Throughout the NFL season, Five Yard Slant’s own Adam Benoist will battle with the collective wisdom of the remaining FYS Team in a weekly pick’em contest. This week Adam takes on Brock Peter. Its a dead-heat through two weeks. May the best under-qualified, over-confident gentleman win.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) at Atlanta Falcons (1-1)
Tampa has looked flat out awful in both their losses. I thought Lovie was going to make them a better football team but that hasn’t been the case up to this point in the season. It also doesn’t hurt that the Falcons are a very good home team.
Adam’s Pick: Atlanta
Everything Adam said, plus this: if Trestman can make both Cutler and McCown look decent, he must actually know what he is doing.
Brock’s Pick: Atlanta
San Diego Chargers (1-1) at Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Can the Buffalo Bills really start the season 3-0? I believe so… I never like picking a west coast team in the early game on the east coast. I think a lot of people will be riding high on the Chargers after their win at home over Seattle, I’m not taking the fool’s gold.
Adam’s Pick: Buffalo
The west-coast-team-heading-east thing seems to have validity. But I believe in rejuvenated Phillip Rivers more than I do this Bills team. Get ready for some funny faces either way.
Brock’s Pick: San Diego
Dallas Cowboys (1-1) at St Louis Rams (1-1)
The only team that is a bigger mess than the Cowboys is the Rams. They should play the Benny Hill theme song over the PA for the entirety of this game.
Adam’s Pick: Dallas
I don’t like picking this game, at all. Two terrible teams coming off of improbable road wins. Since I do not believe that the Dallas defense can stop a third string quarterback, I guess I know what I have to do.
Brock’s Pick: St. Louis
Washington Redskins (1-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
I believe that Cousins is a better quarterback than RG3, so I don’t necessarily believe the Skins are taking a step back by having him start but the Eagles are the better team and are at home.
Adam’s Pick: Philadelphia
Cousins was horrible in his first year seeing significant action in the NFL. I’ll not anoint him anything other than garbage just because the Washington Racist-Names were able to toast the hapless Jaguars.
Brock’s Pick: Philadelphia
Houston Texans (2-0) at New York Giants (0-2)
New York is going to want to run the football, Houston isn’t going to let them run the football; many Eli Manning interceptions will occur.
Adam’s Pick: Houston
I actually really like what Houston has shown so far. Sure, they have played a soft schedule, but its not like that changes this week. JJ Watt will be the best player on the field, and the Giants’ offensive line is horrendous.
Brock’s Pick: Houston
Minnesota Vikings (1-1) at New Orleans Saints (0-2)
New Orleans will be excited to finally have a home game. I’m expecting this to be a blowout.
Adam’s Pick: New Orleans
I was somewhat optimistic about Minnesota’s season before it started, and after the first week. What a difference the loss of an MVP caliber running back makes when your quarterback happens to be an at-best game manager suited to playing second fiddle and taking what the defense gives him while it stuffs eight men in the box in an effort to stop one of the league’s best weapons.
Brock’s Pick: New Orleans
Tennessee Titans (1-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (2-0)
Cincinnati looks filthy this year; I’ll take the Bengals and the 7 points they’re favored by.
Adam’s Pick: Cincinnati
I don’t think Tennessee is good. I do think the Bengals are good. The Bengals are at home. The Titans are not. You don’t need a soul to win football games.
Brock’s Pick: Cincinnati
Baltimore Ravens (1-1) at Cleveland Browns (1-1)
I’m really not sure what to make of this game. Hoyer the Destroyer has looked decent and the Browns defense is stout but Baltimore is one of those teams that hangs around and finds a way to win at the end. I feel like I may regret this one but I’m taking the Browns.
Adam’s Pick: Cleveland
This is an interesting game between teams I think are roughly equal. The question is, how impressed should we be that the Browns beat New Orleans last week? Well, New Orleans lost to Atlanta in week 1. In week 2, Atlanta played Actual Good Football Team the Cincinnati Bengals, and got trounced. Atlanta is probably not all that great, and they beat New Orleans. Cleveland is probably not all that great, and they beat New Orleans. Never mind, I don’t think any of that means anything.
Brock’s Pick: Baltimore
Green Bay Packers (1-1) at Detroit Lions (1-1)
I really don’t know what to make of either of these teams. The Lions look like the same old Lions from last year that seems to always find a way to lose and the Packers defense is flat out awful. I love the over in this game (53.5) but I’m going to reluctantly take the Lions at home.
Adam’s Pick: Detroit
This pains me to say, but Detroit is better along both lines, and probably by enough to swing this game. Yeah, the Packers have Aaron Rodgers, and with any time he can pick the Detroit secondary apart. I just don’t think the time will be there.
Brock’s Pick: Detroit
Indianapolis Colts (0-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2)
I have nothing to say about this game. I’m picking the Colts.
Adam’s Pick: Indianapolis
I hold this truth to be self-evident: even though Luck is overrated, he’s leading Indianapolis to a win this week.
Brock’s Pick: Indianapolis
Oakland Raiders (0-2) at New England Patriots (1-1)
It wouldn’t matter that Oakland is a west coast team playing the early game on the east coast, New England would beat these clowns anywhere.
Adam’s Pick: New England
Another mismatch.
Brock’s Pick: New England
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at Arizona Cardinals (2-0)
I think the 49ers are going to be fired up after blowing that huge lead at home to Chicago last Sunday.
Adam’s Pick: San Francisco
This should be a bruising affair. Through two weeks the Cardinals have been very impressive. The 49ers toasted the Cowboys and started well against the Bears, but Colin Kaepernick folded under pressure. I like the Cardinals defense in this one.
Brock’s Pick: Arizona
Denver Broncos (2-0) at Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
I can’t wait to watch this game, I’m also shocked that the NFL didn’t schedule this one for prime time. Denver has allegedly upgraded their defense from last year, I guess they’ll find out if it was enough on Sunday. I’ve learned one thing over the years… never pick against the Hawks at home.
Adam’s Pick: Seattle
Denver may be 2-0, but they have not looked particularly solid getting there. Two bad second-half performances linger. Meanwhile, Seattle is going to be fired up after getting punched in the mouth, and the stain of last year’s super bowl lingers.
Brock’s Pick: Seattle
Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at Miami Dolphins (1-1)
KC looks more like a team that could be picking first in the draft than the playoff team from last year. The Dolphins don’t look great but they look to have enough to win this game at home.
Adam’s Pick: Miami
I endorse everything above, and note that Cameron Wake seems to get better every year. Also, I really think that Alex Smith contract was a bad investment, and want you all to know my feelings on the subject.
Brock’s Pick: Miami
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) at Carolina Panthers (2-0)
I’ve picked against the Panthers twice this season, uncle.
Adam’s Pick: Carolina
I think the Carolina defense may have actually improved over a season ago, to my surprise. On the other side of the ball, Pittsburgh sure looks old, and they have few weapons outside of Antonio Brown. I expect Big Ben will finally be handcuffed.
Brock’s Pick: Carolina
Chicago Bears (1-1) at New York Jets (1-1)
Who wants to watch the Super Bowl re-match in the prime time slot? Give me two non-playoff teams from the two biggest markets in the league any day.
Adam’s Pick: Chicago
The Jets started hot against the Packers, but sure slowed down quickly. Their offenses weaknesses are apparent. But they will be at home, and Good Jay two straight weeks seems like a long shot. I think this will be a tight game, and it really could go either way. I’ll take the team with the home field advantage.
Brock’s Pick: New York
Standings
Last Week
Adam: 7-9
FYST: 8-8
Overall
Adam: 16-16
FYST: 16-16