By Jeremy Weiner, Kendell Sweeney-Thomas and Alex Teal
Welcome to the first installment of the sports staff’s weekly NFL predictions. Read on to see if you agree, and please feel free to comment.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans
Jeremy: 21 14
After shutting down ATL’s Michael Turner, they plan to do the same to Chris Johnson. Roethlisberger-less team goes 2-0.
Kendell: 20 27
Chris Johnson is fighting hard this year for his personal goal of 2,500 rushing yards this season and, though the Steelers are a tough, hard-nosed defense that shut down the Falcons run offense this past week, the Titans have a highly developed run scheme.
Alex: 10 28
Lacking a quarterback and facing a confident Vince Young will lead to a discouraging loss for the Steelers. Although Dixon shows promise, Week 6 and the return of Big Ben in the Steel City could not come sooner.
Miami Dolphins @ Minnesota Vikings
Jeremy: 13 24
If Miami couldn’t score much against Buffalo, they won’t be able to against Minnesota. Favre and his receiving core will finally mesh, and AP will have a big game.
Kendell: 14 28
Look for Adrian Peterson to be running with an extra chip on his shoulder in Week 2 and score at least twice in his first home game of the 2010 season.
Alex: 13 24
If Brett Favre has more time in the pocket than last Thursday’s opener in New Orleans and is able to orchestrate a compatible offensive attack, Chad Henne may not be the answer for the Fish.
Arizona Cardinals @ Atlanta Falcons
Jeremy: 19 21
I’ll pick Matt Ryan over Derek Anderson and Michael Turner over Tim Hightower, any day.
Kendell: 13 17
I give the edge to the Falcons because of their stability at QB in Matt Ryan.
Alex: 20 27
Matt Ryan and Michael Turner prove their worth and bounce back from the OT heartbreaker in Pittsburgh a week earlier.
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals
Jeremy: 28 20
Baltimore has so many offensive weapons. If they allowed New England to have a solid running game, there’s a man named Ray Rice who is about to rock their world.
Kendell: 24 17
I feel this game will come down to who makes the fewest mistakes, with the Ravens having the edge.
Alex: 30 20
Two high- powered offenses and divisional rivals slug it out in Cincinnati, but Flacco and his new weapons are too much for the Bengals’ defense, which was exposed by New England’s spread offense in Week 1.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Cleveland Browns
Jeremy: 21 13
Kansas City showed that spark in the opener vs. San Diego. Now time to do it on the road, against a poor team.
Kendell: 21 13
Kansas City’s up- and- coming weapons (Cassel, Charles, and Bowe) can score the points that the Chiefs need to escape Cleveland with a win.
Alex: 7 3
Great powerhouse matchup. The Chiefs win, for simply being the home team; this should be a nail-biter …
Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys
Jeremy: 17 31
Dallas washes away the heartbreaking Sunday-night loss. Romo lights up. Chicago should’ve lost last week, anyway. Here’s their revenge.
Kendell: 10 17
Dallas will wear out Chicago on both sides of the ball and the Cowboys will seal the game off with an interception in the final minutes, giving the Cowboys a win in front of a home crowd that has been constantly questioning them.
Alex: 21 34
The Cowboys start to play a little football, Tony Romo gets a clue and the boys pull out a quality early-season win at Jerry’s palace.
Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions
Jeremy: 34 20
Detroit gets the confidence knocked out of them after losing Stafford, and that game last week.
Kendell: 17 20
The Lions stay as determined as ever for a solid win and get it in Week 2, with a game- winning field goal from Jason Hanson.
Alex: 24 20
The Eagles ride the momentum from the near- comeback in the previous week to slide by the improved but short-handed Lions.
Buffalo Bills @ Green Bay Packers
Jeremy: 10 38
Aaron Rodgers torches Buffalo. C.J. Spiller causes fantasy owners to drop him.
Kendell: 10 28
If you have Aaron Rodgers on your fantasy team, make sure you start him because he will have a high- caliber afternoon in front of a sea of Cheese Heads in Green Bay.
Alex: 13 38
Buffalo has young talent but the Packers are a championship contender and make a statement Sunday as Aaron Rodgers throws for 4 TDs and proves to the public why he is such a highly touted fantasy quarterback.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Carolina Panthers
Jeremy: 17 21
Carolina has too many weapons.
Kendell: 35 12
Matt Moore connects on more of his passes against division rival Tampa Bay, many completions go Steve Smith’s way, and Double Trouble share some quality carries and rush for over 200 yards combined in this win at home.
Alex: 28 16
Josh Freeman has a breakout game and proves to the league that he is here to be a franchise quarterback;, Steve Smith scores a TD but it is not enough for the Panthers.
Seattle Seahawks @ Denver Colts
Jeremy: 24 15
Will the Tim Tebow reign begin?
Kendell: 21 20
The Seahawks come off a defining win against the division up-and-comers in San Francisco in Week 1 and play hard against Denver in this one. Pete Carroll will continue his winning ways for at least this game, while the Broncos drop to 0-2 on the season.
Alex: 24 28
Pete Carol has his team ready for Week 2 but a frustrated Kyle Orton pulls off some late- game magic in what will be a nail -biter for two teams that could shock their respective divisions.
Los Angeles Rams @ Oakland Raiders
Jeremy: 23 14
Sam Bradford gets his first NFL win.
Kendell: 17 14
Sam Bradford had a tough first game, throwing 3 INTs against Arizona, but I look to see him take advantage of a Raiders defense that is definitely in a transition period this season.
Alex: 24 10
Oakland remains stagnant offensively and rookie QB Sam Bradford wins his first NFL game; in doing so he will throw for 2 TDs and 0 INTs.
Houston Texans @ Washington Redskins
Jeremy: 20 14
Arian Foster continues his rampage. They were introduced to Miles Austin last week; I’d like to introduce you to Andre Johnson, Washington.
Kendell: 31 14
Look for Arian Foster to draw the attention away from the passing game, which will result in a big game for Andre Johnson and the receiving core of the Texans.
Alex: 17 20
Although Arian Foster ran wild over the Colts last week, Sunday’s game in the Capital will give the young back a reality check. A big game from Donovan.
New England Patriots @ New York Jets
Jeremy: 20 17
Jets have Mark Sanchez. Patriots have Tom Brady. You tell me which QB you give the ball to in the second half.
Kendell: 17 28
The only thing that could stop the Jets from winning is a lackluster performance from their offense.
Alex: 23 17
The Pats find a way to pull out a huge early- season divisional win and spoil the first regular- season game at the new Meadowlands.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Diego Chargers
Jeremy: 28 24
San Diego loses it, and so does Phillip Rivers. Teammates of his should take cover after this game.
Kendell: 21 24 (OT)
A thrilling game in Southern California leads to an overtime victory for the Chargers.
Alex: 10 21
Chargers get it done with timely defense and clock management.
New York Giants @ Indianapolis Colts
Jeremy: 27 34
NYG didn’t seem mentally there against Carolina last Sunday. Peyton Manning is coming off a loss, and looking for blood. He’s not losing.
Kendell: 17 31
Peyton Manning is going to pass all over the Giants’ defense in this second Manning- brother showdown.
Alex: 20 27
Peyton and Eli duel on Sunday night, but older brother Peyton rights the ship for Indy leading to the first win of the 2010 season for the ‘09 AFC champs.
New Orleans Saints @ San Francisco 49ers
Jeremy: 34 14
Drew Brees get in sync with his offense. Alex Smith will hear the boo birds all game long. Blow out.
Kendell: 35 14
The Saints regain their scoring power and put some points on the board for a high-scoring game of Monday Night Football.
Alex: 31 17
The 49ers play better than Week 1, but the defending champs keep their swagger and roll to a second win of the season.
