This will be a weekly post where I will look ahead at the Steelers’ match-up, as well as three other key games. Not only are you going to see my detailed picks of four games, but you will also see all of our writer’s picks each week. We will keep track of these picks all season long…. That way you will see who knows their stuff, and who should stick to their day job.
Contents: Week 1 Review | Matt’s Week 2 Picks | Staff’s Week 2 Picks
Before we get to week two…let’s look back to my week one predictions
Atlanta @ Pittsburgh
“Steelers win a close one”
-It doesn’t get closer than an OT win.
“All [Dixon] needs to do is not lose the game”
-Dennis Dixon didn’t shine, but he did enough to keep the Steelers in the game.
“Steelers will need a healthy and active Troy Polamalu”
-The play of the game defensively has to be Troy’s interception late in the forth quarter to stop a late falcon drive.
Conclusion: Spot on prediction
Minnesota @ New Orleans
“With Favre returning so late, I don’t the Vikings will be in rhythm”
-Favre didn’t look like he felt comfortable, and he was on the ground a lot. (15/27 – 171 yards – 1TD – 1 INT)
“Saints will blitz every chance they can get”
-The Saints did blitz and test Favre’s ankle, but I thought they played too conservatively. It’s hard to say they should have played differently because they won, but why did the game plan change from the NFC championship game?
“Drew Brees and the Saints take it late”
-Technically, the Saints did score the last points of the game to win it…even if it was in the third quarter.
Conclusion: less points than I thought, but still a correct prediction
Arizona @ St. Louis
“I see Sam Bradford showing flashes, but overall it will be a forgettable day for the offense”
-Great numbers until you look at the interceptions. But how can the St. Louis organization ask their rookie to throw the ball 55 times! (32/55 – 253 yards – 1TD – 3 INT)
“As good as Stephen Jackson is, the Rams can’t realistically ask him to carry the load against a very talented Arizona’s defense”
-They didn’t… Rams only ran the ball 24 times, compared to their 55 throws. I’ll say it again…how can the St. Louis organization ask their rookie to throw the ball 55 times!
“Cardinals run away with it”
-It was a sloppy week one game, but it was still a lot closer than I thought.
Conclusion: A closer game than everyone predicted, but still a win in my book
Baltimore @ New York
“Both defenses are tough and will want to take away the run”
-Only 165 total yards on the ground in the entire game. Both defenses played excellent games.
“Raven secondary is banged up, and in my opinion will be targeted and taken advantage of.”
-Nope. They looked good. They didn’t force any interceptions, but the jets had more yards on the ground than in the air. (116 rushing to 60 passing)
“It’s close, but the Jets’ defense wins it”
-It was close. The Jets defense kept it close against a talented Baltimore offense, but the Jets offense lost it. How did Dustin Keller not see the first down when he was running right at it?
Conclusion: Jets defense played exactly like I thought…too bad the offense didn’t show up… this pick was a miss.
Week Two
Pittsburgh @ Tennessee
Both teams come in with unblemished (1-0) records, and both feel confident that they will stay that way. The Steelers may be without Casey Hampton and/or Max Starks as both are listed as questionable. If they are both out, we will be seeing what many believe is the weakest part of the Steelers organization, the depth of our lines. The Titans and the Steelers play tough and physical football so this should be fun to watch.
The pressure is on the Steelers defense again. Chris Johnson will get his touches, but I see the Steelers try to load the box and make Vince Young try to beat them. I actually see this QB match up favoring Dixon. I feel that Dixon is a slimmer version of Young, and if he can put some touch on some of his throws he will have a big game. Titans will use a similar defensive strategy, and look for Dixon to see plenty of heat.
Steelers win a back and forth game.
Baltimore @ Cincinnati
Two AFC North rivals will meet in Cincinnati this weekend. The Ravens come in on a short week after outlasting the Jets on Monday Night Football, while the Bengals are coming off an ugly loss to the Pats. It seems early to say this, but this is a game that the Bengals need to win. They can’t afford to start the season 0-2, and every other team in the AFC North can’t afford for the Ravens to start 2-0.
This will be a tough game, but the Bengals have played well against the Ravens in the past (2-0 last year) and are confident that they can continue to do so. Cincinnati won’t be able to run the ball, and neither will the Ravens. This game turns into to a shoot out with a lot of offensive playmakers on the field.
Cincinnati wins a wild one!
Kansas City @ Cleveland
Cleveland lost a close game to Tampa Bay last week, and the Chiefs are coming off an improbable Monday Night Football win against the Chargers. Both teams will play a conservative game and look for their defense and special teams play to set up their opportunistic offenses. This will be a defensive battle, and a low scoring game.
I see both teams struggling through the air, leaving the offensive load to Jamaal Charles and Jerome Harrison. In my opinion both teams didn’t run enough in their week one match-ups, and they will make up for it in week two. I don’t think Kansas City will be able to keep up with the Browns…and Return TD’s don’t come around every week.
Cleveland wins it easily.
Miami @ Minnesota
I know… I know…I hate having to bring this guy up again, but Brett Favre is playing football for at least one more week. He and the Vikings had a long time to think about their season opening loss to New Orleans, and to plan for the Dolphins. Miami withstood a late rally from the Bills for their week one road win, but this is a much tougher test for them.
Minnesota and Favre will have a bounce back week, with multiple touchdowns through the air. Adrian Peterson will get in on the party as well and see the end zone once or twice. Miami will be able to compete for most of the game with weapons like Brandon Marshall and Ronnie Brown, but eventually the more talented Vikings defense will be the difference.
Minnesota pulls away late.
| Week Two | Bam | Brian | George | Matt |
| 2010 Record | 9-7 | 7-9 | 12-4 | 10-6 |
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Buffalo @ Green Bay |
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Baltimore @ Cincinnati |
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Pittsburgh @ Tennessee |
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Chicago @ Dallas |
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Philadelphia @ Detroit |
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Tampa Bay @ Carolina |
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Arizona @ Atlanta |
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Kansas City @ Cleveland |
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Miami @ Minnesota |
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Seattle @ Denver |
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St. Louis @ Oakland |
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Houston @ Washington |
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Jacksonville @ San Diego |
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New England @ New York Jets |
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New York Giants @ Indianapolis |
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| New Orleans @ San Francisco |  |
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