2024-25 NFL Season: Week 2 Preview

      

🏈🏈🏈🏈

Here are my predictions for this second week of NFL action in this still new 2024-25 season:

NY Giants at Washington - One more chance, I will give my G-Men. They usually get the better of Washington in recent seasons. That's maybe the one team that Big Blue can say that about. And despite the poor showing last weekend, I suspect that the Giants make some serious adjustments and play much better here in this one, and earn the "W.". My pick: NY Giants

San Francisco at Minnesota - These two teams both earned impressive, blowout wins. San Fran crushed the Jets, while the Vikings dominated the other New York team, the Giants. Now, the Vikings host the 49ers, which is a huge test. Last season, Minnesota's most impressive win in an otherwise largely dismal season came when they beat the Niners. But San Fran is also aware of that, too. They will surely change things up this time around, and should be able to earn a road win here. My pick: San Francisco

Seattle at New England - The Patriots impressed with a rather surprising win in Cincy, upsetting the Bengals, who entered this season among the relative favorites. Does that mark the beginning of a real turnaround for the Pats? My guess is no. However, they do get to host this game against another relatively weak team in the Seahawks, who nevertheless outlasted the Broncos last weekend to earn a win. Amazing to think that one of these two teams will come out of this sporting an impressive 2-0 record on the new season. My pick: New England

New Orleans at Dallas- Both of these teams are coming off very impressive wins to open up their season last weekend. The 'Boys went to Cleveland and dominated the Browns, a playoff team a year ago, and one which figured to be competitive this season. The Saints obliterated the Panthers, all but clinching a blowout win well before halftime. However, New Orleans now has to go on the road to face Dallas in Big D. These two teams have not faced each other in a few years, so we cannot even really go by recent history in this rivalry. Still, it feels to me that the Cowboys are far and away the better team here in this one, and should be able to earn the "W." My pick: Dallas

NY Jets at Tennessee - Still a skeptic when it comes to the idea that some Jets fans have regarding this team's title chances. I mean, they have not made the playoffs in almost a decade and a half, the longest current streak in the NFL. And they did not look great last week, although opening in San Francisco is a tough way to start your season. Expect the Jets to put things together enough to get past the Titans this weekend to earn their first win, however. My pick; NY Jets

Cleveland at Jacksonville - Both of these teams are coming off disappointing losses to open their seasons. At least the Jaguars came decently close to winning, racing out to a huge lead in Miami, before a disheartening collapse. The Browns, meanwhile, just basically got blown out at home against the Cowboys, which is not at all a good start to their season. Yet, that actually might help them to focus a bit more, because there really is no way but up after hitting the bottom to start the season. My pick: Cleveland

Indianapolis at Green Bay - The Colts fought hard last week, but lost a tight divisional showdown to open their season up. Meanwhile, the Packers fell short to the Eagles in Brazil, and may have had to deal with issues of fatigue after traveling all the way back. Neither team, obviously, wants to lose this one and dig themselves into an 0-2 hole to start the new season. My suspicion is that the Colts make some noise early, and keep it competitive into the second half, but that the Packers start to take over the game at some point, and earn their first win of the season before their home fans. My pick: Green Bay

LA Chargers at Carolina - The Chargers look like a new team. They pretty thoroughly beat the Raiders last weekend in a divisional showdown. Now, they get what still may be the worst team in the NFL. So while this is a road game, and they did have to span across the continent to get to this game, the Chargers still should be able to produce a solid win to improve to 2-0 on the year. My pick: LA Chargers

Tampa Bay at Detroit - The Lions host the Bucs in what for them is yet another playoff rematch from last season. They struggled against the Rams last weekend, and very nearly lost. Expect them to be a bit better this week, and to have a bit of a more convincing time earning this win. Nothing against the Bucs, but I just don't believe that they are all that good. If they were in another division, it feels like they would have been exposed already. The Lions should be able to hand them their first loss in the new season. My pick: Detroit

Las Vegas at Baltimore - Both teams are coming off tough losses to open their season. The Raiders lost to the Chargers in a divisional showdown, while the Ravens lost to the defending champs in KC. Still, the Ravens came close to earning a win, pushing the Chiefs almost right to the end. They also feel like the better team in this one, and should earn their first win of the season. My pick: Baltimore

LA Rams at Arizona - Another game between teams aiming for their first win of the season. To their credit, the Cardinals came close, and fought hard and were impressive in falling short up in Buffalo. The Rams also looked good in a losing cause last week, ultimately falling just short against the Lions. Overall, the better team still feels like the Rams, who qualified for the postseason last year, and feel good enough to be one of the teams in the running again this season. My pick: LA Rams

Pittsburgh at Denver - The Steelers earned a solid, if a somewhat predictable and boring, win last weekend. They did it playing what many of us came to view as trademark Steelers football, with not too much offense, and relying on a tough defense. Not the most exciting stuff, but effective. That should be enough for them to earn a road win up at Mile High today, as well. Just don't think that the Broncos are going to amount to much this season, although I could be wrong. My pick: Pittsburgh

Cincinnati at Kansas City - This should still be a very decent, early season showdown between two of the franchises who should rank among the elites. KC certainly appears to be on their way to another solid season. However, that loss last week at home to the Patriots really raised some concerns about Cincy, because with the entire offseason to prepare, it should have been a win. Expect them to recover, because my suspicion is that they circled this date in particular, and will play their best. Still, the Chiefs are champions for a reason, and should be able to respond. My pick: Kansas City

Sunday Night Football: Chicago at Houston - This is a more difficult game than it may seem to pick. Mostly, because I keep expecting that the Bears may soon have their breakout game. The kind of statement win that serves as an exclamation point, showing that this franchise has grown serious about fielding a competitive team. However, I admittedly doubt that it will come in this game, because the Texans are tough. Also, the Bears have their work cut out for them going on the road in this one. My pick: Houston

Monday Night Football: Atlanta at Philadelphia - The Eagles earned a solid win in Brazil over the Packers. Now, they come off what on the calendar may be a bit longer time off, but which when taking the trials and fatigue of traveling into consideration, may actually have been a somewhat shorter week than average. Still, they should be able to pull off a win at home against the Falcons on Monday. My pick: Philadelphia

Monday Night Football: Atlanta at Philadelphia -