Speakeasy sports NFL predictions
WEEK TWO
By Corey Ryan, Sports Editor
September 14, 2007 | 1:06 p.m.
So here are the standings thus far:
Lloyd 12-4
Weis Guy 11-5
Swartz 11-5
Will 11-5
Stud McStudly aka The Campus Sports Guy aka The Comeback Kid 9-7
Lloyd has been talking some smack to the rest of the gang so it should be interesting to see if he can keep it going. All I'm thinking about is how there are still 16 weeks to go. But without further ado, here are this week's picks:
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Sunday September 16
1:00 PM CBS
Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers
Corey Ryan
I don’t know how good Pittsburgh is, but they were made to look good last week.
PIT 24 BUF 13
Michael Weisman
Big Ben showed he put last year’s woes behind him and Pittsburgh is primed for a division title run.
PIT 27, BUF 17
Zack Lloyd
Steelers early season cupcake schedule bodes well for them. Especially at home.
PIT 29 BUF 13
Zack Swartz
Contrary to the score last week, Pittsburgh did not look all that impressive. Buffalo wins on the road.
BUF 24 PIT 17
Will Strome
The Bills suffered a last second loss at home last week and things won’t get much better in Steel town.
Steelers 23 – Bills 20
1:00 PM CBS
Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers
Corey Ryan
Carolina is at home and Schaub is practically a rookie quarterback. That doesn’t spell success.
CAR 30 HOU 17
Michael Weisman
Houston looked impressive in Schaub’s debut, but so did the Panthers against a much better team.
CAR 24, HOU 20
Zack Lloyd
Houston might be the surprise team of the year especially if Matt Schaub can keep clicking with Andre Johnson.
HOU 23 CAR 20
Zack SwartZ
Carolina made an impact on a lot of people last week. Panthers at home.
CAR 28 HOU 17
Will Strome
Schaub played stellar in his Houston debut but so did Carolina on the road.
Panthers 27 – Texans 16
1:00 PM CBS
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns
Corey Ryan
Lloyd talks a lot of shit. I’m convinced the Browns HAVE to win this game or the riots will be worse then if MTV announced the cancellation of The Hills, Laguna Beach and My Super Sweet Sixteen. Only instead of blonde girls in Ugg boots, the Browns will have overweight, drunk dudes in dog masks. Plus I can’t pick the Bengals, ever.
CLE 35 CIN 30
Michael Weisman
I hope the Campus Sports Guy likes orange and black stripes because he’ll be wearing them come Monday after the Bengals move to 2-0. Besides the Browns played their “starting QB” less than one half of one game…and then traded him.
CIN 37, CLE 14
Zach Lloyd
Is there anything more embarrassing than being a Browns fan? Maybe being a Browns fan who picked them to beat the Steelers last week.
CIN 31 CLE 3
Zack Swartz
It will count as a win if they manage to get less than four penalties on the fourth play of the game.
CIN 27 CLE 10
Will Strome
This game marks the second consecutive division game for both teams. Expect similar results from week one.
Bengals 33 – Browns 12
1:00 PM CBS
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Corey Ryan
I may not know as much as the John Claytons or John Maddens of the world, but I do know the Colts look pretty, pretty good last week.
IND 35 TEN 12
Michael Weisman
The Colts looked like they didn’t miss a step last week. Vince Young keeps it close, but the Indy offense is just too much for the Titans.
IND 31, TEN 26
Zack Lloyd
For some reason the Titans always play the Colts tough. Not this time.
IND 34 TEN 17
Zack Swartz
I’m cheering for my fantasy QB in Young, but Peyton’s O will win.
IND 35 TEN 24
Will Strome
Chris Brown ran all over the Jacksonville defense last week but it’ll be Joseph Addai who gains more ground in this one.
Colts 34 – Titans 20
1:00 PM FOX
Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars
Corey Ryan
I thought the Falcons would surprise. Obviously they are still hung-over from the Vick fiasco.
JAC 17 ATL 10
Michael Weisman
Bobby Petrino wishes he could have brought Brian Brohm with him from Louisville.
JAC 24, ATL 10
Zack Lloyd
Jaguars rebound at home slapping Joey Harrington around before just holding off a late Falcon charge.
JAC 27 ATL 21
Zack Swartz
Vick-less, victory-less once again.
JAC 28 ATL 10
Will Strome
The ‘Jags defense was supposed to be the strength of the team; however, the Falcons will prove why it isn’t.
Falcons 24 – Jaguars 16
1:00 PM FOX
New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Corey Ryan
The Colts made the Saints look bad.
NO 42 TB 27
Michael Weisman
Saints rebound from a disappointing season opener against the weak Bucs.
NO 28, TB 13
Zack Lloyd
No way the Saints are as bad as they played last week.
NO 33 TB 14
Zack Swartz
New Orleans and Drew Brees bounce back from an offense-less beating last week in blowout fashion.
NO 35 TB 13
Will Strome
New Orleans was picked apart by Peyton Manning’s aerial assault but expect a rebound against a weak Tampa team.
Saints 27 – Buccaneers 13
1:00 PM FOX
Green Bay Packers at New York Giants
Corey Ryan
The Giant quarterback is probably bigger than every Ohio University offensive lineman and that’s not shot against the Bobcats. That’s a big QB. Packer defense will have a field day.
GB 24 NYG 10
Michael Weisman
Without Eli and defense decimated by injuries, Brett Favre has another big game and the Packers start to look like a potential playoff team.
GB 24, NYG 14
Zack Lloyd
Without Eli the Packers roll and do a Lambeau Leap to 2-0 in the shitty NFC North.
GB 24 NYG 14
Zack Swartz
The Giants may be without the kid-bro-QB, but they win in a close one.
NYG 13 GB 10
Will Strome
New York may have surrendered 45 points to division rival Dallas in week one but expect this one to be a lower score, a closer game and a Giants win.
Giants 21 – Packers 15
1:00 PM FOX
San Francisco Forty-Niners at St. Louis Rams
Corey Ryan
San Francisco won on MNF. If they can stop the Rams on turf, I might stay up to watch them next time they’re on primetime.
STL 30 SF 14
Michael Weisman
Big matchup in the NFC West, but Stephen Jackson has to live up to the hype after choking a week ago.
STL 34, SF 27
Zack Lloyd
Loss of Orlando Pace is huge for the Rams this season. Not only does it close running holes for Steven Jackson but it makes Bulger’s blindside vulnerable. They’re at home this week though, so they get the nod.
STL 34 SF 28
Zack Swartz
Alex Smith and his team had an impressive win last week, but not enough for Bulger and Jackson.
STL 24 SF 17
Will Strome
The Rams were a major disappointment in week one but look for their offense to wake up against the visiting 49ers.
Rams 38 – 49ers 23
4:05 PM FOX
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions
Corey Ryan
Repeat after me, “John Kitna can be a quarterback on an eight win team.” This is one of them.
DET 35 MIN 28
Michael Weisman
Both teams looked impressive in their season opener, but I’ll take the Lions at home.
DET 25, MIN 21
Zack Lloyd
Vikings defense looked nasty last week. The Lions didn’t. Adrian Peterson runs wild as Vikes romp.
MIN 30 DET 13
Zack Swartz
Lions take it at their house.
DET 13 MIN 10
Will Strome
The Lions offense came to play last week in Oakland but don’t expect to see that again this week, let alone this season.
Vikings 23 – Lions 20
4:05 PM FOX
Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins
Corey Ryan
I haven’t watched the Dolphins, but I got think Dallas is good after last Sunday night. Or the Giants are bad. Either way…
DAL 27 MIA 20
Michael Weisman
The Dolphins looked like dead fish last week and this week won’t be much better.
DAL 30, MIA 13
Zack Lloyd
Anyone else see Wade Phillips’ shenanigans on the sideline every time his team scored a touchdown? He’s more of a fan than a coach.
DAL 24 MIA 10
Zack Swartz
While the Dolphins aren’t swimming around Marvin Harrison in a hotel room, they will be beating the Stars at home.
MIA 24 DAL 20
Will Strome
The Cardinal held Frank Gore to 55 total rushing yards but Matt Hasselbeck will spread that defense out enough for Shaun Alexander to carry the load.
Seahawks 25 – Cardinals 16
4:05 PM FOX
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Corey Ryan
It looks like a tough start for the Cardinals.
SEA 38 ARI 24
Michael Weisman
The Seahawks are who the Cardinals think they are and they won’t let them off the hook.
ARI 27, SEA 24
Zack Lloyd
Seahawks are laying low in the NFC but may actually be the best team in the conference.
SEA 38 ARI 24
Zack Swartz
Matt Leinart over Shaun Alexander.
ARI 42 SEA 35
Will Strome
The Cardinal held Frank Gore to 55 total rushing yards but Matt Hasselbeck will spread that defense out enough for Shaun Alexander to carry the load.
Seahawks 25 – Cardinals 16
4:15 PM CBS
New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens
Corey Ryan
Air McNair should have been playing, but McGahee should have had the ball.
BAL 17 NYJ 10
Michael Weisman
If Brian Billick chooses better plays than he did against Cincy in the redzone last week, they’ll be fine.
BAL 24, NYJ 10
Zack Lloyd
No way the Ravens start 0-2. They got screwed last week with the Todd Heap push off call, but it won’t happen again.
BAL 23 NYJ 6
Zack Swartz
It’s an injury-fest, but I’m going high-scoring anyway. Baltimore at home.
BAL 31 NYJ 17
Will Strome
4:15 PM CBS
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos
Corey Ryan
Is this a joke? The Browns are coming next week Raider Nation!
DEN 32 OAK 12
Michael Weisman
Hapless Oakland doesn’t stand a chance.
DEN 27, OAK 9
Zack Lloyd
I’m here to tell you Denver is overrated. They eeked out a win last week against Buffalo, expect them to do the same this week against the Raiders.
DEN 21 OAK 20
Zack Swartz
Denver’s D versus Oakland’s O equals blowout.
DEN 45 OAK 10
Will Strome
It’s not a matter of if Denver can win or not, it’s a matter of how close Oakland can keep it.
Broncos 30 – Raiders 9
4:15 PM CBS
Kansas City Chiefs at Chicago Bears
Corey Ryan
The Bears played San Diego tough. Chiefs aren’t that good.
CHI 17 KC 12
Michael Weisman
KC may be the worst team in the league…next to the Browns of course.
CHI 30, KC 7
Zack Lloyd
Immediately regret picking Larry Johnson third overall in fantasy football. Chiefs offense is atrocious. Bears defense is incredible. You figure it out.
CHI 24 KC 7
Zack Swartz
Rex and duh Bears in Chicago.
CHI 30 KC 20
Will Strome
Larry Johnson or not, the Kansas City offense is atrocious. Brian Urlacher and company will smother them.
Bears 20 – Chiefs 6
8:15 PM NBC
San Diego Chargers at New England Patriots
Corey Ryan
Here’s my question: Is there are a specific rule against what the Patriots did? No one is telling me this on ESPN. I think it’s a bull shit unwritten rule. Regardless, I like them at home.
NE 24 SD 21
Michael Weisman
Last year’s playoff game between these teams ended with the LT storming off the field. This year the Chargers get revenge.
SD 24, NE 21
Zack Lloyd
I’m tired of hearing about Belichick and his camera so I won’t fuel the fire. Pats are the pick at home.
NE 24 SD 20
Zack Swartz
Maybe the hardest game of the week, but the Pats take it in Foxboro.
NE 31 SD 28
Will Strome
The Chargers handled the former NFC champions in week one but New England’s multi-threat offense will be too much for them here.
Patriots 27 – Chargers 20
Monday September 17
8:30 PM ESPN
Washington Redskins at Philadelphia Eagles
Corey Ryan
I only had one week to watch the NFL. So I’m going to do what that dude in A Night in Paris did to Paris Hilton. Take a shot in the dark. Sidnenote, we can’t get a better game?
PHI 23 WAS 17
Michael Weisman
The ‘Skins pulled it out last week in OT but they won’t need it this week, as Philly rebounds at home.
PHI 26, WAS 18
Zack Lloyd
Terrible choice for a Monday Night Game. McNabb and the Eagles rebound at home.
PHI 31 WAS 23
Zack Swartz
Philly wins on Monday night.
PHI 20 WAS 13
Will Strome
Washington will be better then everyone expected and their defense will prove it in this one against Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook.
WAS 17 PHI 16