Smith, and Seattle's blitz could be their undoing.
Final Score
Denver 24, Seattle 17.
11. New York Giants at Indianapolis Colts
6 of 16
The Lowdown
The Clash of the Mannings. Younger brother Eli, or Luigi Manning, got the victory on Sunday, but looked a little shaky doing it. Older brother Peyton, or Mario Manning, took a loss, but the Colts offense looked awfully good doing it. Indy's the favorite here.
Why The Giants Will Win
The Colts defense struggles against power running backs. New York has one of the best power runners in the league in Brandon Jacobs. Plus, Eli's not a shabby passer, and if the Giants jump out early, they might not be caught.
Why the Colts Will Win
Peyton Manning gives this team a great chance every week. The Giants defense isn't as good as they looked in Week 1, while Indy looked like they got caught by a team out to make a point. That won't happen this week.
Keys to the Upset
Brandon Jacobs. The Giants giant needs to have a career game against this Colts defense because Indy's secondary likes to lock down passing games.
Gussies
Five. Could there be an upset? Yes. Will there be one? No.
Final Score
Indianapolis 35, New York Giants 28
10. New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers
7 of 16
The Lowdown
New Orleans picked up where they left off last year with a win over Minnesota. San Fran looked pretty bad against the Seahawks. The Saints are the favorites coming in.
Why San Francisco Will Win
The 49ers looked bad last week. But this team has too much talent to disappear like that two weeks in a row. Their defense is solid and their offense has balance. Frank Gore could run roughshod over New Orleans' front seven this week, and Smith has the capacity to have a big game. Plus, the Niners are playing at home, which should give them a boost.
Why New Orleans Will Win
If Matt Hasselbeck could do that to the 49ers defense, imagine what Drew Brees is capable of doing. Scary, right? Plus, the Saints defense could harass Smith just like Seattle did.
Keys to the Upset
Frank Gore. The Niners star ball carrier failed to make an impact against Seattle. New Orleans is vulnerable to power runners. Need I say more?
Gussies
Five. San Fran will want to make a good second impression and they're playing at home.
Final Score
San Francisco 21, New Orleans 20
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers
8 of 16
The Lowdown
The Panthers offense has big question marks with Matt Moore running the show, and the running game struggled against New York's defense in Week 1. The Buccaneers beat the Browns in their debut, which is like beating the Pirates in baseball. Carolina is the favorite.
Why Tampa Bay Will Win
Josh Freeman looked pretty good last week, and should continue to improve as the season goes on. The Panthers defense folded pretty badly in the second half, and there's nothing to suggest that they won't struggle again. Tampa is incredibly young, but has the potential for greatness down the road.
Why Carolina Will Win
The Panthers have the best running game in football, with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart carrying the ball. With that kind of talent in the backfield, Matt Moore might not need to throw the football at all.
Keys to the Upset
Cadillac Williams. The Bucs back needs to get off to a fast start in this game if his team wants to pull the shocker and start the year 2-0.
Gussies
Six. The Panthers are by no means a lock in this one, and the upset is a real possibility.
Final Score
Tampa Bay 24, Carolina 21
8. Philadelphia Eagles at Detroit Lions
9 of 16
The Lowdown
The Lions' hopes for 2010 were dealt a blow after their loss to Chicago last week when it was revealed quarterback Matthew Stafford would miss two to six weeks with a separated shoulder. The Eagles may have lost starting quarterback Kevin Kolb to a concussion, but Michael Vick seems to be having a renaissance as his backup.
Why Detroit Will Win
Even without Stafford, there is talent coming out of this team's ears on the offensive end. With running back Jahvid Best, wideouts Calvin Johnson and Nate Burleson, and tight ends Tony Scheffler and Brandon Pettigrew, the Lions have a puncher's chance.
Why Philly Will Win
Detroit's defense can't stop anyone. Michael Vick, Kevin Kolb, it doesn't matter; Detroit's defense needs some help.
Keys to the Upset
Jahvid Best. With noodle-armed Shaun Hill throwing the ball, Detroit needs its dynamic rookie to have a big game.
Gussies
Six. Confused? Don't be. This game will be a lot closer than you think.
Final Score
Detroit 17, Philadelphia 14
7. St. Louis Rams at Oakland Raiders
10 of 16
The Lowdown
The Rams looked better than expected last week against the Cardinals. The Raiders looked much worse than expected against the Titans. Oakland comes in as the favorite.
Why St. Louis Will Win
The Rams looked pretty good against Arizona last week. Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford seemed not to be affected by the speed of the game, and led the team well. Steven Jackson can blow through the Raiders' tissue paper run defense with ease.
Why Oakland Will Win
Last week's game was not pretty offensively. Jason Campbell is better than that, and will show it this week. Oakland's corners will eat the Rams' low-caliber wideouts for breakfast.
Keys to the Upset
Steven Jackson. Jackson is the Rams' great equalizer. If he plays to his potential against Oakland, anything can happen.
Gussies
Seven. Oakland looked that bad against Tennessee last week.
Final Score
St. Louis 21, Oakland 14
6. Jacksonville Jaguars at San Diego Chargers
11 of 16
The Lowdown
One of the more perplexing lines of the week sees the Chargers, who fell to the lowly Chiefs in Week 1, come in as favorites against a Jaguars team who knocked off the Broncos last week.
Why Jacksonville Will Win
Maurice Jones-Drew leads a better-than-expected offense. Quarterback David Garrard proved he could throw to someone other than Mike Sims-Walker last week, and the Jags run defense should stymie rookie Ryan Mathews. If Jones-Drew has a game like the Chiefs did against the Chargers shaky run defense, they'll get the win.
Why San Diego Will Win
The Jacksonville secondary is terrible. If Philip Rivers can't break 300 yards against this pass defense, something is seriously wrong.
Keys to the Upset
David Garrard. The Jaguars passer proved he can throw last week; he needs to do it again to keep the defense honest against MJD.
Gussies
Seven. Jacksonville could pull this upset without much trouble.
Final Score
Jacksonville 24, San Diego 17
5. Houston Texans at Washington Redskins
12 of 16
The Lowdown
Two of last week's surprise winners. Houston knocked off the Colts for just the second time in franchise history, while Washington stunned Dallas. Houston enters as the favorites.
Why Washington Will Win
Clinton Portis looked good last week against the Cowboys, and it remains to be seen how the Texans defense holds up against a good running game. The Redskins defense can shut the run down much better than Indy's could, and will force Matt Schaub to beat them, also not an easy task.
Why Houston Will Win
The Texans managed to win last week with Matt Schaub struggling. Don't expect him to have so much trouble against Washington, which will create problems.
Keys to the Upset
Santana Moss. The Redskins wideout dropped several catchable balls from quarterback Donovan McNabb. He can't do that again if Washington wants to start the year 2-0.
Gussies
Seven.
Final Score
Washington 27, Houston 21
4. Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys
13 of 16
The Lowdown
The Bears lucked into a season-opening win over Detroit, while the Cowboys looked awful as they fell to Washington on Sunday night. Dallas enters as favorites.
Why Chicago Will Win
The Bears offense is going to get better as the year goes on under Mike Martz. The Cowboys can't stop dual-threat running back Matt Forte, and Jay Cutler has a better arm than McNabb, meaning Dallas could be in trouble. Chicago's defense should shut down the Cowboys running game, and they don't have the skill players to beat the Bears throwing the ball.
Why Dallas Will Win
Cutler may have an arm, but he can't throw it to the right team. Think Dallas won't pick him off all day? Think again.
Keys to the Upset
Cutler. He has to be an accurate passer in this game because Dallas will make him pay for his mistakes.
Gussies
Eight. Dallas is an incredibly vulnerable team right now.
Final Score
Chicago 28, Dallas 14
3. Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans
14 of 16
The Lowdown
The Steelers proved they could win without star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, knocking off the Falcons in overtime. The Titans blew through all the preseason hype around the Raiders, routing them early. Tennessee enters as the favored team.
Why Pittsburgh Will Win
The Steelers defense is back. Don't expect a big day from Chris Johnson in this one, and Vince Young will have difficulty throwing the ball against Pittsburgh's secondary. Plus, Tennessee's defense is lackluster at best, and running back Rashard Mendenhall could run roughshod over them. Look for quarterback Dennis Dixon to improve in Week 2.
Why Tennessee Will Win
This team looked like world-beaters in Week 1. Johnson looked unstoppable, and Vince Young had himself quite the game as well. If they play like that again, they'll win.
Keys to the Upset
Dennis Dixon. The former Oregon Duck didn't make a ton of mistakes against Atlanta, but he needs to be an actual benefit to his offense in this game if they want to win.
Gussies
8.5. Pittsburgh is better than you think, and Tennessee beat up on a bad team last week.
Final Score
Pittsburgh 24, Tennessee 14
2. Kansas City Chiefs at Cleveland Browns
15 of 16
The Lowdown
The weirdest line of the week. Cleveland didn't look good in Week 1 against Tampa, but Kansas City did, beating San Diego. Yet the Browns enter Wednesday as the favorites.
Why Kansas City Will Win
Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones will blow up the Browns defense, and put up some big numbers in the process. The Chiefs defense isn't great, but surely they can handle Cleveland's offense, right?
Why Cleveland Will Win
The Browns didn't look awful against Tampa, and Kansas City's defense got smoked by San Diego in every category but points allowed.
Keys to the Upset
Matt Cassel. The Chiefs quarterback was pretty terrible in Week 1. He can't have another game like that if Kansas City wants to win.
Gussies
Nine. This one is almost a lock.
Final Score
Kansas City 28, Cleveland 13
1. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
16 of 16
The Lowdown
Baltimore pulled out a low-scoring slugfest against the Jets in Week 1. The Bengals got off to an awful start against New England, but got it together and nearly pulled a victory out of thin air.
Why Cincinnati Will Win
The Bengals looked good in the second half of Sunday's game. If they can play like that for the full 60 minutes, they'll beat the Ravens. Their defense is looking to atone for last week's struggles in their home opener.
Why Baltimore Will Win
Joe Flacco and the Ravens have too many weapons offensively to be stopped. Ray Rice is as good of a running back as there is in the NFL today, with his speed, size, and hands. The Ravens defense looks as good as ever, and will shut down the Bengals offense.
Keys to the Upset
Cedric Benson. The Bengals running back had a bad game against New England, which may have been a significant part of the reason they lost. If Cincy wants a win, Benson has to have a big day.
Gussies
Final Score
Cincinnati 21, Baltimore 14
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