Miami at Indianapolis (Sunday, 1p.m., CBS): The Fins looked impressive, and Ricky Williams may finally be ready to be a superstar. However, the Colts’ defense looked good against the Jaguars, and may be able to shut down a lesser quarterback in Jay Fiedler this week, after handling Jacksonville’s Mark Brunell in Week One. Prediction: Colts 24, Dolphins 16.
New England at North Jersey Jets (Sunday, 1p.m., CBS): Yes, both the New York Jets and Giants play in scenic East Rutherford, New Jersey. Anyway, the Jets were almost beaten by Drew Bledsoe and the Bills, but held on thanks to two kickoff returns for touchdowns by Chad Morton. The Pats showed plenty of offensive firepower in overwhelming the Steelers’ defense, so look for more of the same this week. Prediction: Patriots 23, Jets 10.
Denver at San Francisco (Sunday, 4:15p.m., CBS): Brian Griese may be back to his 2000 form. This week is a big step in finding out if Griese is a Pro Bowl or No Bowl quarterback, as the Niners and Broncos will find themselves in the midst of a shootout. Jeff Garcia and the Niners will pull this one out late, but the Broncos and Griese show that they are back and ready to compete. Prediction: 49ers 37, Broncos 31.
POWER POLL – Week 2
Cream of the Crop
1. New England Patriots (1-0): They dismantled a cocky Pittsburgh Steelers team on Monday night. Tom Brady & Co. look poised to defend their Super Bowl title.
2. Chicago Bears (1-0): Strong defense and a blossoming offense put teeth back on Da Bears. Marty Booker showed that he is a budding star at WR.
3. Green Bay Packers (1-0): QB Brett Favre wins games, even with a no-name receiving corps.
4. Indianapolis Colts (1-0): Tony Dungy’s arrival as head coach may finally bring what the offense needs to reach the Super Bowl: defense.
5. San Francisco 49ers (1-0): The sky is the limit for QB Jeff Garcia and WR Terrell Owens on offense. The Niners may be regaining their late-80s dominance.
Cellar Dwellers
28. Carolina Panthers (1-0): The worst victorious team in Week One gets another winnable game in Week Two against the Detroit Lions. Unfortunately, Rodney Peete is the “best” quarterback on the team. Look out below!
29. Baltimore Ravens (0-1): Last year’s Minnesota Vikings went from favorites to also-rans in 2001 after losing the Carolina Panthers. The Ravens need to score more than the seven points they managed against the hapless Panthers.
30. Arizona Cardinals (0-1): Jake Plummer and David Boston will salvage the offense, but the Cards’ defense is in desperate. Four games against Pro Bowl QBs Kurt Warner and Jeff Garcia make Arizona’s future bleak in the NFC West.
31. Dallas Cowboys (0-1): Hey, Jerry Jones. Go find a quarterback, and take this pack of jokers to NFL Europe while you’re at it. Losing to the expansion Houston Texans on national television must have been painful for the ‘Boys and their fans, but I sure enjoyed it
32. Detroit Lions (0-1): Someone please skip time ahead 3 years, when this team might be worth watching. The Lions play the Carolina Panthers (Sunday, 1pm, FOX) in the least anticipated game of the season.