NFL Week 2 Picks: The Sports Mac Football Fives

The 5 Big Questions For Week 2

1.         After a rash of injuries in Week 1 had a major impact on some teams this season, will we see another set of serious injuries in Week 2?

2.         After an anemic performance against Baltimore on Monday night, can the Jets score a touchdown against the Patriots this Sunday?

3.         Can playoff teams from a year ago (Dallas, Indianapolis, NY Jets, Minnesota, Arizona, or San Diego) avoid a 0-2 start and an early hole to dig themselves out of?

4.         Will the 49ers be able to live up to expectations after a disaster in Seattle last week and the defending champion Saints coming to San Francisco for Monday Night Football?

5.         Can any of the surprise winners from Week 1 (Houston, Washington, Kansas City, or Seattle) follow it up with a win in Week 2 and generate a lot of momentum for the early part of the season?

Top 5 Games Of The Weekend

1.            Patriots (1-0) at Jets (0-1), 4:15 PM, CBS: A daunting task for New York as they try to avoid an early 0-2 hole to start the season.

2.         Giants (1-0) at Colts (0-1), 8:20 PM, NBC: Another meeting of the Manning brothers and it is Peyton who needs the win to avoid a 0-2 start.

3.            Steelers (1-0) at Titans (1-0), 1:00 PM, CBS: Pittsburgh plays their second tough opponent in a row and will try to slow down Chris Johnson with their defense.

4.            Ravens (1-0) at Bengals (0-1), 1:00 PM, CBS: Baltimore’s second straight road game to start the year features one of the teams challenging them in the division.

5.         Saints (1-0) at 49ers (0-1), 8:30 PM Monday, ESPN: San Francisco needs this game to not start the year 0-2 and have to dig themselves out of an early hole.

5 Worst Games Of The Weekend

1.            Buccaneers (1-0) at Panthers (0-1), 1:00 PM, FOX: These two teams will battle to stay out of the cellar in the NFC South and the winner gets an early advantage.

2.         Chiefs (1-0) at Browns (0-1), 1:00 PM, CBS: Matt Cassel against Jake Delhomme is a QB match-up that no one is relishing this weekend.

3.         Rams (0-1) at Raiders (0-1), 4:05 PM, FOX: The two teams each scored 13 points last week; first one to 14 points wins?

4.         Bills (0-1) at Green Bay (1-0), 1:00 PM, CBS: With Buffalo putting up only 166 yard of offense last week at home, the prospects aren’t much better this week in Green Bay.

5.            Seahawks (1-0) at Broncos (0-1), 4:05 PM, FOX: Both teams combined for less than 170 yards rushing in Week 1 which doesn’t bode well for Week 2.

5 Players To Watch This Weekend

1.         Randy Moss, Patriots WR: After airing his grievances over his contract last Sunday and having Darrelle Revis’ full attention this Sunday, can Moss produce in a big divisional game for New England?

2.         Alex Barron, Cowboys RT: If Marc Colombo can not go this weekend, the man who cost Dallas the game last week will be in the spotlight again versus Chicago.

3.            Brandon Jackson, Packers RB: With Ryan Grant now out for the season, he is Green Bay’s first running option and needs to provide balance to Aaron Rodgers and the passing game.

4.         Alex Smith, 49ers QB: He reverted to the Alex Smith of old in last week’s loss to Seattle.  He has the talent around him, but he needs to be the catalyst of that offense.

5.            Joseph Addai/Donald Brown, Colts RBs: These two guys have to show that Indianapolis has some kind of a running game or we can expect Peyton Manning to throw the ball 60 times every week this season.

5 Teams That Have To Have A Big Week

1.         New York Jets: This goes without saying, but the Jets really need to avoid a 0-2 start and put themselves in a big hole in both the division and the conference.

2.            Indianapolis Colts: The Colts have to find a way to defeat the Giants and even their record or they could fall two games behind both Houston and Tennessee after Sunday.

3.         San Francisco 49ers: The consensus pick to win the NFC West this season need a win against New Orleans to stay in touch with Arizona and Seattle, who both could be 2-0 after this upcoming week.

4.            Cincinnati Bengals:  A sleeper pick by some people this season, they looked asleep against New England last week and had better wake up with Baltimore coming to town this week.

5.         Dallas Cowboys: Could the pressure of having the Super Bowl in their own park already be affecting Dallas? A win over the Bears in the home opener could right the ship.