Fraser's Favorites Week 2

Tampa Bay at New York Giants

What a difference a year makes in the NFL. Obviously, it is only one game and that is not enough to determine how a team will do, but both these teams began 2012 the opposite from which they left 2011. The Buccaneers managed an upset win over the Panthers, keeping Carolina’s explosive offense in check, while the New York Giants fell to the Dallas Cowboys in a week one letdown. The Giants inconsistencies in the regular season have to frustrate Tom Coughlin. It will be like 2011 all over again at Met Life stadium in week two. Jason Pierre-Paul will wreak havoc in the backfield as the Buccaneers will look like the team in disarray and the Giants will return to Superbowl form.

Tampa Bay- 20

New York Giants -28

Kansas City at Buffalo

Kansas city’s offense was on fire in the first half last week against the Falcons, scoring on all of their possessions. The second half was a totally different story. Multiple turnovers and a missed field goal spelled doom for the Chiefs. KC travels to Buffalo in week two to take on an opponent who surrendered 48 points to the Jets. Ryan Fitzpatrick, who led the league in interceptions last year, threw 3 more last Sunday in a complete debacle for the Bills. The biggest letdown for the Bills was the debut of linebacker Mario Williams. He failed to make an impact on the game with only one tackle, not living up to the huge payday he was rewarded with this off-season. Mario Williams, meet Tamba Hali. Hali makes his return this season after violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy and will look to force Ryan Fitzpatrick into another multiple-turnover game. It happens in week two as the Chiefs go on the road to Buffalo to get their first win of 2012.

Kansas City- 27

Buffalo- 21

Cleveland at Cincinnati

That was not the start Brandon Weeden hoped for in his rookie debut. Weeden finished Sunday with a 5.1 passer rating. 5.1. Colt McCoy’s first game passer rating? 80.5. How could the Cleveland Browns expect McCoy to thrive and improve when his best wide receiver was Mohamed Massaquoi. I also certainly never saw Colt McCoy be as inaccurate as Brandon Weeden was on some of his passes Sunday.  I’ll join the “Clamoring for Colt” bandwagon early because Weeden is not the answer; and yes, one game is enough to tell. The Browns travel to Cincinnati this week to take on the 0-1 Bengals. Forget about the week 1 loss for the Bengals. In my opinion a couple of plays made the difference and adjustments can be made, particularly to the secondary, to save this team. Expect a heavy dose of the Law Firm, Benjarvus Green-Ellis, and an easy Bengals victory.

Cleveland- 13

Cincinnati- 28

Minnesota at Indianapolis

Adrian Peterson is a machine. Seriously. Is it even possible to recover from an ACL tear as quickly as he did? There were some rumors when Peterson first went down that he might not return until week eight of 2012. Fast forward eight months later, Peterson scores on two rushing touchdowns and averages 4.9 yards per rush. Don’t expect the Indianapolis Colts defense to slow Peterson down. As the Vikings visit Lucas Oil stadium, they will play Andrew Luck in his first home game as a rookie. It is entirely possible that playing on the road was the reason for Luck’s unexpectedly poor play, but I doubt the issues will be solved that quickly. Luck continues to search for his first win as a rookie while the Minnesota Vikings earn the top spot in the NFC North after week 2.

Minnesota- 24

Indianapolis- 23

New Orleans at Carolina

It is not often when Drew Brees is outdueled by opposing quarterbacks. It is even stranger when Drew Brees is outdueled at home. It is just an oddity and a rarity when Drew Brees is outdueled by a rookie quarterback at home. The Saints offense failed to mesh on Sunday as Brees completed only 45% of his passes. Compared to his career completion percentage of 65%, he had a miserable day. His opponent this week Cam Newton had an equally poor week. It looks as though the curse of the sophomore slump haunted Newton for at least one week this season. But that was only one week. I think Cam Newton is the one that rebounds pushing the Saints to 0-2 and last place in the NFC South.

New Orleans- 26

Carolina- 30

Houston at Jacksonville

The Texans are scary. A potent passing attack with Schaub, Owen Daniels, and Andre Johnson. A solid and consistent zone rushing attack led by Arian Foster and Ben Tate. A defense that can apply pressure on the quarterback or drop back and play the pass. Not many teams in the NFL can argue that they are exceptional in all facets of the game. The Jaguars, in particular, are on the exact opposite side of the spectrum. Blaine Gabbert looked better than he did last year, but he is still not playing like the 10th overall pick the Jaguars hoped for. This game won’t even be a contest. Houston big.

Houston- 35

Jacksonville- 17

Oakland at Miami

Expectations were high for the Oakland Raiders offense. And then came their week 1 game against the Chargers on Monday Night Football and all hope was lost. While Run DMC caught 13 passes, his rushing game was non-existent; 15 carries for only 32 yards. The Raiders only managed to score a touchdown in garbage time against a mediocre Chargers defense. They can be the fastest and one of the most explosive teams in the NFL, but they have to become more consistent. The last thing the Raiders needed is a short week and a 3,000 mile journey across the U.S. to the East Coast. The schedule makers did not favor the Raiders. The Miami Dolphins will facilitate an upset with Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas paving the way toward Ryan Tannehill’s first win.

Oakland- 22

Miami- 23

Arizona at New England

While the quarterback controversy could have created a major schism in the Cardinals locker room, in week one it seemed to bring the team closer together. When John Skelton went down with a knee injury, the Cardinals willingly rallied behind Kevin Kolb who eventually led them to a win. The Cardinals hope to eventually find a franchise quarterback like what Tom Brady is to the Patriots. The Patriots have not had to worry about the quarterback position in about a decade. As long as Brady is there, the Patriots will always be in contention for the Lombardi Trophy. 2012 is no different as the Pats throw their way to their second win.

Arizona-24

New England-38

Baltimore at Philadelphia

This is going to be a fast and hard-hitting game. Both teams have some of the fastest players in the league including Torrey Smith, DeSean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin. Unfortunately for the Eagles, both their speedy receivers are game-times decisions out with hip and hamstring injuries, respectively. Even if those players are healthy, the key to this game will be if the Eagles defense can shut down what suddenly became a potent, no-huddle Ravens offense. The Ravens take advantage of the aggressive nature of the Eagles wide-9 defense with swing passes and screens to Ray Rice for big gains. Ravens by a touchdown.

Baltimore-28

Philadelphia-21

Washington at St. Louis

Let’s slow down about declaring RGIII the best rookie quarterback in this draft class. Yes, he was brilliant against the Saints, but one game does not equal a career. There will definitely be bumps in the road for Griffin and his reaction to those downs will be where we see if he is legit. His first loss would count as a bump. That first loss will be Sunday to the Rams. The Rams dominated the Lions for three quarters Sunday, but surrendered 14 points in the final quarter to lose in a heartbreaker. Things will be different for the Rams this week. Stephen Jackson will be crucial as he keeps the ball out of RGIII’s hands.

Washington- 23

St. Louis- 26

Dallas at Seattle

I think the Cowboys are for real this year. Through all of the turmoil with Dez Bryant in the offseason and even with the injury troubles going into their week one game against the Giants, the Cowboys pulled out a win. The Cowboys of old would have collapsed under pressure and thrown that game away in the fourth quarter. Not these Cowboys. Rob Ryan has that defense playing with a fiery intensity and is using Morris Claiborne and Brandon Carr perfectly. In week two, the Cowboys travel to the West Coast to take on Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. Russell Wilson should have led the Seahawks to a fourth quarter comeback victory, but Braylon Edwards could not catch a slant pattern in the endzone on the final play. While I think the Seahawks will start the season 0-2 after a loss to the Cowboys, expect them to be a second half team to watch. Tony Romo has a big day this Sunday at CenturyLink Field.

Dallas- 30

Seattle- 21

NY Jets at Pittsburgh

Despite my obvious, constant dislike for Tim Tebow as a quarterback, I loved the way the Jets used him against the Bills. His presence on the field makes defenses think twice about what play might be coming. The deceptive nature of his presence will eventually be outdone by opposing defenses just as Tony Sparano’s WildCat offense was shut down by defenses when it was introduced. Steelers Defensive Coordinator Dick LeBeau is the perfect candidate to disrupt and demolish the Jets tricks. The question is whether he will be able to do so if both James Harrison and Troy Polamalu do not play this weekend. I expect Pittsburgh’s defense to demonstrate the blueprint for stopping this Jets offense and Mike Wallace to run free in the Jets secondary with Darrelle Revis out with a concussion in week two.

NY Jets- 24

Pittsburgh- 30

Tennessee at San Diego

Chris Johnson was expected to put a poor 2011 season behind him and return back to the player he was three years ago. Instead, Johnson opened in week one with a total of four rushing yards. Granted, it was difficult for the Titans to run as they fell behind to the Patriots, but four yards? Their opponent in week two, the Chargers, also struggled to get off to a strong start offensively totaling only 263 yards with only 32 of those on the ground. This game will be determined by the team that establishes the best run game. Johnson and the Titans find their stride first and steal a win from the Chargers in San Diego.

Tennessee- 23

San Diego- 21

Detroit at San Francisco

How many times will we see a replay of the handshake following last year’s Detroit-San Francisco game? Honestly, I want to see more of it. Two fired up coaches who won’t back down. I love it. It is obvious how much the 49ers players want to play for Jim Harbuagh. The energy in the locker room after their victory over the Packers was incredible. This is definitely going to be an exciting game to watch. Even though the Lions escaped from their week one game with a narrow win, I expect that there will be better football to be played in Detroit. Not in week two though. San Francisco’s dominating front seven will control the line of scrimmage and shut down the Lions potent passing offense. Who has got it better than the 49ers right now? Nobody.

Detroit- 17

San Francisco- 24

Denver at Atlanta

There were a lot of critics when the Falcons surprisingly traded up in the 2011 draft to grab Alabama receiver Julio Jones. Those critics should now stand up, beg for forgiveness, and apologize to Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff for doubting this move. Jones gives the Falcons an explosive playmaker that can stretch defenses vertically and will eventually become one of the best receivers in the NFL. The Falcons no huddle offense is scary. Defenses either get the downhill, tough running of Michael Turner, or the quick, star-studded passing attack led by Matt Ryan. Matt Ryan is trying to prove to the rest of the league that he is an elite quarterback. There would be no better way to break out then by defeating future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning on a nationally televised Monday Night Football game in the Georgia Dome. Ryan does just that, leading the Falcons to a 2-0 start to the season.

Denver- 33

Atlanta- 38

Chicago at Green Bay

Jay Cutler clearly loves having Brandon Marshall back on his team.  Marshall gives Cutler a wide target and has the ability to make big plays after the catch. In speaking of big plays, where were they Sunday for the Packers? While Aaron Rodgers stat line looks solid, 30 of 44 for 303 yards, two touchdowns and an interception, the Packers offense failed to click like it did in 2011. Even though Green Bay did not get off to the start it hoped and expected, it is definitely not time to panic if you’re a cheesehead. Week two will be a crucial game for the Pack as they look to defeat their rival, the Chicago Bears, and prevent an 0-2 start. There is no way Aaron Rodgers will lose two consecutive home games to open the season. I expect Clay Matthews to play a critical role in this game, disrupting Jay Cutler’s timing and rhythm. Amazingly, after week two of the regular season, it will be the Minnesota Vikings sitting atop the NFC North with the other three teams at 1-1.

Chicago- 24

Green Bay- 31