Week 2 NFL Game Predictions: Who gets to 2-0? Ravens to 0-2?

 Just like that, we are on the eve of week 2 starting in the NFL season. The Giants and Washington square off on Thursday night in a game that should have large meaning down the stretch in what will likely be another crapshoot race for the NFC East. It's so good to have football back. In my week one predictions, I had a mid-tier week. 6 wrong predictions isn't amazing so we will hope to bounce back this week.

Week 1 Predictions Record: 10-6 (10 right, 6 wrong just to be clear)
2021 Season Overall: 10-6

Thursday Night Football - New York Giants at Washington Football Team

After a sloppy debut for both sides, both squads will look to hit the win column for the first time this season. The loser is going to be 0-2 and in a pretty bad spot to start the season. After watching the Giants' awful performance last week against Denver, you would think they would have no chance, however, they do. Washington lost starting QB Ryan Fitzpatrick to injury and now has to pivot during a short week to solid backup Taylor Heinicke. Washington despite losing Fitz early in the game last week, stayed in the game until the end against a good Chargers team. Their defense still looks elite despite Chase Young having a rough week 1 game. In recent memory, no matter who has been favored, the Giants have seemed to have Washington's number. Will they be able to upset a significantly better WFT squad this time around? I don't think so, Daniel Jones is just too poor of a player. It might be a low scoring, defensive game, but those are the games Washington is best in. Look out for a nice night from RB Antonio Gibson.

The Pick: Washington 20, Giants 12

Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers

What a fun week 2 match. Both teams went into week 1 as heavy underdogs and shocked the world with their big wins over contending teams. Now they go head to head in week 2. In a match with teams this close, you have to look for every advantage. The Steelers have quite a few more. Their defense is elite while the Raiders' is still coming along. The offensive edge easily goes to Carr and the Raiders but I think this will be a game won by the defense just like week 1 for Pittsburgh. Even though Big Ben makes this offense feel archaic, they have skill position players everywhere that are amazing. It will be overwhelming for the Raiders' offense and defense to go against some of these guys. 

The Pick: Steelers 23, Raiders 17

San Fransisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles

While some might see this match on paper and brush over it as an easy win for the Niners, I say pump the brakes. The Niners are probably the better overall football team, but the Eagles have what it takes to potentially pull off a massive early season upset. The Niners were firing on all cylinders early against Detroit but really began to reel as the game went on and even let Detroit be within 8 points on offense with a minute to go. The Eagles on the other hand dominated for 60 minutes against a bad Falcons team, but still, they held up. Jalen Hurts looked so good and it's going to be beyond interesting to watch how he does against a real D like San Fran. I think this game comes down to the wire, but the Niners do hang on behind a more consistent offense.

The Pick: 49ers 31, Eagles 27

Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns

This is going to be a fun one...for fantasy owners with Browns players! Playing with anger, these Browns are going to steamroll a lucky to win Texans football team. The Browns looked so good for much of a heartbreaking loss to the Chiefs and blew it in the end. They will dominate from the opening kick in this one. We like Tyrod Taylor, but him and his Texans O are no match for what Cleveland has on that defense. The run game with Chubb and Hunt on offense should eat as well. 

The Pick: Browns 40, Texans 15

Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars

Both teams had a good amount of hype going into week 1, one team delivered, one didn't. It will be an interesting match to say the least. The Jags are going to have to get a smoother offense figured out, especially incorporating the run game if they want to win. The Broncos need to continue to play the same smothering defense that we saw from them last week. I think that it could be close, but the Broncos will have a firm grip on this game and win it without leaving too many questions asked.

The Pick: Broncos 27, Jaguars 23

New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers

While I'd like to give the Panthers a shot to win this game, I don't see it happening. The Saints dismantled the Packers last week in such dominant fashion that I simply cannot view this team in the same way as I did just a week ago. Jameis Winston looked so good in the offense that it has me wondering if this Saints team is actually better than the one that was a top seed in the NFC last season with Drew Brees. The Panthers had a sloppy win vs the Jets and I just don't think they have what it takes yet to take down this New Orleans team which is riding high right now. 

The Pick: Saints 30, Panthers 21

Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts

If the Colts didn't play so awful vs the Seahawks last weekend, I would have been really excited for this game. Two playoff teams from last season. Two elite defenses. But only one team with an offense that can move the ball. The Rams showed me what we had been missing from them for years on SNF vs the Bears. They have an ABOVE average offense. Matthew Stafford has taken them from mediocrity to near elite with his stellar play. If Carson Wentz was his old self, this would be a game. I just can't see the Colts offense scoring much on this top 3 defense that the Rams boast. Aaron Donald is going to harass Wentz.

The Pick: Rams 27, Colts 20

Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins

The AFC East heavy favorite Bills come into this week 2 game with a surprisingly worse record than the Miami Dolphins. Widely considered the 2 best teams in this division, this game could be a good one, and could have major playoff implications down the stretch. Both teams played poorly last week but the Dolphins got the luck of coming out on top while the Bills did not. I feel like we see improved play from both sides after another week of practice, but the Bills are going to be on a mission to avoid 0-2. Josh Allen should bounce back in a big way with Stefon Diggs. I like this game a lot for the Bills and don't see a scenario where they lose even though the Dolphins are a good club. 

The Pick: Bills 33, Dolphins 24

New England Patriots at New York Jets

Fun game between the other two AFC East teams with first round rookie QBs starting in their first pro game against each other. Mac Jones and Zach Wilson could be the future of these respective teams. Both teams had sloppy, but close, losses in week 1. They both look to rebound at the expense of their rival. I like the Patriots a lot in this game. They have a better offense and defense and Mac Jones honestly looked better than Zach Wilson did last week. I think Wilson easily has the higher ceiling and might be better, but Jones seems better right now. The Patriots will establish a nice run and gun offense in this one and handle the Jets for Jones' first career win!

The Pick: Patriots 23, Jets 15

Cincinatti Bengals at Chicago Bears

Could it be Justin Fields vs Joe Burrow. Probably not, but maybe at some point during the game. Andy Dalton appears for the moment to be starting again this week, but he has to be on a short leash. He and the Bears looked really bad on national TV when they got romped by the Rams. The bright spot of the team was RB David Montgomery who had a quality game himself. Unfortunately for the Bears, they play a Bengals team coming off a major confidence boosting week 1 win. Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, and Ja'Marr Chase were an incredible offensive trio last week that the Bears won't come close to. I think this one could start slow, but the Bengals have a legit offense, and the Bears won't be able to keep up. 

The Pick: Bengals 27, Bears 17

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

I don't have to get into this game much. The Falcons were just embarrassed by an average Eagles team last week. They couldn't even pass well which is the one thing this team seems to be good at. The Bucs are coming off an exhilarating kickoff win vs the Cowboys in which their team looked better than ever. I'll save you some time here and tell you that Tom Brady is not losing at home to this joke Falcons team.

The Pick: Buccaneers 33, Falcons 16

Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals

Definitely an interesting match here. Two teams that were on the playoff bubble last year and maybe will be again this year. The Cardinals are coming off of possibly their most impressive win of the Kyler Murray era. He was magnificent as they dismantled the Titans in Nashville. The story of the game was their defense which is usually thought of to be suspect but it shut down the high octane Titan offense with ease. Chandler Jones is a menace. The Vikings are coming off a tough OT loss to the Bengals and don't have a lot of promise to take this one on the road against such a hot Cardinals team.

The Pick: Cardinals 27, Vikings 20

Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks

Before seeing how both teams performed last week I would have had the Titans winning this game. But after, things went in complete opposite directions. The Seahawks destroyed the Colts on the road while the Titans were destroyed at home. I am still tempted to pick a big upset here, but don't think it happens. This one will be closer than some might think. The Seahawks usually play games closer than they should. I think it could be a shootout but give the edge to the Russell Wilson-led team with a better defense and a crazy homefield advantage. This one could be a classic. 

The Pick: Seahawks 35, Titans 33

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers

This is my upset of the week. While it is a tightly projected game, I have the road Cowboys coming out on top. I liked a lot of what I saw from Dallas in week 1 against the Bucs. They played the best they could have without winning. This offense was so dynamic and has potential to be the best in the league. The Chargers too looked much improved on both sides of the football, but something about their overall performance threw me off. I just like Dak to win this shootout over Herbert right now even though Herbert might be considered the better overall QB. It will be a fun, offensive football game, with a crazy finish for Dallas to get the win.

The Pick: Cowboys 37, Chargers 34

Sunday Night Football - Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens

A game that seems to be turning into a yearly classic, the Chiefs and Ravens meet again. Ever since that amazingly close game in Lamar Jackson's rookie year, the Chiefs have been dominant in this mini rivalry. I expect more of the same in this one. The Chiefs can never be counted out and even if the Ravens start out hot, they don't have the depth at RB to control possession like usual and churn out yardage. The Chiefs will convincingly win this and drop the Ravens to 0-2 which will have many questions raised in Baltimore. 

The Pick: Chiefs 32, Ravens 26

Monday Night Football - Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers

The NFL schedule makers gave the Packers a nice assist here. After getting flat out taken apart by the Saints last week, they have a layup home primetime game against the sorry Lions to put themselves back together. I think we see a lot of bounceback out of this team in front of their home crowd. Aaron Rodgers will find his groove back in a win that will help this Packer team get back on track. If Detroit wins, it's over in Green Bay.

The Pick: Packers 28, Lions 20

Predicted remaining 2-0 teams after week 2:
Steelers, 49ers, Broncos, Saints, Rams, Bengals, Buccaneers, Cardinals, Seahawks, Chiefs
(10 teams)