One week in, NFL predictions already gone wrong
One week into the 2013 NFL season, and some predictions have already gone wrong.
People love bragging about what they get right, but character involves admitting wrongs. As a Jewish person celebrating the Day of Atonement of Yom Kippur, here are 2013 predictions that require more apologies before heading into the Week 2 NFL Chat.
Prediction: The Tennessee Titans will be a 3-13 football team and the Pittsburgh Steelers will go 11-5.
Reality: Tennessee went into Pittsburgh and hit the Steelers in the mouth. It is too soon to tell if the Titans are better than advertised or the Steelers are far worse, but either way this game was a shock for many fans.
Prediction: The Oakland Raiders would go 3-13.
Reality: Terrell Pryor has talent. The Raiders looked like an 0-16 team in preseason, but they began the regular season going on the road and taking the Colts to the limit. The Raiders lost the game, but earned the respect of many doubters. If they lose at home to Jacksonville they will revert back to laughingstock status, but it looks like the Raiders are on the road back to relevance.
Prediction: The Chip Kelly offense is a gimmick best left in college.
Reality: The Eagles up-tempo offense is for real. Philadelphia went on the road and ran 52 plays in the first half. Michael Vick looked fantastic as the Eagles built up a 33-7 lead against Washington and hung on for a 33-27 win. The Washington defense was exhausted.
Prediction: The Buffalo Bills would go 3-13.
Reality: Despite a rookie quarterback, Buffalo hung tough against what was supposed to be a far superior New England team. The Patriots survived with a wining field goal on the final play, but the Bills are another team that may end up more respectable than previously thought.
Week 2 began with the Thursday night game and the prediction that the New England Patriots were supposed to crush the New York Jets and cover the 12.5 point spread. In reality the Patriots again barely survived, hanging on for a hideous 13-10 win.
Now comes the rest of Week 2, which will hopefully lead to far fewer busted predictions.
Sunday, September 15
1pm
San Diego Chargers at Philadelphia Eagles (-7)
These teams both have talent, and the San Diego collapse last week should motivate them. The Eagles, however, are at home. Eagles win, but fail to cover.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (-6.5)
New year, same Browns. The Ravens may not be as good as last year but the Browns are just as pathetic. Ravens cover.
Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans (-8.5)
Are the Titans better than we thought or did they beat a team who is just awful? Since they were on the road last week, they will get the benefit of the doubt for one more week. Texans win, but fail to cover.
Miami Dolphins at Indianapolis Colts (-3)
Miami beat an awful team, while Indy barely survived at home against a team perceived to be awful. The spread is low enough. Colts cover.
Carolina Panthers (-3) at Buffalo Bills
Both of these teams hung tough last week against superior teams in heartbreaking losses. The home field could be the difference. Upset special, Bills win outright.
St. Louis Rams at Atlanta Falcons (-7)
Atlanta lost a road heartbreaker while St. Louis won a home thriller. Atlanta is the better team but St. Louis has a defense. Falcons win but fail to cover.
Washington Redskins at Green Bay Packers (-7.5)
Both teams lost on the road, but the Packers looked solid on offense while questions about over whether RGIII is truly healthy. The spread is high even though Green Bay is loaded. Washington gets one more week to prove itself. Packers win but fail to cover.
Dallas Cowboys at Kansas City Chiefs (-2.5)
Walrus Lite Andy Reid will turn the Chiefs around, but even a big win against Jacksonville does not count. Upset special, Cowboys win outright.
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (-6.5)
Adrian Peterson cannot do it all by itself. The Bears are not that special, but neither were the Lions. Bears win but fail to cover.
4pm
New Orleans Saints (-3) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers needed help from the refs to survive their opener against a dreadful team. The Saints are a far better team than the Bucs. Drew Brees will do what Drew Brees does. Saints cover.
Detroit Lions (-1) at Arizona Cardinals
This could be a shootout. Go with the home team on this one. Upset special, Cardinals win outright.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Oakland Raiders (-6)
These teams both looked like 0-16 teams in preseason, but the Raiders looked like a real football team last week. Jacksonville did not. The spread is still too high as bad as the Jags are until Oakland proves itself with a big win. Raiders win but fail to cover.
Denver Broncos (-5) at New York Giants
The original Manning Bowl saw Peyton go on the road and beat Eli. Peyton looked all world last week, but Captain Grumpy Tom Coughlin is sure to have the Giants motivated after their six turnover performance. Denver is superior, but the Giants rise to the occasion in games like this, especially around 9/11. Upset special, Giants win outright.
8:30pm
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks (-3)
These teams are nasty mirror images of each other, especially on defense. In this series, take the home team. Seahawks cover.
Monday, September 16, 8:30pm
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals (-7)
The Steelers looked shockingly awful at home in a loss to an inferior team. They also suffered serious injuries. Cincinnati lost a close road game. The Bengals could win a blowout, but Mike Tomlin deserves the chance to see if his motivational magic can stir his team. Bengals win, but fail to cover.
Follow Eric on Twitter @TYGRRRREXPRESS Eric Golub is an independent writer for the Communities.
Read more from Eric at his TYGRRRR EXPRESS blog.
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