Week two is here and it’s time for this week’s Pick’Em (minus Thursday night’s game because we don’t football on Thursdays). Week one was awful in the best possible way for NFL kickoff weekend. Who would have thought the Jaguars and Panthers game would have been a great day of kicking footballs? We sure didn’t!
*Line numbers courtesy of CBSsports.com
** Our picks aren’t based off of line
Pick’Em Correct This Season
Zach: 7-8
Chaz: 9-6
Thursday Night
Broncos @ Chiefs
Final: Broncos, Chiefs.
Zach: N/A
Chaz: N/A
Zach: Thursday night games don’t seem to be in the plan for our Pick’Em, and honestly Thursday night football is weird. Bobby Petrino causing a ton of Louisville sadness on a Thursday night is totally fair, but an aging Manning and sad as ever Alex Smith is not worthy of football status. Watching both defenses destroy these quarterbacks was enjoyable though.
Sunday Day
Patriots @ Bills
Line: +1.5 Bills
Zach: Patriots
Chaz: Patriots
Zach: I refuse to believe the Bills hype, if anything the Colts defense solidified my feeling that they are a hot dumpster fire. The running game for the Bills made sense, but Tyrod Taylor isn’t going to torch a real NFL defense. Gronk and Brady look like they are in midseason form and should continue that on a questionable Bills secondary.
Chaz: I’m going to second Zach. Before the season started, I had a feeling the Colts were going to severely disappoint this season. That said, a Bills win came as no surprise and the Colts defense is an atrocity. The Patriots are not the Colts. They are a great team, hands down, regardless of how inflated the balls are, it wouldn't come as a surprise me if this game was a blowout. The Bills are not who they are pretending to be.
Titans @ Browns
Line: -1.5 Browns
Zach: Titans
Chaz: Titans
Zach: I liked Mariota a lot during the draft process, but I still think last week was rookie luck and a bad defensive effort by the Buccaneers. The Browns defense didn’t play well at all last week either, so Mariota could have another solid showing.
Chaz: Forget Mariota, this game is all about the Titans D. Dick LeBeau has brought his magic to Nashville, and Jonny Fumball doesn’t stand a chance.
Texans @ Panthers
Line: -2.5 Panthers
Zach: Texans
Chaz: Panthers
Zach: J.J. Watt is a freak. Cam Newton is going to be on the ground a lot facing this Texans defense. I don’t love the Houston quarterback situation, but DeAndre Hopkins is the man. I think the Texans defense and solid offensive play gets the job done.
Chaz: The Panthers are not a good team, but neither are the Texans. I think Cam Newton plays well enough to eek out a win this week because that defense is going to scheme enough to throw a wildly inconsistent Ryan Mallett off his game.
Cardinals @ Bears
Line: +2.5 Bears
Zach: Cardinals
Chaz: Cardinals
Zach: Oh boy are the Bears bad. Jay Cutler started off well last week before he came back and Jay Cutler’d it all up. On the other hand, I really like what the Cardinals do. Solid defense on both the front and back end, as well as an offense that can consistently move the ball. The NFC West is going to be a good battle.
Chaz: I think this will be closer than we think. The Bears are going to ride Forte and control the clock here, but Carson Palmer is going to hit a couple over the top.
Chargers @ Bengals
Line: -3.5 Bengals
Zach: Chargers
Chaz: Bengals
Zach: This is a tough one. Both teams showed up and played well in week one. Philip Rivers was as reliable as ever, and oddly enough Andy Dalton played really well too. Both defenses played well last week, but they have their deficiencies. I think Rivers will find the deficiencies quicker.
Chaz: Jeremy Hill, Jeremy Hill, and Jeremy Hill. Chargers won’t be able to stop him, or AJ Green, and the Chargers offense is not good enough to make a dent in this Bengals D. I think this game could get ugly.
Lions @ Vikings
Line: -2.5 Vikings
Zach: Vikings
Chaz: Lions
Zach: I still have faith in the Vikings, but mostly because of Teddy Bridgewater. AP looks fine and should be set for another 1,000 yard rushing season, but Bridgewater’s receivers need to step up. The Lions offense should move the ball, but the Vikings defense has enough key players to win this one.
Chaz: The Lions have a very good defense, and their offense is as good as ever. I take back what I said about the Vikes last week. Looking at how their offensive line performed, this could be an ugly season. AP is going to realize how great he had it behind a stable offensive line all those years. The wide receivers are not good enough to give Teddy Bh2o the chances he needs.
Buccaneers @ Saints
Line: -10.5 Saints
Zach: Saints
Chaz: Saints
Zach: Drew Brees and Co. should be able to get it done this week versus a secondary that struggled heavily last week. Brandin Cooks is a stud, but the other skill players on the Saints offense need to help out. Jameis Winston might be able to redeem himself against a rough Saints defense this week as well.
Chaz: I’m not picking the Saints because of the Saints, I’m picking the Saints because the Bucs are shameful.
Falcons @ Giants
Line: -2.5 Giants
Zach: Falcons
Chaz: Falcons
Zach: I’m buying what Dan Quinn is selling in Atlanta. He may not have all the pieces he wants on defense, but he has the scheme and the mind. The Falcons offense appears to have gotten back on track as well. The Giants aren’t a pushover either. I’m not a fan of their defense though. Eli Manning appears that he can still coordinate the offense in big games and make the plays that are needed to get the win (or really sad last minute loss).
Chaz: This IS going to get ugly. The Gmen let the Boys walk all over them, they were just able to keep up. This Falcons offense is as explosive as ever. The Giants won’t be able to keep up with it. Ryan is going to go off. Fantasy Advice: Start every Falcon you can.
49ers @ Steelers
Line: -6.5 Steelers
Zach: Steelers
Chaz: Steelers
Zach: Carlos Hyde completed my fantasy dominance last week, but I’m not sure if he will put up back to back performances of that caliber. The Steelers offense was just as explosive as expected without Le’Veon Bell or Martavious Bryant being in the lineup for week one, and I believe they will continue to roll.
Chaz: The Niners are going to go into this game planning to have to slow down a dangerous(?!?!?) Deangelo Williams, but Antonio Brown is going to be running 9 routes all day against that slow secondary. Steelers defense is awful, but will be good enough to contain a Niners offense that still looks in transition. I will say, if the Niners pull this out, look for Vernon Davis to be the guy responsible. Tomsula has been on the phone will Belicheck all week about how to imitate Gronks production.
Rams @ Washington
Line: +3.5 Washington
Zach: Rams
Chaz: Rams
Zach: The Dolphins versus Washington game last week was by far the most painful live sporting event I have ever attended. Hopefully Washington doesn’t just run away from Aaron Donald and cut him the whole game like they did to Suh. Also Washington has Captain Kirk, so bless your soul Washington fans.
Chaz: Patting myself on the back for calling the Rams win last week. Washington is bad, and clearly, so are the Dolphins. Their Dline should have caused much more havoc than they did. I expect the Rams to ACTUALLY do that.
Ravens @ Raiders
Line: +6.5 Raiders
Zach: Ravens
Chaz: Ravens
Zach: The Ravens need to pull their defense together and make that the strength of their team again. The receivers aren’t looking great for Flacco, so Forsett will need to get going much quicker this week. The Raiders have some hope in Derek Carr and Amari Cooper, but other than those two and Khalil Mack this is still the Raiders.
Chaz: I’m going to second Zach again here. I was high on the Raiders, but that was an enormous let down. They need help, and this Ravens team is still tough as nails.
Dolphins @ Jaguars
Line: +6.5 Jaguars
Zach: Dolphins
Chaz: Dolphins
Zach: Miami play a really poor game last week, but they got the win. Tannehill and offensive coordinator Bill Lazor have had a week to get their act together to put together more successfull drives versus as banged up Jaguars offense. It will be interesting to see if young gun Blake Bortles and his young weapons can get their offense rolling as well. Remember Justin Blackmon?
Chaz: I don’t know why we’re wasting our time here. According to Blake Bortles, we fans don’t know much. But we do, and we especially know how to spot a garbage team. The Jaguars are just that. I'm far from sold on Miami being the real deal, but they are a real enough deal to be the best team in the wasteland we call Florida, and they’ll assert their dominance this week. This defense is licking their chops.
Cowboys @ Eagles
Line: -2.5 Eagles
Zach: Eagles
Chaz: Eagles
Zach: This is going to be a really good game. I put so much blind faith into Chip Kelly because he is Chip Kelly. The Eagles have a better defense than the Giants so I think the Cowboys will have a tougher time this week moving the ball. The Eagles offense needs to get off to a hotter start this week.
Chaz: No Dez, no win. I think it’s clear. They don’t have someone to rely on without Dez or Murray. Romo is not magical, he’s good, but not good enough to do it all. We also saw how bad this Cowboys defense is if a lowly Giants team was able to almost pull out a win. Sam Bradford is going to raise some eyebrows.
Sunday Night
Seahawks @ Packers
Line: -3.5 Packers
Zach: Seahawks
Chaz: Packers
Zach: The Packers defense isn’t what it used to be. They are banged up on top of not being a great unit to begin with. These two offense will put up points, but it will be up to the defense to prevail. I think the Seahawks are the better of the two defenses.
Chaz: As great as this defense is, the Packers offense is better. This is going to be a great game, they have a rotation of receivers that are so fantastic in that system it’s mind boggling, and you still have to worry about the box because Lacy is the real deal. The Hawks are just out matched in this one, and will be out coached.
Monday Night
Jets @ Colts
Line: -7.5 Colts
Zach: Jets
Chaz: Jets
Zach: As much as it kills me to pick the Jets, the Colts defense is a steaming pile of garbage. Even with Ryan Fitzpatrick at the helm for the Jets he can get the job done against the worst defense Pagano has ever fielded. It doesn’t help that T.Y. Hilton looks like he will be out this week as well. A loss for the Colts on Monday Night Football solidifies my projection that they won’t win the AFC South and that Frank Gore/Andre Johnson were trash signings as well. The Colts theme of the week is trash.
Chaz: Grigson either got a bad bag, or a really good bag when he decided to bring the octogenarian squad. Andre Johnson is not passionate outside of Houston. He loved that place ( I don’t know why either) and after this week, Gore is going to rethink his Andrew Luck praise. He’ll toss a couple of picks, and Eric Decker will have AT LEAST 120 yards and a score. Chris Ivory will get the ball 20+ times and get 2 scores. I'm a Jets fan, and I’m calling a blowout here.
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