NFL Picks Week 2: 3 Week 1 Losers That Will Jump Start Their Seasons in Week 2

An 0-1 start doesn't necessarily mean panic time. You never want to start the season with a loss, but it happens to 16 teams.

Heck, the NFL matches playoff contenders against one another in the first week. Someone has to lose those games.

So, 0-1 isn't a problem. If 0-1 becomes 0-2, then there is a little bit of a reason to panic.

Fortunately for these teams, the situation is right to perform well in Week 2 and move on to a strong season.

New Orleans Saints

I actually do believe that the Saints will win this one. Still, I am calling for a close game, and it wouldn't surprise me one bit to see the Bears win.

But unlike other teams listed here, the Saints can survive an 0-2 start.

For one, their division had four Week 1 losers. Three of the four teams are facing playoff teams from 2010 in Week 2.

The worst case scenario for the Saints is that they are a game behind in the NFC South. As long as they don't get blown out at home by the Bears, the Saints will be fine.

But at the Superdome, I like the Saints here. Yes, the injury to Marques Colston is troubling, but the Saints have one of the deepest groups of receivers in the NFL.

Also, remember that they played in the Thursday night opener, so Sean Payton and Drew Brees got even more time to prepare for the Chicago defense.

Defensively, they need to tighten up. The Bears' offensive line held up well in Week 1, but it's been a question mark in the recent past. Look for the Saints to test that line and blitz Jay Cutler all game long.

This one will be close, but at home, the Saints should win this one.

Prediction: Saints 24, Bears 20

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers took it on the chin in Week 1 against Baltimore. I can't say that I am completely convinced that the Steelers are going to make a run at the Super Bowl, but they are a playoff-bound team.

Pittsburgh has its issues. The main issue is on the offensive line. For a team that relies on ball control and the occasional big play, offensive line issues are a problem.

Still, Seattle is not the team to exploit them. After Week 1, Seattle looks to be the team with the best chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2012 NFL draft. It appears as though the only thing that will change that is that they have five remaining games against NFC West opponents.

At home against an opponent like Seattle, the Steelers really need to be impressive in this one. Issues may hit them later in the year and in the postseason, but Pittsburgh will come back from a tough Week 1 loss with a convincing win over Seattle.

Prediction: Steelers 27, Seahawks 7

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

There are a few other teams that could be in this spot.

I expect the Rams to win on Monday against the Giants, but the injury to Steven Jackson puts a good question on that.

The Cowboys need a win against the 49ers. Still, I am not terribly convinced that that will happen. Even if it does, I am not sure that it will jump start them towards a good run.

At the very least, the Buccaneers should contend for a playoff spot. Their Week 1 loss hurt in just about every way. They lost at home, to a conference opponent, and against a team that they may be vying for a playoff spot against.

But I look for them to get a measure of revenge against the NFC North on Sunday against the Vikings.

LeGarrette Blount will be featured more. Tampa Bay barely used him against the Vikings, and it showed. Unless there is something going on that we don't know about, it's hard to imagine that Raheem Morris won't make him more a part of the offense.

While the Vikings should have won their opener, they were just not a very impressive team. Notably, their passing game was virtually non existent.

Even in Minnesota, I like the Buccaneers to come back strong.