The NFL season is barely over one week outdated and it is already completely uncontrolled.
The Browns seemed like the perfect group within the NFL, the Raiders are in first place and I believe the Giants are already eradicated from the playoffs. Additionally, the Jets misplaced their beginning QB 4 snaps into the season and nonetheless in some way received on Monday night time.
Oh, and the 5 coaches who acquired employed this yr mixed to go 0-5 in Week 1, which is why you need to by no means rent a brand new head coach. Simply preserve the outdated one perpetually.
The excellent news for these 5 new coaches is that a minimum of one in all them can be choosing up a win in Week 2 and that is as a result of Shane Steichen (Colts) and DeMeco Ryans (Texans) can be dealing with one another.
So who’s going to win that Colts-Texans showdown? Let’s get to the Week 2 picks and discover out.
Truly, earlier than we get to the picks, here is a fast reminder which you can take a look at the weekly picks from each CBSSports.com NFL expert by clicking here. Nevertheless, if you happen to do not need to click on over, that is fully high quality with me. As somebody who is well sidetracked, if I click on on one thing, there’s a 100% likelihood I’ll find yourself taking place some form of web rabbit gap and if that occurs, I will by no means make it again to the story I used to be initially studying. So I suppose perhaps you should not click on over.
Let’s go down the rabbit gap of my picks.
NFL Week 2 picks
Minnesota Vikings (0-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET (Amazon Prime)
If the Vikings have been sensible, they might have requested the NFL to not schedule them for any prime-time video games this yr and that is as a result of their quarterback cannot win in prime time. Relating to late video games, Cousins is not as unhealthy as Daniel Jones, however he does all the time appear to soften down below the highlight. Cousins has a 12-20 profession prime-time file, and this week, he has to go up in opposition to an opponent who by no means loses: Jalen Hurts.
If the Vikings could not cease Baker Mayfield in Week 1, I am undecided how they’ll cease Hurts, who’s 18-1 in 19 regular-season begins. I picked in opposition to the Eagles final week and after watching that backfire in my face, I am undecided I will be choosing in opposition to them once more all season. My decide was so unhealthy that the random man under stated I ought to cease writing about soccer.
The unhealthy information for him is that I am nonetheless writing about soccer. The excellent news for him, although, is that I am choosing his Eagles this week. The Eagles have a greater offense, they’ve a greater protection and I believe they even have higher particular groups. I’ve no selection however to choose Philly.
The decide: Eagles 27-17 over Vikings
The outcome: Eagles 34-28
Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0)
1 p.m. ET (CBS)
If there’s one quarterback you do not ever need to decide in opposition to coming off a loss, it is positively Patrick Mahomes. Because the outdated saying goes, “hell hath no fury like Patrick Mahomes coming off a loss.” No less than, I believe that is how that outdated saying goes. I do not know. I can not sustain with these items.
Over the course of his profession, Mahomes is 13-3 following a loss and in these 16 video games, he is thrown 42 whole landing passes in comparison with simply 15 interceptions. Usually, I would say the Jaguars don’t have any likelihood on this sport, however I believe this all comes down as to if Travis Kelce performs. If the Jags proved one factor final yr, it is that they cannot guard an excellent tight finish. Final season, the Jags surrendered 1,066 yards to tight ends, which was the fourth most within the NFL. Should you embody the playoffs, they have been even worse: Kelce burnt them for 98 yards and two touchdowns when these two groups met within the divisional spherical.
If Kelce performs, I believe the Chiefs win comfortably. If Kelce would not play, I do not really feel as comfy choosing the Chiefs, however I am nonetheless taking them as a result of this sport is being performed on Patrick Mahomes’ birthday and there isn’t any manner I am choosing in opposition to Patrick Mahomes on his birthday.
The decide: Chiefs 27-24 over Jaguars
Should you hate my decide on this sport, then you definately may just like the Sportsline mannequin, which is leaning Beneath on the entire, and it additionally says one facet of the unfold hits in over 50% of simulations! You might want to see it earlier than locking in your individual picks.
Indianapolis Colts (0-1) at Houston Texans (0-1)
1 p.m. ET (Fox)
If you wish to really feel ridiculously outdated this week, then ensure that to observe this sport, which can characteristic two quarterbacks who’re barely sufficiently old to drink, and to be sincere, I want a drink simply fascinated by that.
It will likely be rookie vs. rookie with Houston’s C.J. Stroud (born Oct. 3, 2001) going up in opposition to Indy’s Anthony Richardson (born Might 22, 2002). That is simply the second time in NFL historical past that two quarterbacks who’re each 21 or youthful have confronted off as starters (The one different time it occurred got here in 2015 with Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota).
The one factor about rookie quarterbacks is that they have an inclination to make one or two unhealthy errors per sport, however since each groups have a rookie at QB, I suppose these errors will cancel one another out. Since that would be the case, I believe I’ve to go along with the protection that I belief extra and that is Houston. Though the scoreboard says they acquired slaughtered by the Ravens in a 25-9 loss in Week 1, the very fact of the matter is that their protection really performed surprisingly properly, holding Baltimore to simply 265 yards. If the Texans can maintain the Ravens to that, they could be capable to maintain the Colts to zero yards. Simply kidding. That is not going to occur … or is it?
My common rule of thumb when making an attempt to choose the winner in a sport involving the Texans is to all the time decide in opposition to the Texans and that is largely as a result of they all the time appear to lose, however I believe they could really be the higher group on this sport, so I am taking the Texans.
The decide: Texans 20-16 over Colts
Los Angeles Chargers (0-1) at Tennessee Titans (0-1)
1 p.m. ET (CBS)
As somebody who lives in Nashville, I used to be pressured to observe all 4 quarters of the Titans sport on Sunday and let me simply say that my head nonetheless hurts from watching them play. The offense was so unhealthy that I am midway satisfied that they did not even have a coaching camp this yr, and in the event that they did have one, Ryan Tannehill positively wasn’t there. I imply, that is the one conclusion that makes any sense to me after watching him play in Week 1.
Should you missed Tennessee’s opener, Tannehill threw three interceptions and accomplished fewer than 50% of his passes. He seemed completely misplaced and I am undecided he might be mounted in a single week. The excellent news for the Titans is that they are taking part in the Chargers, the one group within the NFL that appears to invent new methods to lose each week, properly, aside from this week, as a result of I do not suppose they’ll lose.
I believe the Titans protection can preserve this shut and I additionally suppose that Tennesee may pull off the upset if Derrick Henry will get rolling, however ultimately, I believe this sport will end up like final week’s sport for Tennessee the place everybody however Tannehill performs properly sufficient to win.
The decide: Chargers 19-16 over Titans
New York Giants (0-1) at Arizona Cardinals (0-1)
4:05 p.m ET (Fox)
The award for many embarrassing loss from Week 1 positively goes to the Giants. Earlier than the season began, I assumed for certain that the Cardinals can be the worst group within the NFL, and that may possible nonetheless be true, however the Giants made a powerful case for stealing that title from them for a minimum of per week of their 40-0 loss to the Cowboys on Sunday night time.
The Giants have been so unhealthy that I assumed perhaps they switched uniforms with the Cardinals, as a result of the Cardinals did not really look that unhealthy in Week 1. Positive, their offense was simply as unhealthy as everybody thought it might be, however their protection had a powerful efficiency in Washington with six sacks on the Commanders. I believe the Cardinals protection will preserve this sport from turning right into a blowout, however the Giants’ season is on the road, so I can not decide in opposition to them right here. If the Giants lose this sport, they would be the laughingstock of the NFL and I do not suppose they need to be the laughingstock of the NFL.
The decide: Giants 20-13 over Cardinals
Cleveland Browns (1-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ABC)
With the Browns coming off probably the most spectacular wins of Week 1 and the Steelers coming off one of many worst losses, the plain decide right here appears to be Cleveland, however I hate doing the plain factor. That is why I by no means order waffles from the Waffle Home. Too apparent.
In any case, after watching the Browns completely beat down the Bengals in Week 1, I used to be impressed with almost every part they did. The one factor that did not impress me, although, was Deshaun Watson.
Earlier than the season began, I had no concept if Watson can be unhealthy or good this yr and after watching him play in a single sport, I nonetheless do not know. Watson really had a fairly ugly sport in opposition to the Bengals, however nobody is speaking about it as a result of he acquired fully overshadowed by the entire meltdown of Joe Burrow, who performed the worst sport of his profession. As unhealthy as Burrow was, one factor he didn’t do was throw an interception straight to the opposite group.
I will not be shocked in any respect if Watson struggles in Pittsburgh. Watson wasn’t nice in opposition to the Bengals, and now he has to face the Steelers with out his All-Professional proper deal with Jack Conklin, who’s out for the season after struggling a brutal knee damage in opposition to Cincinnati.
The Steelers have received 20 straight Monday night time video games at residence, which is an NFL file. They’ve crushed the Browns 19 straight occasions at residence within the common season and let me simply say that there isn’t any manner I am choosing in opposition to both of these streaks.
The decide: Steelers 23-20 over Browns
Be aware: There are literally two Monday night time video games this week, so keep in mind to plan accordingly (The Saints and Panthers kick off at 7:15 p.m. ET on ESPN).
NFL Week 2 picks: All the remaining
- Falcons 20-17 over Packers
- Bills 23-16 over Raiders
- Bengals 24-21 over Ravens
- Lions 31-23 over Seahawks
- Chargers 19-16 over Titans
- Buccaneers 23-20 over Bears
- Cowboys 31-13 over Jets
- 49ers 27-20 over Rams
- Broncos 19-16 over Commanders
- Dolphins 30-23 over Patriots
- Saints 24-17 over Panthers
Final Week
Finest decide: Final week, I predicted that the Bengals would lose in Cleveland as a result of their offense would look rusty and guess what occurred? The Bengals misplaced in Cleveland as a result of their offense seemed rusty. Now, did I do know that Joe Burrow was going to completely implode? In fact I did. More often than not, Burrow seems like a future Corridor of Fame when he is on the sector, however not in opposition to the Browns. For some purpose, the Browns are Burrow’s Krytponite. If each Bengals opponent wore a Browns uniform this season, Cincinnati would go 0-17, however fortuitously for the Bengals, I am fairly certain that is not authorized so they do not have to fret about that occuring.
Worst decide: My worst decide of Week 1 was positively taking the Steelers over the 49ers. The issue with my decide is that I broke the primary rule of betting, which is “by no means decide in opposition to the 49ers when Christian McCaffrey is taking part in.” McCaffrey has began 11 regular-season video games for the 49ers and they’re 11-0 IN THOSE GAMES. If I had simply adopted the McCaffrey rule, I would be a millionaire proper now consuming caviar for dinner tonight, however as a substitute, I am consuming Funyons. Not that there is something improper with that.
Picks Report
Straight up in Week 1: 8-8
SU total: 8-8
Towards the unfold in Week 1: 9-7
ATS total: 9-7
You’ll find John Breech on Facebook or Twitter and if he isn’t doing a kind of issues, he is in all probability consuming Funyons.
