WEEK 2 GAME PICKS  and FANTASY PICKS & PUNKS  

by Profootballtalk editor Mike Florio

WEEK TWO GAME PICKS

POSTED 5:50 a.m. EDT, September 13, 2002 (FRIDAY)

Picking NFL games is no easy proposition.  Last week, we barely got to .500, the unofficial Mendoza line of pigskin prognostication.

We picked the Broncos over the Rams and the Pats over the Steelers, which was good.

We picked the Vikes over the Bears and the Jags over the Colts, which was not so good.

In all, an 8-8 is pathetic, and we admit it.  Looking at this week's slate of seemingly close games, however, we're not quite sure that we can match last week's unremarkable feat.

But, what the hell, we'll give it a shot.  Here's what we think of all the games, with four "locks" at the bottom.

BEARS at FALCONS:  The Georgia Dome will be rocking for the first time since MC Hammer could afford to buy tickets.  The Falcons take it, 30-21.

PACKERS at SAINTS:  The Cheeseheads typically play like Limburger when they're under a roof, and the Saints could be for real, again.  We'll take a flyer on the fleur-de-lis, Saints win, 26-15.

PATRIOTS at JETS:  Question -- How good are the Jets?  Answer -- Good enough to pluck the Pats in Jersey.  Jets take round one, 24-19.

BILLS at VIKINGS:  The Vikes have a chance to build some momentum heading into a Week Five bye, with three winnable games in a row (Bills, Panthers, Seahawks).  The Bills will play them tougher than expected, but the Vikes will find a way to win, 31-27.

GIANTS at RAMS:  The G-men gave the Rams all they could handle last year, and an unsettled offensive line could allow Strahan and company to feast on the Hornheads.  The real question here is whether the Giants can move the ball and/or score points against a tough defense.  We don't think the Giants can.  Rams win, 27-13.

LIONS at PANTHERS:  Lions and Panthers?  If Fox wants to air a real cat fight, they should sign up Richard Simmons and Rosie O'Donnell for Celebrity Boxing.  The Panthers move to 2-0 with a big, fat asterisk, 13-10.

DOLPHINS at COLTS:  The Colts will be glad they're out of the AFC East after they get a taste of the new, improved Dolphins.  Still, we like Indy to steal this one late, 23-21.

TITANS at COWBOYS:  Hey, Jerry -- the team that used to play in Houston is a lot farther along than the team that plays there now.  Titans in a rout, 35-10.

BENGALS at BROWNS:  Before the game, Cleveland's trainers will be suturing Dwayne Rudd's chin strap to his face.  Browns win, 27-13.

JAGUARS at CHIEFS:  There's only one Priest who can score four times on the same day without getting sued.  Chiefs win, 31-21. 

BUCCANEERS at RAVENS:  Tampa coach Jon Gruden likely still has flashbacks of Tony Siragusa dropping lard on Rich Gannon in the 2000 AFC title game.  He gets a small dose of revenge as the Bucs win, 20-13.

CARDINALS at SEAHAWKS:  The only thing worse than two bad teams getting together is the knowledge that they'll eventually square off again.  'Hawks win this one, 24-14.

TEXANS at CHARGERS:  We'd pick the Texans to win if they were playing this one at home.  In San Diego, the Chargers take it, 24-10.

BRONCOS at 49ERS:  The Niners can prove that they're ready to challenge the Rams by thumping the team that just spanked the Sprinters of St. Louis.  The extra three days to prep will only make it easier for Mooch and crew.  49ers win, 28-20.

RAIDERS at STEELERS:  Can Kordell perform before fans whose "love-hate" meter for Stewart is nudging back toward "no likey"?  Doubtful.  Raiders win, 22-10.  

EAGLES at REDSKINS:  Reality, in the form of a bad-ass defense, crashes in on Coach Visor.  Eagles win, 30-13.

LOCKS:  EAGLES, RAMS, TITANS, and (UPSET PICK) SAINTS.