Wow, what a week. We saw several big underdogs covering the spread and pulling off the outright upset. So, if you backed the Titans, Bengals, Broncos, or 49ers last week, your shot at winning your Survivor Pool ended before it began.
Fortunately, if you chose a team like the Ravens or the Chiefs, you’re still in line for the title – chances are it may come sooner rather than later.
Both of my Survivor Pools saw over 50 percent of participants eliminated in the first week alone – including myself. I backed the Broncos, and had it not been for two goal-line fumbles, and an ill-advised missed 64-yard field goal, I would still be alive.
Still, the show must go on, so here are the top five picks for your pool this week:
Packers over Bears
Sunday night football will feature two division rivals opposing each other in Lambeau Field. To say this is a must-win for the Packers would be an understatement. After many questioned how dynamic the Packers offense would operate without Davante Adams leading the receiving corps, Green Bay did nothing to quiet any skeptics in their opener versus the Vikings.
You can bet Aaron Rodgers was fuming and frustrated about his receivers putting on a pedestrian effort in a 23-7 loss against Minnesota. Fortunately, the Packers will get the opportunity to face a floundering Bears squad, who was lucky to steal a victory in a monsoon in Week 1.
The Bears will have a much tougher chance moving the ball in Green Bay against a Packers defense that is ready to shake off getting continuously burned by Justin Jefferson. The Bears’ receivers are nowhere near the talent level of Jefferson, nor is RB David Montgomery close to Vikings RB Dalvin Cook.
This is another double-digit spread in which the better team will prevail. Rodgers loves beating the Bears, and all of that good feeling in Chicago should be vanquished by the end of the contest. Green Bay is a top pick this week.
Bengals over Cowboys
The Bengals were one of the teams that killed many individuals’ hopes to advance in their Survivor Pools last week. QB Joe Burrow struggled mightily against the Steelers’ defense, throwing 4 INTs in the contest. Still, despite being down, Burrow managed to tie the game before the end of regulation and send the game into OT. Cincinnati eventually lost, but now they get the chance to take on a flailing Cowboys squad who will be without QB Dak Prescott for the foreseeable future.
Even before Dak’s injury, the Cowboys offense was abysmal against the Bucs. WR CeeDee Lamb hauled in all two catches, and RB Ezekiel Elliott managed only 52 yards on ten carries. Now, with backup QB Cooper Rush taking over for Prescott, the Cowboys could be in deep water if they don’t find a way to score points.
Although the game is in Dallas, the defending AFC Champions should be able to stretch the lead against the Cowboys. WR Tee Higgins may miss this contest, but Burrow will have plenty of weapons with Ja’Marr Chase, Tyler Boyd, and Hayden Hurst. The Bengals win this one.
Rams over Falcons
I love backing good teams coming off bad losses. For the Rams, losing the season’s opening game in primetime on the same field they won the Super Bowl months earlier was the ultimate embarrassment.
The Falcons, on the other hand, surprised many by nearing upsetting the New Orleans Saints last weekend. However, they blew a multi-score lead that resulted in their defeat. While Atlanta played decent football most of the game, the team will have its hands full against the defending Super Bowl champions.
Come kickoff, the Rams will have been stirring for ten days listening to all of their critics lay the doubt on them – you know they will be ready to prove their naysayers wrong.
Browns over Jets
The Jets made a case of why they are the worst team in the league without their starting QB, Zach Wilson. Filling in for the second-year signal caller, veteran Joe Flacco looked like he missed the memo about an offseason retirement. It appears the Jets will stick with Flacco in the short interim, which is music to the eyes of the Browns’ defense.
The Browns edged a win in Carolina thanks to a questionable roughing the passer call, but that shouldn’t take away from the defense’s impressive showing. Myles Garrett and company completely shut down Baker Mayfield and Christian McCaffrey in the first half and were dominant throughout the contest.
This week should be an even easier matchup for the Browns. The Jets’ offensive line is a mess with Mekhi Becton and Duane Brown on the IR. Even though the Browns will again be without the suspended Deshaun Watson, they should pull off a win here. There’s no doubt the Jets will be more motivated, considering they were blown out on their turf last week, but they will struggle to score against a robust Browns defense.
Bills over Titans
Buffalo circled this matchup back when schedules were announced in the spring. In a thrilling Monday night showdown last October, the Titans edged out a victory at home 34-31. The Bills had a chance to tie the game or go for the win in the game’s final seconds, but Tennessee was able to stuff Josh Allen on a QB sneak on 4th-and-goal to seal the victory. Buffalo will want revenge from that crushing defeat last season – and what better way than to host the Titans on another Monday night showdown.
The Bills proved why many consider their squad the best in the NFL by blowing out the Rams 31-10 in the home opener on Thursday night football. Meanwhile, the Titans were upset at home to the New York Giants, one of the worst teams in the league in 2021. The Titans no longer have WR A.J. Brown to lead the receiver corps or LB Harold Landry to strengthen the pass rush. This Tennessee squad is regressing from last year when they clinched the No.1 overall seed in the AFC.
The Bills should win this contest comfortably. The spread opened at the home team being favored by 9.5, and that’s no surprise considering one team dominated and the other was embarrassed in Week 1. Be wary of the Titans covering, but the Bills should hold them off in their home opener.
