Thursday, September 12, 2024

NFL - Week Two Preview

Some good games are on tap around the NFL heading into Week Two as the Buffalo Bills travel down to Miami on Thursday night to face their AFC East rivals in what is always a good divisional matchup. 

The Dolphins survived a tight on at home last Sunday against Jacksonville, winning on a field goal as  time expired. Meanwhile, the Bills knocked off a stubborn Arizona Cardinals team in Buffalo, 34-28 as quarterback Josh Allen took things over with two touchdown passes and also a pair of scoring runs. Last year, these two teams went down to the final week in the AFC East race and the Bills swept the Dolphins in the regular season to win the division. Since Allen took over at QB in Buffalo (2018), the Bills are 10-2 vs. Miami and Allen has dominated with 33 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions.

Look for the Dolphins and their explosive air attack (QB Tua Tagovailoa throwing to wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle) to try and light it up against the Bills defense. It could be a wet one in south Florida as the bad weather down in the Gulf Coast has had an effect throughout the southern area. This game should go down to the wire and could be decided by a late field goal. 

The Sunday night game in Houston features the Texans hosting the Chicago Bears, who had a strong game from the defense last week in their win over Tennessee. The Texans held off the Indianapolis Colts for a season opening win on the road. Texans QB C.J. Stroud is looking to continue his winning ways after a sensational rookie season while Bears hot shot rookie QB Caleb Williams had a rough start last weekend. This game should be another one that could come down to the final minutes. 

The Dallas Cowboys will host the New Orleans Saints (both teams had blowout wins in Week One) in a game that might be the highest scoring in the second week. Dallas QB Dak Prescott got paid just hours prior to the opener with the NFL's biggest contract ever. He and WR CeeDee Lamb will look to get it going this week against the Saints defense, which dominated the Carolina Panthers last Sunday. New Orleans QB Derek Carr had three TD passes and will do well to repeat that effort against a solid Cowboys defense that held the Cleveland Browns in check a week ago. 

The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Cincinnati Bengals, who looked absolutely dreadful in their home opener loss to the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, the Chiefs won a thriller at home against the Baltimore Ravens in the NFL opening game last Thursday night. K.C. quarterback Patrick Mahomes nearly always one-ups the league, but for whatever reasons, the Bengals and QB Joe Burrow seem to have the Chiefs number. This game is another one that could go down to the last minutes and perhaps whoever has the football last will win the game. 

The rest of the NFL action for Week Two is featured in the capsule style format and the Heftyinfo picks for all 16 games follow up. 

Las Vegas (0-1) at Baltimore (1-0) - The Ravens are smarting after a replay review took away a potential game tying touchdown. The Raiders were manhandled by the L.A.Chargers last weekend. Take the Ravens. 

L.A. Chargers (1-0) at Carolina (0-1) - The Chargers ground and pound attack looked impressive while the Panthers allowed 47 points in their opening game loss. Chargers should get another win this Sunday. 

Tampa Bay (1-0) at Detroit (1-0) - The Lions should prevail at home in this one, but the Buccaneers are a gritty bunch and will battle it out in Motown. 

Indianapolis (0-1) at Green Bay (0-1) - Two teams that lost nail biters last week go at it in Lambeau Field. Packers are missing star quarterback Jordan Love (knee injury) so the Colts could win this one. 

Cleveland (0-1) at Jacksonville (0-1) - The Jaguars let one get away at Miami last week and need to get a win against a Browns team that looked downright listless in their home opening blowout loss against Dallas. 

San Francisco (1-0) at Minnesota (1-0) - The Vikings crushed the N.Y. Giants last week while the 49ers did the same against the N.Y. Jets on Monday Night Football . . . without Christian McCaffrey. This game could be closer than most might think, but the 49ers should get the win. 

Seattle (1-0) at New England (1-0) - This could be the yawner game of the week. Toss up here. 

N.Y. Jets (0-1) at Tennessee (0-1) - Will Aaron Rodgers and the Jets start the season at 0-2? Not likely, but the Titans showed they will not be pushovers in a close game last week in Chicago. 

N.Y. Giants (0-1) at Washington (0-1) - NFC East battle of two teams not expected to do much this season. Toss up. 

L.A. Rams (0-1) at Arizona (0-1) - The Rams took the Detroit Lions to OT last Sunday night while the Cardinals squandered a 14-point lead in a loss at Buffalo. Something has to give. 

Pittsburgh (1-0) at Denver (0-1) - Steelers likely going with Justin Fields at QB again with Russell Wilson still nursing a calf injury. Broncos should be chomping at the bit to show Wilson was a bust while with the team in recent years. Toss up here. 

Atlanta (0-1) at Philadelphia (1-0) - The Monday night game in Philly . . . the crowd will be raucous and the Falcons come limping in after a terrible effort (at home) against the Steelers last week. Falcons QB Kirk Cousins has to have a bounce back game, but the Eagles will be ready. Their offense was rolling in their opening game win against the Packers and the trio of (QB) Jalen Hurts and (wideouts) A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith is explosive and running back Saquon Barkley scored three touchdowns last week.
 

The Heftyinfo picks for Week Two     . . . . . . . . . . .     (Home teams are listed in bold; Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS)

Miami over Buffalo 

BALTIMORE over Las Vegas 

L.A. Chargers over Carolina 

Dallas over New Orleans 

Detroit over Tampa Bay 

Green Bay over Indianapolis 

Jacksonville over Cleveland

San Francisco over Minnesota 

Seattle over New England 

N.Y. Jets over Tennessee 

Washington over N.Y. Giants 

L.A. Rams over Arizona 

Pittsburgh over Denver 

Kansas City over Cincinnati 

Houston over Chicago 

Philadelphia over Atlanta  


Last Week's Record - 10-6

SEASON RECORD - 10-6 

Lock of the Week Record - 0-1


 







 


No comments:

Post a Comment