Week two predictions

The Falcons will ruin Vicks return to Atlanta.

Atlanta beating the Eagles probably isn’t that ‘out there’ a prediction. After last week though, where Atlanta were on the wrong side of a beat down from the Bears and with the Eagles’ dream teams confidence restored, this game has ‘trap’ written all over it. I don’t feel this match is done and dusted; the Eagles could steal a win in this. Expect Turner to have a monster game against a Phillie D that still seems to struggle against the run (last week he had ten carries for 100 yards and a TD). The battle however, will be the Eagle Secondary vs Matt Ryan and those big, quick receivers.

After adding Aso and DMC to a secondary that already included Asante Samuel many had the Eagles shutting the pass down this year. They did just that in a week one, a week where the NFL set records for most passing yards ever (7842 yards, with an average of 245 a game) and the most 300-yard QB games (fourteen), the Eagles kept the Rams to just 201 passing yards. Nnamdi did give away a PI in the end zone but all in all the Eagles looked solid. The Falcons roll to town with Matt Ryan 31 of 47 for over 300 yards in his losing performance last week. These stats would be inflated simply because the Falcons needed to throw late on (being down 23 – 6 with three minutes left in the fourth) but it shows that they can spread the ball around and with Turner running for longer this game (even if probably averaging a little less than the ten yards a carry from last game) Ryan should be throwing into eight-man boxes.

I see them winning 30 – 24, but like my Brees prediction from the Green Bay game, I can see Vick taking the ball with under two minutes left in regulation and driving his Eagles into scoring range for a last minute redemption win.

Indianapolis will Fall to Cleveland.

Again, I’m not sure how much of a surprise many people will find this prediction. It’s more the sheer shock of being able to firmly predict the Browns to win one over on the, once mighty, Colts. Many must feel that the team with the most wins last decade has to be able to beat the team with the second fewest (win ratio of .356). Peyton Hillis is primed to roll for a huge day against the Colts’ poor run D. All you have to do is look at the analyzing numbers for this match up to see why the Colts should lose this game; The browns lead every statistical category on offense including third down conversions (Colts converted a measly 11.1%) and time of possession. The only thing the Colts leads are in the yards allowed sections, as well as third down conversions allowed.

Something that concerns me with this game is a sense that the Browns may underestimate a Manningless Colts. The Colts without Peyton, don’t get me wrong, suck, but the Browns aren’t exactly that good either. It could turn a potential 200-yard day for Hillis into a dogfight. I have the Browns to win this game 24 to 17.

Dallas’ game against San Francisco will be a shock.

I’m sure most people have Dallas to comfortably win this game, and while it’s true they’re defense is vastly superior to the San Fran O this game will be a last quarter battle. I have San Francisco to win it. Alex Smith won’t be carrying the 49ers to the victory; this win will have to come on the back of Gore. So long as he can get going into a Dallas run D that kept the Jets rushing attack and Shonne Green shut down (not exactly an “achievement”) the 9ers may just be able to take this one.

An interesting match up here will be Dez Bryant vs Crabtree. Both players are major divas and both players had poor first years. Crabtree’s career numbers are impressive, considering he missed his first six games and has had virtually no impact on the league, but Dez has shown real promise starting at the end of last season and continuing ‘till he was injured in the first quarter of the Jets game. Crabtree as of yet has shown flashes…but nothing to make him live up to that ‘Michael Irvin’ talent tag he was given coming into the draft. The San Francisco defense will need to close him down (assuming he’s back to full strength) or he will open that Dallas run game which is looking to be vastly improved this year. This game could run away from San Fran if Dez gets going, Felix starts rolling and Gore can’t find space. 49ers over ‘Boys by a score of 20 to 17.