"The Stack" 9-15-17
The Stack is back on this Football Friday ready for the weekend. Our picks were not good last week and they didn’t start out good for week two either with Houston beating Cincinnati 13-9. The Bengals become the first team since the 1939 Philadelphia Eagles to not score a touchdown when they open the season with their first two games at home. Not good for the Bengals. Not good for Marvin Lewis. Who else might it not be good for in week 2? Find out as we preview week 2 and predict who will win in “the stack for today, Friday, September 15th:
Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens 1 PM ET CBS
The Browns were impressive last week, but that Ravens defense was even more impressive. I think this will be a low scoring game, but the Browns are in for a tough one with a rookie QB.
Prediction: Ravens 20 Browns 6
Buffalo Bills @ Carolina Panthers 1 PM ET CBS
Bills head coach Sean McDermott returns to Carolina where he was the defensive coordinator for the Panthers. That Panthers defense was great last week against the 49ers. Tyrod Taylor presents more of a challenge, but at home, Carolina’s defense will be too strong and Cam Newton will have a big game to lead the Panthers to a 2-0 start.
Prediction: Panthers 24 Bills 13
Arizona Cardinals @ Indianapolis Colts 1 PM ET FOX
Both teams were dreadful last week, but the Colts were by far the worst team in the NFL last week. Carson Palmer threw what, three interceptions last week for the Cardinals? That can’t happen this week. Without running back David Johnson, this game will be much more difficult for them to win, but they are a better team than the Colts and Scott Tolzien.
Prediction: Cardinals 20 Colts 13
Tennessee Titans @ Jacksonville Jaguars 1 PM ET CBS
A battle between the alliteration teams. The Titans lost a tough one last week against the Raiders and there is no shame in that. The Jaguars were one of the more impressive teams in week one with their suffocating defense and a strong running game by Leonard Fournette. This is going to be a difficult battle, but at the end of the day, I still think the Titans’ talent wins out in this one.
Prediction: Titans 24 Jaguars 20
Philadelphia Eagles @ Kansas City Chiefs 1 PM ET FOX
Both teams had impressive wins last week? The Chiefs defense will certainly miss safety Eric Berry, but that defense is still going to make life difficult for Carson Wentz and I don’t think the Eagles defense will be able to contain Tyreek Hill and Kareem Hunt.
Prediction: Chiefs 27 Eagles 17
New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints 1 PM ET CBS
I was not impressed by the Saints offense last week. Seems like they are trying to run it too much and throw screens and not push the ball down the field which is Drew Brees’ forte. Brandin Cooks returns to New Orleans and Saints are facing a pissed off Tom Brady. That’s not a good thing.
Prediction: Patriots 41 Saints 23
Minnesota Vikings @ Pittsburgh Steelers 1 PM ET FOX
Sam Bradford was awfully impressive last week against the Saints and that offensive line was really good. They have a much more difficult test against a Steelers team that will be much better than they were last week. The killer B’s (Brown, Bell, Bryant and Big Ben) will be more in sync and the Steelers will come away with a win.
Prediction: Steelers 27 Vikings 16
Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 PM ET FOX
The Bucs play their first game of the season and it will be an emotional day after Irma brought so much destruction to Florida. Jameis Winston, Mike Evans and DeSean Jackson will be too much for the overmatched Bears and the Bucs will deliver an uplifting win.
Prediction: Bucs 34 Bears 13
Miami Dolphins @ Los Angeles Chargers 4:05 PM ET CBS
The Chargers are still saying there are good seats available for Sunday’s game. In less than a 30 thousand seat stadium. In L.A. Where no one cares they are there. Like the Bucs, it will be an emotional day for the Dolphins who are playing their first game, but unlike the Bucs, they are not at home and they will not get a win.
Prediction: Chargers 24 Dolphins 17
New York Jets @ Oakland Raiders 4:05 PM ET CBS
Hmmm, do you think Derek Carr, Marshawn Lynch, Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree will make life miserable for one of the worst teams in football? Um, yes. The Jets are going to struggle to move the ball and the Raiders win this one easily.
Prediction: Raiders 30 Jets 9
Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos 4:25 PM ET FOX
The Broncos were lucky to beat the Chargers Monday night. This game will be a tough test stopping Ezekiel Elliott and Dak Prescott. Something tells me though that their offense will do enough to help the Broncos escape with a victory. The Broncos defense will help lead the way.
Prediction: Broncos 23 Cowboys 16
Washington @ Los Angeles Rams 4:25 PM ET FOX
The Rams were really impressive last week. Too bad not very many people saw it. Washington had a bad game last week with Kirk Cousins not playing his best. Rams head coach Sean McVay goes against his former team. He’ll get the best of them.
Prediction: Rams 27 Washington 14
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks 4:25 PM ET FOX
If the 49ers couldn’t even must a touchdown at home last week against the Panthers, what makes us think they will get any against the Seahawks on the road? It’s not going to be pretty for that battered Seahawks offensive line, but the Seahawks are just way too talented to lose this game.
Prediction: Seahawks 23 49ers 3
Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons 8:30 PM ET NBC
Last year the Packers visited the Vikings in week 2 when U.S. Bank Stadium opened. They lost. They visit the Falcons who are officially opening up Mercedes Benz Stadium. In week 2. Surely Aaron Rodgers and company are ready to get revenge for that NFC Championship loss they suffered last year to the Falcons. The Falcons didn’t play well last week. I’m expecting them to play better in this one. And no, Chick-Fil-A will not be open.
Prediction: Falcons 31 Packers 27
Coming up Monday: Reaction to week 2’s Sunday NFL action plus MNF preview.
