Is Rex ready to be 0-2?

Patrick Ronan 04:49PM / Saturday September 18, 2010

Cassel and the Chiefs surprised most football fans Monday night by knocking off the Chargers.

Week 2, here we go. Patriots at Jets. Can’t wait.

Surprise of last week: I went to bed after the Jets-Ravens game, so the last thing I expected to wake up to Tuesday morning was news of a Chiefs victory over the Chargers.

I’d love to see the former Patriot faction of Cassel, Crennel, Weis and Pioli win the AFC West. You never know. A team floating around .500 could take that division. It’s happened before; When Cassel led the Brady-less Patriots to a 11-5 record in 2008, they missed the playoffs while the division-winning Chargers punched their ticket with an 8-8 record. Blasphemy.

On to this week’s picks…

NEW ENGLAND AT NEW YORK JETS: There are lots of people overreacting after Week 1 of the season, per usual. But can we consider the fact that maybe the Jets’ offense isn’t that bad, but perhaps the Ravens’ defense is that good. That being said, it still made for some great material. Regarding the recent allegations against Jets players, who were accused of sexually harassing a female reporter, comedian Bill Maher , on his HBO show Real Time with Bill Maher on Friday, said something along the lines of: “If we learned anything from last week’s game, the Jets are incapable of being offensive.”

This will be a competitive game. Against a solid Jets defense, I don’t expect the Pats’ offense to run wild like it did last week over the Bengals. But I still like the Pats. My prediction is that the Jets will turn the ball over on a potential go-ahead drive late in the fourth quarter. PICK: PATRIOTS

KANSAS CITY AT CLEVELAND: Browns may start backup Seneca Wallace to replace injured-starter Jake Delhomme. PICK: CHIEFS

BUFFALO AT GREEN BAY: Don’t hurt yourself trying to think too much about this one. PICK: PACKERS

BALTIMORE AT CINNCINNATI: The Ravens’ looked superb while playing in a hostile environment at the New Meadowlands. I wonder how much T.O. and Ochocinco will get along when the Bengals are 0-2? PICK: RAVENS

PITTSBURGH AT TENNESSEE: The Steelers showed some character last week, beating a good Falcons squad. The Titans romped the Raiders, so you can’t really judge them quite yet. This week will reveal more about what Jeff Fisher’s boys are made of. Should be a great game. PICK: TITANS

PHILADELPHIA AT DETROIT: Detroit is favored in this game. Wow. Lions fans should rejoice in that fact alone. PICK: EAGLES

CHICAGO AT DALLAS: As much as I would revel in the Cowboys (a so-called Super Bowl contender) starting the season 0-2, I don’t think it will happen. PICK: COWBOYS

TAMPA BAY AT CAROLINA: Who cares? PICK: PANTHERS

ARIZONA AT ATLANTA: The Falcons are looking to rebound from a tough overtime loss at Pittsburgh. The Cardinals beat a team with a rookie quarterback (although I picked Bradford and the Rams). Shouldn’t be close. PICK: FALCONS

MIAMI AT MINNESOTA: Upset of the week. PICK: DOLPHINS

ST. LOUIS AT OAKLAND: PICK: RAIDERS

SEATTLE AT DENVER: The Seahawks surprised a lot of people (including me) by rolling over the 49ers, who were, by many people (including me), the preseason favorite to win the NFC West. They’ll have to surprise me again. PICK: BRONCOS

It will be a family feud this weekend in Indianapolis.

HOUSTON AT WASHINGTON: Big wins for both clubs last week. It seems like everyone is riding the Texans train following their impressive victory over the Colts, but I like the Redskins’ chances in front of their home crowd. I’ll learn quickly this season if I should let home-field advantage affect my predictions. PICK: REDSKINS

JACKSONVILLE AT SAN DIEGO: The Bolts will get back on track. PICK: CHARGERS

NEW YORK GIANTS AT INDIANAPOLIS: It’s nice to approach a Sunday knowing, for sure, that at least one of the Manning brothers will go home a loser. (Well, unless they tie) I think Peyton will get the best of Eli, which will leave both New York teams with 0-2 records. That might make the sting of the Red Sox being out of the playoff race - while the Yankees shoot for a World Series repeat - a bit more tolerable. Go Rays! PICK: COLTS

NEW ORLEANS AT SAN FRANCISCO: Another prime time game for the defending Super Bowl champs. They deserve it. PICK: SAINTS

Last week’s record: 9-7

Season record: 9-7

Tags: NFL predictions, contests

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