1:00
The Art Modell Bowl
Browns (0-1) at Ravens (1-0)
Line: Bal -7.5
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| Photo creds to New York Daily News |
Usually writing about the Browns would include a quick joke and not a whole lot else before moving on to the next contest. Here is one of the rare cases where I'll give some analysis of a Cleveland game.
Let's not kid ourselves. The Browns are not a good football team. Last week, however, they gave my Pittsburgh Steelers everything they could handle before falling 21-18. Now, they move on from the brides of the AFC North to the bridesmaids, as the 2017 Art Modell Bowl (Part I) takes place at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Ravens are going to be pretty good. In fact, they could well be a playoff team. But Baltimore's offense is not great, and Cleveland, believe it or not, could have a solid defensive unit that features safety Derrick Kindred and corner Briean Boddy-Calhoun, both of whom performed well last week.
The Browns defense is good enough to keep them in it, but I don't see DeShone Kizer being ready to lead this team to a road win in just his second NFL game. It will be close, but Baltimore's talent will prove too much for Cleveland in the end. Fear not, Browns fans. For the second week in the row, your team will not only play hard but cover the spread as well.
Ravens 21, Browns 17
The "never won a Super Bowl" bowl
Bills (1-0) at Panthers (1-0)
Spread: Car -7.0
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| Photo creds to Bleacher Report |
Like the Browns and Jets, the Buffalo Bills have not had a lot go right in the past two decades (or ever, really.) But while Buffalo isn't a team I see making it to the playoffs, I see Buffalo being competitive, and I like them to pull what would be a pretty significant upset in Charlotte.
I am not sold on Carolina. The Cam Newton era has seen one magical ride, and not a whole lot else. While Buffalo still needs a quarterback, they still have some solid pieces on both sides of the ball, and I have a gut feeling that they can pull an upset. It is true that Kwann Short, Thomas Davis and the Panthers defense played well last week against the hapless 49ers, but I have faith in Richie Incognito and the Bills offensive line to hold its own and open some holes for LeSean McCoy along the way, and that would go a long way in getting the Bills a W. I think the Panthers are vulnerable, and the Bills are talented enough to deal with that defensive front and pull an upset.
Bills 24, Panthers 20
The "Who the Hell Cares" game of the week
Cardinals (0-1) at Colts (0-1)
Arizona suffered an embarssing loss at Detroit last week, while the Colts are starting Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. If I ever have kids, I don't think I'll be telling them about this one.
Cardinals 31, Colts 17
Ewwwwww. AFC South.
Titans (0-1) at Jags (1-0)
Line: Ten -1.5
The AFC South. Somebody has to win it, and theirs a good chance that the tallest little person is playing in this game.
Yes Tennesee lost at home in week one. Yes Jacksonville won on the road. But while Tennesse played a Super Bowl contender in Oakland, the Jags played the Texans, who had Tom Savage as their starting QB. I think that Jacksonville has something brewing with Leonard Fournette, Jalen Ramsey and a lot of promising young talent. But Tennesse is the team to beat in the AFC South (for what it's worth). I think this game will come down to strength at the quarterback position. Marcus Mariota is good, while Blake Bortles is not. If Mariota outplays Bortles- which I think he will, the Titans will win the game.
Titans 24, Jags 16
The Andy Bowl
Eagles (1-0) at Chiefs (1-0)
Line: KC -5.5
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| Photo creds to USA Today |
The Eagles have a shot to be pretty good this year. A stout defense led by Fletcher Cox, along with a more experience Carson Wentz could be a recipe for a winning season in Philly. But we all saw what KC did in Foxborough 10 days ago. Now, playing in one of the leagues toughest venues for the first time this season, I don't see how Philly can score often enough on KC's defense- even without Eric Berry, to get a W. Alex Smith and Kareem Hunt might not do what they did last Thursday, but they will play well enough to get the job done.
Chiefs 24, Eagles 14
Will the Patriots lose?
Patriots (0-1) at Saints (0-1)
Line: NE -6.5
In case you don't know, Drew Brees is a decent football player, and him going against a New England defense that is shaky at best is intriguing. But do you see Tom Brady starting a season 0-2? I didn't think so. The Pats might allow some big plays, but they will make some more big plays and pull away in the second half to get back on track after an opening night massacre.
Patriots 38, Saints 24
Famous Jameis
Bears (0-1) at Bucs (0-0)
Line: TB -6.5
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| Photo creds to CBS Sports |
As bad as the Chicago Bears were last season and probably will be this year, they did give the Atlanta Falcons all they could handle last week, and I commend them for that. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, on the other hand, could not play last week due to the hurricane. I think Tampa is going to win the AFC South, and Sunday afternoon will be the first step to doing so.
I'm excited to see this Tampa Bay offense in Jameis Winston's third season at QB, especially with DeSean Jackson now in the fold. Tampa will have an opportunity to flex its muscles against a growing Bears team, and I think the Bucs will cash in.
Tampa 34, Chicago 15
4:05
"Who the hell cares?" Part II
Dolphins (0-0) at Chargers (0-1)
Two aging quarterbacks who probably will never win anything again going against each other. Uh, yay?
Chargers 31, Dolphins 17
4:25
The "Craig Morton" bowl
Cowboys (1-0) at Broncos (1-0)
Line: DAL -2.5
This should be a good one. Two flagship franchises going at it in one of the leagues iconic venues.
Denver is always tough to beat at home, so Dallas will be in for a fight. The Cowboys showed time and time against last season that they know how to win close games, and I think they will do it again here. Denver's defense will make life misrable for Dak Prescott at times, but in the foruth quarter, the Dak, Dez and Zeke combination will take over, as we have seen a few times before. How 'bout them Cowboys?"
Cowboys 20, Broncos 17
HTTR
Redskins (0-1) at Rams (1-0)
Line: LAR -2.5
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| Photo creds to Fantasy Pros |
Of all of this week's games, this one is probably the most based on gut instinct.
The Rams looked pretty solid last week, while the Redskins lost at home. But I see LA coming back down to earth here. I have always been a fan of Kirk Cousins, and have a feeling that he will throw for 350+ yards to get the 'Skins a clutch W. I'm still not sold on Jared Goff, and because of that, the quarterback matchup will be the difference in a Redskins victory.
Redskins 27, Rams 17
Blowout special
49ers (0-1) at Seahawks (0-1)
Line: Sea 14.0
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| Photo creds to The NEws Tribune |
San Fran scored three points last week, and they are playing in Qwest Field. Not a lot more needs to be said.
Seahawks 31, 49ers 6
Sunday Night
Will Aaron Rodgers get his revenge?
Packers (1-0) at Falcons (1-0)
Line: ATL -3.0
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| Photo creds to Alabama News Center |
If this game were at the frozen tundra, my opinion would be drastically different. I'm not a huge believer in home field advantage, but I think it applies to the Green Bay Packers, as they are much better at Lambeau Field than they are away from it.
The Falcons closed out the Georiga Dome with a demolition of the Packers. Now, they open Mercedes-Benz Stadium against that same team. Although I don't think this one will be quite as lopsided as last year's game was, I see Matt Ryan and the Falcons being too pumped up to disappoint.
Falcons 30, Packers 20
Monday Night
Lions (1-0) at Giants (0-1)
Line: NYG -3.0
The Giants are a decent football team that embrassed themselves in primetime last week. This week, they're facing a Detorit squad that they should be better than, and it's their home opener.
As much as I dislike the Giants, and as much as the OBJ injury hurts them, I still see that defense as a force. If the Giants D plays as well against Detorit as it did against Dallas, I have enough faith in Eli Manning and Brandon Marshall to exploit this Lions defense just enough to get the job done.
Giants 21, Lions 14
The "Heidi" bowl
Jets (0-1) at Raiders (1-0)
Line: Oak -13.5
In case you don't get the reference, here is more about the Heidi game. Unfortunately, I don't think Sunday's contest will match the excitement of that nearly 50-year-old classic.
The Jets are perhaps the biggest non-Cleveland punchline in the National Football League. Point blank; they suck. Oakland, on the other hand, is one of the best teams in the NFL, with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL, and the Raiders are playing at home. Oakland will win and beat the spread as well. Although the Jets defense isn't horrible, and could even give Derek Carr some fits early on, I don't see Josh McCown doing anything, even against Oakland's average defense. The Jets D will play well, but will also be on the field longer than it would like, and that will allow Carr to have some opportunities late in the game to pull away.
Raiders 24, Jets 10
How will the Steelers do?
I can't see this offense being any worse than it was last week in Cleveland. Although Minnesota is not slouch, the unknown status of Sam Bradford is a factor. With or without Bradford, there are still too many question marks with the Vikings offense for me to believe that they can come into Heinz and get a W.
Steelers 26, Vikings 17
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