NFL Week Two games of the week
Week one is always hard to predict in the NFL, simply because you haven’t seen any team play in a competitive capacity.
Week two isn’t any easier. Are the teams who lost in week one just bad? Or did they have a bad day at the office and are ready to bounce back next Sunday? It’s something experts try to account for, but realistically you never know a team’s true identity until at least week three.
Are the San Diego Chargers actually bad this year? Or was the slip up at Kansas City just a fluke? The Atlanta Falcons were supposed to be a play-off team, but they lost to Pittsburgh in overtime last week, and the Indianapolis Colts were defeated by the Houston Texans, does that mean the Texans are a play-off team and the Colts are slipping away? Or does it mean the Texans were just lucky?
So when looking at this week’s match-ups keep in mind what you saw in week one might not be what’s in store for that team for the rest of the season.
New England Patriots @ New York Jets
There’s one thing you can be certain of this season with the New England Patriots. Their offence is going to be good – provided Tom Brady stays injury free. They showed that against the Bengals - scoring 24 points before Cincinnati managed to get on the board - and showed that their defence isn’t as bad as in previous seasons.
The Jets, on the other hand, failed to live up to all the off-season hype they were creating in the media. A 10-9 defeat at home to the Baltimore Ravens could have been much worse had their defence not played well. Their offence was not so good, both the running game and aerial game were way below average, failing to put the Ravens under any sort of pressure – and that was at home in their new stadium. Things should have been different for the Jets.
The Jets’ defence will be without Kris Jenkins for the rest of the season after he underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament. "We lost a heck of a football player," Jets coach Rex Ryan said. Jenkins’ absence should give Tom Brady a few extra seconds in the pocket to find one of his 20 different receivers.
If Brady does find his rhythm the Jets might find it hard to come back - they only managed six first downs against the Ravens.
Match-up of the game should come from Randy Moss vs Darrelle Revis. Revis has shut-down Moss in previous games and even went as far as calling him a “slouch”. But Moss looked good against the Bengals and could prove to be a big threat on Sunday.
The Jets upset the Patriots 16-9 last season, but that shouldn’t be happening again this weekend.
New York Giants @ Indianapolis Colts
Which Manning will win? Peyton or Eli? Well if you go by results, it’s going to be Eli. He led his Giants to a week one victory over the Carolina Panthers, completing 20 of 30 passes and throwing three touchdowns. However, he did throw three interceptions, but they were all tipped and can be put down to the wet conditions.
Peyton, on the other hand, failed to get the win despite throwing for over 400 yards and three touchdowns. The loss against the Texans was a shock, but the Colts, don’t forget, are still a good team and it will take a brave man to bet against them. If you do bet against them, you’re pretty much saying the Colts aren’t a play-off team. You’d be making a huge statement.
Even with Bob Sanders (biceps) out for the foreseeable future Indianapolis should be able to stop enough Giants offensive plays to win the game. Joseph Addai will have to run well if the Colts are going to keep the pressure off Manning.
Indy will have to keep a close eye on both Hakeem Nicks, who grabbed three touchdowns against the Panthers, and Mario Manningham who had 85 yards on just four receptions.
There are dangers for the Colts, considering they haven’t started all guns blazing, but Peyton Manning won’t allow his team to lose to his brother and lose their season home opener.
And when was the last time Peyton Manning lost a regular season night game?
Philadelphia Eagles @ Detroit Lions
Ok, not exactly the biggest game of the week but probably involves the biggest story of the week – Michael Vick.
The Eagles lost to the Packers last week but with an extra quarter would have probably gone on to win the game. It was Vick’s introduction, after starting quarterback Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion, which gave the Eagles a second lease of life. Down 20-3, Vick changed everything, completing 16 of 24 passes for 175 yards with a touchdown. Add 103 rushing yards and the Packers couldn’t cope – don’t forget Vick got stopped on fourth-and-1 at the Packers 42 in the final minutes.
Vick looked like his old-self and with Kolb still suffering from a concussion will start for Philadelphia – his first since December 2006.
The Lions will be without their starting quarterback Matthew Stafford, who suffered a separated shoulder against the Chicago Bears last week. The Lions lost that game when Calvin Johnson dropped the ball in the endzone with 31 seconds left to play. Stafford’s loss will be too much to overcome.
The Eagles have won five straight against the Lions and looking at the way they played with Vick at quarterback, that winning streak should be extended to six.
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