So after the week 1 picks I am a single game ahead of Dan. I’m happy that both of our teams won their first game and my favourite pick of last week was getting the Texans (-2.5) over Washington right. So here are our picks for week 2.

Steelers @ Ravens (-2.5)

The Steelers were run close by the Browns last week, but I think the Browns will do this to a few teams over the course of the season so I am not too worried about that. The Ravens’ offence, and Flacco in particular, seemed to be misfiring against the Bengals, and that was before the whirlwind of attention that now surrounds them. I don’t know if the players will rally round each other or fall apart so I’m picking the known quantity and taking the points.

Gee’s Pick:      Steelers
Dan’s Pick:      Steelers

Dan’s Comment: – The Browns took the Steelers really close in Week one, but I can’t see Baltimore doing the same this week.

Falcons @ Bengals (-5.5)

I said last week that the Saints @ Falcons game was probably a trap, and then I walked straight into it. In fairness, I think that this is a mistake that a lot of people made. The Falcons looked really good with Matt Ryan reminding people of just what a good quarterback he can be. The Bengals made a good start to their season with a win in Baltimore. I didn’t like the red zone woes that led to five field goals, but the touchdown to win was what this team needs to win in the playoffs, they have to perform under pressure. I see this as a close game that the Bengals will win, but I think the Falcons will cover.

Gee’s Pick:      Falcons
Dan’s Pick:      Bengals

Dan’s Comment: – Difficult to pick this one, I think it’ll be close.

Dolphins @ Bills (+0.5)

I thought that the Dolphins were in for a good season, but I hadn’t accounted for the Patriots woes travelling to Miami and whilst I begrudge losing a point to Dan based on a pick of blind hope, I’m still happy for him. The Bills had a good win against the Bears, but I don’t know if I trust them or how much of their win was good play, and how much was problems with the Bears. Right now I trust the Dolphins more and so that’s where I’m picking.

Gee’s Pick:      Dolphins
Dan’s Pick:      Dolphins

Dan’s Comment: – We beat the Patriots last week so the Bills should be a walk-over…!

Saints @ Browns (+6.5)

The Saints lost a game last week in overtime, but there was a bad interception and a fumble from their offence. We know who they this team are on that side of the ball and I don’t see them having those problems again. However, the Browns covered their spread last week, have a tough defence and whilst I think they will fall short of a win, I think they might just cover in a loss.

Gee’s Pick:      Browns
Dan’s Pick:      Saints

Cowboys @ Titans (-3.5)

Last week I was rewarded by not trusting the Cowboys. The narrative surrounding them before the season was that their offence was going to be good because it had to be. However, although offensive their line looked good, Tony Romo did not, and the Cowboys were 21-3 down before the end of the first quarter. This shouldn’t necessarily be surprising as Romo’s own QB coach was saying in preseason that his deep ball didn’t look good and that it was due to his back. Their defence did play a little better than expected, but at the risk of overreacting to week 1, I think it is going to a pretty miserable season for the Cowboys. The Titans came out last week and were better than solid. Jake Locker did some good things, they have a good set of young receivers and they took care of the Kansas City Chiefs whilst playing in one of the more difficult stadiums for visiting teams. I think I know which way this game is going.

Gee’s Pick:      Titans
Dan’s Pick:      Cowboys

Lions @ Panthers (-2.5)

The Panthers won last week despite having Cam Newton held out, their defence continued to be great and they were better than many feared. However, the Lions also got off to a good start with a good win over the Giants. I haven’t really got a great feel for either team, but the early numbers from Football Outsiders has the Lions three places above the Panthers, combine this with getting points and I’m going with the Lions again.

Gee’s Pick:      Lions
Dan’s Pick:      Lions

Patriots @ Vikings (+3.5)

The Patriots’ long term line coach retires, the Patriots trade away Logan Mankins, and they have line problems with Brady picking himself off the ground more than usual. I don’t know if these things are actually connected, but they feel like they are. I’m fighting myself a little as Coach Belichick doesn’t lose consecutive games often, but I think I’m taking the points again. The Vikings looked good, Norv Turner made excellent use of Cordarrelle Patterson and Mike Zimmer know how to build defences. I could regret this, but I’m backing the Vikings at home.

Gee’s Pick:      Vikings
Dan’s Pick:      Vikings

Dan’s Comment: -Fingers crossed for an early fall-apart for the Patriots!

Cardinals @ Giants (-1.5)

I’m surprised the Giants are giving points and not getting them I’ve seen nothing on either side of the ball to make me thing that there going to have anything but a difficult year. The Cardinals however, are looking pretty good, being solid on both sides of the ball and I think they are going to win this one handily.

Gee’s Pick:      Cardinals
Dan’s Pick:      Giants

Jaguars @ Washington (-5.5)

The Jaguars came out and were 17-0 up at half time against the Eagles and whilst they didn’t cover, they showed the promise I thought was building in Jacksonville and given that number of points I would pick them again. This week they come up against a Washington team that I think are struggling, and whilst I think they may progress during the season, I don’t think this is going to be a quick process and so for the second straight week I’m picking the Jaguars.

Gee’s Pick:      Jaguars
Dan’s Pick:      Washington

Rams @ Buccaneers (-5.5)

There is so much talent in the front seven of the Rams and I think their pass rush is really good, but they are also dead last in the early season rankings at Football Outsiders and got beaten convincingly by the Vikings last week. The Buccaneers didn’t win as I thought they would, but I think that is partly because the Panthers were not as bad as many predicted, and whilst they’re only four places higher than the Rams according to Football Outsiders, they are a pretty whopping 49.3 percentage points ahead.

Gee’s Pick:      Buccaneers
Dan’s Pick:      Buccaneers

Dan’s Comment: – I’ll put this out there – I think this’ll be a terrible game.

Seahawks @ Chargers (+5.5)

I was so impressed with the Seahawks last week, and even though they do have an impressive home advantage, I can’t look past them in this game. I think the Chargers have a really good offence and are in for a great year, but I think the Seahawks will win this game and continue to be the team to beat.

Gee’s Pick:      Seahawks
Dan’s Pick       Seahawks

Chiefs @ Broncos (-13.5)

Oh the poor Chiefs. I think I was just wrong on this one, they lost two starters on defence to achilles tears during the game, and Alex Smith started throwing interceptions. I think their start of the season was pretty disastrous, they need to run Jamaal Charles more, and going to the Broncos is not the place where they can start turning their season round. The Broncos started the season really well and in this game I’m only worried about the number of points they’re giving.

Gee’s Pick:      Broncos
Dan’s Pick       Broncos

Jets @ Packers (-8.5)

The Packers had problems on the line, but were facing an exceptional defence in a very difficult stadium to play in. I don’t think it is panic time yet, but the question is whether their defence can be good enough for them to win games as the offence will do better most weeks. The Jets won against the Raiders but the score wasn’t exceptional, and whilst my instinct is that Rex Ryan will find a way to keep it close, their secondary is the polar opposite to the Seahawks and I think that Rodgers will get their season going. I may regret this but I’ll go against the points this time.

Gee’s Pick:      Packers
Dan’s Pick       Packers

Dan’s Comment: – Packers out for revenge this week. Heavy win in week two.

Texans @ Raiders (+2.5)

The Texans got their season off to a win, even without Jadeveon Clowney who went down with a meniscus tear. This is because JJ Watt is just amazing, and whilst there are still question about their offence, I know which way I’m going with this game. I think there are signs that things might turn around for the Raiders, but whilst they may have a strong showing, I don’t think they have enough to beat the Texans.

Gee’s Pick:      Texans
Dan’s Pick       Texans

Bears @ 49ers (-7.5)

I hate the line for this game. The Bears struggled in week 1, demonstrating how much their good health on offence helped them last season, and reminding us of some of dangers in Cutler’s decision making. The 49ers had a good win against the Cowboys, but the injuries and suspensions still means they could have problems and I’m not sure how much we really learnt in week 1 due to the Cowboys’ problems. I think the 49ers will win this game, but I’m worried about the points. I’m going with my first instincts thought so I’m taking the home team.

Gee’s Pick:      49ers
Dan’s Pick       Bears

Eagles @ Colts (-2.5)

I underestimated just how good Andrew Luck is, but the team has just lost its best pass rusher before he can even play a game and I’m still not convinced by them overall. The Eagles may be shuffling their offence line and Nick Foles has begun to return to a human number of interceptions, but they stuck an unanswered 34 points on the Jaguars in the second half last week and I remain a believer in Chip Kelly.

Gee’s Pick:      Eagles
Dan’s Pick       Colts

Dan’s Comment: – Colts took the Broncos much closer than people expected last weekend so maybe another good game with the Eagles.