([Bill Belichick is not N]ice) Picks

Week 1 is always a tough one to pick, but we did okay last week. As usual NBC has the best matchup of the week, and as usual it's among the toughest calls.

Last Week

Laser Stream: 11-5 (11-5)
Enter Sandman: 10-6 (10-6)

Bengals (1-0) at Browns (0-1)

Laser Stream: Bengals - If they can get it done against Baltimore's defense, I wonder how badly they'll embarrass Cleveland's.
Enter Sandman: Bengals - Not too much will be standing in the way of another Ocho Cinco celebration Sunday. Except maybe the fact that scoring on the Browns isn't doing much at all.

Colts (1-0) at Titans (1-0)

Laser Stream: Colts - Tennessee can't stop Manning and the Indy offense.
Enter Sandman: Colts - V. Young will go down, maybe for the season, in this game.

49ers (1-0) at Rams (0-1)

Laser Stream: Niners - What Smith did at the end of Week 1 was encouraging.
Enter Sandman: Rams - The odds of S. Jackson playing in Week 2 like he did in Week 1? Not very good.

Packers (1-0) at Giants (0-1)

Laser Stream: Packers - The Giants' backup QB has shown me less than even E. Manning, and that's saying something.
Enter Sandman: Giants - I loved how Fox tried to hype this game as Favre vs. Strahan.

Bills (0-1) at Steelers (1-0)

Laser Stream: Steelers - Despite his great performance next week, Roethlisberger still hasn't given me a reason to believe in him (will he ever?), but the Pittsburgh defense should play well.
Enter Sandman: Steelers - A heartbreaking opener in so many ways for the Bills was just the beginning of a brutal starting stretch.

Saints (0-1) at Bucs (0-1)

Laser Stream: Saints - Even though the league's most popular defensive scheme is the Tampa 2, the Bucs are not nearly good enough to stop Brees.
Enter Sandman: Saints - See above comment on S. Jackson, substitute D. Brees.

Texans (1-0) at Panthers (1-0)

Laser Stream: Panthers - Book it.
Enter Sandman: Panthers - Houston impressively limited L. Johnson last week. Now they get to take on S. Smith.

Falcons (0-1) at Jaguars (0-1)

Laser Stream: Jaguars - The Falcons can't run and can't pass.
Enter Sandman: Jaguars - The post-Leftwich Jaguars figure to play similarly to the pre-Vick being exposed as a dog fighter then being thrown under a massive bus ridden by animal rights activists Falcons.

Vikings (1-0) at Lions (1-0)

Laser Stream: Vikings - It may not be a repeat performance by Peterson, but the Minnesota defense looks great.
Enter Sandman: Lions - Is the Lions offense for real? They'll get a good chance to prove it against a D that dominated last week.

Cowboys (1-0) at Dolphins (0-1)

Enter Sandman: Cowboys - Though I never would have thought it possible, T.O.'s ego seems to be expanding.
Laser Stream: Cowboys - Speaking of expanding, Wade Phillips!


Seahawks (1-0) at Cardinals (0-1)

Laser Stream: Seahawks - Expect a repeat performance from Alexander.
Enter Sandman: Seahawks - It appears S. Alexander will have some success until his knees suddenly realize they're holding up way more than they should be.

Chiefs (0-1) at Bears (0-1)

Laser Stream: Bears - Next.
Enter Sandman: Bears - Considering that a guy as creative and as laterally talented as LT was literally shut down in the running game, a downfield runner like LJ will have a very difficult time.

Raiders (0-1) at Broncos (1-0)

Laser Stream: Broncos - Even with Culpepper in, the Raiders won't score.
Enter Sandman: Broncos - D. Culpepper's teams have faced the Broncos 7 times since he entered the NFL in '99; he's played in just one of those encounters.

Jets (0-1) at Ravens (0-1)

Laser Stream: Ravens - Baltimore doesn't need to steal signs to win this one.
Enter Sandman: Ravens - The Baltimore secondary seems to rely too much on its front 7 forcing QB's into bad throws; last week was a perfect example. Nonetheless, they're still pretty good.

Chargers (1-0) at Patriots (1-0)

Laser Stream: Chargers - LT will dominate this game, and the Golden Boy will be exposed without his coach telling him exactly what defensive scheme he's about to see.
Enter Sandman: Patriots - Illegally videotape Book it.

Redskins (1-0) at Eagles (0-1)

Laser Stream: Eagles - Reggie Brown won't keep dropping passes.
Enter Sandman: Eagles - NBC gets NE-SD, ESPN gets... Washington-Philadelphia.

This Week

Laser Stream: 9-7 (20-12)
Enter Sandman: 9-7 (19-13)