Week 2 NFL Capsules - NFL News And Picks

Week 2 NFL Capsules
By Chris Cluff
Posted: 3:00 am PDT 2006-09-16

Raiders (0-1) at Ravens (1-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Ravens -12 (33.5).
Storyline: The Raiders were pummeled by San Diego 27-0 last week, while the Ravens blanked Tampa Bay by the same score. Steve McNair (17 of 27 for 181 yards and a touchdown) made a solid debut with Baltimore, and Jamal Lewis also started well (78 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries).
Best Bet: Oakland can expect another game like the one in which the Chargers recorded nine sacks. Baltimore, 23-10.

Texans (0-1) at Colts (1-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Colts -13 (47).
Storyline: The Colts have won all eight games against the Texans, who entered the league in 2002. Tony Dungy is going for his 50th win as coach of the Colts.
Best Bet: Houston couldn't cover Donte' Stallworth in his first game with the Eagles, so how do the Texans hope to stop the Colts' standout receivers? Indianapolis, 31-17.

Browns (0-1) at Bengals (1-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Bengals -10 (42).
Storyline: The Bengals have won three straight in the series, including a sweep in Romeo Crennel's first year as the Browns' coach last season. But the Bengals needed a last-second field goal to win 23-20 at home in December. The Browns are without WR Joe Jurevicius, who is out with a rib injury suffered last week.
Best Bet: Thanks to an improved defense that had seven sacks, the Bengals shut down the Chiefs 23-10 last week and should be able to repeat the feat against the offense-challenged Browns. Cincinnati, 24-13.

Bills (0-1) at Dolphins (0-1), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Dolphins -6 (37).
Storyline: The AFC East rivals both suffered tough losses in Week 1 largely because of offensive mistakes in the fourth quarter: Buffalo QB J.P. Losman was sacked for a safety in a 19-17 loss to New England, and Miami QB Daunte Culpepper threw two fourth-quarter interceptions vs. Pittsburgh. The Bills' defense took a couple of hits as safety Troy Vincent (hamstring) was lost for the season, depriving him of playing in his 200th game, and LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring) is questionable. The Dolphins won the last meeting, 24-23 in December, as Chris Chambers set Miami records with 15 catches for 238 yards and scored the winning TD with six seconds left.
Best Bet: The Dolphins' offense should get on track against Buffalo's short-handed defense, and the Bills figure to lose for the sixth time in the past seven September games. Miami, 27-17.

Lions (0-1) at Bears (1-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Bears -9 (32).
Storyline: The Lions were unable to muster much offense against Seattle in Week 1, and now they face a Bears defense that pitched a shutout against Green Bay. The Bears swept this series last year, but the Lions have a tougher defense under new coach Rod Marinelli and a new offense headed by Mike Martz.
Best Bet: The Bears have won seven of the last 11 and four of five at home. As tough as both defenses are, this one is a good bet for the under. Chicago, 16-10.

Panthers (0-1) at Vikings (1-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Pick 'em (37).
Storyline: The Panthers, the chic pick to win the NFC, already face a lot of adversity in the form of injuries. Star WR Steve Smith (hamstring) missed the opener and is questionable for this game. LB Dan Morgan is out indefinitely after suffering another concussion. And the offensive line is in trouble, with LT Travelle Wharton (knee) out for the season and C Justin Hartwig (groin) questionable.
Best Bet: The Panthers beat the Vikings 38-13 last season, but these Vikings are a more efficient, tough-nosed bunch under new coach Brad Childress. Minnesota, 20-10.

Giants (0-1) at Eagles (1-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Eagles -3 (42).
Storyline: The Eagles look to take early command of the NFC East against an equally high-powered Giants team. Philly QB Donovan McNabb threw for 314 yards and three touchdowns in the opener, and he will try to extend his personal winning streak over New York to eight games. He missed both meetings - Giants wins - last season. The Eagles will be without starting CB Lito Sheppard (ankle), while the Giants could be minus OG Chris Snee (ankle).
Best Bet: McNabb will prevail over mistake-prone Eli Manning in what could be a high-scoring affair. Philadelphia, 27-24.

Buccaneers (0-1) at Falcons (1-0), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Falcons -5.5 (35.5).
Storyline: The Bucs have won nine of the past 11 meetings, including the past three. But their offense was shut out by Baltimore last week. Without its starting guards and with RB Cadillac Williams hampered by back spasms, Tampa Bay was held to 26 rushing yards. The Falcons, meanwhile, plowed through a supposedly stout Carolina defense for 252 rushing yards.
Best Bet: The Falcons have been fast starters under coach Jim Mora (6-1 in September) and are looking for their third straight home-opening win. Atlanta, 23-13.

Saints (1-0) at Packers (0-1), 1 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Saints -2 (38).
Storyline: The Packers destroyed the Saints 52-3 last October, but this battle of first-year coaches features a much different Saints team. While the Packers were shut out last week in Mike McCarthy's coaching debut, the Saints followed Drew Brees and Reggie Bush to a win over Cleveland.
Best Bet: The Saints have lost seven straight at Green Bay since 1971, but Brees has been excellent on the road, winning 11 of his last 17 starts away from home. New Orleans, 20-10.

Rams (1-0) at 49ers (0-1), 4:05 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Rams -3 (43.5).
Storyline: Under new coach Scott Linehan, the Rams knocked off the Broncos in Week 1 and now seek revenge for a 2005 sweep at the hands of the 49ers. The Rams beat the Denver Broncos with defense and six field goals by Jeff Wilkins, while the 49ers lost in a shootout with Arizona. The 49ers will be without two big additions on the offensive line, LT Jonas Jennings (ankle) and LG Larry Allen (knee).
Best Bet: The 49ers won the season series last year by a combined seven points, and the Rams' improved defense should be able to make up the difference against a hobbled 49ers offense. St. Louis, 23-13.

Cardinals (1-0) at Seahawks (1-0), 4:05 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Seahawks -7 (47).
Storyline: Arizona, which beat San Francisco 34-27 last week, is seeking its first 2-0 start since 1991, but it faces a team that has beaten it three straight times. The Seahawks, who struggled to win their opener in Detroit, are looking for their team-record 11th straight home victory. Recently acquired WR Deion Branch might make his debut for Seattle.
Best Bet: The Cardinals' running game is their Achilles' heel, and the Seahawks should get theirs going - Shaun Alexander has nine straight 100-yard games against division opponents. Seattle, 24-20.

Patriots (1-0) at Jets (1-0), 4:15 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Patriots -6 (37).
Storyline: Eric Mangini, the Patriots' defensive coordinator last year, hosts his mentor, Bill Belichick, in an early AFC East matchup. Mangini won his first game as coach of the Jets last week, beating Tennessee 23-16. But his under-talented team has an uphill battle against New England, which has won the past six in the series. The Patriots' offense struggled in a 19-17 win over Buffalo last week, and QB Tom Brady can no longer count on the return of WR Deion Branch, who was traded to Seattle this week.
Best Bet: The Patriots ran well in the opener, gaining 183 yards, and can rely on RBs Corey Dillon and Laurence Maroney to pick up the slack in the passing game. The Jets can't say the same. New England, 20-13.

Titans (0-1) at Chargers (1-0), 4:15 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Chargers -11.5 (37.5).
Storyline: The Chargers are heavily favored in their home opener against the Titans, who once again will start recently signed Kerry Collins at quarterback. Collins started last week against the Jets despite being with Tennessee for just 12 days, and the results were predictable: 17 of 38 with two interceptions and a 41.7 passer rating in a 23-16 loss. The Chargers demolished Oakland 27-0 last week, and QB Philip Rivers makes his home debut this week. Billy Volek, who spent the preseason as Tennessee's starter but was inactive in Week 1, is expected to remain in San Diego as a Charger after Sunday.
Best Bet: San Diego's defense had nine sacks - three by Shawne Merriman - last week and will cause significant problems for the Titans, too. San Diego, 24-10.

Chiefs (0-1) at Broncos (0-1), 4:15 p.m. ET
WagerWeb.com line: Broncos -10.5 (38.5).
Storyline: Both teams are coming off disappointing openers in which they had issues at the quarterback spot. Kansas City lost Trent Green for 2-4 weeks after the QB was knocked out by a vicious hit in a loss to Cincinnati. Damon Huard will start this game. For Denver, Jake Plummer threw three interceptions and fumbled once, contributing greatly to the Broncos' loss in St. Louis.
Best Bet: The home team has won the last seven meetings; and with Green gone, the Broncos seem a lock to win this one. Denver, 24-13.

Redskins (0-1) at Cowboys (0-1), 8:15 p.m. ET, NBC
WagerWeb.com line: Cowboys -6 (37).
Storyline: Drew Bledsoe's hold on the starting quarterback position in Dallas grew more tenuous after his performance in Week 1. The 14-year veteran completed just 16 of 33 passes with three interceptions in a 24-17 loss to Jacksonville. He'll have to play better against an aggressive Washington defense if Dallas is to break a two-game losing streak in the series, which includes a 35-7 loss last December.
Best Bet: Washington has not won consecutive games in Dallas since 1987-89. Dallas, 20-17.

Steelers (1-0) at Jaguars (1-0), 8:30 p.m. ET Monday, ESPN
WagerWeb.com line: Steelers -2 (37.5)
Storyline: Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger is expected to be a game-time decision after missing the opener because of an emergency appendectomy. Charlie Batch started against Miami and threw three touchdown passes in the Steelers' 28-17 win. Jacksonville won its opener against Dallas but lost DE Reggie Hayward, who led the team with 8.5 sacks last season.
Best Bet: These teams usually play them close, and the Steelers usually end up on top. Pittsburgh, 17-13.

LAST WEEK: 10-6

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