Get into the huddle with football experts: Anthony Oxley, Blake Butterfield and Marc Reichertz as they go head-to-head every week with their NFL Predictions picks. Follow them through the NFL 2006 season right up to the Superbowl as they each try to pick winners on the spread!
Right back on track is where I am. After a 4-0 Week 3 of preseason and a horrible 0-3-1 final meaningless week, I went 3-1 to kick the regular season off with a bang! My Face-Off opponents, Marc Reichertz and Anthony Oxley combined to get three wins between them but I’m sure they’ll put up a bit more of a fight this week. Hopefully, however, I can retain my place atop the heap where I belong! Good luck guys!
New England Patriots -7 at New York Jets +7
The Jets usually give the Patriots a run for their money at home and this week should be no exception, especially with Chad Pennington having the regained confidence that comes with a huge first game back, on the road, after shoulder surgery. The Patriots showed that they can run the ball last week and should have a measure of success doing the same this week against a Jets line that wasn’t really tested in Tennessee. Tom Brady’s receiving corps is in disarray but he and Belichick will come up with a game plan that makes the best use of what is steady in their offense: Tom and the tight ends.
I look for a closer game than what the books are setting the lines at. This line is inflated because, over the past three years, the Patriots have almost always covered their spreads, going 32-14-2. This year they may win games, but they will almost certainly be closer. One interesting thing to watch is whether or not kicker Mike Nugent gets demoted after missing two field goals and an extra point last week. Another interesting item: the Patriots have filed a tampering complaint against their former defensive coordinator’s (Jets head coach, Eric Mangini) team about the way they attempted to deal with Deion Branch.
You know they are just trying to distract him. With this going on and the way the Patriots hired Jonathan Smith for a few days after the Bills cut him, only to pick his brain and release the poor guy a few hours before Sunday’s game against Buffalo, I am starting to dislike them. Class is a much better thing to have when you are still using its first two letters.
NFL Predictions & Picks Week 2: Jets to cover.
Kansas City Chiefs +11.5 at Denver Broncos -11.5
In the last four games between these two, the Chiefs have outscored the Broncos 110-108. In 26 of the past 32 meetings the team that has scored last has won. The past three years have seen these squads split their season series and the Chiefs have yet to win at INVESCO Field at Mile High. They have lost five straight in Denver and things don’t look very rosy coming into Week 2 with Trent Green injured and Damon Huard tossing the rock. While the Broncos know they lost to a team they should have beaten in St. Louis last week, the Chiefs are limping. They thought they should have beaten Cincinnati but were stymied all over the field. This is going to have to be Larry Johnson’s week if the Chiefs are going to stand a chance; he had 140 yards rushing and two touchdowns in their last meeting. I don’t think the Broncos will stand for it at home and will look to crush the life out of their divisional rivals in a nasty, messy beat down.
NFL Predictions & Picks Week 2: Broncos to cover.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers +6 at Atlanta Falcons -6
The Buccaneers were shut out at home last week and this week go on the road to fight off a Falcon squad looking to gain, and keep, a respect they feel no one was giving them at the start of the season. Only two weeks in, I am giving these Falcons oodles of respect. If Steve McNair can crush the Bucs with his defense, Michael Vick can surely do the same with his. The way things look right now, Jon Gruden will have his hands full trying to get anything at all going on the offensive side of the ball and he has to try to come up with a way to slow down Vick. I like Jon. I like his work ethic. I like his sense of humor. However, if you thought he’d lost that sense of humor after last week’s game, just wait until the post-game press conference in Atlanta this week.
This game could become something of a shootout if the injuries on Atlanta’s defense, to Kerney, Hartwell, and last week’s NFC Defensive Player of the Week, John Abraham, keep them out of Chris Simms’ face. Last season, in Week 15, the Patriots shut out the Bucs in New England. Guess who the Bucs played the week after. That’s right, the Falcons. That was at home, though, and they were a confident club. Not this time. This time, the Buccaneers have lost three of their past five games and have now been shut out in two of those. Good night!
NFL Predictions & Picks Week 2: Falcons to cover.
Washington Redskins +6 at Dallas Cowboys -6
Same bat time. Same bat place. Last year’s Week 2 meeting between these two potential heavyweights was something to behold. Dallas led 13-0 with less than 5 minutes remaining. Marc Brunell was being questioned by the talking heads and the Redskins had done next to nothing up to that point. Then, Coach Gibbs decided to let loose and play like it was fun again. BOOM! Two touchdown tosses to Santana Moss and the Redskins killed the Cowboys, stunned the crowd and freaked out anyone watching the game.
It was at that point – Dallas knew the Skins had to gamble and throw deep, fast, to win and Dallas still couldn’t stop them – when I realized that Dallas’ defense wasn’t going to get the job done for Bill Parcell’s and crew last season. After last week’s game in Jacksonville, I think the same way this year. I also think that every team now knows that, if they mess up Bledsoe’s timing, he will be off more than usual because, in the back of his mind, he’ll be hearing Tony Romo’s footsteps. Six points is a lot between two Hall-of-Fame coaches.
NFL Predictions & Picks Week 2: Redskins to cover.
