NFL Picks, Week 2

Gabe is going first this time. We'll be using the lines from the Las Vegas Hilton. Also, remember these picks are against the spread, not straight up. We've gotten some crap this week because of that.

Season record against the spread: Dave: 12-4 Gabe: 9-7 (who for the record hates picking against the spread. I'm no good at it. I went 14-2 in my ESPN straight picks league.)

So here we go for Week 2:

Carolina (+6) at Atlanta:

Gabe: Carolina - Six seems like too many points. Carolina still has a decent defense and a great offense outside of Jake Delhomme. I can't seem Delhomme having three horrible games in a row. I think the Falcons win outright, but the Panthers keep it close.

Dave: Carolina: As much as it pains me to put my money(or in this case, figurative bragging rights) on Jake Delhomme, I have to agree with Gabe, 6 points is pretty steep for an Atlanta squad that's hardly stout on defense. As bad of a disaster as Delhomme was against Philly, coach John Fox is smart enough to know that he can win this game by not relying on Delhomme's Helen Keller-esque accuracy. I expect the Panthers to pound the ball on this soft Falcons defense with a heavy dose of DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, and even Mike Goodson. Panthers win outright, by 7.

St. Louis (+9.5) at Washington:

Gabe: Washington - St. Louis flat out stinks. Anyone who read this blog knows I have never been a fan of Bulger-to-Avery. Stephen Jackson is their only offensive weapon and if you bottle him up then St. Louis can't score. The Skins will be motivated; it's their home opener and they want to bounce back from last week's game, especially Albert Haynesworth.

Dave: Washington: The 'Skins are a much better team than the squad that got bullied by the Giants last week. Granted, the Rams beat Washington last year, but this year's squad might actually be worse than last year's(which is saying something, because last year's team was putrid). Campbell rebounds behind the home crowd and the 'Skins stomp Nellyville by two scores.

Houston (+6.5) at Tennessee:

Gabe: Houston - Houston will be able to move the ball this week. Historically they have gotten big yards against the Titans, and last year they split with them. The only way Houston can win this game is if they score early, get the lead, and front-run. Tennessee is the kind of team that once they get a lead they grind it out and eat up clock. Either way, Houston will either win straight up, or they will get close as Tennessee tries to keep them at arm's length.

Dave: Tennessee: Let's remember that this Titans defense held the defending Super Bowl champs to 13 points and forced them into overtime in a game they would have won if not for a few botched field goals by Rob Bironas. The Texans may very well be as good as their sleeper buzz has warranted, but Tennesee's defense is as good if not better than a Jets defense that held Houston in check last week. Also, and this is at the risk of sounding like a homer, I think Kenny Britt continues his coming out party that he started against Pittsburgh and lights up a thin Texan secondary. Titans by 7.

New Orleans (pk) at Philadelphia:

Gabe: New Orleans - If McNabb were 100%, I would say Philly. I don't think he will play this week, and if he does, he won't be effective. Philly's offense will be sluggish, even against the Saints' soft defense. I think Brees will air it out again - he has too many weapons not to - so I'll take NO to win.


Dave: New Orleans: Four words for ya.....Starting quarterback Kevin Kolb.


New England (-3) at New York Jets:

Gabe: New England - After watching the way the Jets defense played last week I flirted with picking them for the straight up win. But then Kerry Rhodes opened his yap. The last time a defensive back called out Tom Brady (that putz from the Steelers two years ago), Brady threw two touchdowns in the guy's face, and pointed and jawed at him after the second TD. The Pats are not happy with how they played last week and are looking to play better. Now they have extra motivation. I'll take the Pats to beat down their divisional little brother, and win big.

Dave: New England: Again, I agree with Gabe, I think the Jets talked their way out of this one. As bad as New England's defense was last week and as rusty and nervous as Brady looked in his first game back, he's still Tom Brady and their still the Patriots. The spread for this game was as high as 6 earlier in the week and had it stayed there, I might have went with the Jets, but Tom Brady has proven that when you ruffle his feather, he takes you behind the woodshed.


Oakland (+3) at Kansas City:

Gabe: Oakland - This line doesn't make much sense to me. Oakland played very well and could have beaten San Diego last week. I think Oakland will do what they did last week. They will come out and hit KC in the mouth and win a physical game. I'll take Oakland for the straight-up win. Upset special? Maybe.

Dave: Kansas City: I give more credence to a team that fired its offensive coordinator and still kept things competitive against one of the best defenses in the NFL, despite going with two different quarterbacks behind center and neither of which being their franchise quarterback, Matt Cassel. Cassel might play Sunday and Chiefs RB Larry Johnson has a long history of owning the Raiders. I like Richard Seymour to continue his contract-inspired rampage, but I'm not co-signing JaMarcus Russell. Not now. Not ever.

Arizona (+3) at Jacksonville:

Gabe: Jacksonville - The Super Bowl loss hangover is going to continue for the Cards. Jacksonville gave Indy all they could handle last week. Jacksonville's defense steps up again, and they win by more than 3. If this were a late game I would have taken the push, but because it's a 1:00 game, on the East Coast, and Arizona has to travel all the way across the country, I'm taking the Jags.

Dave: Arizona- I know the Cards were bad last week, but 3 point underdogs to a Jacksonville team that looked anemic against an overrated Colts squad? Ridiculous. The offensive line issues for the Jags still aren't fixed and, as bad as the Cardinals played all around last week, they still managed four sacks and held San Francisco to 0.8 yards per carry.....and the Niners' offensive line is better than Jacksonville's. If Boldin and Breaston sit out with injuries, I might regret this pick, but Warner + Fitz + a dab of Beanie Wells is a good enough recipe for success for me.

Cincinnati (+9) at Green Bay:

Gabe: Cincy - This is just too many points. Cincy will want to a win badly after the way they had last week's game stolen from them. I think they will play well. But, the Packers at home are always tough to beat. I think the Packers will win by a touchdown.

Dave: Green Bay: Go ahead with the homer chants. I liked Cincy all week, but when I thought about it more, I just couldn't do it. Keep this in mind, the Bengals only scored 7 points against a bad Broncos defense....AT HOME. Now, they face a very good Packers defense that showed a knack for causing turnovers...IN LAMBEAU. The Packers' offense sputtered a bit last week against a game Bears defense but the Packers have had a week to fix their problems on the right side and Cincy doesn't quite have the speed rushers to take advantage of the inept Allen Barbe like Chicago did last week. Packers flirt with the shutout, win by 10.

Minnesota (-9.5) at Detroit:

Gabe: Minnesota - Detroit still stinks. Minnesota's defense is crazy good. Their offense is silly. Brett Favre won't have to do much, because AP is going to run wild again. Minnesota wins by at least two touchdowns.

Dave: Minnesota: As much as I hate taking the Vikings and Brett Favre's Rotting Corpse, the combination of Adrian Peterson and this defense facing a rookie QB making his 2nd start is too overwhelming to not take the Vikes here. Lions can make this close if they can exploit AP's butterhands and The Gunslinger's knack for throwing to guys in different colored jerseys, but that might be wishful thinking.

Tampa Bay (+4.5) at Buffalo:

Gabe: Buffalo - Buffalo showed us last week that they are for real and were it not for a bone-headed play they would have beaten the Pats. Tampa Bay showed us last week that they can lose big to a below average team. Buffalo's defense will stifle Tampa's O and T.O. will have his first big game as a Bill. Buffalo wins by a touchdown.

Dave: Buffalo: While I think the wheels on the Bills bandwagon are starting to come off after Leodis McKelvin handed the Monday nighter to New England and then T.O. decided to be T.O. and throw everyone under the bus because of his lack of touches, the Bucs are just not a good football team even with Cadillac Williams' return from the dead last week. The Bucs' defense was particularly bad against the pass last week and we all know T.O.'s bitching and moaning means he'll get the ball aplenty this week. Bills get the first of their 6 wins all season right here.

Seattle (+1) at San Francisco:

Gabe: San Francisco - I believe in Mike Singletary. He knows who he can and can't win with. I believe in his defense. Seattle beat up on a really bad team last week. I think the Seahawks will come out flat and I'll take SF to win by a field goal.

Dave: Seattle: Sure, the Niners have a good defense. So do the Seahawks. Lest we forget, Seattle had Week 1's only shutout last week(Yes, I know, it was against the St. Louis School of the Blind, but still, a shutout is a shutout). Here's some fun with numbers(and for more fun with numbers, you can check out my preview of this game on sportstalkbuzz.com.....BAM! Now that's marketing!), the 49ers' offensive line has given up 55 sacks in each of the last two seasons and they gave up four against Arizona last week. They also were only able to gain 0.8 yards per carry even with a healthy Frank Gore. Sure, they won last week, but how many weeks can a team expect to win with absolutely no help on offense. Like I said, the Niners' defense is good, but it's not the 2000 Ravens. I like Seattle by 6.

Pittsburgh (-2.5) at Chicago:

Gabe: Pittsburgh - Chicago QB Jay Cutler played like hell last week against the Packers. The Steelers defense is going to make him look silly. I think Pittsburgh is going to be all over the Bears on defense and will do just enough on offense to win. I think Pittsburgh takes it by three.

Dave: Chicago: Last week against the Packers, Jay Cutler showed everybody why Denver made him expendable by throwing four picks. Lost in the aftermath of Cutler's implosion was the fact that the Bears can provide a pass rush when facing a bad offensive line(or in Green Bay's case, a bad right side of the offensive line) and, lo and behold, they're facing a pretty bad offensive line this week. While Big Ben proved last week he'll always find a way to win, the struggles on offense won't come to an end this week against a sneaky good Bears defense(even without Brian Urlacher). I like the Bears to go with the game plan they should have went with last week which is force-feed the Steelers defense a steady portion of Matt Forte....on the ground....through the air....and wherever else. Also, with All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu out, there will be a serious void in the secondary if or when Cutler decides to go up top to speedy receivers Devin Hester and Johnny Knox. Bears pull off the upset and win outright.

Cleveland (+3.5) at Denver:

Gabe: Denver - Cleveland stinks. Denver got lucky last week. I think the difference here is Denver's offense. I think their receivers will have a field day and make it a long day for Cleveland. Also, I don't believe in Brady Quinn. Denver by 7.

Dave: Denver: The Broncos' offense looked stale against a so-so Bengals team last week. I don't think Josh McDaniels lets them look bad again in front of the home crowd, especially against the Browns. Broncos win big behind solid games by rookie Knowshon Moreno and QB Kyle Orton.

Baltimore (+3) at San Diego:

Gabe: Baltimore - The travel effect doesn't apply here, because it's an East Coast team heading west for a late game. LT is out for the Bolts. Flacco is for real. The Ravens' D is still nasty. Darren Sproles might have a few good games in him, but this won't be one of them. I'll take the Ravens for the straight up win in my...wait for it...whoooo!....Upset Special!!

Dave: Baltimore: Wait a minute....the Chargers are giving three? Without LT? To one of the top defenses in the NFL? After they nearly lost to Oakland on Monday night? No, thanks. As bad as Kansas City made Baltimore look last week by putting up a fight, it's hard to believe this defense won't squash the Chargers and that termite they have at running back, Darren Sproles. Flacco breaks out the whooping stick as Ray Rice(Rutgers alert!) outplays LT's caddy.


New York Giants (+3) at Dallas:

Gabe: N.Y. Giants - Last week the Giants defense played great, and, as predicted by this guy, scored a defensive touchdown. I think the Giants defense will harass Romo and they win a close game. More importantly though, they go to Dallas to open Jerry Jones' $1.5 Billion Ramses III-style shrine to himself. I think the Cowboys punter will be ordered to not kick into the big screen, but Giants punter Jeff Feagles, the greatest punter in NFL history, is going to lock onto that screen and hit it at least 5 times. The more fun bet in this game will be the over/under on how many time Jerry Jones is on camera looking constipated. I'm going to set that number at 7 - one for each time Feagles hits the screen, and two more for his team's play as the Giants front seven dominates them.

Dave: Giants: The Cowboys were soft against the run last week and now face a team that makes its money by running it down your throat. On defense, the Giants are too aggressive and athletic for Dallas' aging offensive line and Romo shows once again he's not ready to wear the big boy pants. In other news, Gabe cements his status as The Biggest Homer Alive by calling Jeff Feagles the greatest punter in NFL history.

Indianapolis (-3) at Miami:

Gabe: Indianapolis - Indy had a rough time with Jacksonville last week, but they always do. I think Miami outplayed their talent last year, and are not as good as they appear. I think Indy goes into Miami with a chip on their shoulder and dismantles the Dolphins. Indy by a touchdown.
Dave: Indianapolis: I really don't like Indy this year. They looked average against Jacksonville last week and now the offense will be without wideout Anthony Gonzalez for the next two months. That being said, Miami has a passing game that can't stretch the D past the line of scrimmage and their gimmicks are more predictable than Carrot Top's comedy act. Colts by 10 in a snoozer.



Note from Gabe: My wife said I need to stop using the term "upset special," even though I do it in a mocking way. I think it's funny. It's going to keep happening.

Note from Dave: Ray Rice is the next Barry Sanders, Kenny Britt is the next Jerry Rice. That was my best attempt at taking the homer crown from Gabe after that Feagles comment, and I still don't think it worked.