Capsule previews for Week 2 around the NFL. All times Eastern.
SUNDAY:
Carolina Panthers (0-1) at Atlanta Falcons (1-0), 1 p.m.
Panthers QB Jake Delhomme has committed 11 turnovers in his past seven quarters. That blows away Steelers QB Kordell Stewart's six turnovers in the first two games of the 2002 season.
Prediction: Falcons, 34-14
Minnesota Vikings (1-0) at Detroit Lions (0-1), 1.
The Lions have lost 18 regular-season games in a row, dating to the final week of the 2007. Goodness, that was all the way back when Brett Favre played for the Packers.
Prediction: Vikings, 27-16
Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Green Bay Packers (1-0), 1.
Some teams such as the Bengals look as if they're going to win until a tipped pass goes against them. Other teams such as the Pack look as though they're going to lose until an opposing safety blows coverage.
Prediction: Packers, 27-19
Arizona Cardinals (0-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1), 1.
The Cardinals did not win a game in the Eastern Time zone last season (0-5) until they beat Carolina in the playoffs. And that Jacksonville humidity can be a little more oppressive than the desert.
Prediction: Cardinals, 23-20
Oakland Raiders (0-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-1), 1.
Coaches aren't ever happy with a defeat, but Tom Cable and Todd Haley likely gained a measure of satisfaction for the way their teams performed in the opener. The Raiders have won the past two in KC.
Prediction: Chiefs, 30-28
New England Patriots (1-0) at New York Jets (1-0), 1.
It was easy for Mark Sanchez to open on the road with a victory against the Texans. But it might not be so easy trying to figure out one of Bill Belichick's surprise defenses.
Prediction: Patriots, 24-23
New Orleans Saints (1-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-0), 1.
The Eagles will be without Donovan McNabb, which wouldn't be as bad as the Saints without Drew Brees, who set an NFL record with six TD passes on opening weekend. The Eagles are sneaky good.
Prediction: Eagles, 23-16
Houston Texans (0-1) at Tennessee Titans (0-1), 1.
What happened to that high-octane Texans offense that was held to 183 yards by the Jets? They won't get much of a reprieve against the Titans, who have won the past four meetings at home.
Prediction: Titans, 20-10
St. Louis Rams (0-1) at Washington Redskins (0-1), 1.
The problem with the West-Coast offense the Rams installed was that it went scoreless on the west coast. It might not get any better, either, on the east coast, even against the Redskins.
Prediction: Redskins, 23-7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1) at Buffalo Bills (0-1), 4:05 p.m.
Believe it or not, the Buccaneers have never played in Buffalo in their 34-year history. The Bills are still having a hard time believing they blew an 11-point lead in the final four minutes to the Patriots.
Prediction: Bills, 27-14
Seattle Seahawks (1-0) at San Francisco 49ers (1-0), 4:05.
Don't look now, but the 49ers have won five of their past six games under Mike Singletary, dating to last season. It was the Seahawks who ruined Singletary's debut as head coach last season.
Prediction: 49ers, 23-17
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at Chicago Bears (0-1), 4:15.
If Jay Cutler and his receivers were confused and disorganized against the Packers' new 3-4 defense, what's going to happen against the league's top defense? Even if it is missing Troy Polamalu.
Prediction: Steelers, 23-13
Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Denver Broncos (1-0), 4:15.
The Broncos already got lucky with one team from the state of Ohio. Now they try to make it two in a row against the Browns, who couldn't have beaten the Vikings even with a tipped pass.
Prediction: Broncos, 17-16
Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at San Diego Chargers (1-0), 4:15.
Joe Flacco throwing for 300 yards and the winning touchdown against KC wasn't a surprise. The Chiefs putting up 24 points was. Almost as shocking as the Chargers needing a late TD to beat Oakland.
Prediction: Chargers, 27-24
New York Giants (1-0) at Dallas Cowboys (1-0), 8:30 p.m.
This is a chance for the Cowboys to convince themselves -- and the 100,000-plus people in their new stadium -- they are contenders in the NFC East. Tony Romo has won his past four starts against the Giants.
Prediction: Cowboys, 24-23
MONDAY NIGHT:
Indianapolis Colts (1-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-1), 8:30.
No team has won more consecutive regular-season games than the Colts, who made it 10 in a row against the Jaguars. That could end against the Dolphins, who had four turnovers in a loss in Atlanta.
Prediction: Dolphins, 17-16.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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