Last Week: 14-2

Season: 48-16

New Orleans at Carolina

While this may look one-sided on paper I expect the Panthers to give the Saints a real run for their money. Cam Newton keeps playing much better than anyone expected him to but its time for him start leading his club to some wins. Unfortunately, this isn't the week he gets the Panthers on the board as Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense are just too much for the Panthers D.

Kansas City at Indianapolis

Curtis Painter gets his second start against a Kansas City team coming off its first victory of the season. Say what you want about Painter (he is pretty awful) and the Colts continued deterioration as they place guys on IR each week. Despite all that, this Colts team is playing its guts out for coach Jim Caldwell - while the Chiefs seem to openly despise their coach Todd Haley. On nothing more than a gut feeling - Indianapolis gets their first win of the season.

Philadelphia at Buffalo

After a surprising loss to the 49ers, Philadelphia is reeling. Niner running back Frank Gore accused the Eagles of quitting. Quarterback Mike Vick is "frustrated" saying the "Dream Team thing is dead." Yeah Mike, it was dead on arrival. The Bills, meanwhile, are coming off a loss to the Bengals that saw them fall prey to the fabled "emotional letdown" after their big win over the Patriots. Their emotions in check this time, Buffalo gets the win at home.

Seattle at New York Giants

The Seahawks came within a last second missed field goal of beating the Falcons at home last week. Now they have to travel cross country to face the Giants, who will most likely be without Brandon Jacobs and Justin Tuck. Travaris Jackson and Sidney Rice looked surprisingly good last week but Eli Manning, elite quarterback or no, should be able to lead this New York team past the Seahawks.

Cincinnati at Jacksonville

He's on the short side. His arm isn't strong enough. And good God - he's got red hair. These were just some of the knocks on Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton during the madness that is the NFL Draft's silly season, the months prior to the actual draft when the Draftnik Industrial Complex blows every thing out of proportion. Dalton rallied his team from 14 points down in the second half after what can only be described as a dismal first half performance. The Jaguars are breaking in their own rookie quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, who has taken his lumps but did a fair job throwing the ball against the Saints last week. On nothing more than a hunch, Jacksonville wins a close one.

Tennessee at Pittsburgh

Ben Roethlisberger will start despite an injured foot and the Steelers will  start Max Starks at offensive tackle - having had three practices since being picked up off the street. The Titans are a confident bunch under new head coach Mike Munchak and quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. The Steelers won't have James Harrison - for quite awhile - and they look old and slow. In an upset - Tennessee takes it.

Oakland at Houston

The Raiders did an admirable job hanging with the Patriots last week and they are a physical bunch. No one in the league wants anything to do with having to tackle Darren McFadden. But the Texans look to have turned the proverbial corner on defense, and as a team in general. With Arian Foster back and running like the reigning rushing champ - Houston's offense is just too much for the Raiders.

Arizona at Minnesota

These are two woeful teams. Arizona is learning what many league observers already knew - Kevin Kolb is not a franchise quarterback. He can be serviceable and he can run an offense, but he can't do much more than keep the offense running on time. Meanwhile, Minnesota just hasn't been able to close the deal. They may want to switch quarterbacks, but Christian Ponder isn't ready. That said, Donavan McNabb found a groove with tight end Visanthe Shiancoe last week and Adrian Peterson is still the games best talent at the running back position. Vikings fans can get tickets to this game for $4. (Seriously) Those that do will get to see their teams first victory of the 2011 season.

Tampa Bay at San Francisco

The Buccaneers got a scare Monday night against the Colts, who flat out beat up on what looked like a Bucs team that expected to coast to victory. Now, they travel to the West Coast to take on a pumped up and confident 49er team, fresh off their big upset of Michael Vick and the Eagles. While not pretty, the 49er offense is moving the football when it needs to. San Francisco stays atop the NFC West with another big victory against an NFC foe.

New York Jets at New England

Rex Ryan has admitted he tried to give quarterback Mark Sanchez too much responsibility in the passing game to start the season and has declared the Jets need to get back to "ground and pound". There are a couple problems with this strategy, especially this week. First - the Jets can't run the ball. So there's that. Then, there's the fact that the best way to attack the Patriots is through the air. Unfortunately, the Jets can't throw the ball either. While this is exactly the type of game where Ryan gets his guys to play a shockingly good game and surprise us all, New England's defense, for a change, wins a game for the Patriots.

San Diego at Denver

Coming off a defensive embarrassment at the hands of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers, Denver's defense faces another top quarterback. Rookie Von Miller is the real deal and Champ Bailey is most likely back. Coupled with Philp Rivers quiet start to the season along with injuries to Vincent Jackson and Antonio Gates, the Broncos at least have a chance. But this will come down to Rivers being better than Orton, which bodes well for San Diego.

Green Bay at Atlanta

Roddy White thinks the Falcons were the better team last season, despite the beatdown the Packers put on them in the playoffs and that whole Super Bowl Champions thing. B.J. Raji thinks the Falcons offensive line are a bunch of cheap shot artists. This should be a fun one - if you're a fan of watching Green Bay put up lots of points, which they will - again - against a struggling Atlanta defense.

Chicago at Detroit

These are two teams heading in different directions. The Lions, young and ascending. The Bears, old and running out of the luck that propelled them to the NFC Championship game last year. While Detroit has needed to come back from 20-down the last two weeks to secure a couple of dramatic victories, the Bears are coming off a closer-than-it-should-have-been victory over the Panthers. In what I think will be a thrilling game - Detroit puts a stamp on their legitimacy in front of a national television audience.

Byes: Ravens, Browns, Cowboys, Dolphins, Rams, Redskins