Week 2 Predictions

This week's game of the week is a Super Bowl rematch from 2 years ago, the Patriots and the Panthers. That game, arguably one of the most competitive and entertaining Super Bowls ever, was won by a Adam Vinateri field goal. It'd be easy to say that's how this one is going to end up, but I'm taking the Panthers in this one. The Patriots take an early loss as they struggle to get their run game going and Julius Peppers terrorizes Tom Brady.

Daunte Culpepper tries to wake up from his week 1 nightmare against the Bengals in Cincinnati. The Bengals' D is much improved, and is just enough to stifle the Vikings. Carson Palmer has a big game against a Vikings defense that is not as good as everything thinks, and the Bengals move to 2-0 for the first time anyone can remember.

Peyton Manning faces off with Byron Leftwich in Indianapolis. Last year the Jags were the only team to defeat the Colts in Indy, but it won't happen again this year. The Colts win this one in a shootout, and everyone stops talking about how much improved their defense is and focuses again on how good Manning is.

Pittsburgh is on the road this week for a tough matchup against the upstart Texans, well not exactly. The Texans looked miserable against Buffalo last week, and things only get worse for them this week against the Steelers. The one positive from this game is Dominick Davis picks up a late TD when the game is already over, keeping all those fantasy teams' hopes alive that took them with their first pick in the draft (myself included).

Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens send the 49ers back to .500, but the game is a lot closer than everyone thinks. What I mean is the final score is a lot closer, as the 49ers score two meaningless touchdowns in the 4th quarter and to make the score seem a lot closer. The Eagles get their offense going against a 49ers' D that takes a step back in week 2.

Buffalo and Tampa Bay do their best impersonation of Chicago and Washington's 9-7 thriller from week 1. The difference in the game is McGahee's ability to gain yards without much to work with, and Cadillac's failure to do so. Buffalo builds on last year's hot finish with a 2-0 start.

Baltimore is favored by 7 on the road at Tennessee. My question is who is going to score that touchdown for the Ravens? Ray Lewis or Ed Reed? After watching the Ravens shoot a blank against the Colts last week, it's obvious this offense is not any good. But then again, the Titans didn't show us much of anything against the Steelers in week 1. The Ravens win in a defensive struggle, with Ed Reed bringing a pick to the house for the decisive TD.