2015 NFL SEASON: WEEK 2

	Me	Monica	Eli
WEEK 1	11-5	9-7	10-6

  

MUST WATCH GAMES

Broncos at Chiefs

Last week the Chiefs defeated the Texans in their home opener 27-20 behind quarterback Alex Smith connecting with tight end Travis Kelce for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns. In Denver the Broncos had their home opener and defeated the Baltimore Ravens 19-13 as neither team scored an offensive touchdown. Both touchdowns came off of interceptions; one was thrown by Peyton Manning and the other by Joe Flacco. The Broncos defense secured the victory with an interception by Darian Stewart.

Many of the Bronco faithful are trembling about that Manning passed for 175 yards and had a pass intercepted. They are concerned that the drop in his numbers towards the end of 2014 has carried over into 2015. I wouldn’t panic (yet). Especially if you have Manning on your fantasy team (like I do, but still won my game for the week).

Kansas City is a tough place to play. Ask last season’s Super Bowl participants New England and Seattle.

49ers at Steelers

This is the season of the 50^th Super Bowl and not once have the Steelers and 49ers met in this game. Both teams have combined for 14 Super Bowl appearances and 11 Super Bowl trophies- the Steelers won 6 and the 49ers won 5.

Both teams were teams of a decade. The Steelers won 4 Super Bowls in 6 seasons during the 1970s while the 49ers won 4 Super Bowls in the 1980s.

The closest these teams ever got to meeting in a Super Bowl was in 1994. The 49ers took care of Dallas in the NFC Championship game while the Steelers came up short against the Chargers in the AFC Championship game. In Super Bowl XXIX, the 49ers made quick work of the Chargers for their fifth Super Bowl championship.

Both teams played in primetime last week; the Steelers had the longest layoff having played on Thursday at New England while the 49ers hosted the Vikings on Monday.

The Steelers played to my expectations. This team will move the ball well but their defense will struggle. The 49ers were believed to be headed towards doom but on Monday proved that the 49ers decline might have been greatly exaggerated. Running back Carlos Hyde rushed for 168 yards and 2 touchdowns and the 49ers defense’s 5 sacks were part of a 20-3 victory over the Vikings.

Patriots at Bills

Rex Ryan does not like the Patriots. I expect the hatred he had towards them when he was the Jets coach will continue in Buffalo.

One advantage the Bills have heading into this game is the only regular season film of quarterback Tyrod Taylor is from last week.

Giants at Falcons

I am still shocked how the Giants mismanaged the endgame strategy in Dallas last Sunday. The Giants turned 3 Cowboys turnovers into 17 points and still lost.

The Falcons built a 20-3 halftime lead over the Eagles but had to hold on to a 26-24 win.

Cowboys at Eagles

So many storylines in this game. Eagles’ running back DeMarco Murray will take on his former team for the first time this season. Cowboys’ wide receiver Dez Bryant suffered a foot injury during the Cowboys remarkable 27-26 win over the Giants that could have him missing at most the next 8 weeks. Sam Bradford made his Eagles debut and came close to pulling out the win, but threw an interception to give the Falcons the victory.

Seahawks at Packers

It is a shame that the Emmys passed up last season’s NFC Championship Game in the drama category. With 4 minutes remaining, the Packers were leading 19-7 and were looking poised at making their second Super Bowl appearance in five seasons.

That was not to be the case.

The Seahawks rallied to force overtime and Russell Wilson launched a deep pass to Jermaine Kearse for a touchdown that sent the Seahawks to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

The Packers were pleased that the NFL’s schedule formula resulted in the Seahawks coming to Wisconsin. Their last two regular season trips to Seattle have not been successful.

Last season the Packers were sent to Seattle for the NFL’s Kickoff Game.

And in 2012, the Fail Mary

And now the picks.

Kickoff times are Mountain Time

Sunday afternoon games airing in Denver are noted by (DEN)

Picks are in BOLD

NFL Television Schedule Map

THURSDAY NIGHT, CBS/NFL 6PM

Broncos at Chiefs

FOX 11AM

49ers at Steelers (DEN)

Buccaneers at Saints

Lions at Vikings

Cardinals at Bears

Falcons at Giants

Rams at Washington

CBS 11AM

Chargers at Bengals (DEN)

Patriots at Bills

Texans at Panthers

Titans at Browns

FOX 2PM

Cowboys at Eagles (DEN)

CBS 2PM

Dolphins at Jaguars

Ravens at Raiders

SUNDAY NIGHT, NBC 6:30PM

Seahawks at Packers

MONDAY NIGHT, ESPN 6:30PM

Jets at Colts