Week 2 Selections

Here are my picks for the Week 2 games:

Locks-
(Home team in CAPS)

WASHINGTON over St. Louis - The Skins defense was tremendous last week against the Giants. They contained the run attack as well as limited Eli from having a great day through the air. I don't foresee any problems with the Skins going against the Rams. On offense, the Skins need to have a productive outing. I think they get the job done. Washington over St. Louis 23 - 10.

MINNESOTA over Detroit - Adrian Peterson will go off again this week as he will be going against a Lions defense that gave up 157 yards on the ground to the Saints. Look for Peterson to be around 150-170 yards with 2 scores. Vikings win a big one 34 - 13.

GREEN BAY over Cincinnati - The Packers won a tough game at home against the Bears last Sunday night. Aaron Rodgers had a tremendous drive at the end of the game and hooked up with Greg Jennings for a deep ball to win the game for the Packers. This game against the Bengals will be tight but I see the Packers winning this without a doubt. Packers over the Bengals 24 - 20.

Pittsburgh over CHICAGO - The Bears need a win. Cutler needs to redeem himself. It doesn't happen this week. Big Ben comes through in the clutch and puts his team on the winning side of this game. Pittsburgh doesn't lose often to NFC teams and unless the Bears get new receivers before Sunday, that trend won't change. Steelers over the Bears 24 -17.


GAMES OF THE WEEK

New York Giants over DALLAS - The Cowboys have way too much going on for them to be focusing on this game. Jerry Jones is so consumed with the new stadium that he, and his players, won't be focused came game time. The Cowboys gave up 150+ yards to the two tailbacks from Tampa Bay, and in comes Jacobs and Bradshaw this week. Tougher matchup with the Giants O-Line and their powerful running backs. I love Bradshaw as a start this week in Fantasy Football. Defensively for the Giants, they have too many weapons that will take Tony Romo out of his comfort zone. I see this game being very physical and that doesn't point in the favor of the Cowboys. I have the Giants over the Cowboys 27 - 17.


SAN FRANCISCO over Seattle - This has all the makings of an epic battle in San Francisco. The 49ers defense plays a rough, physical styled defense that will slow the game down and keep the score in their favor. On offense, the 49ers don't do much. Frank Gore left, and Frank Gore right. But the Cardinals shut him down last week and I can see Frank getting ready to have a big game on Sunday. Seahawks OLB LeRoy Hill is out, MLB Lofa Tatupu is questionable with a hamstring issue, and DT Brandon Mebane has a calf strain. That being said, the 49ers will do all they can to keep this game slow paced and have Matt Hasselbeck and the Seahawks offense on the sideline all game. The Seahawks have a nice balanced offense. Hasselbeck is healthy and looked good against the Rams. Julius Jones ran well against the Rams and will have a big test against the very active 49ers defense that limited the Cardinals running game to 40 yards. Hasselbeck will be forced to throw the ball, and I believe that will lead to a turnover or two. I favor the 49ers in this game. Vernon Davis gets a score in the 4th to seal the victory. San Francisco over Seattle 20 -16.

New England over NEW YORK JETS - This has all the makings to be a very physical game. All week Rex Ryan and Jets players have been quoted saying things about the Patriots that will end up being more fuel to the fire for Tom Brady. First things first, the Jets have a very good defense. The ate up the Titans last week and completely shut down STAR receiver Andre Johnson. But the Patriots have a better quarterback and more options split out wide to exploit the Jets defense. Brady will throw upwards of 50 passes as the Jets run defense should shut down Maroney and Taylor of the Pats. That being said, I have no problem with Brady throwing that many passes as he is the best quarterback in the NFL and he is extremely efficient in the pocket. For the Jets, they will have to run the ball effectively in order to keep the Patriots offense off the field. Mark Sanchez will see pressure this week, the Patriots have to be blitz happy in order to shake up this rookie stud. This game is all about heart and desire. Which team will have the poise at the end to win the game and take control of the division lead. This will be a game with lead changes and a decent amount of points scored. I can't go with the home team and the rookie quarterback. I don't think the Patriots are a 14-2 team by any means, but I do think it is too early to pick against the Patriots when Sanchez is only at start number 2. Patriots over the Jets 31 - 24.

UPSET OF THE WEEK

Baltimore over SAN DIEGO - The Chargers are without LT, their starting center Nick Hardwick, and defensive tackle Travis Johnson. The Chargers also played very poorly last week in Oakland where Phillip Rivers led them on a last minute scoring drive to win the game. The Ravens looked good last week. Scoring 34 on the Chiefs and giving up a misleading 17 points (the Chiefs had a long INT return and then score soon after). The Ravens are a tough team to face at home after a disappointing win. I think the Ravens defense holds off the Chargers offense, and Ray Rice has a solid performance for the offense. Ravens over the Chargers 23 - 17.


Rest of the games

JACKSONVILLE over Arizona - ALERT! WEST COAST TEAM PLAYING AT 1:00 EASTERN TIME! Arizona is 1-11 Straight Up in their past 12 September road games. Breaston and Boldin are iffy...Maurice Jones Drew will win this game for the Jaguars. Jags over the Cardinals 20 - 13.

KANSAS CITY over Oakland - I don't think Oakland will play with the same intensity that they had at home last week against the Chargers. I take the home team as the Raiders are 2-10 in their last 12 SU versus the Chiefs. Chiefs over the Raiders 20 - 16.

TENNESSEE over Houston - I love the Texans and still think that they are a playoff team, but they need to show me something in this game. Show me some fight. Mario Williams is too good not to get a sack on Kerry Collins. I will take the Titans in a shoot out. Tennessee 34 - Houston 30.

NEW ORLEANS over Philadelphia - This is such a tough game to pick. On one side you have the Saints and the "Fantasy Football Style" offense. On the other side, you have Kevin Kolb making his first career start for the Eagles as Donovan McNabb will be out with a broken rib. Kolb is not great, but I do not think he will have a bad game. The Saints defense gives up points and Kolb is very comfortable running the Eagles offense. The problem is, his career 25.0 QB rating makes you wonder how affective he will be. The Eagles have to run the ball. They HAVE TO run the ball to keep this game in the 20s. Drew Brees is a beast. And he will be going against beasts in the Eagles defense. A defense that had 7 take aways and 5 sacks. Brees will have pressure on him all game as the Eagles know he likes to get the ball out quickly. This is going to be a close game, with the Saints taking it at the end. New Orleans over Philly 27 - 24.

ATLANTA over Carolina - Jake Delhomme gets the start for Carolina who got absolutely mauled by the Eagles in week 1. 7 turnovers and only 1 touchdown later, the Panthers need to get back to square one and run the ball with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. The Falcons allowed 96 yards on the ground, so the possibility for the Panthers to run the ball well is very good. Now, Jake Delhomme must protect the ball and be smart with his passes in order to keep his team in the game. For the Falcons, Matt Ryan & Company will have fun against the Panthers defense. Take away Peppers and this defense is a low end NFL defense. Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez will have a nice day together as Gonzo should run wild on the Panthers LBs. I think the home field will be the advantage for the Falcons and they take this one leaving the Panthers packing 0-2. Falcons over the Panthers 24 - 14.

BUFFALO over Tampa Bay - The Bills need a win against the Bucs after the let down loss against the Patriots on Monday night. The Bills defense looked great in the game as they were constantly pressuring Brady and forcing him to get the ball out quick. Then, in the 4th the played a prevent defense and all that did was ALLOW Brady to pick apart their secondary. I look for the Bills to go all out against the Bucs and put a lot of pressure on Byron Leftwitch Trent Edwards should have a good game against the Bucs secondary that allowed Tony Romo to go off for 344 yards. Bucs on the road, coming off a loss at home, and oh yeah a Rookie coach; I don't like it. TO has a big game as the Bills take down the Bucs 27 - 17.

Indianapolis over MIAMI - I love the Dolphins. However, last weeks performance against the Falcons really made me believe this team will start 0-2 again and then go on a big run to make the playoffs. Well, they get the Monday night game to make it 0-2. Manning and Wayne will hook up to take down the home team. Exciting game as the Dolphins will show off the wildcat with Pat White. Colts over the Dolphins 17 -16.

DENVER over Cleveland - The Broncos are 12-1 in their last 13 September home games. Home field advantage? I think so. Add the fact that they got a huge win in Cincinnati thanks to Brandon Stoakley. I bet that was a fun flight home for the team. Broncos have more going for them after that win than the Browns do after giving up 130+ yards to Adrian Peterson in the second half of their week 1 game. Advantage Broncos here. Broncos over the Browns 24 - 17.