The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

rwells@tribunemedia.net

THEY said the Pats without Tom, without Gronk and with all the other issues had no chance down in the desert last week.

It was said that the Dolphins would be slaughtered by a focused and energised Seattle squad. There was some talk about the Eagles being bad, the Texans being slow, the Jets being strong and the Broncos being done.

I even heard that the Rams could stun a few teams - well that last one was all me. The rest was said by other so-called experts and all proved to be wrong.

Well, that is why we have Week 1 in the NFL, to weed through all of the subjective commentary and get right down to the cold, hard facts. And so, here we are.

Week 1 is in the books and I, like many of my sports colleagues, am looking at or near a .500 record.

My Patriots got a big win last week and I finished at 8-8 with my picks, the former makes up for everything else so I’m overjoyed to say the least. As we advance into Week 2, there is a better understanding of all 32 teams and their ability to produce for four quarters.

While I’m high on a couple of teams that I didn’t find an interest in last week, there are a couple of teams that I started the season high on and today I’m, at best, “iffy”.

my PICKS

New York Jets (0-1) @

Buffalo Bills (0-1)

Both the Jets and the Bills were high on my radar heading into the season.

Most had the Bills being a dark horse, capable of stunning the Patriots and winning the AFC East. While I wasn’t so high on that trend, I believed they could manage to snag that second wild-card spot.

From early on, I pegged the Jets to be, along with my Pats, the cream of the crop in the East.

However, both teams ended up with losses in week 1. The Bills struggled against the Ravens and the Jets couldn’t overcome a late rally by the Bengals.

This week, the two long-time foes square off on Thursday Night Football and I think defence will be the order of the day.

The Jets, in my opinion, have the better defensive unit.

While Darrell Revis looked like a shell of his former self last week, I feel that the Jets have constructed a better eight-man front.

The Bills have had the Jets’ number in recent match-ups, single-handedly keeping the them out of postseason play last year. The Bills are out for retribution this week. But I think they fall short.

JETS

Cincinnati Bengals (1-0) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)

I love it when AFC North teams not named the Browns match up.

This week we have the best the division has to offer. Last week, the combination of Antonio Brown and Ben Roethlisberger proved why the are considered the best QB/WR tandem in the game, connecting for 126 yards and two scores.

This week, they will see another formidable duo - Andy Dalton and A J Green.

When two high quality teams square off, the rule of thumb says you go with the home team.

STEELERS

Tennessee Titans (0-1) @

Detroit Lions (1-0)

Lions snuck away with a win last week against the Colts.

They are at home this week against the Titans, who are looking for win number one. My heart wants to ride with the Titans, but my mind is telling me that the Lions are the better team. LIONS

Baltimore Ravens (1-0)

@ Cleveland

Browns (0-1)

Remember what I said about AFC North match-ups? Yes, Cleveland still sucks.

RAVENS

Dallas Cowboys (0-1) @

Washington Redskins

(0-1)

The Cowboys had their chances last week against the Giants. If it were not for one or two mind-numbing plays, they could be 1-0.

The Redskins showed more flaws than promise in their season opener. But Josh Norman wants to make up for his defence’s poor performance.

REDSKINS

New Orleans Saints (0-1) @ New York Giants (1-0)

Please, if you are free Sunday at 1pm and want to see a really good football game, this is it.

Points will come in bunches. Enjoy!

GIANTS

San Francisco 49ers (1-0) @ Carolina Panthers (0-1)

Panthers are at home. Need I say more?

PANTHERS

Miami Dolphins (0-1) @ New England Patriots (1-0)

It sucks that I have to work this Sunday (I love my employers by the way).

PATRIOTS

Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) @ Houston Texans (1-0)

If the Chiefs are serious, and intend to play four full, strong quarters, this should be easy for them. Do you remember last year’s post-season match-up?

CHIEFS

Seattle Seahawks (1-0) @ Los Angeles Rams (0-1)

If there is one team that really disappointed me last week, it would have to be the Rams. After watching the team on HBO’s Hardknocks, I was convinced that they were ready for something special this year.

I was so wrong. Expect a blowout here

SEAHAWKS

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) @ Arizona Cardinals (0-1)

The birds are thinking SuperBowl. Two early season home loses could doom that.

CARDINALS

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) @ San Diego Chargers (0-1)

Chargers without Keenan Allen can’t match the points output of the young Jaguars.

JAGUARS

Atlanta Falcons (0-1) @ Oakland Raiders (1-0)

The Raiders are that young team that can win now, not SuperBowl win now, but they can compete with those top level teams in the league.

This version of the triplets have the potential to pile up stats.

RAIDERS

Indianpolis Colts (0-1) @ Denver Broncos (1-0)

The Colts have an offence that can match-up with any team, but their defence just isn’t good, not good at all.

I want to say the Colts here but that Broncos defence isn’t anything you want to doubt.

BRONCOS

Green Bay Packers (1-0) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-0)

Adrian Peterson didn’t show up in Week 1. He has to this week in order for the Vikings to have any chance in this one.

I think we will see Sam Bradford by the second half.

PACKERS

Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) @ Chicago Bears (0-1)

Carson Wentz leads the NFL in jersey sales after Week 1. I believe he has the ability to be great in this league; here is to a 2-0 start.

EAGLES