Cohen’s Corner Week 2 NFL Picks

How did Aaron Rodgers pull off the miraculous three touchdown 4th quarter comeback in Week 1 against the Bears?! As a Green Bay fan, I gave up hope after seeing my favorite player leave the game in the second quarter and eventually take a cart ride to the locker room. But sometimes true greatness is shown under the most adverse of circumstances! Here’s to hoping Green Bay has a similar winning fate in Week 2…but can I be truly confident with the Vikings coming to Lambeau Field? See the answer to that and other Week 2 picks below…

Week 2 NFL Picks
Last Week: 9-6-1 Straight Up (SU),  7-9 Against the Spread (ATS)
Overall: 9-6-1 SU, 7-9 ATS
(Picks against the spread in parentheses; home teams in caps)

Baltimore 24, CINCINNATI 17 (ATS: Ravens Pick’em)
How are the Ravens only -1 here? Remember, Baltimore lost to Cinci in Week 17 last season to cost themselves a playoff spot so I love the revenge angle for a team that looks like a bonafide playoff contender after Week 1.

TENNESSEE 24, Houston 21 (ATS: Titans +2.5)
I’m hardly confident in this pick…but I’m siding with a banged up Tennessee team in their first 2018 home game. Deshaun Watson looked like a shell of his former self in Week 1 which isn’t a good sign for the Texans’ 2018 chances.

PITTSBURGH 31, Kansas City 23 (ATS: Steelers -5.5)
The Chiefs were one of the offensive darlings of Week 1 dropping 38 on the Chargers while the Steelers blew a two TD lead to only tie the hapless Browns. I see things normalizing a bit here as KC fails to successfully slow down the Steelers’ dynamic offense.

Philadelphia 23, TAMPA BAY 16 (ATS: Eagles -3.5)
Ryan Fitzpatrick was AWESOME in New Orleans last Sunday…but will lightning strike twice, this time at home against the defending champs. I’ll side against the repeat. Plus Nick Foles HAS to play better for the Eagles, right??

Los Angeles Chargers 27, BUFFALO 20 (ATS: Bills +7.5)
The Bills can’t look any worse than last week’s debacle in Baltimore and while it may be foolish to back the rookie Josh Allen in his first NFL start, I think Buffalo finds a way to cover the 7.5 before the final whistle.

ATLANTA 24, Carolina 23 (ATS: Panthers +5.5)
I really wanted to pick Carolina to win here but without their best downfield receiving weapon in TE Greg Olsen, it may take a few weeks for the Panthers to adjust. Atlanta wins on a buzzer beater by kicker Matt Bryant.

NEW ORLEANS 34, Cleveland 20 (ATS: Saints -8.5)
The Browns will win again soon. The Saints will lose again soon (based on what we saw from their defense last week). But neither will happen this week. Alvin Kamara racks up 150+ total yards in an easy Saints W.

WASHINGTON 27, Indianapolis 20 (ATS: Redskins -5.5)
The Redskins were among the most surprising Week 1 teams. Alex Smith and Adrian Peterson made them look like a contender albeit against the lowly Cardinals. Fortunately for Washington, I view the Colts as worse than Arizona. My score prediction is likely closer than the game itself will be throughout.

Minnesota 27, GREEN BAY 19 (ATS: Vikings Pick’em)
A healthy Aaron Rodgers or not, I’m picking against my beloved Packers as I think the Vikings have the NFL’s most well-rounded squad. Minnesota should constantly pressure the hobbled Rodgers en route to a fairly comfortable road victory.

NEW YORK JETS 26, Miami 17 (ATS: Jets -2.5)
The most surprising matchup of 1-0 teams – I still don’t think either are that good, especially Miami who will continue to get worse as the season goes along. If Jets rookie QB Sam Darnold cuts down on the turnovers, this team does have some sleeper potential a year after I predicted they would go winless.

SAN FRANCISCO 33, Detroit 20 (ATS: 49ers -5.5)
The Lions were about as bad as any team south of Buffalo in Week 1. Why would their fortunes change against a hungry 49ers team making their 2018 home debut?

LOS ANGELES RAMS 27, Arizona 17 (ATS: Cardinals +13.5)
Call me crazy but the Cardinals can’t play much worse than they did last week. There has to be some improvement on offense, right? Consider this pick of an AZ cover as a pure coin flip based on what we saw from them last week.

DENVER 23, Oakland 20 (ATS: Raiders +5.5)
It’s going to be a long season back on the sideline for Jon Gruden if Monday night’s second half against the Rams was any indication. I expect Oakland to stay more competitive but fall short against the upstart Broncos and new QB Case Keenum.

JACKSONVILLE 24, New England 20 (ATS: Jaguars +2.5)
I love picking the Jaguars to cover the spread during odd-numbered weeks. This isn’t one of those. But I do believe in the revenge angle from last year’s AFC Championship Game so…Jacksonville holds on late for the win!

DALLAS 27, New York Giants 24 (ATS: Cowboys -2.5)
Can we please have a season where these two teams AREN’T playing on Sunday Night Football? In what should be an entertaining game, Dak Prescott leads a late TD drive to spoil the road guys’ chances.

CHICAGO 24, Seattle 17 (ATS: Bears -3.5)
I’m a big fan of the Bears in this spot! Khalil Mack will terrorize Russell Wilson in his first Bears home game as Chicago evens the record against the depleted Seahawks.

Week 2 Fantasy Football Guidance

In Week 1, I went 3-3 in my fantasy football advice…but to me, batting .500 isn’t good enough. Here’s to some improvement in Week 2!

‘Boom & Crush’ Record (15+ PPR fantasy points from a non-must start player)
Last Week: 2-1
Overall: 2-1

‘Be Careful’ Record (12 or less PPR fantasy points from a top-15 player)
Last Week: 1-2
Overall: 1-2

Boom & Crush:
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers vs. Lions)
RB: Dion Lewis (Titans vs. Texans)
WR/TE: Josh Gordon (Browns at Saints)

Be Careful:
QB: Andrew Luck (Colts at Redskins)
RB: Dalvin Cook (Vikings at Packers)
WR/TE: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots at Jaguars)

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