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| We agree Brandon Weeden: "Yikes! You're starting this week." |
Austen's Eight-Point Pick
@New England over Jacksonville
Austen: The Jags are going to put up a lot of points in this game, but most of it will be in garbage time. The Pats are going to jump out to a fast lead and they will not stop scoring points all day. If you are playing against Gronk in fantasy this week, don't watch ESPN this week. Its not going to be pretty.
Stally: There's no way you can convince me that the Super Bowl champs will be challenged at home against the Jags.
Stally's Eight-Point Pick
@Seattle over Chicago
Stally: The only reason this game didn't go first is because the Patriots were hosting Jacksonville. Seattle has suffered two tough losses, but they'll destroy the Jimmy Clausen led Bears in the home opener for the 12th Man, or apparently, the now more too-policitcally correct "12th Human Being" (thanks Mr./Ms. Jenner).
Austen: This is the biggest mismatch of the week, but the Patriots got the edge since they are 2-0 and have looked marvelous through two weeks. The Seahawks have not looked impressive and now Marshawn Lynch is banged up. If the Seahawks lose this one, they are in way bigger trouble than anyone could have imagined.
Austen's Seven-Point Pick
@Green Bay over Kansas City
Austen: I do not care about all the Packers injuries. Aaron Rodgers does not lose at home. Just does not happen. Rodgers has not thrown an interception at home in 545 passes and has thrown 43 touchdowns in that time span. That is insane.
Stally: I'm on board with this pick, but I think we're selling Kansas City short. The Chiefs suffered a horrific loss to Denver, grasping defeat from the jaws of victory, but they're a solid team. So are the Packers, so they still get a heavy nod at home.
Stally's Seven-Point Pick
@Houston over Tampa Bay
Stally: Houston needs a win in the worst way. This is a pretty decent football team that has lost two games by just a touchdown. Tampa Bay looked strong in New Orleans, but expect Houston's defense to be much stronger than what the Saints showed last week.
Austen: There is a lot to like about the Texans, but that has not added up to a lot of success on either side of the ball this season. Yes, they lost a close one last week, but they were pretty throughly dominated by the Chiefs week one, who went into victory mode in the second half. I really almost took the Bucs who could shock the Texans at home, but I have to side with JJ Watts ability to take over a game and get his team out of a funk.
Austen's Six-Point Pick
@Arizona over San Francisco
Austen: Carson Palmer has been a top five quarterback when healthy with the Cardinals. He is one fire right now. The 49ers had a great win over the Vikings week one, but looked more like the team we expected last week, which is very very bad. They are lacking an identity right now, and I do not expect them to find it this week.
Stally: The 49ers had a good opening season win, but I don't have high expectations for them on the season as a whole.
Stally's Six-Point Pick
@Miami over Buffalo
Stally: The Bills have had the luxury of opening the season with two home games. Miami, on the other hand, has had two on the road. I think the Dolphins are a well-rounded team and that the home environment will power them to a win.
Austen: I am picking the Bills. They have played two straight weeks of good football. The Dolphins on the other hand, almost lost to the Redskins (and required a second half shutout to win by seven points) and they just got beat by the Jags. Throw in the fact they will be operating without their left tackle and their top running back this week, and I have a hard time seeing the Fins pull out this win.
Austen's Five-Point Pick
Atlanta over @Dallas
Austen: Dan Quinn has this Falcons team firing on all cylinders. We all know that the Falcons could pass the ball, but they have been running effectively and playing solid defense, one year after having the worst defense in the entire league. This is a different squad than we have seen in the past and I expect them to get better as the season goes along. The Cowboys are minus Tony Romo and Dez Bryant. They are a talented team, but these are two areas that they really lacked depth. They have one of the worst crops of receivers behind Dez and Brandon Weeden is not they guy you want leading your team. This could be a blow out.
Stally: This is an overdraft in my opinion. This is still the same Falcons team that disappointed week-after-week last season. Just because the Cowboys are starting Brandon Weeden doesn't mean that this is a cupcake win for Atlanta, although I agree, it will be the road team that wins.
Stally's Five-Point Pick
@New York Giants over Washington
Stally: I couldn't see the Redskins going on the road on a short week and winning this Thursday night game. They did not. The Giants won 32-21.
Austen: Well, I had the Redskins, so I am glad Stally drafted this one. I really thought the Redskins would build on their impressive first two weeks, but they looked completely out of sorts against a struggling Giants team. Everyone in Washington should be fearing for their jobs.
Austen's Four-Point Pick
Pittsburgh over @St. Louis
Austen: I would like this game a lot more if it was in Pittsburgh, but the Steelers offense has looked unstoppable without Le'Veon Bell. What is this team going to look like with him? I cannot wait to see.
Stally: The Rams beat Seattle and lost to Washington. Expect them to put up a fight at home, but the Steelers are solid and the return of Le'Veon Bell from marijuana suspension should help the visitors.
Stally's Four-Point Pick
Cincinnati over @Baltimore
Stally: Week 1 in Oakland: Cincinnati 33, Oakland 13. Week 2 in Oakland: Oakland 37, Baltimore 37. Week 3 in Cincinnati: 'Nuff said.
Austen: The Ravens have had a tough first two weeks, losing two close games. The Bengals have been impressive, but not spectacular through two weeks coming out 2-0. Andy Dalton struggles against the Ravens, but this is the worst Ravens squad he has ever faced. The Ravens can't run the ball, they lack depth at receiver, and their defense is a shell of its former self. Gotta side with the boys in stripes.
Austen's Three-Point Pick
@New York Jets over Philadelphia
Austen: Chip Kelley is officially on the hot seat. This is the team that he wanted, and they have looked incredibly inadequate through two weeks. I mean, they let Brandon Weeden score a late touchdown to seal the game last week. The Jets have some injuries, but their defense has been spectacular through two weeks. The Jets have never beat the Eagles before, and this will be one of many Jets records that Todd Bowles will guide the Jets to breaking.
Stally: Are we really this out on an Eagles team that was something like the fourth-highest preseason favorite to win the Super Bowl? I'm not. I pick Philly in this one.
Stally's Three-Point Pick
@Carolina over New Orleans
Stally: Sorry, New Orleans, you can't lose at home to the team that drafted first this past spring and expect me to believe in you. You suck. You'll lose this road game.
Austen: Gotta move this game up thanks to Drew Brees being out and Brandin Cooks being questionable. This could be a total blowout.
Austen's Two-Point Pick
Indianapolis over @Tennessee
Austen: Trust me, I am very aware of the Colts struggles. And I know how amazing Marcus Mariota has played through two weeks. Andrew Luck has never lost to the Titans and has absolutely owned this division since entering the league. That will continue despite the rough start to the season.
Stally: Here in New England if our team lost back-to-back games to the Bills and Jets, we'd have to put the whole region on suicide watch. The only way you lose to them consecutively is if you're a bad football team. That's you, Colts. Titans win this home game.
Stally's Two-Point Pick
@Minnesota over San Diego
Stally: This is a tough call, but Minnesota and Adrian Peterson seemed to bounce back in a big way in Week 2 after a flat start in San Francisco in Week 1. I'll stick with the home team in this toss up.
Austen: Both of these teams are total wild cards. I could see either team dominating the other one. I will side with the younger, home team.
Austen's One-Point Pick
Denver over @Detroit
Austen: Matthew Stafford is pretty banged up. It looks like he will play, but he might not make it through the entire game. This team has struggled mightily in every possible way. I have to side with a Denver team that has played some of the best defense in the entire league.
Stally: I know they're 2-0, but it feels like the Broncos should be 0-2. Peyton Manning and his offense don't dominate nearly as much as they used to. In fact, both win have consisted of the defense over come Manning Pick-Six throws with a touchdown of its own. That's no recipe for long-term success. Watch Detroit win this Sunday Night Football game.
Stally's One-Point Pick
@Cleveland over Oakland
Stally: This is toss up between two bad teams. I'll give the nod to the home team against a West Coast team traveling three hours east for a 10 a.m. PT kickoff.
Austen: After last week's impressive win over the Ravens, I have to side with the Raiders. They have a lot of different ways of beating you with their offense, but who knows if they will show up. The fact the Browns are starting Josh McCown (not Luke McCown, the Saints starter) makes me all the more confident the Browns will not show up to this one.
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