2018 NFL Week 2 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

Watching actual football games is much more entertaining than imagining them on paper, isn't it? Well, Week 1 certainly saw some unexpected results, and unpredictable storylines. As you can see from my record, I had a week to forget in terms of predictions. Picking seven games incorrectly (and missing the incredibly rare tie) shows that we could be in for some major surprises this season. 
While I am off to a slow start, we can definitely pick up steam and start picking some more games correctly after seeing every team play their first game. This week, the slate has plenty of exciting games for us, including Vikings-Packers, Chiefs-Steelers, and a rematch of the 2017 AFC Championship Game, featuring the Patriots and the Jaguars.
Without further delay, let's get right to it!

Here are my season records:

Lock of the Week record: 1-0

Last week's record: 8-7-1

Regular season record: 8-7-1

Week 2

    BAL @ CIN

The Ravens have a fantastic opportunity to get revenge on their division rivals for knocking them out of playoff contention last season right away on a short week, and I think they will. The Ravens revamped their receiving core, and their defense is as strong as ever.


Prediction: BAL 26, CIN 13

    MIN @ GB

This is a blockbuster divisional matchup right off the bat. Kirk Cousins' Vikings march into Lambeau looking to vanquish the king, Aaron Rodgers, in his house. I find Green Bay to be overmatched in this game, as the defense can cover all the receivers and shut down the Packer running game, but Aaron Rodgers is a difference maker. Minnesota may be more talented, but winning in Lambeau is easier said than done.

Prediction: MIN 21, GB 23

    CAR @ ATL

Both of these offenses looked particularly pathetic on offense last week. Whether they will find their maximum potential is questionable, but we should expect Atlanta to bounce back after ten days rest. After ten days of watching film of their red zone incompetence and third down failures, the Falcons surely will be better against a familiar foe.

Prediction: CAR 10, ATL 24

 KC @ PIT

Wow, the Chiefs were pleasing on the eye in Los Angeles. But can Patrick Mahomes replicate a performance like that consistently? I'm not sure about that, and consider that he dominated in a 30,000 seat capacity soccer stadium. Heinz Field in Pittsburgh is a different environment, and the Steelers will want to get back on track after tying the Cleveland Browns. And if James Connor is still somehow still available in your fantasy league, pick him up right now!

Prediction: KC 24, PIT 27

 HOU @ TEN

I was thoroughly underwhelmed by the Texans and Titans in their respective first games. Deshaun Watson looked like a shadow of the quarterback he was last year, and the Titans laid an egg in Miami. I will roll with the more talented team this week.

Prediction: HOU 17, TEN 16

 LAC @ BUF

The Bills are making the right decision to start Josh Allen this week. He will give the Bills dynamism and excitement at quarterback, and he gives them a better chance to win. This matchup may not be as lopsided as you would expect, as Buffalo is one of the toughest places to win in all the NFL, and the Chargers were particularly disappointing at home last week. That being said, the Chargers are better in every single department, and there is no way they will let themselves lose to a rookie quarterback making his first career start.

Prediction: LAC 30, BUF 17

 PHI @ TB

Could Ryan Fitzpatrick run Jameis Winston out of a job? Probably not. But man, he was impressive against the Saints. It would be quite something if he replicated his performance this week, against the Super Bowl champions, but I don't expect him to. This will be a defensive affair, and could look ugly at times. But Eagles fans won't mind in the end.

Prediction: PHI 19, TB 17

 IND @ WSH

Alex Smith and the Redskins got the job done in Arizona last week, looking quite impressive, and they will have a chance to go to 2-0 out of the gate. I think they will, because they are more talented than the Colts, and Andrew Luck cannot carry the football team by himself, especially with the talent around him. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: IND 13, WSH 26

 CLE @ NO

Only the Browns can end a seventeen game losing streak without winning. That must be said. As for the home team, was there a team more disappointing than the Saints last week? What a pathetic defensive performance, surrendering 48 points to the Bucs! The pressure is on to win this week, but luckily it's against the Browns. They cannot afford to blow another home game.

Prediction: CLE 24, NO 34

 MIA @ NYJ

Both of these AFC East rivals upset their opponents in Week 1 in remarkable fashion. The Dolphins triumphed after a seventy-six year delay (not really), and the Jets thumped the Lions, with Sam Darnold bouncing back from a devastating pick six. This matchup has some early stakes for both teams to potentially finish second in the pathetic AFC East, and I like the home Jets to get it done.

Prediction: MIA 13, NYJ 23

 DET @ SF

So much for Garappolo's unbeaten streak. But don't fear, Niners fans, you're playing the Lions this week! San Francisco has a chance to beat a dead horse, as Matthew Stafford comes in after throwing five interceptions against the Jets. I think the Niners have a much better chance of bouncing back over Detroit, especially with the turmoil the Lions are in right now under a first-year head coach.

Prediction: DET 13, SF 30

 ARZ @ LAR

While the scoreline will flatter the Rams, it was very impressive to watch the Rams take control of their matchup with the Raiders last week in a testy game on the road. They are the best team in the league at their ceiling, and they will only get better. Meanwhile, Arizona still hasn't shown up this season. Somebody call Steve Wilks and tell him that causing bundles of turnovers in the preseason does nothing in the regular season.

Prediction: ARZ 3, LAR 41

 NE @ JAX

It's time for the Jaguars to back up Jalen Ramsey and his bold criticisms of many of the elite players in the league, including Rob Gronkowski. I think the Jaguars will give the Patriots offense trouble, and will slow them down for three quarters, but they will fall in the end because Blake Bortles, like the championship game last year, will be unable to carry them to the finish line.

Prediction: NE 23, JAX 17

 OAK @ DEN

Jon Gruden's Raiders played above expectations on Monday night for a quarter, but then they were undone by themselves, with the lack of pass rush and discipline hurting them all game long. When you consider they played like that in the Black Hole, in primetime no less, I cannot foresee a scenario in which Oakland marches into Denver and wins. Case Keenum will have all the time in the world to pick apart Oakland's secondary.

Prediction: OAK 13, DEN 24

 NYG @ DAL

For some reason, the NFL schedule makers keep forcing Giants-Cowboys down our throats on Sunday nights. Please stop. I do not enjoy watching Eli Manning play defensive slugfests with Dak Prescott twice a season on a national stage. Eli Manning is going to struggle moving the ball against Dallas' front, and Dak Prescott has been exposed lately for his inability to lead a team by himself. I will pick Dallas simply because they have home field advantage, and Jason Garrett usually gets the job done at home against divisional foes.

Prediction: NYG 10, DAL 16

 SEA @ CHI

All of us would feel a whole lot differently about the Bears if they managed to hold onto their lead in Green Bay last week. But somehow, they're 0-1. If Chicago can replicate their first half performance from last week and sustain it for four quarters, there is only one winner. Seattle looked explosive on offense last week, but that type of game script is unsustainable, and Seattle will not be able to win playing from behind all of the time.

Prediction: SEA 17, CHI 26

Works Cited
Cloninger, David. “Gamecocks in the NFL: Gilmore, Jeffery Advance to Super Bowl.” Post and Courier, 21 Jan. 2018, www.postandcourier.com/sports/gamecocks-in-the-nfl-gilmore-jeffery-advance-to-super-bowl/article_c2bd9420-ff0a-11e7-a1f6-e36fb52f2a7f.html.