Best Bets for Week Two of the NFL season

Who will win, step up and get beat down in Week Two of the NFL season...

The collective opening weekend of the NFL season could not have much better, from the hail mary finishes (Denver) to the unreal comebacks (New England). Yet at the same time, most of the supposed elite teams all showed cracks in their armor, more than I can recall in previous openers. The Steelers are really struggling on the ground. The Pats defense is not looking Super Bowl caliber. The Chargers barely beat a WAC team. The Titans still can't score. Surprisingly, the Colts struggled in that department as well and the Ravens didn't. The Eagles looked strong but at a cost, perhaps a big one of McNabb is out for long (or if controversy ensues when he returns). Only the Giants with their well-rounded effort looked like something close to the total package. Just something to keep in mind...Of course, the action was so good I did not really mind having to watch Jeremy Shockey celebrate not one but two scores. Ok, maybe a little...ok, on to the picks which of course are always for informational purposes only...

Last week: 13-3 straight, 9-7 spread

Kansas City (-3) 23 Oakland 17: Still not quite sure I am buying the Chiefs as even a decent team despite hanging with the big bad Ravens last week, but I know they are not as simplistic on offense as the Raiders. Hearing Steve Young break down JaMarcus Russell's limitations in the passing game during the season opener was like listening to all my married friends with kids tell me about how little Johnny is now standing up on his own, but still falls down a lot

Tennessee 20 Houston 17 (+6.5): Justin Gage may be the least known #1 receiver in the league. Nice stat courtesy of ESPN's Matthew Berry; in 12 games that Gage has played with Kerry Collins at QB, he has 42 receptions for 752 yards and seven touchdowns...Two years in a row now Houston has had a devastating early schedule and many owners will be cursing a blue streak after the Texans offense fails to get much going, though I expect solid numbers from Andre Johnson. Just remember, their schedule gets easier over the next six weeks once they get past the Titans, but 0-2 is a tough hill to climb.

New England 24 (-3.5) NY Jets 14: As discussed on this week's podcast with Andy Benoit from NFLTouchdown.com, neither of us are getting off the New England bandwagon that we both said before the season would end up on the top of the league, but the Jerod Mayo injury cannot be overlooked. The Pats overhauled their secondary and acquired depth on their defensive line, but little was done to address the linebacking unit which was already the weakest link....Mark Sanchez was poised in the opener, but let's see what he does against the Belichicks this week. I say not much.

Green Bay 30 (-9) Cincinnati 16: For those that are unaware, Cris Collinsworth really likes Aaron Rodgers this season, though he won't be thrilled with him this week when the Packers passer trashes CC's beloved Bengals...

Minnesota 31 Detroit 22 (-10): Every Adrian Peterson owner will look "brilliant" for taking "All Day" with the #1 pick after he backs up his three-TD opener with a 200-yard, two touchdown outing against the Lions...My personal hope is the Lions find a way to win so they don't end their long drought against my Redskins next week. Gulp...

New Orleans 23 (-1) Philadelphia 20: Though I like the Saints this year, picking them to win the NFC South and all, this pick is more about Kevin Kolb. Jeff Garcia should start warming up now.

Atlanta 24 Carolina (+6) 20: If Michael Turner is going to be anything close to his '08 form, this is the game he breaks out. If he does not, start being concerned...Steve Smith's deadpan comments to Jake Delhomme on this week's "Inside the NFL" about having never liked him as a QB were funnier than anything ever said on "According to Jim".

Washington 20 St. Louis 12 (+9.5): Similar to the Turner comments above, Jason Campbell needs a solid game against the Rams to keep the mounting critics at bay. Chris Cooley saves the day be shreeding the Rams safeties one week after Seattle's John Carlson did the same...Channeling my inner Lee Corso: Steve Spagnuolo had the Redskins number when he was the Giants defensive coordinator so he schemes his new squad to a closer result than the experts think.

Jacksonville 27 (-3) Arizona 20: Is there any less sexy fantasy player than David Garrard? The guy was a top-10 quarterback last year, but offer him in a deal to a fellow owner and you think the deal comes with a side of swine flu...if you do not need to cut a necessary player, sign Matt Leinart if you can. He is getting the Cards starting QB gig at some point.

San Francisco 27 (-1.5) Seattle 24: The rise of the Niners continues! The Seahawks will win the war, i.e. division title, but Frank Gore and Josh Morgan help with the battle...

Buffalo 27 (-4.5) Tampa Bay 17: Despite the punch to the gut type ending last week, the Bills should be fine against an overmatched Bucs team...LEE EVANS alert - no matter how good or bad his stats at the end of the year are, he will have 3-4 games with big numbers over the course of the season. The key is guessing which ones. After watching what the Cowboys receivers did the Bucs secondary last weekend, this is one of them.

Denver 26 (-3) Cleveland 20: For his next trick, Kyle Orton will pull off the feat of looking like a viable quarterback. Ok, the degree of difficulty is not that high since its the Browns, but still. Eddie Royal and Brandon Marshall each post 80+ yards in the win...

Baltimore 24 (+3) San Diego 23: Mark Clayton will be a top-25 fantasy receiver this season. Mark it down...Every time I see Darren Sproles run I half expect to see those cartoon balls of dust form in his wake.Not sure how often he will reach top speed against the Ravens defenders, though he will get touches now that LT2 is out.

Pittsburgh 24 (-3) Chicago 16: Back-to-back 300+ yard games for Big Ben to open the season. Couldn't happen to a better guy...back-to-back four interception games for Jay Cutler to open the season. Couldn't happen to a better guy.

NY Giants 31 (+3) Dallas 23: We saw how the Bucs gashed the Cowboys run defense last week. What the Giants ground game does against them might be almost unseemly.

Indianapolis 30 (-3) Miami 17: Waynestock rolls on to South Beach! Reggie Wayne and the Colts passing game will play the Dolphins lackluster secondary like a fiddle. Come Monday night, his fantasy owners will surely be saying, "Excellent"...At what point during the Dolphins run back to the NFL middle will the Tuna and Sparano turn to young Chad Henne? I say after they lose in Week 9 to the Pats and fall to 3-6

Survivor Picks: These are my personal picks each week for my various (cough, cough) pools

Week 1 - New Orleans, Baltimore

Week 2 - Washington, Green Bay