After Week 1 of the NFL season HNGN finished with a 10-6 record for the year's first selections, even with all of the unlikely upsets, which included the Bills over the Bears, Dolphins over the Patriots and the Panthers over the Buccaneers. We hope to finish with similar success this week, but you never know this early in the season.
Check out our NFL picks for Week 2:
Steelers at Ravens, Thursday @ 8:30 p.m.
This rivalry has been going back and forth for years: Pittsburgh and Baltimore have split the past 12 matchups. But the last time the Ravens have dropped two in a row at home was in 2007 under Brian Billick, and John Harbaugh will not allow them to start 0-2 on the season and in the division.
Ravens 23, Steelers 16
Dolphins at Bills, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Both of these teams got lucky last week, especially the Bills, who surprised everyone with their 23-20 victory in Chicago. The Dolphins second half comeback against the Patriots was also fairly shocking, but that was a divisional matchup and Miami typically plays a tough game against New England each year. I think the Dolphins will get revenge this week after being swept by Buffalo last year.
Dolphins 27, Bills 17
Jaguars at Redskins, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
The Jaguars shut out the Eagles in the first half last week, and if Josh Scobee puts through those two field goals in the second quarter, it could have been a whole different ball game (they eventually lost 34-17). But Washington looked truly putrid last week in Houston with numerous red zone and special teams miscues. Jacksonville will get their revenge on the NFC East.
Jaguars 17, Redskins 16
Cowboys at Titans, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Despite their 28-17 loss (that looked much worse than the score indicates) last week against San Francisco, it looked like Dallas found themselves in the second half, but at that point it was too late. Tennessee impressed at Kansas City, but I think Dallas' offense will be a much bigger test for them.
Cowboys 28, Titans 20
Patriots at Vikings, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Tom Brady starting the season 0-2? Here's a fun fact for your Thursday morning: THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED.
Patriots 31, Vikings 20
Saints at Browns, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Cleveland came out flat on Sunday against the Steelers and fell behind 27-3 at halftime but managed to tie it up before losing 30-27. Of the 503 yards they surrendered on the day, 354 came in the first half, along with all of the Steelers points. I think they hold off Drew Brees and the Saints, who are awful on the road. Upset pick of the week right here.
Browns 31, Saints 28
Falcons at Bengals, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
The Bengals were undefeated at home last year and the Falcons were 1-7 on the road (although their away games were very tough). With both teams coming off huge division victories it should be a great matchup, but Cincinnati will come out on top.
Bengals 27, Falcons 23
Cardinals at Giants, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
After facing one of the league's best defensive fronts on Monday night, the Giants offensive line could barely keep the Lions out of the backfield for more than a second. This week they face a talented Arizona secondary at MetLife Stadium along with another one of the league's marquee receivers in Larry Fitzgerald. But the Giants cannot afford another disaster like 2013, so they'll win their home opener.
Giants 21, Cardinals 17
Lions at Panthers, Sunday @ 1:00 p.m.
Cam Newton is expected to return to action after missing the team's Week 1 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions will be faced with a tougher test this week, as Carolina has one of the league's better defenses and have an intact offensive system, unlike the New York Giants. Ron Rivera and the Panthers will figure out a way to contain Calvin Johnson.
Panthers 16, Lions 14
Rams at Buccaneers, Sunday @ 4:05 p.m.
These two teams arguably displayed the worst performances of Week 1. The Rams fell to the Vikings 34-6 and didn't score until the third quarter while the Buccaneers lost to the Panthers and backup quarterback Derek Anderson and weren't able to score until the fourth quarter at home. When in doubt, PINKY OUT! I'm going with the home team.
Buccaneers 24, Rams 14
Seahawks at Chargers, Sunday @ 4:05 p.m.
It's unfortunate the Chargers blew their fourth quarter lead against the Cardinals on Monday because there's a slim chance they'll pull out a Week 2 victory over the defending Super Bowl champs.
Seahawks 28, Chargers 20
Texans at Raiders, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
Texans fans, if you want my opinion, you're going to get it, whether you like it or not. If the Redskins didn't commit an excessive number of boneheaded plays on Sunday (two red zone turnovers, a missed extra point, and allowing Alfred Blue to strut his way through the line to block a punt and return it for a touchdown), chances are you're 0-1. One play accounted for 24% of your offensive production (the 76-yard TD pass to DeAndre Hopkins). So beware of Derek Carr, who will be getting revenge on you for not building a better team around his brother, the franchise's first quarterback, David Carr.
Raiders 17, Texans 13
Jets at Packers, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
I must get a haughty laugh out of this one. First of all, Aaron Rodgers starting 0-2 is almost as likely as Tom Brady doing the same. But I can't help vividly remembering the matchup between these two teams in 2010, which was the year the Jets (somehow) made the AFC Championship game. The Jets started 5-1 going into the bye week. Their next game came at home against Green Bay. A 5-1 team coming off the bye week to play in a home game, what could go wrong? Well, the Jets lost 9-0. COMING OFF OF THE BYE WEEK AT HOME WITH A 5-1 RECORD. HAHAHA!
Packers 31, Jets 16
Chiefs at Broncos, Sunday @ 4:25 p.m.
The Chiefs lost their best defensive player, Derrick Johnson, for the rest of the season along with defensive tackle Mike DeVito because of ruptured Achilles tendons. They looked terrible at home against a decent Titans team, and I expect the same on the road against a juggernaut Broncos team.
Broncos 38, Chiefs 21
Bears at 49ers, Sunday @ 8:30 p.m.
After Week 1 I saw everything I expected out of the 49ers and just about everything I expected out of the Bears. I expect the same in Week 2, when the Bears are on the road this time against one of the league's best defenses.
49ers 24, Bears 20
Eagles at Colts, Monday @ 8:30 p.m.
We witnessed Philadelphia's Week 1 scare against Jacksonville after they trailed 17-0 at halftime. They came back to win 34-17, but they can't do that on the road against Indianapolis, who just started off the season with a big test against the Broncos in Denver. Andrew Luck will also not be starting 0-2.
Colts 31, Eagles 27
