NFL Picks Week 2: Which Teams Will Emerge as NFC Favorites?

We are only in Week 2 of the NFL season, but there are already games with major implications.  Week in and week out teams are battling for position, and possible playoff berths.  The NFC has a ton of teams looking to climb to the top of the mountain.  The Green Bay Packers, New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons all feel they are strong Super Bowl candidates.  There are also several up and coming teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Detroit Lions, looking to make their move.  Today's games will give us a clearer picture of the top of the NFC.

The New Orleans Saints are taking on the Chicago Bears, in what is one of the top matchups this weekend.  Both teams are looking to make a statement and build their playoff resume.  The Bears would love to start 2-0, while making another statement.  New Orleans hopes to avoid going 0-2, and finding themselves in an early hole.  Try to ignore the final score, as the play on the field will be a better judge of where these teams are positioned.

The Atlanta Falcons find themselves in a similar position, as the Saints.  They want to avoid going 0-2, while loosing two games to the upper class of the NFC.  Atlanta was embarrassed last week and need a win to avoid loosing some confidence.  Philadelphia is hoping to live up to the early season hype, and a victory over Atlanta will help their cause.

Detroit needs to win this weekend if they hope to keep pace with the top of the NFC.  They are facing a Kansas City team that is coming off of a bad loss in Buffalo.  If Detroit wants to make their move they need to win the games in which they are favored.

Today I expect to see the NFC North to show they are the cream of the crop.  The Packers, Bears and Lions will all register big victories.  Conversely, the NFC South will dig themselves an early hole, with both the Saints and Falcons loosing.  At the end of the weekend, Green Bay, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Detroit will be the talk of the NFC.

Jon Dove is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report, covering the NFL and NFL draft. Check him out on Twitter @Jon_Dove42.