This feature is the sole opinion of Chris Smith and it may not correspond to the rankings / projections of the Footballguys.com website.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

Chicago Bears 1-0

at Atlanta Falcons 0-1

Game Forecast

The opening forecast of the week is a tough one to call. The Bears had to claw their way to a victory last week against the Vikings who were up 20-10 at halftime while the Falcons had the Packers on the ropes in Green Bay for the second year in a row before succumbing in overtime. Both passing attacks had lots of questions to be answered going into the season (the Falcons starting an inexperienced Michael Vick while the Bears were very conservative in the passing offense last year) and both came through with flying colors.

The Bears have perhaps the strongest receiving core in football if Marcus Robinson can stay healthy and they can spread the field with both quickness and size. The Falcons will have a very hard time covering those receivers and being inside the dome could produce some nice numbers for the Bears. Anthony Thomas had a pretty quiet opening game for the Bears but should find room to run against the brutal Falcons run defense that gave up 211 yards on the ground against the Packers. The Falcons will likely concentrate on shutting down Marty Booker who had almost 200 yards receiving last week so expect one of the other receivers to go off with a good game this week. The only problem with the Bears attack is the chance each week that a different receiver will go off with a big game. It’s going to be hard to predict which Bears receiver to start each week.

The Falcons looked very strong against the Packers on offense last week. They ran the ball with confidence and conviction and almost pulled off the improbable upset in week one. Michael Vick was supposed to struggle this season in the passing game while running for lots of yardage but he surprised the football world by doing both effectively. No interceptions and a 65 % completion percentage against a strong Packers defense was a big surprise. Warrick Dunn and T.J. Duckett ran the ball effectively with Dunn getting the majority of the work. I have a feeling that the Falcons will be spreading the ball around and that none of the receivers will be a consistent fantasy scorer this season. However, Vick looks like the real deal and I would have no hesitation putting him into the starting lineup this week.

The Bears Notes:

· 17^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 21^st ranked Falcons defense

· 28^th in passing yards per game vs. the 30^th ranked Falcons defense

· 11^th in points scored last year vs. the 24^th ranked Falcons defense

· Bears scored 32 offensive touchdowns last year

· Bears gave up 18 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Bears gained 368 total yards while the Falcons gave up 484 total yards

· Last week the Bears ran for 80 rushing yards while the Falcons gave up 211 rushing yards

· Last week the Bears passed for 288 yards while the Falcons gave up 273 passing yards

· Marty Booker looked awesome in week one with 8 receptions for 198 yards and 1 TD

· Jim Miller was very effective down the field, leading a crisp passing attack

· The Bears run defense looked very mediocre on the day

· The Bears magic from a season ago appears to have resurfaced in time for 2002.

The Falcons Notes:

· 16^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 2^nd ranked Bears defense

· 12^th in passing yards per game vs. the 29^th ranked Bears defense

· 23^rd in points scored last year vs. the Bears who gave up the least

· Falcons scored 28 offensive touchdowns last year

· Falcons gave up 42 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Falcons gained 374 total yards while the Bears gave up 364 total yards

· Last week the Falcons ran for 180 rushing yards while the Bears gave up 136 rushing yards

· Last week the Falcons passed for 194 yards while the Bears gave up 228 passing yards

· Michael Vick looked poised and accurate with a solid 15-23 passing performance (65.2 %)

· Vick ran the ball better than many running backs with 72 rushing yards and a touchdown

Must Starts
RB Anthony Thomas
WR Marty Booker
TE Alge Crumpler

Possible Starts
QB Jim Miller
QB Michael Vick
RB Warrick Dunn
WR Dez White
WR Brian Finneran
WR Willie Jackson

Only in a Pinch
RB T.J. Duckett
WR Marcus Robinson
WR David Terrell
WR Shawn Jefferson

Bench ‘Em
any Bears TE
FB Bob Christian
FB Leon Johnson


Final Thoughts: The Bears needed some late magic to knock off the Vikings at home while the Falcons almost toppled the strong Packers team in Green Bay. The Bears seem to have some sort of magic that helps them pull out these games week after week. I will pick them to win another close one in Atlanta this weekend. Don’t be surprised though if Atlanta knocks them off this week.

Predicted Score:

Chicago Bears 21 at Atlanta Falcons 20

Cincinnati Bengals 0-1

at Cleveland Browns 0-1

Game Forecast

Both of these teams were a major disappointment last week. The Bengals were supposed to be improved on offense this season and stunk out the joint at home while the Browns were supposed to have one of the strongest defenses in the league but couldn’t fight their way out of a paper bag against the Chiefs who had their way with the Browns. Now the two underachievers will go head to head in week two to see which franchise can get back on the right track and which is traveling down the track of futility again this season.

The Browns had lots of bad luck against the Chiefs and actually looked strong on offense in week one. That gives them a decision advantage against the Bengals, which looked horrible on both sides of the ball against the Chargers last week who gave them a major butt whooping. Tim Couch is still fighting injury and with Kelly Holcombe so effective last week, he will likely get another shot this weekend at leading the Browns to victory. As I said all pre-season, Quincy Morgan is ready to have a big season with the club. He won’t catch 9 passes every week but he and Kevin Johnson give them a credible pair of wide outs that can get the job done each week.

What can I say about the Bengals attack last week? They had no drive, no determination and little success against the Chargers. Dillon was going to have a tough time against the solid Chargers run defense but the Chargers pass defense can be exploited by even an average passing attack. Yet, Gus Frerotte and the Bengals had no success in the air and that could mean a very long season once again for the Bengals and their fans. Look for Corey Dillon to rebound with a big game as he usually follows up a stinker with a good performance and the Browns rushing defense appears to have some holes to patch up.

The Bengals Notes:

· 18^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 29^th ranked Browns defense

· 23^rd in passing yards per game vs. the 11^th ranked Browns defense

· 31^st in points scored last year vs. the 15^th ranked Browns defense

· Bengals scored 23 offensive touchdowns last year

· Browns gave up 29 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Bengals had a pathetic 203 total yards while the Browns gave up 470 total yards

· Last week the Bengals ran for 36 rushing yards while the Browns gave up 194 rushing yards

· Last week the Bengals passed for 167 yards while the Browns gave up 276 passing yards

· Corey Dillon had a horrible week one with only 10 yards rushing and 22 receiving.

· Gus Frerotte made nothing happen in week one with a below average performance.

The Browns Notes:

· 31^st in rushing yards per game vs. the 11^th ranked Bengals defense

· 26^th in passing yards per game vs. the 14^th ranked Bengals defense

· 25^th in points scored last year vs. the 14^th ranked Bengals defense

· Browns scored 26 offensive touchdowns last year

· Bengals gave up 33 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Browns had 411 total yards while the Bengals gave up 401 total yards

· Last week the Browns had 59 rushing yards while the Bengals gave up 241 rushing yards

· Last week the Browns had 352 passing yards while the Bengals gave up 160 passing yards

· Quincy Morgan had a break out game with 9 receptions for 151 yards and 2 touchdowns

· Both William Green and Jamal White struggled in the rushing attack

· Kelly Holcombe proved he can play at the NFL level with a solid 352 yards passing.

Must Starts
RB Corey Dillon
WR Kevin Johnson

Possible Starts
QB Kelly Holcombe?
WR Quincy Morgan
RB William Green
RB Jamal White

Only in a Pinch
QB Gus Frerotte
WR Peter Warrick
WR Michael Westbrook
TE Mark Campbell

Bench ‘Em
RB Brandon Bennett
WR Dennis Northcutt
Danny Farmer
Chad Johnson

Final Thoughts: Hard to say which Browns team will show up this week. On paper, the defense appears solid but they had a bad opening game and will have to rebound if the Browns are to contend for a playoff spot this year. The Browns won’t lose two games in a row at home so expect a Brown victory this week.

Predicted Score:

Cincinnati Bengals 13 at Cleveland Browns 21

Tennessee Titans 1-0

at Dallas Cowboys 0-1

Game Forecast

I told everyone last week that the Quincy Carter led Cowboys are not a very good offensive team and after the performance against the expansion Texans last week, everyone is aware of the fact. Quincy Carter cannot hit the broad side of the barn on the field. Watching Antonio Bryant’s body language on the field in the fourth quarter said it all. He was very frustrated with the 2^nd year quarterback who kept missing him by a wide margin despite Bryant working his way open play after play.

This should be a pretty tight football game. The Cowboys have a good defense but if the offense cannot get on track this week, the Titans will eventually wear down the Cowboys. One of the biggest concerns for the Cowboys is the loss of solid linebacker Dat Nguyen who is out for several weeks with a broken wrist. The Titans will try to establish a strong rushing attack against the Cowboys and I expect to see 20+ carries from Eddie George this week.

Quincy Carter needs to play better immediately or his short tenure as a starting quarterback in the NFL will be over. Chad Hutchinson may get his opportunity sooner than many expected. He is the better passer by far and would have a positive effect on the team.

The Titans Notes:

· 12^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 13^th ranked Cowboys defense

· 5^th in passing yards per game vs. the 1^st ranked Cowboys defense

· 12^th in points scored last year vs. the 20^th ranked Cowboys defense

· Titans scored 35 offensive touchdowns last year

· Cowboys gave up 32 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Titans had 61 rushing yards while the Cowboys gave up 78 rushing yards

· Last week the Titans had 267 passing yards while the Cowboys gave up 123 passing yards

· Steve McNair looks as strong as last year with a solid 24-34 passing performance

· Derrick Mason looked good in the opening game with 109 receiving yards

· Eddie George found little room to run against the Eagles but looked quick and healthy

The Cowboys Notes:

· 3^rd in rushing yards per game vs. the 5^th ranked Titans defense

· 31^st in passing yards per game vs. the 31^st ranked Titans defense

· 30^th in points scored last year vs. the 25^th ranked Titans defense

· Cowboys scored 22 offensive touchdowns last year

· Titans gave up 44 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Cowboys had 155 rushing yards while the Titans gave up 80 rushing yards

· Last week the Cowboys had 112 passing yards while the Titans gave up 180 passing yards

· Quincy Carter was horrible against an expansion team. 43% passing and an interception

· Emmitt Smith looked old and a shell of his former self. Once he breaks the record, he’ll get limited touches

· Antonio Bryant looked good out there on the field but was frustrated by Carter’s ineffectiveness.

Must Starts
RB Eddie George
QB Steve McNair
WR Derrick Mason
TE Frank Wycheck

Possible Starts
WR Kevin Dyson

Only in a Pinch
WR Antonio Bryant
WR Joey Galloway
RB Emmitt Smith
QB Quincy Carter
RB Troy Hambrick

Bench ‘Em
WR Justin McCareins
RB Michael Wiley
RB Robert Holcombe
TE Erron Kinney


Final Thoughts: Until Quincy Carter gets the axe; I will pick the Cowboys to lose every week. He is not good enough to lead the team on a consistent basis.

Predicted Score:

Tennessee Titans 20 at Dallas Cowboys 6

Miami Dolphins 1-0

at Indianapolis Colts 1-0

Game Forecast

The Dolphins and Colts no longer reside in the same division but the rivalry will live on this season. These two teams have met seven times the past three seasons including a playoff tilt two seasons ago. Last year the Dolphins beat the Colts twice but this Colts team is better than they were a season ago. Look for the Colts to try and establish the run against a Dolphins team that is really tough to pass against. You would think the Miami defense could shut down Marvin Harrison but last year’s 174 yards and 3 touchdowns performance at home against them last year proves otherwise. With Harrison being quiet in week one, expect to see him explode with a big performance this week.

Ricky Williams is the key to the Dolphins this week. The Colts can be exploited on the ground attack and the Dolphins will be relentless in their pursuit to establish the running game. If the Dolphins can get up on the Colts early, Williams will get 30 + carries in this game.

The Dolphins Notes:

· 23^rd in rushing yards per game vs. the 25^th ranked Colts defense

· 20^th in passing yards per game vs. the 28^th ranked Colts defense

· 8^th in points scored last year vs. the 31^st ranked Colts defense

· Dolphins scored 34 offensive touchdowns last year

· Colts gave up 50 defensive touchdowns last year

· 7 wins / 2 losses against the Colts the past four seasons

· An impressive 5 wins against 0 losses in Indy since 1998.

· Last week the Dolphins ran for 182 yards while the Colts gave up 118 rushing yards

· Last week the Dolphins passed for 207 yards while the Colts gave up 225 passing yards

· Ricky Williams had a solid debut with 5.6 per carry average and 2 touchdowns

· Jay Fiedler was awesome week one, completing 67 % of his passes and 3 touchdowns

· Rookie TE Randy McMichael is on his way to being one of the top players at his position.

The Colts Notes:

· 7^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 17^th ranked Dolphins defense

· 2^nd in passing yards per game vs. the 2^nd ranked Dolphins defense

· 2^nd in points scored last year vs. the 11^th ranked Dolphins defense

· Colts scored 43 offensive touchdowns last year

· Dolphins gave up 31 defensive touchdowns last year

· Manning threw for 426 passing yards / 3 TD / 5 IC against the Dolphins in 2001

· Last week the Colts ran for 104 rushing yards while the Dolphins gave up 51 rushing yards

· Last week the Colts passed for 203 yards while the Dolphins gave up 206 passing yards

· Edgerrin James had an effective week one but didn’t have a carry over 9 yards

· Peyton Manning looks poised to have his best season yet. 3 passing touchdowns in week one.

· Marvin Harrison was quiet in week one but he’ll be money this season still.

Must Starts
RB Ricky Williams
QB Peyton Manning
QB Jay Fiedler
WR Marvin Harrison
WR Chris Chambers
TE Randy McMichael
RB Edgerrin James

Possible Starts
WR Qadry Ismail
WR Oronde Gadsden

Only in a Pinch
WR Reggie Wayne

Bench ‘Em
RB Robert Edwards
RB Travis Minor
WR Dedrick Ward
TE Marcus Pollard (listed as doubtful this week)

Final Thoughts: Should be an entertaining game in Indy this week as both teams look to get off to a solid 2-0 start. This game could go either way and it will likely depend on who gets off to the best start. The Dolphins will be able to ride Ricky Williams to victory if they can get ahead in this game but the Colts are going to be tough to beat at home this year. Look for the Colts to squeak out a hard fought victory.

Predicted Score:

Miami Dolphins 24 at Indianapolis Colts 28

Jacksonville Jaguars 0-1

at Kansas City Chiefs 1-0

Game Forecast

Both teams had moments of brilliance last week but the Chiefs pulled out an upset victory in Cleveland while the Jaguars lost a heartbreaker at home to the Colts. Priest “Marshall Jr.” Holmes had four touchdowns on the day and looked awesome every time he touched the ball. He will be the focal point of the Chiefs offense all year and will likely touch the ball 25 times every game. Trent Green was able to put his awful pre-season behind him and he was very effective in game one with a 69 % completion rate. If he continues to play at that level, the Chiefs will be able to compete for the division title in the West.

The Jaguars are a rebuilding team but do have the talent to pull off some upsets this season. Veteran quarterback Mark Brunell, gifted running back Fred Taylor and capable receivers Jimmy Smith and Bobby Shaw will be able to put points on the board this year. The Chiefs pass defense looked horrible against the Browns last week and the Jaguars will be challenging them down the field in week two. It could mean a very big game for Jimmy Smith or Bobby Shaw.

The Jaguars Notes:

· 26^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 27^th ranked Chiefs defense

· 14^th in passing yards per game vs. the 13^th ranked Chiefs defense

· 22^nd in points scored last year vs. the 23^rd ranked Chiefs defense

· Jaguars scored 31 offensive touchdowns last year

· Chiefs gave up 34 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Jaguars rushed for 118 yards while the Chiefs gave up 59 rushing yards

· Last week the Jaguars passed for 225 yards while the Chiefs gave up 352 passing yards

· Fred Taylor looked healthy for the Jaguars and had a good first game.

· Jimmy Smith didn’t miss a beat with a big first outing for the Jaguars

· Mark Brunell had a solid week with 225 yards passing and 2 touchdowns

The Chiefs Notes:

· 6^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 10^th ranked Jaguars defense

· 7^th in passing yards per game vs. the 26^th ranked Jaguars defense

· 16^th in points scored last year vs. the 10^th ranked Jaguars defense

· Chiefs scored 33 offensive touchdowns last year

· Jaguars gave up 28 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Chiefs rushed for 194 yards while the Jaguars gave up 104 rushing yards

· Last week the Chiefs passed for 276 yards while the Jaguars gave up 203 passing yards

· Priest Holmes looks like the second coming of Marshall Faulk (4 TD’s in game one)

· Tony Gonzalez still is an awesome tight end. The hold out didn’t bother him a bit

· Trent Green had a great first game completing 79 % of his passes for 276 yards

· Eddie Kennison was the go-to receiver and finished with 120 receiving yards

Must Starts
RB Priest Holmes
RB Fred Taylor
QB Mark Brunell
QB Trent Green
WR Jimmy Smith
TE Tony Gonzalez

Possible Starts
WR Bobby Shaw
WR Johnnie Morton
WR Eddie Kennison
TE Pete Mitchell

Only in a Pinch
RB Tony Richardson
RB Stacey Mack

Bench ‘Em
WR Patrick Johnson
TE Kyle Brady
RB Mike Cloud
WR Dante Hall


Final Thoughts: If the Chiefs play as bad in the secondary as they did in week one, the Jaguars could certainly pull off an upset in Kansas City. However the Chiefs should be able to put up points on the Jacksonville squad and should win the game.

Predicted Score:

Jacksonville Jaguars 17 at Kansas City Chiefs 27

Green Bay Packers 1-0

at New Orleans Saints 1-0

Game Forecast

Two teams that won in overtime week one will battle it out in New Orleans for the chance to go a solid 2-0 to start the season. Whoever wins this contest will be in great shape to make a run for the playoffs in 2002. The Saints were only 3-5 at home last year while the Packers were 5-3 on the road. This game will likely come down to who can run the ball effectively. If Ahman Green can run like he did in week one and also hold onto the football, the Packers should have a strong offensive game. Brett Favre looked as good as he always does and he got the ball to his new receiving core as if they had been playing together for years. Rookie receiver Javon Walker looks like a playmaker as does fellow rookie, Donte Stallworth over on the other sideline. Both add excitement and talent to already strong offenses and will help the team compete each week.

The key to this game is how effective Deuce McAllister is running the ball against the Packers. The Falcons (especially Warrick Dunn) were able to exploit the Packers run defense and it is crucial to the Packers success that they play tougher against the run this week. McAllister has the talent to burn teams in a hurry if they don’t shut down the running lanes and bog him down at the line of scrimmage. If the Packers give him room to run like they did with the Falcon runners last week, it could be a long day in New Orleans.

The Packers Notes:

· 21^st in rushing yards per game vs. the 14^st ranked Saints defense

· 4^th in passing yards per game vs. the 20^th ranked Saints defense

· 5^th in points scored last year vs. the 27^th ranked Saints defense

· Packers scored 43 offensive touchdowns last year

· Saints gave up 45 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Packers rushed for 211 yards while the Saints gave up 72 rushing yards

· Last week the Packers passed for 273 yards while the Saints gave up 261 passing yards

· Brett Favre was awesome in week one, completing 69 % of his passes with 2 touchdowns

· Ahman Green had 197 total yards on the day but fumbled twice.

· There was very little production from tight end against the Falcons.

The Saints Notes:

· 18^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 16^th ranked Packers defense

· 9^th in passing yards per game vs. the 15^th ranked Packers defense

· 13^th in points scored last year vs. the 4^th ranked Packers defense

· Saints scored 35 offensive touchdowns last year

· Packers gave up 24 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Saints rushed for 118 yards while the Packers gave up 180 rushing yards

· Last week the Saints passed for 250 yards while the Packers gave up 194 passing yards

· Aaron Brooks was effective against a strong Buccaneers defense.

· Deuce McAllister had 31 carries but his longest was only 14 yards

· Donte Stallworth had 63 receiving yards and a touchdown in his first NFL game

Must Starts
QB Brett Favre
QB Aaron Brooks
RB Ahman Green
RB Deuce McAllister
WR Joe Horn

Possible Starts
WR Donald Driver
WR Terry Glenn
TE Bubba Franks
WR Donte Stallworth

Only in a Pinch
WR Javon Walker
WR Jerome Pathon
TE Boo Williams
TE David Sloan
TE David Martin

Bench ‘Em
WR Robert Ferguson

Final Thoughts: This game could swing either way. I believe the better of the two teams is the Packers and they will squeak out a close victory in New Orleans this weekend. Should be a fun game with lots of fantasy points so start the players you have on both squads.

Predicted Score:

Green Bay Packers 28 at New Orleans Saints 24

New England Patriots 1-0

at New York Jets 1-0

Game Forecast

Great divisional tilt in New York this week. The Patriots looked awesome in beating up the Steelers on Monday Night Football while the Jets had to rely on luck and magic to overtake the Bills in Buffalo. The Patriots are the better football team but the Jets have had an extra day to prepare for this game and are at home. While Tom Brady and the Patriots passing attack was superb against the Steelers, the Jets cornerbacks can’t help but play stronger than the combination of Dewayne Washington and Deshea Townsend did for the Steelers. The Steelers played horrible football in the secondary and the Jets will be concentrating on playing much tighter coverage on the Patriots.

The Patriots will not be passing the ball 90 % of the time in this game. The Jets can be exploited on the ground although they did manage to shut down Antowain Smith last year to the tune of 48 total rushing yards in two games last season. They will try to establish the run this week to try and take pressure off of Brady because the one thing the Jets do very well on defense is rush the passer. If the Jets are able to pin their ears back and attack the quarterback, it will make things very difficult on Brady.

The Jets will rely on a conservative attack and try to beat the Patriots underneath. The strength of the Patriots team is on defense where there are no weak points for an offensive team to target. A great all-around group that will be hard to score on each week. Vinny Testaverde has turned into a quarterback who takes very few chances down the field and the Jets will have to attempt to get the ball deep to have a shot in this game. If they allow the Patriots to cheat up on the offense, it will be game over.

The Patriots Notes:

· 13^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 28^th ranked Jets defense

· 21^st in passing yards per game vs. the 5^th ranked Jets defense

· 6^th in points scored last year vs. the 12^th ranked Jets defense

· Patriots scored 36 offensive touchdowns last year

· Jets gave up 29 defensive touchdowns last year

· 4 total points have decided last 3 games against Jets/Patriots in N.Y.

· Antowain Smith 22 carries / 48 rushing yards / 1 TD in 2 games last year vs. N.Y.

· Last week the Patriots rushed for 63 yards while the Jets gave up 142 yards

· Last week the Patriots passed for 280 yards while the Jets gave up 242 yards

· Tom Brady was awesome week one, completing 67 % of his passes and 3 touchdowns

· Rookie WR Deion Branch had his way with the Steelers secondary. He looked great

The Jets Notes:

· 4^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 19^th ranked Patriots defense

· 29^th in passing yards per game vs. the 22^nd ranked Patriots defense

· 17^th in points scored last year vs. the 6^th ranked Patriots defense

· Jets scored 28 offensive touchdowns last year

· Patriots gave up 22 defensive touchdowns last year

· Curtis Martin 44 carries / 205 rushing yards / 1 TD in 2 games last year vs N.E.

· Last week the Jets rushed for 73 yards while the Patriots gave up 74 yards

· Last week the Jets passed for 193 yards while the Patriots gave up 209 yards

· Curtis Martin is injured and may not be able to go this Sunday

· Vinny Testaverde completed 80 % of his passes but it was a very conservative attack

Must Starts
none

Possible Starts
RB Antowain Smith
QB Vinny Testaverde
QB Tom Brady
RB Curtis Martin? (Lamont Jordan)
WR Laveranues Coles
WR Troy Brown
TE Anthony Becht

Only in a Pinch
WR Deion Branch
WR Donald Hayes
WR David Patten
WR Santana Moss
WR Wayne Chrebet
TE Cam Cleeland



Bench ‘Em
TE Daniel Graham
TE Christian Fauria
RB J.R. Redmond


Final Thoughts: Another game that could go either way. When these two teams have met in New York the past three seasons, the game was decided by two points or less. That is more or less what I expect to happen this week as well. I’ll give the Jets a close victory because of the Patriots short week and having to travel into New York.

Predicted Score:

New England Patriots 14 at New York Jets 16

Detroit Lions 0-1

at Carolina Panthers 1-0

Game Forecast

Snooze Fest II takes place in Carolina this week. Last week the Panthers toppled the Ravens in a game that isn’t destined to show up one day on NFL Films as a memorable day in professional football. Both of these teams are awful. There is no other way to comment on the state of affairs in either city. The Panthers defense is a little better than the Lions and as hard as it is to believe, we should be talking about the 2-0 Panthers after this week. Last week the Dolphins did whatever they wanted to against the Lions team with little in the way of resistance. The Panthers offensive attack is poor but expect Muhsin Muhammad and Lamar Smith to have some success this week.

The Lions Notes:

· 28^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 31^st ranked Panthers defense

· 3^rd in passing yards per game vs. the 27^th ranked Panthers defense

· 26^th in points scored last year vs. the 28^th ranked Panthers defense

· Lions scored 26 offensive touchdowns last year

· Panthers gave up 38 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Lions rushed for 51 yards while the Panthers gave up 77 rushing yards

· Last week the Lions passed for 206 yards while the Panthers gave up 212 yards

· Mike McMahon and Joey Harrington were both awful in week one

· James Stewart was injured and the team must have him in the lineup to have a shot each week

· A.Z. Hakim caught a lot of passes but had a 10.8 yard average and didn’t do anything special

The Panthers Notes:

· 29^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 23^rd ranked Lions defense

· 27^th in passing yards per game vs. the 25^th ranked Lions defense

· 29^th in points scored last year vs. the 30^th ranked Lions defense

· Panthers scored 21 offensive touchdowns last year

· Lions gave up 45 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Panthers rushed for 145 yards while the Lions gave up 182 yards

· Last week the Panthers threw for 120 yards while the Lions gave up 207 yards

· Rodney Peete led a conservative attack with only 120 yards passing

· Lamar Smith led an effective rushing attack with 84 yards on the ground

· Wesley Walls was solid and grabbed a touchdown pass

Must Starts
none

Possible Starts
RB Lamar Smith
WR Muhsin Muhammad
TE Wesley Walls
WR A.Z. Hakim
RB James Stewart (if he plays)
TE Michael Ricks

Only in a Pinch
QB Rodney Peete
QB Mike McMahon
WR Steve Smith

Bench ‘Em
WR Bill Schroeder
WR Scott Anderson
RB Nick Goings
RB Brad Hoover
WR Isaac Byrd
QB Joey Harringon

Final Thoughts: The Lions can win this game if they show anything on defense but after giving up a brutal 49 points to the Miami Dolphins who aren’t exactly a high-octane offense, I have my doubts they can stop anyone on the field. Panthers win another snooze fest. Maybe the Panthers can win this game with Peete throwing for under 100 yards. That would be exciting football.

Predicted Score:

Detroit Lions 13 at Carolina Panthers 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 0-1

at Baltimore Ravens 0-1

Game Forecast

The Ravens are a shell of their former self. They let the sad-sack Panthers shut down their offense in week one and the once majestic Ravens defense couldn’t slow down the distinctly average Panthers rushing attack. Now the team returns home where they will meet up with an angry Buccaneers team who lost a heart breaker a week ago to the Saints. Brad Johnson had a solid first outing but will need to improve on his completion percentage. 53 % just does not get it done in the NFL in this day and age.

The Ravens will try and establish a solid running attack against the Buccaneers and it is there only real shot at victory here. If they try to pass against this team, they will quickly run into trouble that would cost them the game. Look for a healthy dose of Jamal Lewis as the Ravens try to play smash mouth football.

The Buccaneers will likely bring a balanced attack to the field. Michael Pittman only ran the ball 12 times in week one but did run for over 4 yards a carry, which is encouraging. I wouldn’t be surprised to see that total double this week.

The Buccaneers Notes:

· 30^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 4^th ranked Ravens defense

· 16^th in passing yards per game vs. the 9^th ranked Ravens defense

· 15^th in points scored last year vs. the 5^th ranked Ravens defense

· Buccaneers scored 30 offensive touchdowns last year

· Ravens gave up 26 defensive touchdowns last year

· Last week the Buccaneers ran for 72 yards while the Ravens gave up 145 rushing yards

· Last week the Buccaneers passed for 261 yards while the Ravens gave up 120 passing yards

· Brad Johnson had 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions but only completed 53 % of his passes

· Keenan McCardell is injured and likely will not play this Sunday.

· Michael Pittman looked powerful last Sunday and will likely get a lot more work this week

The Ravens Notes:

· 11^th in rushing yards per game vs. the 12^th ranked Buccaneers defense

· 17^th in passing yards per game vs. the 6^th ranked Buccaneers defense

· 18^th in points scored last year vs. the 8^th ranked Buccaneers defense

· Ravens scored 29 offensive touchdowns last year

· Buccaneers gave up 28 defensive touchdowns last year

· The Ravens ran for 77 rushing yards while the Buccaneers gave up 118 yards

· The Ravens threw for 212 passing yards while the Buccaneers gave up 250 yards

· Jamal Lewis carried the ball 17 times. His knee didn’t seem to bother him (the lack of blocking did though)

· Chris Redman had some decent moments but will need a lot of improvement over the next several weeks

· Young receivers Travis Taylor and Brandon Stokley had an effective week one for the team.

Must Starts
RB Michael Pittman
WR Keyshawn Johnson

Possible Starts
TE Todd Heap
RB Jamal Lewis
QB Brad Johnson

Only in a Pinch
RB Mike Alstott
WR Joe Jurevicius
WR Travis Taylor
WR Brandon Stokley
QB Chris Redman
TE Ken Dilger

Bench ‘Em
WR Ron Johnson
RB Chester Taylor
WR Keenan McCardell (injured)



Final Thoughts: It is hard to believe how fast the Ravens have plummeted down the power rankings the past two seasons. They will be hard pressed to put up four wins this season. As long as the Buccaneers avoid silly mistakes and penalties, they should have little problem knocking off the Ravens.

Predicted Score:

Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24 at Baltimore Ravens 14

Arizona Cardinals 0-1

at Seattle Seahawks 0-1

Game Forecast

A new divisional rivalry is born in Seattle this week as the Cardinals tangle with the Seahawks. Both teams played hard in week one but were overmatched by better teams. This is an important week for these teams because it will be nearly impossible to rebound from a 0-2 start in the tough NFC West. Trent Dilfer is still listed as questionable which means the Hawks may be forced into starting Matt Hasselbeck again this week. Hasselbeck was surprisingly effective in week one but the passing attack was very conservative as the 4.84 yards per attempt displays. Shaun Alexander was very quiet on the ground in week one and had very little room to run against the Raiders. He should find the going much easier against the Cardinals in week two.

Look for a healthy dose of David Boston this week. The Cardinals know who the meal ticket is and will likely target him at least 12 times in Seattle. He is so big and so fast that it is unlikely he can be slowed down unless teams decide to double/triple-team him. Jake Plummer had an awful week one but was going against perhaps the finest pass defense in the league this year in the Washington Redskins. He will rebound with a solid outing this week.

The Cardinals Notes:

· Last week the Cardinals rushed for 70 yards while the Seahawks gave up

· Last week the Cardinals passed for 187 yards while the Seahwks gave up

· Jake Plummer completed only 39% of his passes last week

· David Boston was as solid as ever with 138 receiving yards and a score

· Thomas Jones had little room to run. His 3.2 average will not get it done.

The Seahawks Notes:

· Last week the Seahawks rushed for 43 yards while the Cardinals gave up 122 rushing yards

· Last week the Seahawks passed for 143 yards while the Cardinals gave up 320 passing yards

· Shaun Alexander was ineffective on the ground and ended up with 36 yards rushing

· Darrell Jackson is begging for Trent Dilfer to come back as he ended with 7 yards receiving

· The Hawks are scared to unleash Hasselbeck. He averaged less than 7 yards per completion.

Must Starts
WR David Boston
RB Shaun Alexander
WR Darrell Jackson (only if Trent Dilfer can play – otherwise Jackson is “only in a pinch”)

Possible Starts
QB Jake Plummer
RB Thomas Jones
QB Trent Dilfer (if he can go)
TE Freddie Jones

Only in a Pinch
WR Koren Robinson
WR Martay Jenkins
TE Jerramy Stevens
TE Itula Mili
QB Matt Hasselbeck (if Dilfer cannot go)

Bench ‘Em
RB Marcel Shipp
RB Josh Scobey
RB Maurice Morris
WR Bobby Engram
WR Frank Sanders


Final Thoughts: If Trent Dilfer starts (and I think he will) the Seahawks most likely will win the game. If they have to use Matt Hasselbeck, the Cardinals should walk away with an upset. I will predict the score based on Dilfer playing.

Predicted Score:

Arizona Cardinals 17 at Seattle Seahawks 24

New York Giants 0-1

at St. Louis Rams 0-1

Game Forecast

This is an interesting contest. Both teams are 0-1 and need a win to gather some momentum. The Rams did not look explosive and unstoppable on offense like they have the past three seasons while the Giants almost upset the 49ers last Thursday. I don’t think this game is going to be the blowout that many are expecting. The Giants can move the ball via the air with Kerry Collins hooking up with an improved receiving core this season. Both Amani Toomer and Ike Hilliard have worked hard at becoming better players during the off-season and you can really see the difference. Tiki Barber is banged up (what else is new) but he is expected to play and should have a good game against the Rams. Ron Dayne has become almost a non-factor in the offense and will remain so unless Barber gets too banged up to play.

The Rams offense doesn’t look in sync yet this season. Warner didn’t throw a touchdown pass against the Broncos and Marshall Faulk ran for a meager 19 yards. I am not sure what is wrong with the offense and it may well be that they explode for 50 points this week. However the Giants defense played wonderful football against the 49ers last week and made both Jeff Garcia and Terrell Owens look ordinary which is not an easy feat to accomplish. I think the Giants defense will keep them close in this football game.

The Giants Notes:

· Last week, the Giants rushed for 43 yards while the Rams gave up 104 rushing yards

· Lask week, the Giants passed for 318 yards while the Rams gave up 187 passing yards

· Kerry Collins completed 62 % of his passes but had 3 interceptions (2 weren’t his fault though)

· Amani Toomer looks poised to be a top five receiver this year. Much faster (134 receiving yards)

· Tiki Barber is getting the goal-line touches despite being injured.

The Rams Notes:

· Last week the Rams rushed for 32 yards while the Giants gave up 113 rushing yards

· Last week the Rams passed for 295 yards while the Giants gave up 166 passing yards

· Kurt Warner threw for 315 yards and completed 78% of his passes but had no touchdown passes

· Marshall Faulk only ran for 19 yards but caught a staggering 14 receptions

· Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt caught 5 passes each.

Must Starts
QB Kurt Warner
QB Kerry Collins
RB Marshall Faulk
WR Torry Holt
WR Isaac Bruce
WR Amani Toomer

Possible Starts
RB Tiki Barber
WR Ike Hilliard
TE Ernie Conwell
TE Jeremy Shockey

Only in a Pinch
WR Ricky Proehl
RB Ron Dayne
RB Trung Canidate

Bench ‘Em
WR Ron Dixon
WR Eric Crouch
RB Lamar Gordan


Final Thoughts: The Giants defense looked very strong in week one and that should be enough to keep the game from reaching blowout proportions. Last season the Rams only managed to beat the Giants by a single point at home, 15-14. However the Rams are going to come out strong and will get the win. Expect a lot of fantasy points to be scored from both teams this week although many of the Giants could come later in the game.

Predicted Score:

New York Giants 24 at St. Louis Rams 28

Buffalo Bills 0-1

at Minnesota Vikings 0-1

Game Forecast

Both the Bills and the Vikings were in position to start the season off with a win only to see their lead crumble away in the fourth quarters. The Bills looked very strong on offense against the Jets with second year running back Travis Henry cementing his spot as the full time running back with the team. He had an impressive 31 carries for 149 rushing yards and 3 touchdowns as the Bills pounded the ball effectively on the Jets. They should be able to find similar success against the Vikings defense that is an average group at best. Drew Bledsoe looked solid in his first outing and endeared himself to Bill fans when he laid out a punishing block. Bledsoe completed a terrific 67 % of his passes but he did have 2 costly interceptions on the day. Eric Moulds and Peerless Price are delighted to play with Mr. Bledsoe. They caught 15 passes between them and both look poised to have big seasons.

Daunte Culpepper didn’t have a great game for the Vikings in week one but a lot of that had to do with the Bears pressure defense that makes it tough to pass. He did complete a touchdown pass to Moss and ran one in himself. He will find it much easier to pass against the Bills defense this week. Randy Moss was effective but had under 10 yards a reception. He will need to get open deep for the Vikings to be successful. Michael Bennett ran for a miserable 3.3 yards per carry but the Bears are awesome against the run so it may not be an accurate sign of things to come. He should be able to find running room against the Bills.

The Bills Notes:

· Last week the Bills rushed for 142 yards while the Vikings gave up 80 rushing yards

· Last week the Bills passed for 242 yards while the Vikings gave up 288 passing yards

· Drew Bledsoe was solid with 67% passing and a touchdown

· Travis Henry was the powerful back the Bills had envisioned him to be. 31 carries on the day

· Eric Moulds and Peerless Price combined for 15 receptions and a touchdown.

The Vikings Notes:

· Last week the Vikings rushed for 136 yards while the Bills gave up 73 rushing yards

· Last week the Vikings passed for 228 yards while the Bills gave up 193 passing yards

· Daunte Culpepper was only average. He completed 55 % of his passes with 1 touchdown pass

· Byron Chamberlain was injured and is listed as doubtful this week

· D’Wayne Bates caught 2 passes for 50 yards including a 46 yarder.

Must Starts
QB Daunte Culpepper
QB Drew Bledsoe
RB Travis Henry
WR Eric Moulds
WR Randy Moss

Possible Starts
RB Michael Bennett
WR Peerless Price
TE Jay Riemersma

Only in a Pinch
RB Moe Williams
WR D’Wayne Bates
WR Derrick Alexander
TE Jim Kleinsasser
WR Josh Reed

Bench ‘Em
TE Byron Chamberlain (injured)
RB Shawn Bryson
RB Larry Centers


Final Thoughts: I’m not sure who to take to win in this game. Both are better teams than many believe and both have the offensive talent to win on any given week. Because the Vikings are at home, I will pick them to win in another close game. I expect some big numbers from players like Daunte Culpepper, Randy Moss, Eric Moulds and Peerless Price so make sure you start them in this contest.

Predicted Score:

Buffalo Bills 24 at Minnesota Vikings 27

Houston Texans 1-0

at San Diego Chargers 1-0

Game Forecast

The Texans won a huge game when they knocked off the Cowboys in week one. That gave the team and the fans something to build on. However they will be sent back down to earth this week as they take on a Chargers team that suddenly looks very much like a contender. The Chargers destroyed the Bengals in Cincinnati last week and looked powerful on both sides of the ball while doing it. They will have little trouble shutting down the Texans and will likely have this game wrapped up by the third quarter.

The Texans Notes:

· Last week the Texans rushed for 78 yards while the Chargers gave up 36 rushing yards

· Last week the Texans passed for 123 yards while the Chargers gave up 167 passing yards

· David Carr didn’t set the world on fire but had a very nice first game for a rookie against a good defense

· James Allen and Jonathon Wells were very ineffective against Dallas (2.6 yard average)

· Corey Bradford caught 4 passes for 99 yards and a long touchdown

The Chargers Notes:

· Last week the Chargers rushed for 241 yards while the Texans gave up 155 rushing yards

· Last week the Chargers passed for 160 yards while the Texans gave up 112 passing yards

· Drew Brees was deadly accurate with a 79 % accuracy rate and 2 touchdowns

· Ladainian Tomlinson is primed to become a top tier back with 159 total yards and a touchdown

· Curtis Conway caught a touchdown pass.

Must Starts
RB Ladainian Tomlinson
WR Curtis Conway

Possible Starts
QB Drew Brees
WR Tim Dwight
TE Stephen Alexander

Only in a Pinch
WR Corey Bradford
RB Terrell Fletcher

Bench ‘Em
QB David Carr
WR Jabar Gaffney
RB James Allen
RB Jonathon Wells
RB Fred McCrary
WR Jermaine Lewis


Final Thoughts: It is back to reality for the Texans. The Chargers destroyed the Bengals week one and will destroy the Texans week two. I don’t expect the Texans to get an offensive touchdown in this game.

Predicted Score:

Houston Texans 3 at San Diego 24

Denver Broncos 1-0

at San Francisco 49ers 1-0

Game Forecast

The Broncos and the 49ers won with super defensive performances in week one. The Broncos are on a high after knocking off the Rams while the 49ers survived a scare with a pumped up Giants team. Both of these teams have talented offenses to go along with strong defenses and both should be considered serious Super Bowl contenders.

The Broncos did just enough on offense last week to win the game. Brian Griese had his good moments and his bad moments but he came out on the right end of the score, which matters more. It was a three-headed monster at running back but take heart Clinton Portis owners because he looked the best of the three by far and more importantly didn’t have a fumble. Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith both had a touchdown reception in the opener.

The 49ers won their week one game but there is already some cracks showing. Terrell Owens was ticked off on the sideline about his lack of production during the game. Whether he was mad at himself for not getting open or Jeff Garcia for not getting him the ball is unknown though. Terrell Owens is a special talent but needs to find an even keel on the field so he can perform consistently week in and week out. The Giants took him completely out of the game last week and the Broncos will attempt the same thing.

The Broncos Notes:

· Last week the Broncos rushed for 104 yards while the 49ers gave up only 43 rushing yards

· Last week the Broncos passed for 187 yards while the 49ers gave up 318 passing yards

· Brian Griese completed 67 % of his passes and had a pair of touchdowns

· Clinton Portis and Olandis Gary both took turns as the starting tailback

· Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey are still a great one-two punch at receiver

The 49ers Notes:

· Last week the 49ers rushed for 113 yards while the Broncos gave up only 32 yards

· Last week the 49ers passed for 166 yards while the Broncos gave up 295 passing yards

· Jeff Garcia didn’t appear comfortable in the pocket against the Giants. Only had 166 passing yards

· Garrison Hearst will be sharing time with Kevan Barlow all season. Both looked very good in week one.

· Terrell Owens was shut down by the Giants and was in a rage the entire second half.

Must Starts
WR Terrell Owens
WR Rod Smith
QB Jeff Garcia
QB Brian Griese

Possible Starts
WR Ed McCaffrey
TE Eric Johnson
TE Shannon Sharpe
WR J.J. Stokes

Only in a Pinch
RB Clinton Portis [r]
RB Olandis Gary
RB Mike Anderson
RB Garrison Hearst
RB Kevan Barlow

Bench ‘Em
WR Ashley Lelie
WR Tai Streets

Final Thoughts: The 49ers featured a dominant defense at home last season. They gave up only 3 point total the final 3 games to the Bills, Dolphins and Eagles. Expect them to shut down the Broncos nicely this week as well on their way to a 2-0 start.

Predicted Score:

Denver Broncos 10 at San Francisco 49ers 21

SUNDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 15^th

Oakland Raiders 1-0

Pittsburgh Steelers 0-1

Game Forecast

Which Steelers team is for real? The one that cruised through the season last year looking powerful on defense and talented on offense or the team that looked confused on offense and weak on defense in week one against the Patriots. Stewart was under constant pressure all game long against the Patriots and that had a lot to do with his struggles. The biggest concern for the Steelers has to be in the secondary where the Tom Brady and his receivers absolutely embarrassed them play in and play out. Both cornerbacks for the Steelers looked weak and were playing way too far off the line of scrimmage. They will need to really tighten up their coverage this week.

The Raiders looked awesome against the Seahawks but without Trent Dilfer in the lineup the Seahawks were playing way too conservatively. The Steelers will be a focused, angry football team and the Raiders will have to bring their “A” game to pull off the victory. Charlie Garner will have a hard time matching his production last week and it will be up to Rich Gannon and the Raiders passing attack to move the ball down the field.

The Raiders Notes:

· Last week the Raiders rushed for 221 yards while the Steelers gave up 63 rushing yards

· Last week the Raiders passed for 202 yards while the Steelers gave up 280 passing yards

· Rich Gannon was ultra cool in last week’s game. Didn’t have to pass a lot but did a great job.

· Charlie Garner was a force for the Raiders. 191 total yards and 2 touchdowns

· Tim Brown was the best receiver and got a touchdown

The Steelers Notes:

· Last week the Steelers rushed for 74 yards while the Raiders gave up 43 rushing

· Last week the Steelers passed for 209 yards while the Raiders gave up 143 passing yards

· Kordell Stewart was miserable in week one. Ended up with decent stats but did a horrible job.

· Jerome Bettis only had 8 rushes on the day. He needs to have a lot more touches than that

· Hines Ward was super in game one while Plaxico Burress looked uninterested.

Must Starts
QB Rich Gannon
WR Tim Brown

Possible Starts
RB Jerome Bettis
RB Charlie Garner
WR Jerry Rice
WR Plaxico Burress
WR Hines Ward
QB Kordell Stewart

Only in a Pinch
WR Antwaan Randall El
RB Amos Zereoue
RB Tyrone Wheatley
WR Jerry Porter

Bench ‘Em
RB Randy Jordan
RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala


Final Thoughts: The Raiders looked great a week ago and the Steelers looked horrible. The Steelers biggest worry has to be in the secondary as the cornerback coverage was atrocious against the Patriots last week. Tim Brown and Jerry Rice will kill the Steelers if they play 15 yards off of them. I hate going against the Steelers at home but until they show they can rebound from last week’s nightmare, I will have to go with the Raiders.

Predicted Score:

Oakland Raiders 21 at Pittsburgh Steelers 17

MONDAY NIGHT, SEPTEMBER 16th

Philadelphia Eagles 0-1

at Washington Redskins 1-0

Game Forecast

What a terrific match up for Monday Night Football. The new look Redskins proved last week that they will be a competitive team this season and that Steve Spurrier can coach this game at the NFL level. He gave Stephen Davis the ball 26 times and still managed to throw for over 320 yards. Shane Matthews looked very good back there in the pocket. However it is one thing to be able to throw successfully against the sad-sack Cardinals defense but quite another to have success against the Eagles stellar secondary.

Last week, the most effective running back the Eagles had was rookie Brian Westbrook. Like I have said all pre-season he will slowly work his way into the offense and will likely get more and more action as the season goes on. Duce Staley and Dorsey Levens had 10 carries for an uninspiring 27 yards on the day while Brian Westbrook had 8 carries for a solid 42 yards. Staley was effective in the passing game though with 5 receptions and a touchdown. Donovan McNabb had a poor showing for him, completing only 50 % of his passes and 2 interceptions. He did throw for 3 touchdowns though.

The Eagles Notes:

· Last week the Eagles rushed for 80 yards while the Redskins gave up 70 rushing yards

· Last week the Eagles passed for 181 while the Redskins gave up 187 passing yards

· Donovan McNabb was only average in week one with mediocre statistics

· Duce Staley and Dorsey Levens were unable to run the ball with any success

· Brian Westbrook proved he is a talented running back with a 5.2 per carry average

· None of the Eagles receivers stood out as the go-to option. All were effective.

The Redskins Notes:

· Last week the Redskins rushed for 122 yards while the Eagles gave up 61 rushing yards

· Last week the Redskins passed for 320 yards while the Eagles gave up 267 passing yards

· Shane Matthews was terrific against the Cardinals with 327 passing yards and 3 touchdowns

· Stephen Davis is still a workhorse with 26 carries on the day

· Derrius Thompson is indeed the breakout receiver we proclaimed him to be

· Rod Gardner is emerging as a top-tier receiver with 131 receiving yards plus a touchdown reception

Must Starts
QB Donovan McNabb
WR Rod Gardner

Possible Starts
RB Stephen Davis
QB Shane Matthews
RB Duce Staley
WR James Thrash
TE Chad Lewis
WR Derrius Thompson

Only in a Pinch
RB Brian Westbrook
RB Dorsey Levens
WR Antonio Freeman
WR Todd Pinkston
TE Zeron Flemister

Bench ‘Em
WR Jacquez Green
WR Chris Doering
RB Kenny Watson
RB Ladell Betts
WR Freddie Mitchell

Final Thoughts: This game is huge for the Eagles as starting 0-2 may be too tough to overcome. They have beat the Redskins in Washington the past two seasons so I’ll predict a close, hard fought victory for the Eagles this week. Shane Matthews will find it a lot more difficult to pass the ball effectively against this team. If the Redskins win this game, they will start a roll towards the playoffs and at least 12 wins on the year. Huge game for both teams.

Predicted Score:

Philadelphia Eagles 17 at Washington Redskins 14