Week 2 Record: 7-8 (Overall 15-15)
Lattanzi's week 2 Record: 11-5 (Overall 22-10)
AK's Week 2 Record: 11-5
**Editor's note: Caputo's Corner will NOT predict the Redskins matchup every week.
So as you can see, I am getting a thorough butt-whipping at the hands of my colleagues in the blogosphere. Fear not, the season is long and while my picks and fantasy results have been less than stellar, the team that I refuse to pick is 2-0, and quite frankly, that's more than I can say for either one of those fellas' teams. So I am quite content. I know this week I said I'd do some more Redskins-Cowboys content, but as I started to type up a post on Wednesday night, I just all of a sudden felt sleepy, so I crashed on the couch instead. Sorry, folks, but hey, whatcha gonna do? I feel vindicated though by my prolific blogging from Tuesday. There will be plenty more days like that.
Week 3 presents a stark contrast to week 2 in the NFL as there are 8 divisional games on tap. Teams in the NFC East and NFC North all play within the division along with 4 other divisional matchups. Games within the division usually make for more exciting football because division wins count for so much more in the standings, especially when it comes to tiebreakers.
At the same time, we also have probably all heard the statistics about how 2-0 teams make the playoffs 60% of the time, 0-2 teams make the playoffs only 12% of the time, and don't think about falling to 0-3, your season might as well be over. 0-4 your season IS over. Teams are well aware of these statistics. Therefore, I see a few 0-2 teams putting up slightly more of a fight than their records might indicate.
Fear not! I got picks! Let the comeback begin!
New England @ Buffalo-Buffalo has put on quite a show in the first two weeks of the season, scoring 41 and 38 points respectively. However, if we consider their competition (Kansas City and Oakland), Buffalo doesn't quite look like world beaters anymore. Needless to say, New England will present quite a different challenge. I think Buffalo will start the game strong, but too much Brady in the 2nd half will lead to their downfall as he probably throws for another 400+. New England 42 Buffalo 27
San Francisco @ Cincinnati-Cincinnati has proven to be quite plucky in the early going. San Fran should've beaten Dallas last week, but fell apart in overtime. This is a matchup between two teams who we really don't know what to expect out of them. Andy Dalton has proven to be more than servicable at QB, so as long as he plays, I give Cinci the edge. Cincinnati 21 San Francisco 14
Miami @ Cleveland-Cleveland beat an undermanned Indianapolis team last week without Peyton Manning, so we can't really use that as a gauge of how good they really are. Miami did give New England a run for their money in week 1, and Houston in week 2, but 0-2 is still 0-2. Cleveland WOULD BE 0-2 if they had to face Peyton. Another snoozer. Miami 17 Cleveland 10
Denver @ Tennessee-Tennessee follows up a dud in Jacksonville with a very impressive win over Baltimore, still suffering from their Pittsburgh hangover. This would be Chris Johnson's 3rd game of the preseason so expect him to get more work than he has had in the first two games. This team will rise and fall with CJ2K...and Kenny Britt. Tennessee 24 Denver 21
Detroit @ Minnesota-I've picked Minny twice so far and they burned me twice. This Detroit team is looking like one of the best they've seen in the motor city in years. They haven't won in the Metrodome since 1997. Pretty much the whole world is expecting that streak to end this week. The Lions bandwagon is just rolling right along...until it hits a pothole. Minnesota 24 Detroit 20
Houston @ New Orleans-This is going to be a good one. You're going to see lots of flying footballs, touchdown dances, and dunks over the goalpost. I have a feeling however that a special teams score will be the difference in this one. I think New Orleans gets it. New Orleans 38 Houston 31
New York Giants @ Philadelphia-Vick is going to play, or so they say. The Giants infirmary just gets more packed as we now find out that Dominik Hixon is out for the year and Hakeem Nicks is not at 100%. Can the Giants catch any more bad breaks? This one will be close all the way down to the final gun, depending on how long Vick can stay in the game. If we get to see the Mike Kafka experience, then it's anybody's ballgame. I have to pick based on Vick though. Philadelphia 27 New York Giants 23
Jacksonville @ Carolina-Finally, Cam Newton gets to put 4-hundy on somebody and have a decent chance to win. Jacksonville is awful...and yet they're the ones with a win. You try to figure that one out. Carolina 34 Jacksonville 16
New York Jets @ Oakland-Jason Campbell had problems with the pass rush in Washington. The Jets will blitz him in ways he can't even comprehend. They can do that with Revis and Cromartie on the corners. After the choke job in Buffalo last week, the Jets are not exactly prime competition to get well. New York Jets 23 Oakland 7
Baltimore @ St. Louis-Baltimore got all hopped up to play Pittsburgh and whooped 'em. Feeling good about themselves, they had a major letdown in Tennessee. Now they're hopping mad. I wouldn't want to play them this week. Baltimore 30 St. Louis 3
Kansas City @ San Diego-KC is looking like they are going to be "that team" that everybody circles on their schedule as an automatic win. Do I think they'll go 0-16, probably not. They'll end up beating somebody they're not supposed to, but don't expect them to be favored at all for the rest of the season. San Diego might pull their starters by the end of the 3rd quarter. San Diego 41 Kansas City 7
Green Bay @ Chicago-These games are always difficult to pick because even though Green Bay is the better team right now, Chicago usually finds a way to get up for these. After last week's let down in the Big Easy (and Green Bay's near disaster in Carolina), expect the Bears to come out with just a little more gusto than they ordinarily would. However, I look at the quarterbacks. Rodgers or Cutler...that one is pretty easy, but it will be very close. Don't expect a whole lot of touchdowns. Green Bay 22 Chicago 20
Arizona @ Seattle-Last week in Washington, you got a chance to see what Larry Fitzgerald can do, and it's pretty clear that a mega-contract is not making him complacent at all. Seattle is weak competition in a weak division, and the Cards only lost by a point. They won't blow out the 'Hawks, but it will the Cards comfortably. Arizona 28 Seattle 14
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay-The Falcs won a game last week they really were not supposed to win, so they can count themselves lucky that they are not in the 0-2. Tampa's also lucky not to be 0-2 as they needed a furious 2nd half comeback to KO Minny in the Humptydome. I like Atlanta here, but it would not surprise me if Josh Freeman goes on tilt and has the game of his life. Tampa makes it interesting. Atlanta 34 Tampa Bay 26
Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis-If Peyton were the quarterback, this would be the classic revenge of the 0-2 team game. Unfortunately, Peyton is in Europe and Kerry Collins is under center. Advantage Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh 24 Indianapolis 15
And that leaves us with only Monday Night Football and since that's the Redskins @ Cowboys. We will not pick it. Alright blogosphere, time to go on the record.
New England (-7.5) @ Buffalo: The corrective action on this line is intense. It started at 9 or 9.5 points, and has trickled it's way down. I'm going bold (though it's probably no shock), and taking the best QB in the AFC East - take the points if you want, but I like the big payoff on the moneyline with Buffalo to win it.
ReplyDeleteSan Fransisco @ Cincinnati (-1.5): One of several terrible games this week. Cincinnati just lost half their offense to the criminal justice system (though let's hope they don't go all Georgia on them and wrongfully put them to death), and are somehow still favored. Take the points and I like the road dog to win it.
Miami @ Cleveland(-1.5): Another terrible game. We don't really know how good - or bad - either of these teams are. But you know me - I like Peyton and his Colts, so why not Colt and his Peyton? Take the Brownies and lay the point and the hook.
Denver @ Tennessee(-7): Tennessee blew the doors off the overrated Ravens last week, playing the Colts' usual role of "AFC South Team the Ravens Aren't Even Competitive Against." Denver is still floundering around trying to adapt John Fox's identity. It doesn't help that their studly RB from UGA is hobbled and that half of Mile High Stadium is chanting for an H-Back to play QB. Still, seven's a big number - take the points, but don't get too bold: Tennessee still wins it.
Detroit(-3.5) @ Minnesota: Worst line of the week. When asked to guess what the line was on Monday, Zach said "Ah, jeez...Detroit minus nine?" My reaction? "I guess you're betting that one, because it's three and a fucking half." Provided Matthew Glassford can stay healthy, the Lions are gonna do their damnedest to wrestle this division away from the Pack. They've got explosive offensive, an explosive D-line, and all the Vikes can muster is explosive diarrhea. Lay whatever number you need to, frankly. Detroit wins it going away.
Houston @ New Orleans(-4): Game of the week. Is Houston for real? Can New Orleans when a shootout with another offensive juggernaut (after barely losing one week one at Lambeau)? This time they're at home, but they've gotta do it without Marques Colston. I kinda wanna go bold, but I'll just say take the 4 and the Saints to win it.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia(-7.5): I can't stop thinking this is going to be a let-down for the Iggles. Word is that Vick is gonna play, but I think they might be a better football team with Mike "Franz" Kafka under center. Who's the best QB in the AFC East right now? That's right, the Harvard grad. And Kafka wasn't just a Northwestern athlete - he was a Northwestern student. Still, the Giants are lacking weapons in the passing game, and Filthadelphia's defensive weakness is right up the gut (remember the Michael Turner and Tony Gonzalez show from last week?). Take the seven and the hook, but I still think Philly - and Kafka, after Vick gets once again catastrophically injured - pulls it out.
Jacksonville @ Carolina(-3.5): The kid that didn't lose in college finally gets his first NFL win. Lay the points, because the Jags are terrible - starting their own rook-job QB, btw - and the Panthers want to chuck it.
New York Jets(-3.5) @ Oakland: This is one of the tougher road games on the board this week. You always like a road dog, especially one that's been competitive. The Jets haven't been able to rush very effectively so far this year, and the Raiders, as is their MO, just like to bomb it out. I'm picking the upset, so take the points and Oakland to win it.
ReplyDeleteBaltimore(-4) @ St. Louis: Despite being depleted by injury (though not as badly as the G-Men), the Rams are kicking themselves for tripping over their own shoelaces on national television last week. The Ravens, meanwhile, have to have spent all week reflecting on just how mediocre they are. Apparently S-Jax is coming back for this one, and Sam Bradford can pick apart this overrated secondary. Still, the Rams are turnover-prone, and the Ravens D loves to make their offense look decent by scoring. Rams keep it close (take the 4), but Baltimore does what it couldn't do last week: beat somebody they're supposed to.
Kansas City @ San Diego(-14.5): The Survivor Pool Pick O' The Week (surprise, surprise, with my motto "Pick Whoever Plays Kansas City"). San Diego wins, lay what you have to. Kansas City is pathetic.
Green Bay(-4) @ Chicago: Alot of people are talking about this one staying close, but I'm not buying it. The Packers love to blitz, and the Bears love to stand their and let Jay Cutler get sacked (11 sacks in 2 games!). The Bears D was also shown to be a little overrated last week against the Saints. Clay Matthews gets himself a cutlet and the Pack cover the spread.
Arizona(-3.5) @ Seattle: Another god-awful game. If it weren't for the Chiefs, Seattle would be the worst team in the league. Arizona covers and the 12th man jumps off of the Space Needle.
Atlanta @ Tampa Bay (Pick 'Em): Game of the Week II: The Revenge. I was surprised this game was a pick 'em, but then again the home team usually gives 2.5 or 3 points. Tampa's defense has been terrible (as my fantasy team can testify), but Josh Freeman is a poor man's Cam Newton. Atlanta is coming off a big win, and this could be a let-down/trap kinda game. I can see these two splitting this year, so I'll give the Bucs the home win this week.
Pittsburgh(-11) @ Indianapolis: If Peyton were the quarterback, Nick, the Colts would be 14-0 by now. This line started lower, too (about 9 I think), and worked it's way up. Eventually, the rookies on the O-line are gonna gel and Kerry Collins is gonna stop turning the ball over. Indy will win 3 or 4 games just from gaining some experience and pride. This is not one of them. They will be rocking for a home primetime game, though, so I'd take the 11.
Washington @ Dallas (Pick 'Em): Washington could barely vanquish the Cardinals at home, and what is their reward? A ripe-for-the-pickin' Cowboys squad with Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Felix Jones, and Tony Romo all banged up and somewhere on the spectrum from "questionable" to "out." It's an obvious pick, right? It sure is. Big D gets it done in Big D, and Jerry World laughs with all the world as Bad Rex makes his 2011 debut, with his co-stars being [insert Cowboys DB here]. I'm calling for two pick-sixes. By the time the clock hits triple zips, we could see Kitna v. Beck.
Also, Nick, can you change your little Redskins disclaimer? The phrasing is weird - it seems like you're going to pick them this week, but it's an aberration. How about simply "Caputo's Corner will NEVER pick the Redskins game"?
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