MACON, Ga. — One week in, and there is already so much happening around the NFL. From games going down to the wire to incredible performances, the first week of the NFL season showed exactly why the NFL is king in both sports television and television overall.
This week should be no different. With a highly-anticipated matchup kicking things off, other key division matchups on Sunday and a doubleheader to wrap up the week on Monday Night Football, week two has potential to set off some fireworks.
Thursday Night Football: Los Angeles Chargers @ Kansas City Chiefs (8:15 p.m. on Amazon Prime Video)
Announcers: Al Michaels, Kirk Herbstreit, Kaylee Hartung
Radio: Westwood One (Ian Eagle, Tony Boselli)
The first prime time matchup from the AFC West division is a dandy. These two teams played two classic games last year, including the Chiefs winning in overtime in Los Angeles on Thursday Night Football in week 15.
The Chargers opened their season with a 24-19 over the Las Vegas Raiders last week. Third-year quarterback Justin Herbert was stellar, throwing for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. On defense, free agent signing linebacker Khalil Mack looked every bit the player he once was for the Raiders with three sacks and a forced fumble. The Chargers revamped defense also picked off Raiders quarterback Derek Carr three times.
But the biggest statement of week one came from the Chiefs. My goodness; Patrick Mahomes put on a show in week one with 360 passing yards and five touchdowns. It’s clear the Chiefs are going to be just fine without Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce is still hands down the best tight end in the game. Kelce posted his 30th career game with 100 receiving yards with 121 on Sunday in Arizona, and the Chiefs newcomers also stepped up in their rout of Arizona.
First place is on the line in the AFC West, and last year the Chargers went into Arrowhead Stadium and stunned Kansas City early in the season. They can just as easily do it again tonight in what I think will be a shootout. But when it’s difficult to make a pick in a game like this, I typically roll with the home team.
Game pick: Chiefs 31 Charges 24
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints – 1 p.m. on FOX (Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olson, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi)
For whatever reason, the Saints have owned the Buccaneers since Tom Brady signed with them in March of 2020. The Saints make him look… human.
Tampa Bay didn’t play their best game last Sunday at Dallas, but they were dominant on defense in their 19-3 win. On offense, it was running back Leonard Fournette who led the way with 127 rushing yards. If he’s running like that, this offense can still be really good even with a 45-year-old quarterback.
Watch out for the Saints this year. Last year it was their defense that very nearly got them to the playoffs without their offense doing a lot. This year, their offense will complement them. If Jameis Winston can put together whole games like his fourth quarter performance last week at the Falcons, this offense can be hard to stop. That’s because the Saints have a stellar receiving corps. Jarvis Landry led the team with seven receptions for 114 yards last week, and Michael Thomas is back with two scores in the fourth quarter.
First place is on the line in the NFC South, and the Saints are here to compete for not just a playoff berth this season, but also a division title. And given their recent history against the Buccaneers, I like them to get a huge early-season win on Sunday.
Game pick: Saints 27 Buccaneers 20
New England Patriots @ Pittsburgh Steelers – 1 p.m. on CBS (Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn)
This game is actually interesting, even though it might be the hardest game to watch this week. If you like offense, you’re better off not watching this game.
I’m really worried about New England. Losing in Miami has become a commonality for them, but it’s the long-term issues I’m worried about. Has quarterback Mac Jones reached his ceiling? Who’s the go-to in the passing game? And for the love of G*d, who is calling the plays on offense? And what’s worse is, Mac Jones is dealing with a back injury leading up to the game.
Pittsburgh pulled off an unlikely win at Cincinnati last week, but it was such a Pittsburgh win; ugly, smash-mouth, defensive, mistake-free football. Their defense is really good. Minkah Fitzpatrick was paid for a reason, and his performance Sunday showed why. Losing T.J. Watt hurts (literally), but they can overcome it with Alex Highsmith and Cameron Heyward up front and a solid secondary that prevented big plays from the Bengals receiving corps.
In the Ben Roethlisberger era, the Patriots were the Steelers kryptonite. Now, it’s a new era, and I think the Steelers will get the monkey off their backs of not being able to beat New England.
Game pick: Steelers 21 Patriots 14
Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Cowboys – 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson)
Both teams are looking to bounce back this week, but one team is in much better shape than the other.
Despite the Bengals losing in a five-turnover performance against the Steelers last week, the Bengals offense still accrued 432 yards of offense. Joe Burrow threw four picks, but posted his third straight regular-season game with 325 passing yards and two touchdowns. Ja’Marr Chase was spectacular on Sunday, and he could be a problem for the Cowboys secondary on Sunday.
Dallas’s season is already in disarray. Quarterback Dak Prescott is out for 6-8 weeks with a hand injury sustained in the team’s loss on Sunday night to Tampa Bay. The Cowboys defense can keep them competitive, but not having Prescott will hurt an already struggling offense.
In Prescott’s place is backup quarterback Cooper Rush, who made one start last year when he led the Cowboys to a win in Minnesota. The Bengals have struggled over the years against backup quarterbacks, but I don’t think they will in this game.
Game pick: Bengals 24 Cowboys 17
Sunday Night Football: Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers – 8:20 p.m. on NBC (Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth, Melissa Stark)
Radio: Westwood One (Ryan Radtke, Mike Golic)
This is supposed to be the Packers “bounce back” game, but that doesn’t mean a win will be easy-going.
Green Bay looked terrible in week one, let’s just call it like it is. Aaron Rodgers looked frustrated (shocker!), the receivers looked like they didn’t know how to catch and they couldn’t cover Justin Jefferson if that game were played in the aisle on an airplane.
Chicago showed some promise in week one. Justin Fields has really good potential, and he showed his athleticism in the Bears win over San Francisco. And if the Bears defense shows up every week, they can make life rough for all of their opponents. And the Bears played Green Bay tough in both meetings last year.
This is the oldest rivalry in the NFL, so that’s why this game is on Sunday Night Football. But after both teams’ performances last week, this game definitely has some intrigue. Rodgers has been brilliant on Sunday Night Football in his career, and I think he will show up against the team he “still owns.” But a win will be hard to come by in this game.
Game pick: Packers 24 Bears 17
Monday Night Football: Tennessee Titans @ Buffalo Bills – 7 p.m. on ESPN (Steve Levy, Louis Riddick, Dan Orlovsky, Laura Rutledge)
Radio: Westwood One (Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker)
These two teams played a thriller on Monday Night Football last year. I don’t think this game will be close at all.
Buffalo looked outstanding in week one. It’s amazing when a team lives up to its hype right out of the gate, and that’s what Buffalo did in their opening night win in Los Angeles.
The Titans suffered the most disappointing loss in week one, blowing a 13-0 halftime lead to the Giants and losing when Randy Bullock missed a 47-yard field goal as time expired.
Tennessee has won its last two games against Buffalo, but this a Bills team is a bear to prepare for. This is the Bills first home game since they destroyed New England in the wild card round of the playoffs last year. That fanbase will be ready to rock, and so too will the Bills.
Game pick: Bills 48 Titans 21
Monday Night Football: Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles – 8:30 p.m. on ABC (Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Lisa Salters)
Radio: Westwood One (Kevin Harlan, Kurt Warner)
This is the game I’m most looking forward to this week. These two teams have amazing potential to be really good this season, and we could see this matchup again in the playoffs.
The Vikings made a statement in week one, but it was their defense that made the biggest statement. Unbelievable effort by linebackers Jordan Hicks and Eric Kendricks, and Harrison Smith remains one of the best safeties in the NFL.
I love watching Philadelphia play. Their offensive style shouldn’t work, but it does. I want Jalen Hurts to succeed in this league, and I think he will. He doesn’t look like a quarterback, but he plays like one. And the Eagles running game is sensational and deep. Case in point: four different players scored a rushing touchdown in their week one win in Detroit.
I think this has the potential to be a high-scoring game. I do worry, though, about the Eagles defense. They gave up 35 points to the Lions last week, and the Lions offense is not built to put up 35 points. I’m well aware of Kirk Cousins’s struggles on Monday Night Football throughout his career, but I think Minnesota pulls this one out on a game-winning field goal.
Game pick: Vikings 34 Eagles 31
Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens – 1 p.m. on CBS (Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins)
Miami certainly showed signs of being a good team against New England last week, but can they follow it up on the road against a good Ravens team? Lamar Jackson looked his old self on Sunday in the Ravens win against the Jets, and the Ravens defense held an improved Jets offense to just nine points in their season-opening win.
Game pick: Ravens 28 Dolphins 21
New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns – 1 p.m. on CBS (Spero Dedes, Jay Feely)
All of a sudden, there’s a path for the Browns to get off to a potentially 4-0 start. That was a huge win for them over Baker Mayfield and the Carolina Panthers last week. Nick Chubb rushed for 141 yards last week, and Myles Garrett had three tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in the win last week. Typical performance from both of them. I want to think the Jets are going to be improved this season, but they have got to start putting it together on offense.
Game pick: Browns 24 Jets 10
Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions – 1 p.m. on FOX (Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Shannon Spake)
This is a toss-up game. The Lions were competitive in their three-point loss to Philly last week, but they got to eventually get over the hump. They play really hard, and that’s a testament to Dan Campbell. But someone has to step up and be a difference maker in these early-season games.
Washington won a toss-up game last week against Jacksonville, with Carson Wentz throwing his fourth touchdown in the last two minutes to lift the Commanders to the victory. A concern, though, is Wentz’s two interceptions and the defense giving up 383 yards to the Jaguars fledgling offense.
I think this game could be really close, but I can’t pick Detroit to win until I actually see them win a game.
Game pick: Commanders 27 Lions 24
Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 1 p.m. on CBS (Tom McCarthy, Tiki Barber)
The Colts tying the Texans was weird. What’s not weird? Jonathan Taylor is the best running back in football. The dude is a workhorse. 31 carries for 161 yards and a touchdown. And that’s with the Colts down 20-3 in the second half.
Jacksonville was a darling this offseason, but that game against Washington is a game they got to pull out. A lot of their key players had impressive performances, but they got to close the deal if they’re going to be relevant late in the season.
Here’s another weird stat: Jacksonville has won eight straight games at home against the Colts. After beating the Colts last year in week 18 to knock them out of the playoffs, I vowed to not pick against the Jaguars at home against the Colts until I’m told otherwise.
Game pick: Jaguars 26 Colts 17
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants – 1 p.m. on FOX (Joe Davis, Daryl Johnston, Pam Oliver)
One team pulled off a one-point upset win on the road while the other team lost a two-point heartbreaker in week one.
The Giants finally have a breath of fresh air surrounding them in first-year head coach Brian Daboll. I love the way he coaches, and I think it’s rubbing off on the players.
Carolina is now facing pressure to bounce back to avoid an early-season plummeting. Christian McCaffrey needs to step up after having just 57 scrimmage yards in the season-opener, and that can really help Baker Mayfield orchestrate this offense.
I want to buy into the Giants, but can they come back to Earth and give the same effort against Carolina they did against Tennessee? That’s the one question and only reason why I’m picking Carolina to win.
Game pick: Panthers 17 Giants 14
Atlanta Falcons @ Los Angeles Rams – 4:05 p.m. on FOX (Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Laura Okmin)
The Falcons are an ideal opponent for the Rams to play in a bounce-back game. Atlanta blew a 16-point fourth quarter lead last week (nothing new here) while the Rams got steamrolled by Buffalo on Opening Night.
I think the Rams are fine. Their offensive line is still a work in progress, but I think will get there. Plus, Matthew Stafford is due for a bounce-back game. Remember, like the Bengals, the Rams didn’t play their starters in the preseason, and it showed against a team like Buffalo. But the Rams weren’t going to go all in in the preseason just to be ready for Buffalo. They’re gearing up for the long haul.
Game pick: Rams 31 Falcons 17
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers – 4:05 p.m. on FOX (Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth, Kristina Pink)
I’m not so sure about the 49ers after their dud against the Bears last week. Trey Lance did not look as expected, and their offensive line did not look stout.
Meanwhile, Seattle is going to be a tough out every week. That might be an overreaction, but they just beat a really good Broncos team and Geno Smith looked sharp and composed on the Monday Night Football stage.
The Seahawks swept the 49ers last year, and one of those games was started by Trey Lance. I think the 49ers talent will prevail on Sunday, but it will be struggle.
Game pick: 49ers 20 Seahawks 17
Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos – 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Andrew Catalon, James Lofton, Michael Grady)
Speaking of Denver, there’s little reason to be concerned other than some questionable coaching decisions by head coach Nathaniel Hackett down the stretch Monday night. Russell Wilson played well, and so too did Denver’s defense.
Houston was competitive in week one, and it’s worth pointing out they were competitive through the first five weeks of the season last year.
Denver, though, has too much talent for Houston to overcome.
Game pick: Broncos 31 Texans 21
Arizona Cardinals @ Las Vegas Raiders – 4:25 p.m. on CBS (Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta, AJ Ross)
Both teams are coming off week one losses, but the Raiders are in much better shape. They just lost an AFC West matchup on the road in Los Angeles, whereas Arizona was trounced at home by the Chiefs. I like the Raiders to bounce back, and send Arizona to a dark place early in the season.
Game pick: Raiders 34 Cardinals 21
Let me be Frank and Cut to the Chase 