Overall record: 4-3
St. Louis (1-0) @ Atlanta (0-1)
Georgia Dome, Atlanta (71,228)
Noon CT
Fox
Announcers: Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, Goose
Stripes: The Scott Green Crew (will point them out if they blow a major call)
Line: Falcons by 6 1/2
St. Louis has emerged as a somewhat legitimate team. Sam Bradford played well in game one and their defense is better. But I like the Falcons here at the Georgia Dome. See Julio, Roddy White, Matty Ice and Tony Gonzales having big games.
Falcons 38, St. Louis 28
Carolina (0-1) vs. Buffalo (0-1)
Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo, New York (73,079)
Noon CT
Fox
Announcers: Dick Stockton, Ronde Barber and Kris Budden
Stripes: The Walt Coleman crew
Line: Panthers by 2 1/2
Like Cam to get back in the winner’s column this week. Watched Carolina in the preseason and liked what I saw. They have good weapons on the perimeter led by the stellar veteran Steve Smith. Tight end Greg Olsen is stellar as well. The defense is much improved led by standout linebacker Luke Kuechly, a fantastic player. Cam will find them and lead the Panthers to the much needed road win.
Panthers 28, Bills 24
Minnesota (0-1) vs. Chicago (1-0)
Soldier Field (61,500), Chicago
Noon CT
Fox
Announcers: Thom Brennaman, Brian Billick and Laura Okmin
Stripes: Ed Hochuli crew
Line: Bears by 6
Liked how my Bears looked last week, but this is a tough test for the Monsters of the Midway with the defensive front four of Minnesota led by the dominating Jared Allen going up against a good, but youthful Bears’ oline at left guard and left tackle. Bears will really need to protect Jay Cutler, so Cutler can find Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. I don’t trust Christian Ponder; not sure if I ever will. Trust Jay C. a lot more. Think this could be a special team. Can they beat the elite teams, the Seahawks and the Niners? If Cutler can play well and the defense keeps up their torrid pace of getting turnovers led by the awesome cornerback Charles Tillman, they’ve got a shot to go to New Jersey in February.
Bears 31, Vikings 23
Washington (0-1) @ Green Bay (0-1)
Lambeau Field (80,750) Green Bay, Wisconsin
Noon CT
Fox
Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Pam Oliver
Stripes: Tony Corrente crew
Line: Packers by 7 1/2
RG III needs a bounce back game after the Monday Night disaster. Is he really back to full health and can he be an elite quarterback in the National Football League? That’s to be determined. Meanwhile, I like ARodg and the Pack to get this done. The Pack is missing a couple of starters in their secondary and Clay Matthews had his manhood questioned by Jim Harbaugh on Monday, so he’s made. I like the Pack to get it done and we’ll be evaluating RG III after this game.
Packers 35, Redskins 27
New Orleans (1-0) @ Tampa Bay (0-1)
Raymond James Stadium (65,857) Tampa, Florida
3:05 PM CT
Fox
Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and EA (Erin Andrews)
Stripes: Bill Leavy crew
Line: Saints by 3 1/2
Greg Schiano is having a tough transition as a professional coach and Josh Freeman’s below par performance over the last couple of years has has been a real thorn in his side. Will Freeman ever get it done? It’s not looking that way. Meanwhile, Breesey and the Saints look like they’re back after their week 1 victory over Atlanta. Sean Payton is a program changer and he and Brees are the perfect fit. Like the Saints to move to 2-0 and the future of Josh Freeman to be in jeopardy in Tampa.
Saints 35, Bucs 31
Denver (1-0) @ New York Giants (0-1)
MetLife Stadium (82,656), East Rutherford, New Jersey
3:25 PM CT
CBS
Jim Nantz, Phil Simms
Stripes: Gene Steratore crew
Line: Broncos by 4 1/2
Football on your phone comes to the Meadowlands as Peyton and Eli square off again with Peyton holding a 2-0 edge on little brother Eli. Giants have some injury issues and fumbling issues at running back. David Wilson could be a good running back for them, but he fumbled twice against the Cowboys on Sunday Night and that is unacceptable to NFL coaches. Tom Coughlin was not pleased. But Peyton and Eli are the storylines here. Peyton threw for 462 yards and seven touchdowns in his first game against the Ravens, a 49-27 victory, while Eli threw for 450 yards and four TDs, but was picked off three times in a 36-31 loss. Like older brother to get it done here. The Broncos look Super Bowl 48 capbale, where they would play here again on Feb. 2, 2014. Giants are good, but maybe not good enough this week. Their next meeting is in 2017, so this could be their last one though as durable as Peyton is playing at 41 is certainly not out of the question. Eli would be 36. Both love the game and are fantastic for the game. That could happen too. Like the Broncos here. Like both of them so much that it’s hard to pick against either one of them. But this is what my head is telling me.
Peyton 38, Eli 31
San Francisco 49ers (1-0) vs. Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
CenturyLink Field (67,000), Seattle, Washington
7:30 PM CT
NBC
Al, Cris, Michele
Stripes: John Parry crew
Line: Seahawks by 3
I love this matchup of coaches, Jim Harbaugh vs. Pete Carroll. There is bad blood between the coaches dating back to college when Harbaugh was at Stanford and Carroll was at USC and Harbaugh kept running up the score on the Trojans. It’s even more intensified with these two fantastic teams and ultimate rivals. One of the Niners players called the Seahawks “the Shehawks.” That’s funny, but I don’t know if Seattle found it that way, at least some of the players. Seattle crushed the Niners last year in Seattle. Russell Wilson vs Colin Kaepernick is a classic quarterback matchup. I’m taking Kaepernick and the 49ers defense in this one, and I like the 49ers to make it to MetLife Stadium February 2 and win the Super Bowl as I predicted before the season started. Not sure if they’ll be playing the Patriots as predicted though, but you never know. It’ll be a war in the NFC west this regular season and if these two teams meet up in the playoffs, buckle your seat belt. Really though, buckle up tomorrow night. It will be a raucous environment and a highly intenses game. Taking the 49ers. Kaepernick, wide receiver Anquan Boldin and Harbaugh get it done. We’re going to see some good defense played tomorrow night also.
Niners 31, Seahawks 28
