NFL Week 2: Four Games to Watch and The Pound Pick'Em
Sports Opinion by Ethan Irish and Josh Blatt
The Pound Pick'Em Standings
Ethan: 10-4-0
Josh: 6-8-0
Ethan's Game to Watch #1:
Cincinnati Bengals @ Dallas Cowboys
This game is more interesting to me from a whole season perspective more than it being in any way the most fun game to watch. What will the Cowboys show without quarterback, Dak Prescott? Can Cooper Rush lead the Cowboys to their first victory of the season? I honestly think the Cowboys are incredibly overrated offensively and without Dak I just don't see how the can keep this game close. After not even scoring a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week it was proven to me that either CeeDee Lamb needs to be utilized more or Dallas really is that much worse without Amari Cooper.
For the Bengals, they come into this game after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 1. That game went from horrible to great then just your usual mid-off in overtime. Quarterback, Joe Burrow, had one of the worst games I have ever seen him play and it will be interesting to see how he bounces back this week. Wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase was the highlight in that game for me last week and the Bengals defense looked pretty good overall as well. Both the Cowboys and Bengals are looking for their first win of the season and how the quarterbacks are the reason this game stands out to me.
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
Josh's Game to Watch #1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints
This is the type of game that can have long-term implications on both teams. Both the Bucs and the Saints started their season with sloppy wins over subpar competition and I'm not too confident in either teams abilities this weekend. On one hand you have "Famous" Jameis Winston, who had a god awful first half against the Falcons, but managed to pick up the win after a superb second half en route to hitting my parlay. On the other hand you have Tom Brady, the GOAT-- that alone makes it difficult to choose against Tampa Bay, but in a divisional game, anything is possible.
This game is going to come down to defensive play, and through week one nobody let up fewer points than the Buccaneers. They played a banged up Dallas squad who still has both a pretty good and healthy defense. Tampa will score more than 19 points and I'm not too confident in New Orleans' defense's ability to keep this a low scoring affair. The only thing that gives me hope for the Saints is the location in which they play this weekend. It's hard to play in New Orleans and considering Tom Brady is notoriously 0-4 against the Saints since joining Tampa Bay-- this will be a game to watch, especially if you're taking Tampa -2.5.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ethan's Game to Watch #2:
Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens
I am not entirely sold on the Ravens yet this season, I think Lamar Jackson is great but I just can't see them being above just an average playoff team. This game could change that for me as a decent Dolphins team comes into Baltimore for week 2. For the Ravens, I just don't know if they have a ton of talent on the offensive side of the ball other than Jackson and tight end Mark Andrews. Running back J.K. Dobbins is injury prone, their wide receiver group as average at best led by Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay. Week 1 they got the New York Jets, who will make anyone look good so it will be interesting to see how they look against an actual team.
Miami comes into this game after beating the New England Patriots in a great showing by their defense. Wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill were the obvious stand outs in that week 1 game but the Ravens secondary might be up to the task. I think tight end Mike Gesicki will be a big part of the Dolphins offense this week with the Baltimore linebackers being average overall. For this game there is a lot of speed on the field and one team will walk away still undefeated (unless we get a tie).
Winner: Baltimore Ravens
Josh's Game to Watch #2: Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers came out week one in a sloppy environment and without their best offensive player, George Kittle and narrowly lost to the Bears in Chicago. I don't see them playing as poorly as they did last weekend, but with Kittle listed as questionable-- it's difficult to choose unproven quarterback Trey Lance. Whereas the Seattle Seahawks beat the Denver Broncos in an absolutely electric Monday Night Football game. Seattle has a great defense, especially in the red zone. Safeties Quandre Diggs and Jamal Adams will continue to wreak havoc in the secondary and I see Seattle as a legit contender in the NFC West.
We need to see more of the same Geno Smith from Monday in order for Seattle to stay hot. Rashaad Penny will be an X-Factor, if he can run through the 49ers loaded front seven-- I have no doubt in my mind the Seahawks sit at 2-0 following week two. For that prediction to be decimated, we'd have to see Deebo Samuel go nuclear, that means in the passing game and the run game, otherwise the 49ers start the season 0-2. I also assume receivers Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf see more pass catching volume against the 49ers, resulting in that highly anticipated W.
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
The Pound Pick'Em
Sun. 1 pm EST Games
New York Jets @ Cleveland Browns (-6.5):
Ethan's Pick: Cleveland Browns
Josh's Pick: Cleveland Browns
Washington Commanders @ Detroit Lions (-1):
Ethan's Pick: Washington Commanders
Josh's Pick: Detroit Lions
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-2.5) @ New Orleans Saints:
Ethan's Pick: New Orleans Saints
Josh's Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Carolina Panthers @ New York Giants (-2):
Ethan's Pick: Carolina Panthers
Josh's Pick: New York Giants
New England Patriots (-2) @ Pittsburgh Steelers:
Ethan's Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers
Josh's Pick: New England Patriots
Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars:
Ethan's Pick: Indianapolis Colts
Josh's Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars
Miami Dolphins @ Baltimore Ravens (-3.5):
Ethan's Pick: Baltimore Ravens
Josh's Pick: Miami Dolphins
Sun. 4:05/4:25 pm Games
Atlanta Falcons @ Los Angeles Rams (-10):
Ethan's Pick: Los Angeles Rams
Josh's Pick: Los Angeles Rams
Seattle Seahawks @ San Francisco 49ers (-8.5):
Ethan's Pick: Seattle Seahawks
Josh's Pick: Seattle Seahawks
Cincinnati Bengals (-7) @ Dallas Cowboys:
Ethan's Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Josh's Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos (-10):
Ethan's Pick: Denver Broncos
Josh's Pick: Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals @ Las Vegas Raiders (-5.5):
Ethan's Pick: Las Vegas Raiders
Josh's Pick: Las Vegas Raiders
SNF: Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (-10):
Ethan's Pick: Green Bay Packers
Josh's Pick: Green Bay Packers