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NFL Week 2 - early games

NFL Week 2 - late games

Fearless Rick & Coin Flip NFL Week 2 Early Games

All times Eastern

Click here for late games.

Week 1 Results: Rick 5-11; Flip: 9-7

Thursday, September 17

Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Bills (-4.5, 53.5) (8:15 pm, Amazon Prime Video) - Both defenses displayed vulnerabilities in Week 1 victories, though Detroit’s was more egregious, allowing the Saints to rally and send the game into overtime. Besides, the Lions were at home, whereas the Bills played at Houston.

Buffalo chewed through Houston’s defense effectively. As usual, it was mostly QB Josh Allen (334 yards passing, 2 TDs, 23 rushing, 2 TDs) doing the most damage. Expect more of the same against a porous Detroit defense.

Coin Flip: Detroit

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bills 34 Lions 27

Sunday, September 20

Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots (-5.5, 41.5) (1:00 pm, CBS) - Pittsburgh’s defense played well against Atlanta in their 20-13 win, but the offense struggled to run the ball, gaining only 58 yards on the ground. That’s unlikely to work against the Patriots, who come off a tough Super Bowl rematch loss to the Seahawks, 13-10.

NE QB Drake Maye threw three picks in that loss, but don’t expect Pittsburgh to do the same. In fact, the numbers may be reversed as the Patriots pester Aaron Rodgers into errors. He’s not as mobile as he used to be.

Coin Flip: New England

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Patriots 24 Steelers 10

Green Bay Packers (-4.5, 44) @ New York Jets (1:00 pm, FOX) - The Packers got steamrolled by Minnesota’s defense in a horrific, 39-22 loss last week that does not bode well for them making their second straight road start.

The Jets had little difficulty downing Tennessee, 23-10, and their balance on offense should work to their advantage. New York has newfound confidence and should surprise with an upset.

Coin Flip: New York Jets

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Jets 26 Packers 23

Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-8.5, 41) (1:00 pm, CBS) - The line seems rather large for a team (Tampa Bay) coming off a loss, but, after all, they are at home against the Browns, who insist on starting washed-up QB Deshaun Watson, who was sacked five times by the punishing Jacksonville defense. Playing another week in steamy Florida weather isn’t going to help their cause.

The Bucs only had 53 plays from scrimmage in their 33-27 loss, which says they were quite efficient offensively. Could be a second straight blowout loss for the Browns.

Coin Flip: Tampa Bay

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Buccaneers 38 Browns 17

Philadelphia Eagles (-7, 39.5) @ Tennessee Titans (1:00 pm, FOX) - Philly looked to be on top of their game in last week’s 24-22 win over AFC East rival, Washington. The defense let down a bit in the fourth quarter, but that happens when Jayden Daniels is running the offense. That shouldn’t be a problem against the Titans. Cam Ward is no Jayden Daniels.

Tennessee is still years away from being a contending team in the NFL. Ward, so far, has been a bust, but the Titans don’t have many options. They’ll stick with him until they lose more games or Ward gets injured.

Coin Flip: Philadelphia

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Eagles 31 Titans 14

Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears (-4.5, 49) (1:00 pm, FOX) - Viking QB Kyler Murray is still questionable leading up to this NFC North showdown, seems likely to get the start after concussion protocol. Even if he doesn’t go, backup Carson Wentz threw three TDs against the Packers in Minny’s 39-22 wipe-up and the defense was ferocious in the second half. Vikings out-scored the Packers 29-3 in the third and fourth quarters.

If Minnesota’s defense is as good as advertised and the offense avoids turnovers, they will keep this one close. Chicago rushed for 291 yards in their 59-37 rout of Carolina. That’s not going to happen again. The Bears allowed 478 yards of offense to the Panthers, a bit much, even in a romp.

Coin Flip: Minnesota

Fearless Rick’s Pick: Bears 31 Vikings 30

Click here for late games.