NFL Week 2 Previews and Predictions, Part 2

Sunday, September 14th

DETROIT LIONS (1-0) @ CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-0)

1:00 pm ET @ Bank of America Stadium (FOX)

Detroit got their season off to a winning start with a comfortable win over the Giants, and within 10 minutes of the opening kickoff, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson served notice to the rest of the league that they are prepared to lead the Lions forward after disappointing finishes to their recent seasons. While not talked about as much as the likes of Brees or Manning, Stafford has quietly been improving every season, and looks poised to take the next step into consideration as an elite QB. The addition of Golden Tate to the receiving corps was expected to not just free up Johnson from perpetual double-teams, but to provide a dependable 2nd option, and his 6-93 debut with no drops earned rave reviews. The two-headed rushing monster of Joique Bell and Reggie Bush will find it tough going against the best defensive front 7 in the league, and it may well be the more physical and powerful Bell who does better than Bush, who relies more on speed and athletic ability but will be facing linebackers like Luke Kuechly who have the capability to be equal to the task. The Lions have an intimidating pass rush of their own, and they will have to be careful to avoid overpursuing Cam Newton.

Carolina raised some eyebrows last week after going on the road and beating a Tampa Bay team that many had picked to be among the most improved this season. On top of that, they were able to do it with their starting QB Newton sidelined. He is slated to return this week in their home opener, and for the Panthers faithful, that’s probably a good sign, given the aforementioned nature of Detroit’s pass rush. Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen did well to offset the loss of Steve Smith, and even DeAngelo Williams, who has been essentially AWOL for the last few seasons, turned in a fairly solid 14-72 performance on the ground, while the defense looked to be in midseason form already with 3 takeaways. The pass rush will have to be in top form to deny Stafford the time to pick apart their relatively green secondary. If they get penetration through Detroit’s offensive line, it could spell trouble for the Lions.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Cam Newton, Matthew Stafford, Joique Bell, Calvin Johnson, Golden Tate, Kelvin Benjamin, Greg Olsen, Carolina defense

Sit ’em: Reggie Bush, Jonathan Stewart, Jerricho Cotchery

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Detroit will have a stiff challenge going up against Kuechly and the Carolina defense but Stafford showed everyone that he is here to play.

Final Score:

Lions 27, Panthers 21

 

MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0) @ BUFFALO BILLS (1-0)

1:00 pm ET @ Ralph Wilson Stadium (CBS)

Both teams in this matchup emerged as surprise victors in their season openers, with Miami perhaps impressing the most in defeating the Patriots at home. Their defensive performance stood out especially, with Cameron Wake‘s 2 sack-fumbles keying a 23-0 2nd half as the Dolphins overcame a 10-point deficit at the half. Ryan Tannehill was steady if unspectacular, and his chemistry with Mike Wallace continues to improve, with the QB seeking him out 11 times in week 1. Knowshon Moreno was expected to play second fiddle to Lamar Miller, who was named the starter late in the preseason, but Moreno will be banging down the door for more snaps and touches if he can continue to turn in 24-134-1 lines.

Buffalo will bring a very different game plan than New England did, as their offense is a more run-oriented version. Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller, and Anthony Dixon combined for 174 yards on the ground against Chicago. QB E.J. Manuel passed sparingly, and his favorite target seemed to be 2nd-year pro Robert Woods. Their defense managed to get to Tannehill last season, sacking him 7 times in a December matchup, but this year’s unit also gave up 425 yards to the Bears last week.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Mike Wallace, Knowshon Moreno, Miami defense, Fred Jackson, C.J. Spiller

Sit ’em: Robert Woods, Buffalo defense, E.J. Manuel, Ryan Tannehill

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Maimi’s win over New England was impressive. The Bills’ win over Chicago, at Soldier Field and in OT, was not as impressive but it got them the “W”. In a surprising start to the season, I see the Bills taking first place of the AFC East.

Final Score:

Dolphins 17, Bills 20

 

ATLANTA FALCONS (1-0) @ CINCINNATI BENGALS (1-0)

 1:00 pm ET @ Paul Brown Stadium (CBS)

Cincinnati will be looking to improve on their rushing effort after a subpar performance last week, which was a key reason behind why they were unable to sustain drives and build on their halftime lead against the Ravens. Dual-threat back Giovanni Bernard will be eager to take the field against a defense that yielded almost 140 yards, and has given up 14 straight 100-yard games. The loss of Tyler Eifert to the IR list this week hurts, but that only opens the door up for Andy Dalton to target A.J. Green and Mohamed Sanu even more. With Atlanta’s left tackle Jake Matthews possibly ruled out and at best playing at less than 100% on an ankle injury, the Bengals’ pass rush will look to capitalize and shut down Atlanta’s run game and create pressure on the passing game.

Matt Ryan‘s current nickname “Matty Ice” may soon have to be changed to “Matty Air” if week 1 was any indication. His 31-43/445/3 to 9 different receivers was one of the highlights of the week, and with favorite receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White healthy, this offense could put up some huge numbers this season. White emerged from the Saints game a little banged-up, but he should be good to go, and this will be a good test for a Bengals team that has one of the top defenses in the league. A consistent run attack will help keep their opponents honest, and while Steven Jackson and Jacquizz Rodgers did not blow anyone away with their numbers last week, their combined effort of 18-86-1 provided a decent return for their efforts. Ultimately, look to the Falcons to air this one out, as they showed against the Saints that their defensive unit still leaves a lot to be desired.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Andy Dalton, Matt Ryan, A.J. Green, Giovanni Bernard, Julio Jones, Roddy White, Mohamed Sanu (Flex)

Sit ’em: Atlanta defense, Steven Jackson, Jermaine Gresham

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Both teams had good wins last week. No doubt about that. But I see the run game possibly being the deciding factor here.

Final Score:

 Falcons 24, Bengals 27

 

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-1) @ CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-1)

1:oo pm ET @ Browns Stadium (FOX)

After giving up more than 500 yards of offense last week, the Saints will be looking to rebound against a Browns team that will be missing two offensive playmakers. It will always be a comfort for defenses to know that they have a teammate like Drew Brees on the other side of the ball, but their production will have to improve if they are to truly be an NFC contender this season. Brees appears to have already developed good chemistry with rookie Brandin Cooks, and his sheer pace and route-running ability could be a difference-maker. Marquis Colston and Jimmy Graham also turned in solid season-opening efforts against Atlanta, and with three equally-viable threats at running back between Pierre Thomas, Mark Ingram, and Khiry Robinson, the Saints do not lack for attacking options against a vulnerable defense.

The injuries to Ben Tate (out) and Jordan Cameron (day-to-day) are hammer blows to Cleveland’s offensive scheme. Thankfully for them from the running standpoint, Isaiah Crowell and Terrance West were more than capable replacements for Tate, with 2 touchdowns and a 100-yard day respectively off the bench. If Cameron is unable to play, Travis Benjamin and Andrew Hawkins will be relied on to provide outlets for Brian Hoyer. The Browns, of course, possess the ultimate kink in their offense this season, with a certain rookie QB patiently waiting his opportunity. Similar to the Saints, this defense gave up 490 yards last week, and their struggles combined with New Orleans’ could point to a shootout.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Saints offense, Terrance West, Jordan Cameron (check status)

Sit ’em: Both defenses, Andrew Hawkins, Brian Hoyer

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Picking the Browns for the upset is very enticing. Their attempt at a comeback vs the Steelers last week as impressive but I don’t think it’ll be so easy against the Saints. I’ll take Brees.

Final Score:

 

Saints 28, Browns 17 

 

DALLAS COWBOYS (0-1) @ TENNESSEE TITANS (1-0)

1:00 pm ET @ LP Field (FOX)

With 4 turnovers in their first 5 possessions of the season, 2014 could not have gotten off to a worse start for the Cowboys. Tony Romo did nothing to silence speculation about whether or not his back has fully recovered from surgery this offseason with his 3 interceptions in that half, demonstrating very poor decision-making in doing so. The news got worse for Cowboys fans last week as Dez Bryant was sidelined with dehydration all afternoon. The one bright spark was DeMarco Murray‘s 5.4 yards per carry average as he finished the day with 118 yards on the ground. Their defense “only” gave up 319 total yards against the 49ers, but it’s worth keeping in mind that as a contest, that game was over by halftime.

One reason why there isn’t much optimism for Dallas to improve on last week’s performance is how well the Tennessee played last week on the road at Kansas City in forcing 3 turnovers and limiting All-World running back Jamaal Charles to just 34 yards from scrimmage. The Titans have quietly improved to the point that health issues permitting, they could end up being one of the surprise teams of 2014. Of course, “health permitting” has been an issue for Jake Locker in the past, but now more than ever seems to be a chance for him to have a breakout season. There are no real glamor names in their lineup, but in Shonn Greene, Kendall Wright, Dexter McCluster, and Delanie Walker, they have a solid core of role players. If Justin Hunter and Bishop Sankey are able to justify the preseason hype surrounding them, there’s all the more reason to tip this team for big things.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: DeMarco Murray, Shonn Greene, Kendall Wright, Tennessee defense

Sit ’em: Dallas defense, Terrance Williams, Bishop Sankey

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Dallas looked horrible at home. The Titans looked great in Kansas City. But I do expect it to be pretty close. The Titans only won one game while Dallas has proved to bounce back in prior years, sort of.

Final Score:

 

Cowboys 20, Titans 24

 

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (0-1) @ MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-0)

1:00 pm ET @ TCF Bank Stadium (CBS)

67 measly yards is all New England’s offense was able to muster up in the 2nd half last week. This will definitely have been an area of focus in practice this week for Tom Brady and Co. Inexplicably, with a 10-point lead at the half, the run game was abandoned in the 2nd half,  and their backs only accounted for 5 attempts for 25 yards. Minnesota was stout against the run last week, but Shane Vereen and Stevan Ridley are a different proposition from St. Louis’ backs, and Vereen adds an extra dimension with his pass-catching ability. Rob Gronkowski showed some signs of rust, but still managed to snag a TD grab, and should be raring to go. Patriots fans still await the much-anticipated Kenbrell Thompkins explosion onto the scene, but meanwhile, Julian Edelman remains as Brady’s safety valve.

Minnesota’s win over a Rams team was impressive not just in its dominance (34-6), but by the manner in which it was accomplished. The fact that Adrian Peterson did not lead the team in rushing was surprising enough, but Cordarrelle Patterson‘s electrifying performance in taking a 67-yard reverse to the end zone (pictured) and gaining 35 yards on 2 other carries exceeded even the most optimistic projections for how the 2nd-year playmaker would contribute. Matt Cassel was a model of efficiency, spreading the ball among 7 different receivers, and the defense stepped up in a big way with 2 interceptions (one a pick-6), 5 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles. History has shown that a penetrating pass rush tends to rattle Brady, and this will be the Vikings’ best chance for victory. The Patriots have not opened a season 0-2 since Brady was a backup and the Vikings have not opened a season 2-0 since 2009. Something’s going to have to give on Sunday, and with the bombshell news on Friday night that Peterson has been deactivated, Minnesota may find 2-0 to be a tough ask, even at home.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Shane Vereen, Adrian Peterson, Cordarrelle Patterson, Minnesota defense, Julian Edelman (PPR)

Sit ’em: Kenbrell Thompkins, Matt Cassel

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Many people will be quick to count the Vikings out with the deactivation of Adrian Peterson. Just like Derek explained above, Patterson lead the team in rushing last week and the Pats showed that they had some holes in their defense. 2-0 start for the Vikes, 0-2 for the Pats.

Final Score:

 

Patriots 17, Vikings 20 

 

ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-0) @ NEW YORK GIANTS (0-1)

1:00 pm ET @ MetLife Stadium (FOX)

New York looked like a football team in disarray last season, and unfortunately for fans of the G-Men, those issues look to have carried over to this season. Eli Manning and his receivers appeared to be struggling to adapt to the new offensive scheme under new coordinator Ben McAdoo, even as they managed to win all their preseason games, and when the games started to count last week, Victor Cruz and Rueben Randle were non-factors in a game where the Giants fell behind early. Defensively, they surrendered over 400 yards of total offense and 35 points, 6 of which came after a comical miscommunication between Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Stevie Brown left Calvin Johnson free to literally jog into the end zone. Simply put, New York is a mess right now, and there’s little reason for optimism.

Meanwhile, Arizona showed tremendous fighting spirit in overcoming an 11-point deficit in the 4th quarter to defeat San Diego last week. Carson Palmer, despite targeting Larry Fitzgerald only 4 times, ended up with a solid 24-37/304/2 line on the night, while running back and emerging star Andre Ellington showed no ill-effects from his reported foot injury in picking up hard-earned yards in what was primarily a defensive battle. Giants RB Rashad Jennings will find it tough going against a run defense that only gave up 52 yards on the ground.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Rashad Jennings, Arizona defense, Andre Ellington, Michael Floyd, Larry Fitzgerald, Carson Palmer

Sit ’em: Eli Manning, Giants defense, Rueben Randle

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Arizona looks great. Their defense is stout as can be and the Giants don’t have much to work with on offense. I really don’t see the Giants stopping Michael Floyd either.

Final Score:

Cardinals 20, Giants 13

 

 

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-1) @ WASHINGTON REDSKINS (0-1)

1:00 pm ET @ FedEx Field (CBS)

The Blake Bortles watch continues, as Jacksonville’s Jekyll-and-Hyde performance last week indicated the type of inconsistency that has plagued this franchise for years. After one half of football, Chad Henne and undrafted rookie Allen Hurns were poised to shock the NFL world, taking a 3-score lead into halftime while shutting out the Eagles’ high-powered offense. And then, just as quickly as the surprise developed, reality hit hard and the Jaguars were left to reflect on a 34-17 loss. While the collapse was rather spectacular, don’t overlook this defense’s capability, though – the Jaguars were able to sack Nick Foles 5 times and forced 3 turnovers. The loss of their best DB Jonathan Cyprien will hurt an already vulnerable secondary.

An altogether different type of QB watch is developing in Washington, as Robert Griffin III continues to struggle to recapture the form that earned him NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2012. Criticism continues to mount about his listless play, and Kirk Cousins may be called into action before long, if new head coach Jay Gruden is willing to gamble on going against the wishes of team ownership to keep faith in Griffin. Alfred Morris and Roy Helu make for a solid 1-2 punch at running back, but they cannot be a threat as long as Gruden maintains a 2:1 pass-run ration as he did in their opener against Houston.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Alfred Morris, Robert Griffin III, DeSean Jackson, Toby Gerhart, Allen Hurns, Cecil Shorts III (check status)

Sit ’em: Roy Helu, Jordan Reed (out), Marqise Lee, Chad Henne, Jacksonville defense

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

The Redskins live and die by RGIII. The Jaguars had a tough time last week as the fell very hard to the Eagles but I do see them pulling this one out.

Final Score:

 

Jaguars 17, Redskins 14 

 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-0) @ SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (0-1)

4:05 pm ET @ QualComm Stadium (FOX)

A 4-step plan to beat Seattle:

1) Play them away from Seattle. San Diego has already accomplished this, thanks to the NFL scheduling office. Will San Diego’s own fanbase be able to turn QualComm into a true home-field advantage for the Chargers now?
2) Control the clock. The best way to do this is to ensure that the running game will be able to pick up significant first-down yardage and convert third downs. Ryan Mathews will have to be at his absolute best to make this a reality. His pedestrian 12-40 effort against the similarly-aggressive Cardinals defense last week will not do the job.
3) Out-physical Seattle on both ends of the ball. The only real way to stop Marshawn Lynch is to trap him in the backfield before he is allowed to gain a full head of steam and barrel into/over/through defenders. To get your passing game going against their (rightfully) much-vaunted defense, your receivers have to be able to cope with their physical linebackers and secondary, who hit hard and as often as Richard Sherman runs his mouth. Antonio Gates is more than just a wily veteran – he has the size and physicality to match up well against Seattle’s linebackers. But he’s also a lot older than them, and a big issue for San Diego here is having had only 5 days of rest after the late Monday night game compared to Seattle, who played 4 days earlier.
4) Counter their athleticism on offense. Russell Wilson‘s ability to create outside the pocket may not be hailed as much as someone like Cam Newton, but he is just as comfortable being a playmaker while scrambling as he is between the tackles. A healthy Percy Harvin has already reaped benefits for Seattle this season, after he racked up 170 total yards against Green Bay. It is defensive tasks like these that the San Diego signed Dwight Freeney for.

Easy enough for Phillip Rivers and Co., right?

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Marshawn Lynch, Antonio Gates, Seattle defense, Phillip Rivers, Percy Harvin

Sit ’em: Ryan Mathews, Keenan Allen, Eddie Royal

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Rivers has already publicly said that he will target Richard Sherman, something Aaron Rodgers didn’t do last week. It opens up more options but Sherman isn’t the only defensive weapon the Seahawks boast. Defending champs to start on a roll.

Final Score:

 Seahawks 31, Chargers 20

 

ST. LOUIS RAMS (0-1) @ TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (0-1)

4:05 pm ET @ Raymond James Field (FOX)

For St. Louis, this season was meant to be a breakthrough year. Even while playing in the confines of the murderer’s row of the NFC West, there were predictions among real and fantasy football analysts that 2014 was going to see all the young talent on that squad gel into a playoff run. Most of those hopes are now up in ashes, with Sam Bradford ruled out for the season, defensive end Chris Long ruled out until the middle of the season, and even backup QB Shaun Hill sidelined after picking up an injury in week 1. Head coach Jeff Fisher remains optimistic that Hill will be able to start this Sunday, however, and he has his work cut out for him to turn around a fairly disastrous start to the season for the Rams. The numbers tell a pretty alarming story: 34 points and 5.8 yards per rush given up on defense, and not much better on offense with 2 turnovers, 4 fumbles, and a mediocre 3 yards per carry. On the plus side, Brian Quick finished just shy of a 100-yard receiving day, and Tampa can be beaten through the air.

Re-establishing Doug Martin‘s dominance on the ground may have been a priority for Tampa, but Logan Mankins‘ injury has soured that outlook somewhat. Josh McCown will have to do a lot better than completing 50% of his passes to the duo of Vincent Jackson and rookie Mike Evans if Martin continues to struggle. They faced a pass rush that was better than St. Louis’ last week, which may end up being good preparation in facing the Rams’ first line of defense.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Very little to trust in this game outside of St. Louis’ defense and Brian Quick as a WR3/Flex.

Sit ’em: See above.

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Both teams played BORING games last weekend. The Bucs couldn’t even take out a Panthers team that lacked Cam Newton. Lucky for them, the Rams come into town with a limp.

Final Score:

Rams 10, Buccaneers 17

 

 

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-1) @ DENVER BRONCOS (1-0)

4:25 pm ET @ Sports Authority Field (CBS)

Following their embarrassing defeat at the hands of Tennessee to start the season last week, Kansas City has now gone 2-7 since opening 2013 on a 9-0 run, and the news does not get much better for Chiefs fans from there, with the news that two key defensive starters have been ruled out for the season. Jamaal Charles somehow only ended up with 11 touches in that game, and Andy Reid knows that getting this offense back on track requires getting Charles back on track. A hidden weapon on their sidelines may be tight end Travis Kelce, who had a very impressive training camp and preseason, but was still only used sparingly in week 1. Dwayne Bowe is a shadow of his former self, and having a consistent deep threat would open things up for both Charles and Alex Smith, so either of Kelce or Bowe stepping up would be a big boost to Kansas City’s offense.

Peyton Manning began 2014 on a roll, throwing 3 touchdown passes in a roughly 12-minute span in the 2nd quarter of their opener. Ever the perfectionist, Manning will have noted that Denver’s offense sputtered in the 2nd half of that game, and with the return of Wes Welker, his options have only increased without even mentioning Julius Thomas or Montee Ball. Emmanuel Sanders was tipped to become a favorite target for Manning as Eric Decker‘s replacement, but as if to further drive home the gluttony of offensive riches in Denver, he may very well end up being better, with his sheer speed possibly making reverse plays a more common sighting for Denver fans this season.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Peyton Manning, Jamaal Charles, Emmanuel Sanders, Julius Thomas, Matt Prater, Montee Ball

Sit ’em: Dwayne Bowe, Alex Smith, Andre Caldwell, Ronnie Hillman

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

The Chiefs got spanked by the Titans last week. Now they get to visit the Broncos. Whoo-pee.

Final Score:

 Chiefs 13, Broncos 28

NEW YORK JETS (1-0) @ GREEN BAY PACKERS (0-1)

4:25 pm ET @ Lambeau Field (CBS)

New York was impressive in notching up over 400 yards of offense last week, but then again, they were up against Oakland at home. Traveling to the less-friendly climes of Green Bay will be a different proposition altogether for Gang Green. They will be looking to exploit the Packers’ ever-vulnerable defense, and they have to fancy their chances with the running back tandem of Chrises Ivory and Johnson, who combined for a line of 23-170-1 last week. Geno Smith is probably not at the point of his career yet where he can be counted on to beat teams like Green Bay through the air, but Eric Decker‘s solid debut as his new #1 receiving target will aid his development as a long-term point. Of immediate concern for Rex Ryan will be his team’s inefficiency in the red zone last week, with only one TD to show for 4 trips against the Raiders, including a costly goalline fumble by Smith, If the Jets are unable to establish their rushing attack, that could spell trouble.

And speaking of running games, the emergence of Eddie Lacy as a legitimate threat at RB for Green Bay was meant to serve the dual purpose of improving that facet of their attack and opening things up for Aaron Rodgers in the passing game to bring glory days back to Titletown, but much hinges on Lacy’s recovery from the concussion sustained in week 1. It’s been a good sign for Packers faithful that he has been able to practice this week, but his status for the game is still toeing a fine line between Doubtful and Probable. Uncharacteristically for Rodgers last week, Green Bay struggled to get things going on the passing front, though to be fair, the matchup was far from favorable. The Jets were able to limit Derek Carr to just 151 yards passing last week, so the battle between Green Bay’s top WRs Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb and the Oakland secondary should be a fascinating one.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Aaron Rodgers, Chris Johnson, Eddie Lacy (check status), Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Eric Decker (PPR)

Sit ’em: Geno Smith, Andrew Quarles

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

The Jets had the benefit to play the Raiders on week 1. Mistakes this week will not be so easily forgiven by Rodgers and the Pack.

Final Score:

Jets 14, Packers 27

 

 

HOUSTON TEXANS (1-0) @ OAKLAND RAIDERS (0-1)

4:25 pm ET @ O.co Stadium (CBS)

If any game looked like it could be decided by defensive scoring, this might very well be the one. J.J. Watt, fresh off a stellar performance against Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins, will be licking his chops at the opportunity to welcome Oakland QB Derek Carr to the league. The loss of JaDaveon Clowney to injury has somewhat softened the Houston defensive line, but following a 3-turnover and 1-TD  performance against a better offensive team, with 2 blocked kicks and 3 sacks to boot, the Texans have to like their chances. And once they get the ball on offense, things won’t get any better. Doug Martin looked sharp with a 103-yard game, and while Ryan Fitzpatrick may not have lit up the stat sheet, he was not really in a position to do so given their dominance in other areas of the game, and he still managed to consistently get the ball in the hands of his playmakers Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins.

Carr got off to a good start, throwing his first career touchdown pass to Rod Streater in the first quarter against New York, but things went downhill in the second half of a tough debut. Offensively, there was very little to highlight from Oakland’s game last week, as the running game failed to get going and the revamped offensive line simply could not counter New York’s smothering defense, limiting Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden to the grand total of 26 yards from 13 carries(!). A similarly-retooled defensive unit was also exposed in the running game, which only favors Foster even more.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Houston defense, J.J. Watt, Arian Foster, Andre Johnson

Sit ’em: Oakland. Every single one of their players.

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

Derek Carr gets to play against a top defense. To say I pity him would be an understatement. Ryan Fitzpatrick played a decent game last week and I’m sure he can repeat the feat.

Final Score:

Texans 24, Raiders 14

 

 

CHICAGO BEARS (0-1) @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-0)

8:30 pm ET @ Levi’s Stadium (NBC)

Oddly enough, for two teams that have prided itself on defense in recent years, this has the makings of a shootout. Chicago has more work to do to get back to the dominant defense that took them to the Super Bowl less than a decade ago, but offensively, they have a whole host of weapons. Jay Cutler has the luxury, when he’s not handing the ball off to Matt Forte, of scanning the field to find Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, and Forte, all dangerous receiving options. The problem here is that Cutler also has a tendency to pass the ball to other players who are not necessarily his teammates, as last week’s two costly interceptions against Buffalo proved. Against this ball-hawking defense, Chicago must focus on ball security if they are to stand a chance, because any inability to sustain possession and create scoring opportunities will be their downfall.

Though they have lengthened the commute for many of their Bay Area fans, San Francisco will still be able to count on passionate support in their new stadium. An exciting offense led by Colin Kaepernick, a fiery coach, and recent success to revive the fortunes of a team that had fallen on some hard times after past glory have all seen to that. Vernon Davis seemed to have an extra spring in his step last week in snagging two TD grabs, though after the defense’s dominating performance over the Cowboys on the road, the passing performance was under-utilized. Look for Anquan Boldin to be targeted on 3rd downs, while Michael Crabtree will be considered the deep threat. Watch for this game to be where Carlos Hyde begins to force the timeline up on his replacing Frank Gore. Oh, and that defense………..after an offseason plagued by suspensions and injury, all questions were answered with that outing last week. They did look vulnerable against the run, which Forte will attempt to test.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Matt Forte, Jay Cutler, Brandon Marshall, Carlos Hyde, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis

Sit ’em: Chicago defense, Frank Gore, Anquan Boldin, Alshon Jeffery

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

The 49ers get to open up Levi’s Stadium for the regular season. I firmly believed the team would implode after the severe penalties several players faced. They’ve held their own and there should be no stopping them.

Final Score:

Bears 17, 49ers 27

 

 

Monday, September 15th

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0) @ INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1)

8:30 pm ET @ Lucas Oil Stadium (ESPN)

Another potential shootout brewing here, as both teams combined for 58 points last week, albeit with different outcomes. The asterisk to that statistic is that both teams were also forced to rally from a combined deficit of 41-0, and Indianapolis ultimately ended up losing. Andrew Luck has developed a reputation for being a comeback artist, but there is surely nobody who would rather not have to play from those positions than Luck himself. With a healthy Reggie Wayne and an emerging Dwayne Allen, the missing pieces appear to be a consistent running game and T.Y. Hilton‘s hands (4 drops in week 1). Trent Richardson is still not the answer at RB, and Ahmad Bradshaw will have to prove he can stay injury-free. The defense was hit hard by Robert Mathis‘ suspension, and it showed early against the Broncos last week. How they adapt to the change of pace on offense remains to be seen, and could lead to their being exposed yet again this week. Then again, Luck and his comebacks………

Philadelphia was forced to mount their own furious comeback last week, and unlike the Colts, they were able to turn the result completely around for an ultimately convincing win. 281 yards of offense in one half of football was just a snapshot of how quickly this offense can rack up the yards and points. There was bound to be natural regression for Nick Foles after an astounding 27:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio last season, and he’s already halfway to last season’s INT total, but in Chip Kelly’s offense, he will still throw, and he will still gain yardage and touchdowns. Quietly, Jeremy Maclin may emerge as the next stud WR in the league, now that DeSean Jackson has moved on. With Darren Sproles spelling him now, LeSean McCoy will be in better shape than ever before, and that only spell trouble for opposing defenses. How they adapt to the loss of two starting offensive linemen will provide a big clue as to how their fortunes will play out this season.

Fantasy Notes

Start ’em: Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin, Andrew Luck, Reggie Wayne, Dwayne Allen

Sit ’em: Both defenses, Riley Cooper, Trent Richardson, T.Y. Hilton

Xandro’s Fearless Prediction:

The Eagles look good. The Colts don’t look half bad but they seem to be missing something. If they can figure that out, this could be a shoot out.

Final Score:

Eagles 34, Colts 28

 

Xandro’s Record: (8-8)

 

Follow Derek Tang on Twitter: @DTang0426

Follow Alexandro “Xandro” Zatarain on Twitter: @TheRealZatarain