***SWAMP SUNDAY - MUCK 5 - WEEK 2***
***NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS @ NEW ORLEANS SAINTS***
Well well well, what do we have hear? A little veteran QB showdown between the great Tom Brady and Drew Brees as the 0-1 Pats head into Nawleans to take on the 0-1 Saints. Who knows how many times more we will get to see a QB faceoff of this caliber folks, lets be sure to soak it in and appreciate it as I think both will put on a show today in the Dome. I know common sense here says to back Belichick and the Pats off the rare loss, especially to start the season. Now heading to New Orleans who also started off on the wrong foot but their case is a much more likely story. So needless to say, the Pats are expected to win today. I have a feeling there may be more issues that we originally expected with the Super Bowl Champs. I mean I know their new toy WR Brandin Cooks will most likely do some serious damage against his old team today, but I just did not like what I saw with the Patriot defense up front in their home opener and I see Drew Brees bein having enough time in the pocket to go toe to toe with Tom on the scoreboard in this one. Also after veteran RB Adrian Peterson quickly voiced his displeasure over not getting enough carries with Head Coach Sean Payton in the week 1 opener, I think the Saints may try to keep the ball out of the Pats hands here similar to how the Chiefs did and will feed Peterson and give him an opportunity to put his money where his mouth is, and I believe he may rise to the occasion. I like a close finish here, SAINTS+6
***TENNESEE TITANS @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS***
Man oh man, did the Jaguars defense impress me last week. I love seeing all of their pieces that they picked up in the offseason via free agency as well as their many top defensive draft picks on the field together, it pleases me. That has been a long time coming for Jacksonville and things are without a doubt turning around there with the help of the great Tom Coughlin. My only concern there is their QB Blake Bortles as I still believe he is NOT the answer for them and holding them back. They also lost their top WR in Allen Robinson, but they still have formidable targets in Marqise Lee and Allen Hurns. The Titan defense can be stout, but Bortles should be able to manage the game just fine and hand it off to their prized Rookie RB in Leonard Fournette who certainly looked the part last week. Tennessee once again did not live up to the hype in their season opener. For whatever reason their QB Marcus Mariota just can't seem to get over the hump. He does some things well, but when it really matters and the Titans get in the Red Zone he crumbled so far, especially when the pressure is on and they need points. On the road up against a division rival where they haven't played well as of late, he will struggle once again. The Jags haven't started 2-0 in ages, I think they are foaming at the mouth at the thought of it and will be too much for Tennessee. This Jag's defense put an absolute beatdown on the lowly Texan QB Tom Savage in week 1, forcing his inevitable benching. How much of that performance was the Jags D and how much was Savage being Savage? This remains to be seen, but I think the Jags confidence is sky high after that game and sometimes that's all a young unit needs to wake a sleeping giant! JAGS+1
***MINNESOTA VIKINGS @ PITTSBURGH STEELERS***
The Vikings defense is back, or so it seems after watching them at home on MNF up against veteran Saints QB Drew Brees. They were locked in, and shut the Saints offense down all game. All 3 levels of this defense was buzzing with energy and making plays, feeding off of each other...and I loved it. I loved the way they started last season also, until some injuries and inept offense caused them to downward spiral. However, it is a new season and I believe they will start strong once again, The Purple People Eaters are back baby! However it has just been announced that their QB Sam Bradford is out with a knee injury again, yikes! Just when he finally looked spectacular in the opener, linking up with WR Stefon Diggs with a performance worthy of the MNF spotlight. In steps veteran backup Case Keenum, who I am by no means a fan of...but I will back today as the spread has now shot up to 10 points, and I believe this Viking defense and newfound running game with stud Rookie RB Dalvin Cook, will be able to keep this thing close. The Steelers looked out of sync last week on the road in their opener in Cleveland. This is somewhat understandable being that it was the first game of the year and against little brother, I could see them sleepwalking a bit until they were forced to turn it on late in the game when the young Brownies were actually making a run at them and starting to be a threat. I was especially impressed with the new Rookie Steeler TJ Watt, he looks like the real deal to say the least. Today's game comes down to high powered offense against a top notch defense and with a large number like this one, I'll side with the defense and running game every time. Gimme the VIKINGS+9.5
***PHILADELPHIA EAGLES @ KANSAS CITY CHIEFS***
The Chiefs did the unthinkable to christen the 2017 NFL season by upsetting the Super Bowl Champion Patriots on their home field. It was extremely impressive as KC Head Coach Andy Reid indeed out-coached the great Bill Belichick and his minions, OC Josh McDaniels and DC Matt Patricia. KC QB Alex Smith let it rip downfield to his speedy targets and it took the Patriots defense as well as the rest of the world completely by surprise as Captain Checkdown was as accurate as can be slinging the rock wherever he pleased it seemed. The Pats defense has a lot of new pieces and looked like their heads were spinning with confusion for most of the game. Now Andy Reid hosts his old team in the KC home opener. Once long time Eagles Coach Reid has only faced the Birds once since leaving and he won that game in Philly. Now, one of the Chiefs former Offensive Coordinator's in Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson will lead the Eagles into KC to face his former team for the first time. Needless to say this adds a little extra spice to this matchup as both sides will want to emerge victorious a little more than usual to get this W for their Head Coach. Eagles Sophomore QB Carson Wentz is the real deal in my opinion. This kid has that "it" factor that you can't teach and I think he will eventually merge into a top tier QB in years to come. Now he has targets to throw to in WR Alshon Jefferey and Torrey Smith, and if drop ridden Nelson Agohlor can feed off of his strong week 1 performance and turn himself into the WR they once thought he could be, lookout because this offense might be extremely potent. Now with a bruising RB in Blount added to the mix and coupled with a strong defense, this team can be for real. That being said, was the KC performance a flash in the pan and more of a matter of catching the Pats by surprise? OR is this the new look Chiefs offense and they will continue to dominate the way they did? We shall see, but I believe whatever the result, that this one will be a FG game at the end. Gimme da Eagles+4.5
***WASHINGTON REDSKINS @ LOS ANGELES RAMS***
Not much time left before kickoff as I fell into my rants so I will keep this one short and sweet. The NFL's youngest Head Coach in Sean McVay could not have asked for a better debut in his first game when the Rams absolutely dismantled the lowly QBless Colts in their opener. Sophomore QB Jared Goff also looked like he took that next step and is standing in the pocket with confidence and delivering some accurate passes to his WRs. Rookie QR Cooper Kupp looks like he is going to be that security blanket possession WR for Goff and that could be exactly what he needed. While I believe that this Rams team looked better than they are against a terrible Colts team last week, I do think that this defense is for real and that they will feed off of that hot start and get to Skins QB Kirk Cousins today to force some turnovers. They will want this W for their Head Coach as well since he is also facing his former team. I like how Goff's passing will open the running game for RB Todd Gurley and the Rams may join the Jags here as another surprising team who starts 2-0. Lets go RAMS-3
