Week 2 NFL Picks

Welcome to the picks post, the first one of the year (yes I was completely slacking week 1 I know).  Let's get right to the picks for this week.

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore
This game is just getting underway as I am typing this.  We all know the turmoil surrounding the Ravens team right now and I just don't know how that will affect them.  I know that their offense didn't look good last week in the opener and I don't know how much better it can get.
Winner: Pittsburgh

Detroit @ Carolina
I didn't like the Panthers coming into the season.  I thought the offense would regress and that the defense would too with a bad secondary.  Week 1 they looked exactly like last year's team so I could be completely wrong about this team.  But I still think they're going to take a step back and I like the Lions new look offense.
Winner: Detroit

Miami @ Buffalo
The Bills and Dolphins are both feeling good coming off wins last week.  I like Miami's pass rush and think Ryan Tannehill with a better offensive line continues to improve.  EJ Manuel still hasn't shown me that much.
Winner: Miami

Jacksonville @ Washington
I said this in my recap of last week, I think the Jags will surprise some people this year.  This week could very well be that first surprise against a bad Washington team.  I'll stick with Washington but I don't feel good about it in the least.
Winner: Washington

Dallas @ Tennessee
I fully admit this pick is probably an overreaction to Week 1. Now that that disclaimer is out of the way, the Cowboys defense actually looked better than their offense last week which is a bad sign if you're a Dallas fan. Tennessee was another team that surprised me a bit in their first game, not the win necessarily but the fashion in which they did it.  I'm going to give the Titans this one at home.
Winner: Tennessee

Arizona @ New York Giants
The Giants looked awful in Detroit on Monday. Eli Manning still seems to be struggling with the new offense and the O-line is shaky at best.  A shaky offensive line is not what you want against a team like Arizona.  The Cards start the year 2-0.
Winner: Arizona

New England @ Minnesota
Mike Zimmer already seems to be working his defensive magic in Minnesota and has plenty of playmakers to work with on offense.  Even average QB play like they got from Cassel last week will be enough to get them a few more wins than last season.  That all said, the last time the Patriots started 0-2 in a season was in 2001 the first year of Tom Brady's starting career.
Winner: New England

New Orleans @ Cleveland
Cleveland has some things I like, the defense continues to get better, rookie running back Terrence West looks like a solid starting back after 16 carries for 100 yards, and Brian Hoyer has shown by now that he's a capable quarterback. However, New Orleans offense has just too many weapons and adding Brandon Cooks (early OROY candidate) just made it even more difficult for opponents to stop.  If not for a Marques Colston fumble in OT the Saints may have started 1-0. They'll get their first win here.
Winner: New Orleans

Atlanta @ Cincinnati
This one is tough because both teams looked impressive in Week 1.  The Bengals defense didn't seem to take any steps back after losing Mike Zimmer to the Vikings and Atlanta's offense was prolific with a surgical Matt Ryan and his full complement of receivers against New Orleans. I don't feel good about this pick already because I'm waffling back and forth. Bengals at home!
Winner: Cincinnati

St. Louis @ Tampa Bay
The Rams should probably just pack it in and hope to get a franchise QB in next year's draft after cutting Sam Bradford at season's end. Shaun Hill/Austin Davis won't win you many games. The Bucs got better as the game against Carolina went on, they'll continue that momentum this week.
Winner: Tampa Bay

Seattle @ San Diego
After what we all saw Week 1 how can you pick against the defending champs? Percy Harvin adds a whole different dimension to their offense.  The Chargers had a tough loss against Arizona Monday night and it'll be an 0-2 start for Phillip Rivers and Co.
Winner: Seattle

Houston @ Oakland
One thing that Week 1 reconfirmed. JJ Watt is an absolute animal. Even with the loss of JaDeveon Clowney, the Texans defense will be fine as long as Mr. Watt is in the game. Derek Carr had a good first start but I don't think there's enough in Oakland to help him just yet.
Winner: Houston

Kansas City @ Denver
The Broncos offense picked up where it left off, the only thing that scares me with them is the lack of an ability to just run the ball to run out the clock once they have a big lead. I don't think that will matter against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Winner: Denver

New York Jets @ Green Bay
Jets fans are excited after Week 1 mainly because the Patriots are in last place currently.  The ground game was also impressive.  That bodes ill for a Green Bay team that was shredded by the run last year at times.  The Packers line also scares me, but I have to think at home in Lambeau they find a way to get it done.
Winner: Green Bay

Chicago @ San Francisco
Talking with a Bears friend of mine after the Bills game, it wasn't even a question, "Well that's an 0-2 start to the season." At first I thought it was one too many adult beverages and he didn't realize it was only the first game, then I saw the 49ers on the schedule. Even worse for Chicago it's on the road in the Niners new stadium.  I have to agree with my buddy here.
Winner: San Francisco

Philadelphia @ Indianapolis
The Eagles allowed 17 points in the 1st half to Jacksonville last week with Chad Henne at QB and Allen Hurns as the #1 receiver. I have 0 confidence in this defense's ability to stop a team with as many weapons as Indy has for Andrew Luck.  It'll be a shootout but Luck and Indy win late.
Winner: Indianapolis

Enjoy Week 2!