NFL Picks, week 2
Random fact for football fans out there: Using the phrase "super bowl" as part of a marketing campaign or in any activity involving the transaction of money, without the NFL's written consent, is a violation of federal law.

Thankfully, I don't have to worry about that for another 19 weeks!

-Carolina at Kansas City - Arrowhead stadium is tough to play in, and I still don't have a lot of respect for the Panthers (especially with Davis out). KC
-Chicago at Green Bay - These are not your father's Bears. They have no running game, no defense, and oh yeah, their quarterback is definitely NOT flamboyant enough to carry them. GB
-Denver at Jacksonville - I'd like to say that last week's game against the Chiefs was an aberration for the Broncos, but it wasn't. I'm impressed by Jacksonville, though, and I think this'll be a close one. DEN
-Houston at Detroit - This is another game that's going to be hard to get excited about. I know Roy Williams is good, but I really think that David Carr and co. are just a little better. Another close one. HOU
-Indianapolis at Tennessee - I can't believe some bookies have the Colts listed as underdogs for this game. Their offense is just too superior to the Titans' defense. IND
-Pittsburgh at Baltimore - Originally, I thought Baltimore would beat the Steelers, but the more I think about it, the more I realize how little the Ravens actually have on offense. PIT
-San Francisco at New Orleans - Two perennially underachieving coaches go head-to-head in a game that will define the 49ers' season, but not the Saints. Why? Because the Saints suck, but the niners are worse. NO
-St. Louis at Atlanta - Another game where the bookies have the odds all wrong. The Falcons showed a lot of promise last week, but they still struggled against a San Francisco team that really isn't expected to do much. STL
-Washington at N.Y. Giants - Kurt Warner will, I presume, remain the starter for this Giants team, which really isn't all that bad a decision. I think he's still better than Eli Manning. The problem is that Joe Gibbs is a much better coach than Tom Couglin (overrated, maybe?) and has better personnel on BOTH sides of the ball. WAS
-Seattle at Tampa Bay - Is it possible that Jon Gruden merely got himself into the right place at the right time with two different franchises? No matter. Seattle wins two road games in a row for the first time this century. SEA
-Buffalo at Oakland - It's going to take a long time for Norv Turner to dig himself out of the whole that Bill Callahan dug for him last year. Meanwhile, the best QB on the team remains the third-stringer (Tuiasapopo). Drew Bledsoe makes amends for last week. BUF
-Cleveland at Dallas - Can anyone believe that the Browns beat Baltimore last week? It's like I'm stuck in some horrible dream. DAL
-New England at Arizona - Dennis Green is another good coach on the west coast who's gotten himself into a rough situation. This time, unlike the Raiders, it's a management problem. He's got some good players, but it'll be another year before he can beat the Patriots. NE
-N.Y. Jets at San Diego - Nobody thought that this would become a game hyped over its running backs. Curtis Martin showed against the Bengals that he's still got some rubber on his tires, and the Jets defense will remind Marty Schottenheimer that sometimes, it's best to keep your offensive line, rather than cut 8 out of 11 OLs from one year to the next. NYJ
-Miami at Cincinnati - Patrick Surtain isn't 100%, the Dolphins have no offensive line, no running game, and no quarterback. This will be the perfect opportunity for the Bengals D to rebuilt its injured ego. CIN
-Minnesota at Philadelphia - In a pass-wacky spectacular, two good QBs who happen to be able to run pretty well (and, oh yeah, were drafted in the same class) will face off bringing two very good wide receivers with them as well (not from the same draft). It's going to be a passfest, and the Vikings have a huge advantage in that regard. MIN