New York Giants (1-0) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-0)
The Dallas Cowboys open up their new stadium hosting their bitter rivals, the New York Giants. Both teams opened their seasons with comfortable wins. Tony Romo and the Cowboys have faired well in their recent matchups with the GMen, going 4-2 against them in the past 6 meetings. I think the key for the Giants in this game will be to establish the running game and getting pressure on Tony Romo and not allowing him to make plays outside the pocket, which is where he excels most. But I don’t think they’ll do either one of those things in this game.
It’s hard to see Dallas losing their first game in their brand new billion dollar stadium. I think the Giants are ultimately a better football team, but Dallas should win this game.
My Prediction: Giants 23, Cowboys 27
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) @ Chicago Bears (0-1)
Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears are coming off a rough week. Not only did they lose a close game to the rival Packers on the strength of 4 Cutler interceptions, they lost veteran linebacker and leader, Brian Urlacher, for the season. The Steelers enjoyed a close win on ring night over the Titans, but they lost one of the best safties in the game in Troy Polamalu (for 3-6 weeks). I think both defenses are good enough to overcome the loss, but Roethlisberger has far more weapons to utilize than Cutler does. Neither team runs the ball all that well and I don’t expect that’ll change in this game
Cutler struggled with the Packers’ zone blitzing 3-4 scheme last week. Now, he’ll be facing another 3-4 defense; one that blitzes more often and effectively than any team in the league – the Pittsburgh Steelers. Expect a close defensive battle throughout, and the Bears will be desperate for a win, but I expect the defending champions to make the big plays on both sides of the ball.
My Prediction: Steelers 16, Bears 10
New England Patriots (1-0) @ New York Jets (1-0)
The Pats didn’t look very sharp for much of their season opener against the Bills (down 24-13 with 5 minutes left) until Brady led them to 2 touchdown drives, with a game changing Bills fumble sandwiched in-between the two scores, sneaking out a 25-24 victory. The win preserved a 12 game winning streak for NE against Buffalo. They’ll be looking to extend an 8 game winning streak in the Meadowlands against the Jets this Sunday afternoon. Brady has always done pretty well against the Jets secondary, throwing 15 TD’s and only 6 interceptions in 14 career games against New York (11-3).
On paper, the Jets appear to be an improved team from last year. Their running game is explosive (190 rushing yards in wk 1), their defense is swarming against both the run and the pass. They’re at home. And had so many of their players not opened their mouths recently (Kerry Rhodes remarking that the Jets intend on “embarrassing the Pats”), I might have given them a chance in this game against a Patriots squad that is clearly still working out the kinks. Eh, not anymore. They’ve just awoken a sleeping Giant. Expect the Patriots to win by at least 20 points.
My Prediction: Patriots 41, Jets 14
The Rest of the Pack
Baltimore Ravens (1-0) @ San Diego Chargers (1-0)
My Prediction: Ravens 24, Chargers 27
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) @ Buffalo Bills (0-1)
My Prediction: Bucs 10, Bills 24
Cleveland Browns (0-1) @ Denver Broncos (1-0)
My Prediction: Browns 21, Broncos 17
New Orleans Saints (1-0) @ Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)
My Prediction: Saints 24, Eagles 14 * Note – this is only if McNabb does not play *
Arizona Cardinals (0-1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1)
My Prediction: Cards 31, Jags 20
Saint Louis Rams (0-1) @ Washington Redskins (0-1)
My Prediction: Rams 3, Redskins 17
Carolina Panthers (0-1) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-0)
My Prediction: Panthers 13, Falcons 23
Minnesota Vikings (1-0) @ Detroit Lions (0-1)
My Prediction: Vikings 27, Lions 35 *Upset Special*
Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) @ Green Bay Packers (1-0)
My Prediction: Bengals 17, Packers 40
Houston Texans (0-1) @ Tennessee Titans (0-1)
My Prediction: Texans 13, Titans 27
Oakland Raiders (0-1) @ Kansas City Chiefs (0-1)
My Prediction: Raiders 16, Chiefs 13
Seattle Seahawks (1-0) @ San Francisco 49ers (1-0)
My Prediction: Seahawks 21, 49ers 23
Indianapolis Colts (1-0) @ Miami Dolphins (0-1)
My Prediction: Colts 24, Dolphins 20
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