NFL Picks Week 2: 5 Underdogs That Stand No Chance

Week 1 offered NFL fans a few shocking performances, especially from the teams designated as underdogs.

But Week 2 is where teams usually begin to come back down to earth, and today I want to run through five underdogs that stand no chance of winning in Week 2.

I know, I know—anything's possible in the NFL.

But the counter here is that reality keeps possibilities in-line with the norm, which keeps the deviation from the norm very low more often than not.

Let's take a look.

The Panthers Lose Their Growl Against the Champions

It's really easy to get all giddy over Cam Newton's shocking 422-yard performance against an improved Arizona defense, and it is even easier to offer up an argument that the Packers' pass-defense could be in for the upset after giving up 419 yards to the Saints Thursday night.

But let's face it—if that's your argument, you're limping to the barn, at best.

Look, the Packers gave up 419 yards to Drew Brees, and the key word regarding Arizona's defense is "improved."

There is no way Cam Newton is going to ride this high and pull off the repeat against a Packers team that is much better than Arizona, and even if Cam does light things up, there is no way the Panthers' defense is going to shut down Aaron Rodgers enough to prevent a shootout.

And, in turn, there is no way Can Newton beats Aaron Rodgers in a shootout.

Prediction: Packers 31, Panthers 17

The Jets De-Claw the Jaguars

Luke McCown and the Jaguars marginally surprised everyone by defeating the Titans in Week 1, but there is ZERO—and I mean ZERO—chance they beat the Jets in Week 2.

The Jaguars capitalized on some Titans miscues and removed Chris Johnson from the equation while exploiting a suspect Titans secondary and inconsistent D-line.

The Jets have one of the best secondaries in the NFL, and are equipped with a D-line and second-level linebackers corps that simply cannot be ran upon.

Mark Sanchez looked surprisingly good against Dallas, and the Jaguars' secondary is just flat-out horrible.

Jacksonville will not win this game.

Prediction: New York Jets 24, Jacksonville 3

Seahawks over Pittsburgh? Um, No.

Yes, Baltimore basically mopped the floor with Pittsburgh in Week 1, but Baltimore is a very, very good team on both sides of the ball.

Seattle is not.

The Seahawks can't protect the QB,—who isn't very good anyway—they have no threat on the outside or in the backfield and they have no answer against the deep-ball.

The Steelers offer three explosive receivers, a Pro Bowl-caliber quarterback, a notoriously aggressive defense and, oh yeah, the Steelers will be home.

Nope, ain't going to happen kids.

Prediction: Steelers 27, Seattle 10

Baltimore's Next Victim

How did the Ravens dismantle the Steelers?

Well first things first, Ray Rice gained 107 yards on a defense that is usually very stingy against the run, and Joe Flacco and company set the tempo early by showing they were not afraid to challenge the Steelers' corners deep.

But that was just the offense.

Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata led a relentless Ravens defensive attack that kept the Steelers off the mark from the opening drive.

The Titans are nowhere near as good offensively as Pittsburgh, even with Chris Johnson, and the Titans are even worse defensively, making this an impossible contest to win for Tennessee.

Prediction: Baltimore 31, Tennessee 14

Here Come the Lions?

For those of you keeping track, the Lions did in fact—after confirming with NASA and running some preliminary laboratory tests—won their season-opener against Tampa Bay, and are looking more and more like a team that is dangerously legit!

This began late last season, picked up in the 2011 preseason and was sealed with a kiss in Detroit's road-opener against a solid Tampa Bay squad.

The Chiefs, on the other hand, had no answer for Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick and TE Scott Chandler.

Wait, who?

Chandler is a three-year journeyman who never really established himself anywhere, and the Bills aren't exactly the greatest team on paper.

The Lions' defense is methodically sound, especially in coverage.

They are incredibly difficult to run against—and, oh yeah, instead of Scott Chandler they have Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson and their own TE in Brandon Pettigrew.

Good luck with those guys, Kansas City.

Prediction: Detroit 27, Kansas City 9