Previewing Week 2

Matt Cassel vs. Ryan Fitzpatrick! Ryan Tannehill vs. Carson Palmer! Andy Dalton vs. Brandon Weeden! Who says the NFL doesn't have compelling quarterback duels every week? At the very least, none of them can possibly look as worse as Jay Cutler did on Thursday night. On to Week 2.

Week 1 prediction results: 10/16

Kansas City Chiefs (0-1) @ Buffalo Bills (0-1)
A game that's completely impossible to evaluate and/or predict, because both teams were so thoroughly outplayed and embarrassed last week. No one has any idea how good they are. Expect a lot of running, because there's a great chance an offensive play will end in an interception every time Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt Cassel drop back to pass.
What to watch for: C.J. Spiller is taking over as the Bill starting running back, and he's going to be awesome. The highlight-reel runs will be plentiful.
The pick: With zero confidence, I will take the Chiefs.

Cleveland Browns (0-1) @ Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)
Top candidate for Ugly Game of the Week. There is literally no reason to watch this game unless you live in a dying industrial city in Ohio.
What to watch for: Don't.
The pick: Bengals, a.k.a. the team that doesn't have Brandon Weeden as its quarterback.

Oakland Raiders (0-1) @ Miami Dolphins (0-1)
Yet another miserable matchup. Miami's Ryan Tannehill is so obviously not ready to be an NFL quarterback. The Raiders should win this by default. Should.
What to watch for: The endless back-and-forth parade of turnovers that will comprise 90% of this game's action.
The pick: Raiders.

Minnesota Vikings (1-0) @ Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
Finally: a football game with some intrigue. I think this game becomes Andrew Luck's coming-out party. The Vikings secondary is pitiful. Of course, that assumes Indianapolis' equally-pitiful offensive line can keep Luck upright, which is unlikely.
What to watch for: Luck and football zombie Adrian Peterson is pretty much it.
The pick: Vikings. Actually, if they pull this one off and the Lions lose to the 49ers, they'll surprisingly be in first place in the NFC North.

Arizona Cardinals (1-0) @ New England Patriots (1-0)
Like the Texans-Dolphins contest last week, this game looks like the only mortal lock among this slate of games. Arizona is travelling east across the country for a 1 pm game...they can't stop Tom Brady...Kevin Kolb is their quarterback. It should be over before it starts.
What to watch for: The suddenly-impressive Patriots defense, especially against Arizona's dismal O-line.
The pick: Patriots by two touchdowns.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) @ New York Giants (0-1)
Here's something to wrap your mind around: since the 2006 season, including the playoffs, the Giants are 37-18 on the road and 26-24 at home. So while one would think New York's front four will force Josh Freeman into some mistakes, things could very easily go wrong for the home team.
What to watch for: Tampa's rookie running back Doug Martin, or the Muscle Hamster. He's good.
The pick: Giants.

Baltimore Ravens (1-0) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
There will be plenty of defense and plenty of turnovers. Neither the Ravens nor the Eagles go to their star running back as much as they should; I'll bet whichever team gives its back more touches will win this game.
What to watch for: Whether Joe Flacco's breakout last week was for real, or if he wilts under the pressure of a strong Eagles defense on the road.
The pick: Ravens. Hard to trust Michael Vick at this point.

New Orleans Saints (0-1) @ Carolina Panthers (0-1)
The Saints could very easily go to 0-2. The defense was dismal last week and now has to deal with Cam Newton. This game might see 80 total points scored.
What to watch for: Let's see if Drew Brees bounces back from his uncharacteristically inefficient game last week against the Redskins.
The pick: Saints.

Houston Texans (1-0) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)
On paper, this is a lock. The Texans are the 49ers of the AFC. But I think the Jaguars will give them a run for their money. Blaine Gabbert has legitimately gotten much better and he has some sneaky-good offensive weapons. This is the kind of game that could be tied late in the third quarter before the Texans pull away late.
What to watch for: Gabbert against Houston's defense. We'll find out how much he's really improved.
The pick: Texans.

Washington Redskins (1-0) @ St. Louis Rams (0-1)
Everyone's so high on Robert Griffin III and the Redskins that they look at this game and just think "automatic win." The Rams are no longer an automatic win. Jeff Fisher has improved their defense and they almost knocked off the Lions last week.
What to watch for: The Redskins ran a gimmicky college-style offense against the terrible Saints defense last week to get RGIII off to a hot start. The Rams will be more prepared.
The pick: Rams in an upset. This will prevent overcrowding on the Redskins bandwagon.

Dallas Cowboys (1-0) @ Seattle Seahawks (0-1)
This game looks eerily similar to the Redskins-Rams one above: NFC East team with much-to-prove quarterback coming off convincing Week 1 win taking on an underrated NFC West team on the road. Against a tough Seattle defense, the Cowboys won't look good in this game. They'll either win ugly or lose.
What to watch for: Whether Seahawks rookie QB Russell Wilson improves in his second start.
The pick: Cowboys win ugly.

New York Jets (1-0) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1)
On paper, this looks like a defensive struggle. But with defensive stalwarts on both sides hurting (Darrelle Revis, James Harrison, Troy Polamalu) there could be a surprising amount of offense here.
What to watch for: Was Mark Sanchez's explosion last week legit?
The pick: Steelers.

Tennessee Titans (0-1) @ San Diego Chargers (1-0)
This is a really nice opportunity for the Chargers to get off to a nice start to the season. Which means they'll probably find a way to lose this game.
What to watch for: Whether San Diego's offensive catalysts, Antonio Gates and Ryan Mathews, end up playing.
The pick: Chargers. Jake Locker's injured shoulder and Chris Johnson's injured football skills could be factors.

Detroit Lions (1-0) @ San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
Not picking against the 49ers until they lose a game. Hard to imagine an undisciplined and inconsistent team like the Lions upsetting the Niners on the road.
What to watch for: Matthew Stafford against the 49ers defense. Strength vs strength, something has to give.
The pick: 49ers.

Denver Broncos (1-0) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-0)
This is the Monday night game, and easily the best game of the week. The dynamic Atlanta offense, with one of the strongest home-field advantages in football, taking on Peyton Manning's Broncos, who are coming off a dismantling of the Steelers defense.
What to watch for: The two quarterbacks who looked so great in Week 1 are faced with new challenges: Manning is playing in a hostile environment against a high-scoring team, and Ryan is facing a much tougher defense in the Broncos.
The pick: The Falcons are incredibly tough to beat at home, especially when they're a weekly threat to score 40 points.