NFL Week 2

So here we are one week into the season and three of the teams I have playing in the conference championship games have all lost arguably their best players to season-ending injuries. The Giants lost Osi Umenyiora a few weeks ago and now just this week the 2007 MVP Tom Brady went down with a shredded knee and San Diego's Shawn Merriman wisely opted for surgery rather than risk a career-ending injury. I still think the Giants have a big run in them this year, but have serious doubts now about New England and the Chargers, who were stunned by Carolina on the last play of the game last Sunday. Shows you how fleeting success in the NFL can be.

In Week 1, the teams that impressed most were Dallas, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, which now looks like a good possibility to make some noise this year.

Dallas and Philly play Monday night. The NFC East is going to be brutal this year and we could well see three teams again make the playoffs like in 2007.

We opened the season going 9-7 in Week 1. Nothing to celebrate, but after last season, I'll savor being over .500 while it lasts.

SUNDAY
Giants -8.5 RAMS: Giants haven't lost on the road since Week 1 last season and it would take a complete meltdown to lose to a putrid Rams outfit that was outgained by nearly 400 yards against the Eagles last week. New York should be able to name the score. Giants 27-6

CHIEFS -3.5 Raiders: Speaking of putrid, the overmatched Raiders mailed it in in their home opener against Denver. Now I know why the lights are so dim at the stadium in Oakland. Nobody wants to watch this mess. Chiefs 30-10

Titans +1 BENGALS: The Ocho Stinkos couldn't tackle Michael Moore on a scramble if they tried. Over/under on number of Bengals arrested this week is four. Titans 20-17

Colts +2 VIKINGS: Both of these teams entered the season with lofty expectations and one will be 0-2 after this game. Colts looked out of sync against the Bears while Minnesota made Aaron Rodgers look like a Pro Bowler. Peyton lights them up. Colts 28-20

Saints E REDSKINS: Redskins offense was horrendous against the Giants and I don't see how they keep pace with potent Saints. Skins defense keep it relatively close. Saints 24-16

Packers -3 LIONS: Annual Matt Millen watch begins in earnest. Packers 27-20

Bears +3 PANTHERS: Little expected from either team, but one will be 2-0 after this. Panthers have big edge at QB, which decides this. Panthers 16-14

Bills +5.5 JAGUARS: Jacksonville couldn't withstand Titans pass rush and are decimated on the offensive line. A win here and the Bills can start fantasizing about winning the AFC East. Bills 26-21

Patriots +1.5 JETS: New England will struggle offensively without Brady, but they have more than enough talent to keep their regular-season win streak intact against a Jets team that nearly handed the game away to Miami last week. It's a time-honored tradition for the Jets to have a huge letdown when expectations are highest. Memo to Eric Mangini: Always make sure someone on your teams can fill in as an emergency kicker on extra points. Patriots 21-20

BUCCANEERS -7 Falcons: Welcome back to earth, Matt Ryan. Bucs 27-7

SEAHAWKS -7 49ers: After being trounced at Buffalo, Seahawks should be nice and ornery against putrid 49ers. If this were English League football, the entire NFC West would be demoted to the second division. Seahawks 38-10

Dolphins +6.5 CARDINALS: While Arizona will be tasting the rarefied air of being 2-0, Miami will manage to keep it close. Fish don't have the most talent in the league, but they'll play hard. Cardinals 17-13

Chargers -1.5 BRONCOS: Toss out last week and just remember San Diego won by 38 at Obama Stadium last year, where the cleaning crew just finished picking up all those American flags thrown in the garbage. Chargers 27-23

SUNDAY NIGHT
Steelers -6 BROWNS: I though the Browns were overrated coming into the season, while the Steelers looked awesome last week. Nothing here will change those perceptions. As always, The Olbermann Rule is in effect. Steelers 31-21

MONDAY NIGHT
TEXANS -4.5 Ravens: Game moved to Monday night due to Hurricane Ike. Ravens had the pleasure of playing dysfunctional Bengals last week while Houston was smoked by Steelers. Look for big defensive effort from Texans against punchless Baltimore. Texans 24-10

Eagles +7 COWBOYS: Huge early season game from two teams that looked awesome last week, albeit against overmatched opposition. Too many points to lay against team that racked up 522 yards last week. Cowboys 24-23