The Gridiron Gentlemen’s Super Fun Prediction League: Week 2
Week 1 is in the books and with it comes the results of our 1st week of predictions…
James:12 – 4
Dave: 11 – 5
Simon: 10 – 6
Duncan: 10 – 6
Dan: 10 – 6
Dylan: 9 – 7
So Week 2… Can it live up to what we saw in week 1? Let’s take a look.
New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills
This game is already in the books, but we all predicted the correct winner, but maybe we the underestimated the Bills offence/ overestimated the Jets secondary. That being said the result was somewhat flattering for the Bills, who went on to fire their offensive coordinator the next day. It could be a long year for Rex and the Bills.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | Jets | |
| 34 – 3 | 31 – 7 | 24 – 13 | 23 – 7 | 22 – 16 |
San Francisco 49ers @ Carolina Panthers
Remember last year when the Niners surprised everyone by looking so good against the Vikings in the 1st game last year? Well this year they did the same against a poor looking Rams team. As good as the Niners looked last week, this is a totally different challenge.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | Panthers | |
| 42 – 14 | 35 – 17 | 39 – 16 | 31 – 10 | 35 – 7 |
Baltimore Ravens @ Cleveland Browns
Week 1 is good for ironing out those ridiculous scenarios that materialize in the long empty NFL off season. One of my personal favourites was that the Cleveland Browns were anything other than the worst team in the NFL. Now they go up against a team that I may have actually been right about and could be much better than previously thought.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | Ravens | |
| 32 – 17 | 21 – 14 | 42 – 13 | 35 – 7 | 19 – 16 |
Tennessee Titans @ Detroit Lions
Both teams in this matchup showed a few weaknesses in week 1, but no less than we expected. The Titans struggled with turnovers in the 2nd half against one of the best defences in the NFL. The Lions defence could do little to stop an in-form Andrew Luck, but managed to sneak a win thanks to the combo of Matt Stafford and Jim-Bob Cooter. This game could go a long way to help us figure out what these teams are.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Lions | Lions | Titans | Lions | Titans | |
| 24 – 21 | 20 – 17 | 27 – 24 | 28 – 24 | 19 – 16 |
Kansas City Chiefs @ Houston Texans
A Wild Card rematch here, but with 2 very different looking teams from January. The Texans offence has gone from being slow and stagnant to fast and fun. The Chiefs struggled to get a pass rush going in the 1st half of last weeks game, but pulled off the best come back in franchise history in the 2nd. This should be a fun game.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Texans | Texans | Chiefs | Chiefs | Chiefs | |
| 27 – 24 | 23 – 20 | 24 – 21 | 31 – 24 | 24 – 14 |
Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots
The Dolphins defence looked great last week against Russell Wilson and the Seahawks. The Patriots offence, despite having no Tom Brady or Rob Gronkowki, looked as good as ever against the Arizona Cardinals this week. Is there a chance Miami could pull off a surprise? Yes, but it’s pretty slim.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | Patriots | |
| 28 – 10 | 27 – 10 | 34 – 13 | 38 – 0 | 17 – 14 |
New Orleans Saints @ New York Giants
This game last year got very silly, very quickly with both Eli Manning and Drew Brees putting up insane yardage and TDs. This year it should be slightly different, with the Giants investing a massive amount in the off season. The Saints however made very few changes…
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Giants | Giants | Saints | Giants | Giants | |
| 42 – 22 | 35 – 28 | 31 – 28 | 24 – 17 | 31 – 24 |
Cincinnati Bengals @ Pittsburgh Steelers
Game of the week with 2 teams that absolutely hate each other. These 2 could be the best in the AFC and both are legitimate Superbowl contenders. If this even comes close to last year playoff game, “heated” would be an understatement.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Bengals | Bengals | Steelers | Steelers | Steelers | |
| 35 – 31 | 39 -35 | 31 – 27 | 28 – 24 | 24 – 21 |
Dallas Cowboys @ Washington
The NFC East is something of a crap shoot again. Washington struggled against a Steelers team that showed up in a big way last week despite a lack of LeVeon Bell. Washington’s issues looked similar to last year. An inability to run and to stop the run. Dallas however… like to run.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Cowboys | Cowboys | Wash | Cowboys | Wash | |
| 24 – 17 | 22 – 19 | 24 – 20 | 21 – 17 | 24 – 21 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Arizona Cardinals
Who’d have thought that this would be a coin flip game this time last year. The Bucs are in a good position this year, led by a Jameis Winston that seems to have hit his college form. The Cards, compared to last year look a little threadbare, particularly at corner. This could be another fun game.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Cards | Cards | Cards | Bucs | Cards | |
| 28 – 24 | 23 – 20 | 28 – 27 | 27 – 20 | 24 – 21 |
Seattle Seahawks @ LA Rams
Generally this is the game that the Rams gameplan for more than any other. However after last week’s performance, I’m not so sure the world’s greatest gameplan could get them a win.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Rams | Seahawks | Seahawks | Rams | Seahawks | |
| 16 – 10 | 15 – 9 | 20 – 6 | 5 – 3 | 21 – 7 |
Indianapolis Colts @ Denver Broncos
A Colts vs Broncos game without Peyton Manning will no doubt seem a little odd, but the prospect of Luck vs. that defence should be fun. Really this comes down to whether Trevor Siemian can take full advantage of one of the worst defences in the league an whether Luck can move the ball against the Broncos.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | Broncos | |
| 24 – 21 | 24 – 17 | 31 – 14 | 24 – 21 | 24 – 14 |
Atlanta Falcons @ Oakland Raiders
Both defences seemed underwhelming last week seemed a little underwhelming, with offences that didn’t seem to have any problem moving the ball. This game could be pretty high scoring.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | Raiders | |
| 31 – 28 | 28 – 21 | 32 – 26 | 42 – 30 | 27 – 21 |
Jacksonville Jaguars @ San Diego Chargers
Are the Jag who we thought they were? I guess we’ll find out in this one. The Chargers were flying last week until Keenan Allen went down injured. At which point the Chiefs promptly took control. Without Allen the Jags clearly have the superior offence, which leads us to question the defences, which both still have question marks about them. Fun game.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Jaguars | Chargers | Jaguars | Jaguars | Jaguars | |
| 28 – 14 | 24 – 21 | 35 – 24 | 45 – 40 | 24 – 17 |
Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings
So what’s better? Aaron Rodgers, with next to no support or one of the best defences in the league. This is undoubtedly the match up of the week in terms of units. From this one we should find out exactly what these teams actually are.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | Vikings | |
| 16 – 10 | 20 – 13 | 30 – 23 | 19 – 17 | 21 – 18 |
Philadelphia Eagles @ Chicago Bears
The Houston Texans proved to be a little rich for a rebuilding Chicago Bears last week, with speedy receivers and a swarming defence. Now the Bears go up against an up and coming Eagles team led by a rookie QB that seems to have come straight into the team with relative ease. Now can he lead his team against the Vic Fangio led Bears defence.
| Dan | Duncan | Simon | James | Dave | |
| Bears | Bears | Eagles | Eagles | Bears | |
| 27 – 17 | 24 – 20 | 25 – 19 | 20 – 19 | 19 – 17 |
Week 2 looks fun. See you all on the pod!