Cold Hard Locks

Review the Cold Hard Fails from Week 1

Week 1 came down to the battle of the rookie QBs. That’s right, Jamies Winston and the Bucs came out flat allowing G-Man to get the edge on me, 11-5 to 10-6. I even wasted a great upset pick with the Rams. Need a big bounce back week which started on Thursday…

Week 1 Cold Hard Locks

(Underlined denotes home team. G-Man and Matty D have same picks unless otherwise noted)

Thursday Night Football

Denver Broncos at Kansas City Chiefs

I took the Broncos while G-Man went with the home team here. It looked late like he would start the week off right but a small miracle occurred giving me the early lead in this week’s showdown.

Sunday

1pm Slate

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills

The Bills like to talk, especially with Rex Ryan at the helm. And they have a good team up there. But the Pats don’t have to talk, all they need to do is show their ring collection. Brady is fired up and this is going to be a wake up call for McCoy and Co.

20 to 10 – Patriots

Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns

I hope I can find a way to watch this game. Mariota vs Manziel is intriguing to me even if they have minimal help around them. But I think this game will be decided on the defensive side of the ball and the Browns can really play some defense. Mariota comes back down to Earth and Johnny Football makes a few less mistakes.

17 to 13 – Browns

G-Man is taking the Titans here which is what happens when you drink too much of the Kool-Aid.

Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers

This pick is based solely on the fact that Luke Kuechly is out due to a concussion. Ryan Mallett will get more time and the running game will have some more room. I also see this Texans team as being a little upset with their week 1 performance and they will tee off on a weaponless Panthers offense.

16 to 13 – Texans

G-Man is going with Carolina here as he didn’t enjoy Hard Knocks this season.

Arizona Cardinals at Chicago Bears

The Bears may be without Alshon Jeffrey against a very good Cardinals team but it wouldn’t matter if he could play, the Cardinals will have success against the porous defense of Chicago. Expect Palmer, Fitzgerald, and others to have plenty of room to operate.

28 to 13 – Cardinals

San Diego Chargers at Cincinnati Bengals

This should be a great game against 2 good teams. I like the Bengals here simply because they are at home but I think this is a toss up game. Look for A.J. Green to be the difference maker even if Keenan Allen is a force to be reckoned with.

24 to 20 – Bengals

Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings

No love was given to the Lions this offseason after some key free agent losses. Many people picked the Vikings as a dark-horse contender. How one week changes that. Now I know the Lions lost Week 1 but they played really well. The Vikings on the other hand looked bad against a mediocre San Fran squad on Monday Night. I see Detroit taking this game, but it will be close. Adrian Peterson will have a great game but Stafford will overwhelm an average Vikings secondary.

23 to 17 – Lions

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints

This is going to be a one-sided track meet. Brees to Cooks all day. Almost was my lock of the week.

35 to 17 – Saints

This is G-Man’s Survival Pool pick of the week as you can’t go wrong with the Saints at home.

Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants

Did you like what Atlanta did on Monday Night? Julio Jones is a monster and this team looked much better under a fired-up Dan Quinn. If the offense can have enough of a ground game and the defense can fly around I think they have enough to beat the Giants, who don’t have a pass rush to speak of.

31 to 28 – Falcons

San Francisco 49ers at Pittsburgh Steelers

Yes, the Steelers are still missing some big players but they didn’t look that bad against the Patriots. The 49ers don’t have a Gronk so I see Big Ben having a big day.

27 to 21 – Steelers

St. Louis Rams at Washington Redskins

Give credit to Washington as they hung in there early against the Dolphins. But the Rams really showed us something with their comeback win against the Seahawks. They get Tre Mason back and Nick Foles continues to settle in but it’s all about this great defense led by the outstanding Aaron Donald. Look for an easier win than last week for the upstart Rams.

19 to 10 – Rams

4pm Slate

Baltimore Ravens at Oakland Raiders

This is my lock of the week without a doubt. The Ravens are looking to bounce back and they have the best opponent to do it against. The Raiders have an issue with a dinged up Derrick Carr and are still missing a ton of pieces. The Ravens D, even without Terrell Suggs, will be all over the place and Joe Flacco will find Steve Smith twice.

24 to 16 – Ravens

This is Matty D’s Survival Pool pick of the week. Can’t see the Ravens losing 2 weeks in a row, not with their talent.

Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars

The Dolphins took a little to get going last week but Jarvis Landry showed up in a big way. I look for them to have an even bigger week in basically a home game inside of the state of Florida.

27 to 17 – Dolphins

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

Very important game here, especially for the Birds. A must win? I would say yes. I see this home opener going the Eagles’ way, especially with the lack of Dez Bryant. DeMarco does have a big, big game.

31 to 20 – Eagles

8pm Sunday Night Football

Seattle Seahawks at Green Bay Packers

Game of the week right here. Seattle really does need this win but without Kam Chancellor, I wish them luck against Rodgers and Cobb. Look for an agreement on an extension to come about after this game.

24 to 20 – Packers

Monday Night Football

New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts

Some people may like the Jets here, especially after the way the Bills put the clamps on Andrew Luck. But Luck is the best young quarterback in the game and with Antonio Cromartie injured and/or out, Luck can avoid Revis Island and get the Colts back on track.

26 to 20 – Colts

G-Man up after Week 1 with only 3 picks differing this week. I need a strong Sunday to keep close in the annual showdown.