NFL STRAIGHT PICK-EM WEEK TWO

LAST WEEK’S RECORD: (8-8)

We are hopeful we learned from being sent to the penalty box after week one’s horrible picking.

SEASON STATS

OVERALL RECORD:(8-8)

THURSDAY NIGHT RECORD: (1-0)

MONDAY NIGHT RECORD: (0-1)

WEEK TWO WE ARE A GO!!!!

THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW YORK GIANTS AT WASHINGTON “THE TEAM WITH NO NAME”

Giants are still trying to find themselves. Running back Saquon Barkley trying to knock off the rust from last year’s injury. Washington has a new quarterback Taylor Heinicke as Ryan Fitzpatrick is out. Watch Heinickle take the starting quarterback job for good. Last season Heinicke impressed me with the plays he made behind center giving the Buccaneers a scare in the first round of the playoffs. Heinicke makes use of the Washington’s weapons and the defense rebounds in Washington victory.

OUR PICK: “THE TEAM”

THE SUNDAY SLATE

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS AT NEW YORK JETS

What do Jets’ quarterbacks and speed bumps have in common? They both get run down. Rookie Zack Wilon sacked six times and hit a total of ten times. You know Evil Bill Belichick will exploit the Jets offensive line and have his way in week two. Patriots rookie quarterback Mac Jones will gain confidence and make some nice throws to get his team’s record even at 1-1.

OUR PICK: THE NEUTERED EVIL EMPIRE

DENVER BRONCOS AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

The Broncos defense is much better than what the Jaguars faced in week one versus the Texans. Trevor Lawrence was good, bad, and ugly in his debut. I think the Jaguars will clean up their mistakes from week one. Jacksonville is still a very young team and they will give the Broncos a solid game. Teddy Bridgewater with that balanced offense not making mistakes, and the Broncos able to play solid defense they will be 2-0 out of the gates of the 2021 season.

OUR PICK: BRONCOS

BUFFALO BILLS AT MIAMI DOLPHINS

Should Buffalo Bills fans worry about their opening day loss to the Steelers where they were up 10-0 at one point? Miami squeaked out a close one with the Patriots last weekend. Josh Allen will rebound and is due for a bigger game from him. The Bills defense played well last week, so look for that to continue. I felt the Steelers had some lucky catches on key plays last week. Dolphins will keep this one close until late in the game when Buffalo finally put the fish on ice for good on South Beach.

Is Pinto Ron grill equipped for a huge fish fry?

OUR PICK: BILLS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Here’s where things get interesting with two teams winning last week facing off in week two. Both the 49ers and Eagles played bad teams. My first thought was picking the 49ers because they are fully healthy and ready to take that leap back to the post-season. Lions made that a game last week versus the 49ers. Meanwhile Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni has come up with a solid game plan for his young quarterback, Jalen Hurts. Which includes a running game with two running backs and easy quick passes to avoid the pass rush. Quick tempo to speed up the game. Eagles defense will make a few plays to keep Philadelphia undefeated.

OUR PICK: THE EAGLE HAS LANDED

LA RAMS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

The Colts seem like they always get off to a slow start in the standings. Colts with a very tough schedule to start; first the Seahawks and now the Rams. LA Rams man handled the Chicago Bears with ease last weekend. Both teams have new quarterbacks behind center this season. Matthew Stafford will adjust to his new surroundings quicker than Carson Wentz. This game will be a battle through all 4 quarters. I think Rams squeak one out on the road.

OUR PICK: RAMS

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS

These two teams have old time history with each other. Epic playoff battles in the AFC that are still talked about today. Steelers defense came to play last week as they contained Josh Allen and their high octane offense. Raiders had a thriller with the Ravens on Monday night at home forcing overtime and eventually winning their home opener. Steelers are always tough at home. It looks like Big Ben Roethlisberger’s arm is about to fall off completely however he will be able to do enough to that Raiders suspect defense. Last season, the Steeler defense was awesome early on as they were healthy then. Look for that unit to slow down the Raider offense from exploding late in the game and containing Vegas weapons of mass destruction.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

CINCINNATI BENGALS AT CHICAGO BEARS

Week one both these teams are the tale of two cities. Bengals winning in overtime over the Vikings, gives their fan base excitement. Meanwhile, the Bears fans are angry over the play of their team and that rookie quarterback Justin Fields is not on the field for the entire game. Which happens in these situations… the following week both teams do a 360. The Bears will play like World beaters while the Bengals will turn into the Bumbles once again. This game will belong to Andy Dalton. I will call this chapter, “The Rifleman Will Shoot Your Eye Out.”

OUR PICK: DA BEARS

HOUSTON TEXANS AT CLEVELAND BROWNS

Cleveland looks like an elite team from their play last Sunday in that loss to the Chiefs. Tyrod Taylor resurfaces in Houston while Deshaun Watson is looking for a new massage therapist that won’t tell all. Browns have a better defense with a two headed monster running game. It might be the best tandem in the entire league. Houston defense is suspect. Tyrod Taylor has problems throwing down-field if Texans get behind early. Taylor can dink and dunk all day. Browns will score points and Houston will have a major problem keeping up.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

SAINTS AT PANTHERS

Many Saints coaches are out with Covid.

Perhaps the staff went out and celebrated their Packers victory with some drinks and new beads, somewhere not in The Big Easy. Did Sean Payton fix Jameis Winston? Can Sam Darnold find a permanent home in Carolina? Both teams won their first game last Sunday. Saints are the better team in this match-up. New Orleans has more weapons it seems on offense, plus not missing a beat on defense after losing guys to free agency. Winston being controlled by Payton and not making mistakes, he has a big arm. Just hope he stays away from the crab legs.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT ARIZONA CARDINALS

Give the Viking head coach Mike Zimmer a shovel because he’s digging a hole which he may not get out of once again. Vikings lost to the Bengals in Overtime and have a difficult match up with the Cardinals in week two. Cardinals fixed their defense this off-season, adding some nice pieces to that unit. Look for the Cardinals to put the Denver boot on Dalvin Cook. Kirk Cousins will make mistakes when the pressure mounts. Meanwhile, Kyler Murray will run up the score.

OUR PICK: CARDINALS

ATLANTA FALCONS AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

Atlanta looked like the worst team in the entire NFL last Sunday. Tom Brady is already in mid-season form and looking now to play until he’s 50. Hearing that just makes you ill. Falcons defense still has problems stopping teams. A lingering problem in Atlanta for several years now. Looks like the Julio Jones departure has taken the heart and soul out of that Falcon offense. This is going to be a bloody path as Tampa Bay pirate ship will run out of cannon ammo from all the scoring.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

TENNESSEE TITANS AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

This match-up has shoot-out written all over it. Seattle looked awesome last weekend versus the Colts. Titans struggled versus the Cardinals. I like Seattle at home, but then I don’t. Seattle seems to be playing better on the road than at home the last few seasons. I like a Titan rebound in week two as the ground game will be huge for Tennessee and keep drives going and longer while Russell Wilson watches from the sidelines. Derrick Henry was contained last week. So look for a big game against from him versus the average defense Seattle has.

OUR PICK: TITANS

DALLAS COWBOYS AT LA CHARGERS

Chargers offense were able to beat a very good Washington defense. Cowboys defense is better than last season’s garbage they trotted out there. Dak Prescott did not miss a beat being back from last season’s injury and almost pulled out victory against the world champs on Thursday Night Football. My gut tells me Justin Herbert will have a monster game versus the Cowboy defense. I think this game will be a shootout. It will be the first game at which Chargers have fans at the new stadium they share with the Rams. Do Charger fans even exist anymore? I feel the Cowboy fans will invade that stadium and it will feel like a home game for Dallas instead. In the end, the Cowboys will be last team standing victorious in this one.

OUR PICK: COWBOYS

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS

Chiefs won a well-fought game last week versus the Browns. Ravens watched the Raiders storm back and beat them in overtime in Vegas. Ravens last season started out of the gates slowly. Patrick Mahomes versus Lamar Jackson has always gone the Chiefs way. Ravens struggled against winning teams last season. Chiefs improved their protection in the off-season of their man Mahomes. Upgrading their line. Mahomes with more time will find the holes in the Ravens defense. Chiefs defense will just do enough to throw off Lamar Jackson’s timing and contain some of the big runs.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

MONDAY NIGHT GAME

DETROIT LIONS AT GREEN BAY PACKERS

Packers played like cheese whiz last Sunday. Lions almost made one of the impressive comebacks that fell short at the end of regulation. Aaron Rodgers historically does not do well in the state of Florida. When everybody thinks Rodgers is ready for the retirement home and the Packers are going to be bad, then suddenly the script is flipped the following week.

I would love to see the Packers become the doormat of the entire NFL. It just doesn’t work that way because the Packers suddenly have the Lions and Bears even the Vikings that come to the dinner table gift wrapped. Lions will be the resurgence meal tha tthe Packers will gladly devour to give this Green Bay drama back to Superbowl talk on Rodgers’ revenge tour.

OUR PICK: PACKERS