NFL Picks Week 2: Week 1 Losers That Will Rebound

Week 1 of the 2011 NFL season was filled with surprises. There was a record-breaking amount of 300-plus yard passing performances, upsets, blowouts and more. 

You can't tell how good a team is this early into a season, but based on history and a few of the teams that lost last week should be expected to turn their ships around in Week 2.

Last season, half of the 16 teams that lost in Week 1 were able to earn a victory the very next week. Here are the teams that will do the same this season, in a big way.

Pittsburgh Steelers

That couldn't have been the real Pittsburgh Steelers last week, could it? Seven turnovers, 170 yards rushing allowed and an utter lack of ferocity against the biggest rival—that's not the Steelers.

Unfortunately for Pittsburgh fans, it was. But with the Seattle Seahawks set to make a visit in Week 2, things should get back on track with ease for Pittsburgh.

The Seahawks looked terrible in their game against the San Francisco 49ers and did nothing to assuage fan concerns about new starting quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Jackson fumbled three times, losing two of them, and threw an interception.

Expect the Steelers defense to play up to their expected level of dominance and no one should ever expect to see seven turnovers from a team two weeks in a row.

Dallas Cowboys

Before an ugly fourth quarter performance, the Dallas Cowboys made moving the ball against the New York Jets defense look easy. Tony Romo threw for 342 yards against a defense that was sixth best in the league in stopping the past in 2010.

The Cowboys look primed to move to 1-1 next week after playing long time rival San Francisco. The 49ers played weak-looking Seahawks team and won because of punt and kickoff returns by Ted Ginn Jr.

Expect Tony Romo and Co. to have no problem passing all over the San Francisco defense in Week 2.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Bucs didn't necessarily look bad in the Week 1 matchup against the Detroit Lions, the Lions just looked like the offense everyone expects from them when Matthew Stafford is healthy.

Running back LeGarrette Blount finished the game with only five touches because the team was behind the entire game. In Week 2, they play the Minnesota Vikings who looked like a team out of sorts against the San Diego Chargers.

Donovan McNabb continues to decline after passing for just 39 yards in his debut. The Vikings defense did little to deter the Chargers offense from moving the ball either, albeit that is no small task.

With the Vikings offense still looking like a work in progress, this Week 2 game looks like the perfect cure all for the Bucs. 

Indianapolis Colts

Yes, I saw the Colts' Week 1 blowout loss to the Houston Texans. I'm not crazy, I swear. The thing is, the Cleveland Browns somehow managed to lose to the rookie-led Cincinnati Bengals.

I have to believe that the Colts can handle a limited Browns offense and at least duplicate the amount of offense the Bengals were able to produce. The Texans' defense is not to be underestimated with Wade Phillips taking over its transition to 3-4.

This one will be close, but I expect the Colts' defense to be the key in deciding this one. 

New York Giants

The New York Giants looked bad against the Washington Redskins. Rex Grossman passed all over their injury depleted secondary, Eli Manning struggled with consistency and they weren't able to establish the running game at all.

To make things worse, Hakeem Nicks is looking like a game-time decision for their Week 2 game against the St. Louis Rams. The Rams looked tough in playing the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 1, but eventually the superior talent won out.

Steven Jackson and Danny Amendola were lost to injury during the game and Sam Bradford did not live up to the all the off-season hype. Even if Nicks can't go, the Giants are too strong all-around to lose two weeks in a row.

Manning will be able to hit a wide open Ahmad Bradshaw when the Rams blitz-happy defense loses containment and the Rams will struggle to adjust to their offense missing its two key offensive players.