Adam Man's Week 2 NFL Preview

Okay, so I may have lost all credibility with my predictions for Week 1... but it's freaking Week 1 of the NFL Season. You have a better chance at winning the lottery than guessing that stuff right. My 7-9 week was pretty pitiful, but at least I was right on the Tennessee pick, which I was confident on all the way. But San Diego and Indy losing at home to crappy NFC teams? Rookie QB/Head Coach duos going 2-0 in their debuts? Insanity. Listen, Reggie Bush and Eddie Royal owners, I'm sorry I hated on their chances. But history backed me up, and that's all we had to go on. That being said, let's try to right the ship this week. Here are my picks for Week 2:

Packers @ Lions (+6)
All you have to do is look at my fantasy rosters to know I love the Packers offense (Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings twice). All you have to do is look at the Lions to realize I hate them (though I'm now starting Jon Kitna in the league where I drafted Brady 2nd overall... gulp). If Detroit made Atlanta look like an all-world track team, this game could get real ugly, real quick.
Prediction: Packers, 34-17
Fantasy Love: Rodgers, Grant, Jennings
Fantasy Hate: Kevin Smith

Oakland @ Kansas City (-3.5)
I will check this game to see how Dwayne Bowe, Ronald Curry, and Zach Miller do for my fantasy teams, and for no other reasons. I cannot possibly tell you how much I hate thinking of this game. Like, nightmare bad.
Prediction: Kansas City? 17-14? I guess?
Fantasy Love: Dwayne Bowe, Run DMC
Fantasy Hate: Ronald Curry, Larry Johnson

Giants @ Rams (+13.5)
I don't think the Giants are great, but even I can see this one will be a walk. We should get the Raiders, Cheifs, Rams, 49ers, and Dolphins into one stadium and fight until 1 team survives. There's really no room in the league for that much suck. The Rams are about to make Eli Manning look like a god.
Prediction: Giants, 31-14
Fantasy Love: Eli Manning, Plaxico Burress, Brandon Jacobs
Fantasy Hate: Stephen Jackson, Marc "Whitey" Bulger

Colts @ Vikings (+2)
Here's where the games start getting confusing. The Colts lost to the Bears, who I feel are worse than the Vikings. But sports, time and time again, seem to prove they are not math... so transitive properties don't help here. Tavaris Jackson scares the poop out of me, as he should every Minny fan... but he won't need to do much here as All-Day and All-Night run All-Over the Colts, and their D-Line makes Peyton wish his knees worked right. Unless Indy gets an early lead, in which case the Vikes are screwed (get used to this rule).
Prediction: Minnesota, 27-24
Fantasy Love: Purple Jesus, Reggie Wang Wayne, Garrett Mills
Fantasy Hate: Tavaris Jackson, Sidney Rice, Joseph Addai

Titans @ Bengals (+1)
I'm going to go by my rule that people generally think Tennessee is worse than they really are and that Cincinnati is better than they really are. Vince Young is sad about interceptions and riding around with a handgun... but it's my understanding that dealerships in Tennessee place a handgun in every glove compartment as a promotional tool. Anyway, I'm riding the Chris Johnson express and waiting for the Cincy to show me something.
Prediction: Tennessee wins a painful game, 19-14
Fantasy Love: Chris Johnson (he's good), Bo Scaife (what?), Ocho Cinco (giggle)
Fantasy Hate: Carson Palmer (show me first), Chris Perry (ditto), Titans WR's

Saints @ Redskins (+3)
It's scaring me how many road teams I like this week, though this game doesn't scare me much. All the Zorn Stars out there are going to need to wait longer to see this team click, and even without Marques Colston the Saints offense looks strong. I'm not ready to all-out endorse Reggie Bush, but you should by no means have him on your bench.
Prediction: Saints win, 27-14
Fantasy Love: Drew Brees, Jeremy Shockey, Prime Minister Yah Mon
Fantasy Hate: Jason Campbell, Mantana Soss, David Patten

Bears @ Panthers (EVEN)
Another mystery game... I don't think anybody expected these two to pull out Week 1 games against teams thought to be AFC Elite. Chicago's win was more impressive, and more shocking, to me... but Carolina showed some toughness coming from behind on the road. I think Matt Forte has another big game, and Kyle Orton game-manages better than Jake Delhomme gun-slings.
Prediction: Bears, 21-16
Fantasy Love: Matt Forte, Deangelo Williams, Mushin Muhammad, Desmond Clark
Fantasy Hate: Kyle Orton, Jonathan Stewart

Bills @ Jaguars (EVEN)
After Brady went down, people started raving that the division was the Jets for the taking. Um, the Jets aren't even the second best team in the AFC East. Look north to Buffalo, where they've put together a solid team that will surprise people. I called Jax losing to Tennessee last week, and I'll call this one again this week. The Jags won't be bad this year, but they won't break out how most people claimed. I said it before the year... won't be a great season for Garrard. Not with Matt Jones as his primary target.
Prediction: Bills, 24-14
Fantasy Love: Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans, Maurice Jones-Drew
Fantasy Hate: David Garrard, Matt Jones, Robert Royal

49ers @ Seahawks (-3)
So the Seahawks looked bad last week, but that was on the road against the Bills (who you now know I respect). This week they're at home against the 49ers (who you should assume I don't respect). The bulging discs in Hasslebeck's back scare me, but I think this defense will hold off the Niners just enough for a win.
Prediction: Seahawks, 20-17
Fantasy Love: Maurice Morris, Nate Burleson, Frank Gore, John Carlson?
Fantasy Hate: JT O'Sullivan, Isaac Bruce, Courtney Taylor

Falcons @ Buccaneers (-3)
Another situation that's changed... I expected a lot more from the Bucs last week than they gave, and a lot less from Atlanta than they showed. On the road this week, the rookie QB/coach shakiness will take hold. Also, the Buccaneers field a defense (the Lions should consider trying that out). Tampa will need to show more on offense before I can favor them largely, but...
Prediction: Bucs, 23-14... that feels about right.
Fantasy Love: Earnest Graham, Michael Turner, Joey Galloway
Fantasy Hate: Brian Griese, Matt Ryan, Mike Jenkins

Patriots @ Jets (+1)
The Matt Cassel era begins... and I can honestly say I'm excited. If you're confused why, read this article. Also, I'm not convinced by the Jets at all. The Pats will be running a lot to set up the play-action, and it will work. Brett Favre will make a crazy play, and throw a crushing interception. This game will be close, but the team that is better, not the QB who is better, will win this one.
Prediction: Patriots, 20-17
Fantasy Love: Sammy Morris, Randy Moss, Lavernues Coles
Fantasy Hate: Thomas Jones, Girl Parts Jericho Cotchery, Matt Cassel

Dolphins @ Cardinals (-4.5)
When it comes to games between bad teams, sometimes you just have to go with your gut. My gut tells me the Cards are slightly better than the Dolphins (what an endorsement!). The Fins made Thomas Jones look good last week, and they'll make Edge look even better. Miami will lose to a second grandpa QB in as many weeks.
Prediction: Cardinals win, 21-10
Fantasy Love: Edgerrin James, Larry Fitzgerald, Ricky Williams
Fantasy Hate: Chad Pennington, Ted Ginn Jr., Jay-Z Anquan Boldin

San Diego @ Denver (EVEN)
Another game that you expected to be easier to call 2 weeks ago. San Diego lost a homer they should have won, then officially lost Merriman for the season. Denver's passing game looked strong without Brandon Marshall, and against one of the better Pass D's in the league. Combine those with the Denver home field, and I think San Diego is in panic mode at 0-2 before playing 3 games they should, and will have to, win.
Prediction: Denver wins, 28-20
Fantasy Love: Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, Jay Cutler, Tomlinson
Fantasy Hate: Any 1 Denver RB, Chris Chambers, Vincent Jackson

Pittsburgh @ Cleveland (+6.5)
Wow, that loud crash you heard was people diving off the Browns bandwagon. C'mon everybody, it was 1 game against a very good team. I'll agree the Cleveland won't be an incredibly consistent team this year, but the talent is still there and they'll be in the playoff hunt. They'll have to dig out of a hole though, as Pittsburgh looks crazy good and I don't see them losing this one.
Prediction: Pittsburgh, 31-20
Fantasy Love: Willie Parker, Big Ben, Heath Miller, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow
Fantasy Hate: Santonio Holmes, Jamal Lewis, Donte Stallworth

But what do I know. Enjoy the games everybody. Back on Monday for the MNF predictions.