NFL WEEK 2 CAPSULES
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Oakland (0-1) at Kansas City (0-1)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Chiefs -3 Total: 38½
• Weather: Temperatures in the high 70s, 30 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Kansas City was a favorite once last year, by 3½ points in Week 2 at home against Oakland. The Raiders won 23-8. ... Chiefs QB Matt Cassel (knee) is questionable, but reportedly has better than a 50 percent of starting after sitting out last week. Backup Brodie Croyle threw for 177 yards and two TDs at Baltimore. ... Huh? Raiders coach Tom Cable said Monday’s 24-20 loss to San Diego was the first time in three years a defeat hit the team in the gut. What about the other 23 losses?
• Analysis: A weakness could turn out to be a blessing for Kansas City, which set a pass-rushing futility mark last year. Maybe it’s better if JaMarcus Russell is allowed to throw. He was 16-for-45 in two games against the Chiefs’ 31st-rated defense in 2008.
• Forecast: Chiefs 24, Raiders 14
Houston (0-1) at Tennessee (0-1)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Titans -6½ Total: 40½
RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
• Weather: Mid-70s, 60 percent chance of rain
• Facts: The Titans have been off since Sept. 10, when they were 13-10 losers in OT at Pittsburgh. Over the previous four seasons, teams that played in the Thursday opener haven’t benefited from the extra rest, going 2-6 against the line in Game 2. But they were 2-0 last year. ... Houston RB Steve Slaton had his breakout game last year in Week 2 at Tennessee, getting 116 yards and a TD on 18 carries. The Titans won, 31-12, thanks largely to three Matt Schaub interceptions.
• Analysis: If Jets RB Thomas Jones could get 107 rushing yards and two scores against Houston last week, Tennessee’s well-rested Chris Johnson should do at least the same behind Tennessee’s bruising front wall.
• Forecast: Titans 31, Texans 21
New England (1-0) at N.Y. Jets (1-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Patriots -3½ Total: 46
TV: CBS (8)
• Weather: Mid-70s, 10 percent chance of rain
• Facts: New York had two TD drives of 80 yards or more behind rookie QB Mark Sanchez last week against Houston. No other team had two such drives in Week 1. ... Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been beaten by only one rookie quarterback in his career: Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger, during his remarkable 15-1 season in 2004. ... New England is 10-0 against the spread against the Jets at the Meadowlands since 1999. ... Patriots WR Randy Moss had only five catches for 48 yards and a TD in two games against the Jets last year. He had 12 catches last week, as did teammate Wes Welker.
• Analysis: It seems new Jets coach Rex Ryan has created a monster in New York, with his troops blabbing that they intend to embarrass the Patriots. Well, at least they didn’t guarantee a victory.
• Forecast: Patriots 30, Jets 19
Cincinnati (0-1) at Green Bay (1-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Packers -9 Total: 42
• Weather: Mid-70s, 20 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Green Bay’s highly touted offense had only 12 first downs in a 21-15 victory against a Chicago defense missing standout LB Brian Urlacher (wrist, out for season) most of the game. ... Take away that freakish 87-yard tipped TD pass in the final seconds and the Bengals’ defense held the Broncos to 215 yards. Over the previous four seasons, only four times was Cincinnati that stingy‚ and against Cleveland each time.
• Analysis: If new Bengals WR Laveranues Coles quits using his fists trying to catch passes, maybe Cincinnati’s offense won’t stall as often this week and will give the Packers a game. It’s not like Chicago didn’t have its chances last week at Lambeau Field.
• Forecast: Packers 23, Bengals 20
Minnesota (1-0) at Detroit (0-1)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Vikings -10 Total: 46½
• Facts: Only three times last year did the winless Lions lose by four points or fewer, but twice it happened against Minnesota. ... Brett Favre was sacked four times last week at Cleveland, matching the most times he’s gone down in a game the past three years. ... Go figure: Rushing phenom Adrian Peterson, who had 180 yards last week, didn’t have a TD in either game against Detroit’s worst-rated run defense last year. But he did total 216 yards.
• Analysis: In last week’s 34-20 victory at Cleveland, Favre didn’t throw an interception and completed two-thirds of his 21 passes. If he stays out of trouble, Detroit’s in big trouble.
• Forecast: Vikings 38, Lions 20
New Orleans (1-0) at Philadelphia (1-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Pick Total: 46½
TV: Fox (5)
• Weather: Mid-70s, 10 percent chance of rain
• Facts: In the past two seasons, teams have gained 500 or more yards in a game 14 times. The Saints have done it four times, including last week’s 515 against Detroit behind QB Drew Brees (six TD throws). The Eagles have done it twice. ... Philadelphia forced seven turnovers last week at Carolina. ... Eagles QB Donovan McNabb (doubtful), who fractured a rib last week, will be a game-time decision. Kevin Kolb is the expected starter.
• Analysis: Brees is going to win virtually any passing showdown, especially this week. And considering Saints backup RB Mike Bell ran for 143 yards last week, the added threat of a running game could be too much for the Eagles.
• Forecast: Saints 31, Eagles 24
Carolina (0-1) at Atlanta (1-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Falcons -6½ Total: 43
• Facts: Carolina QB Jake Delhomme was booed mercilessly last week when he committed five turnovers against Philadelphia, including four interceptions. ... Including last year’s playoff loss, Delhomme has thrown nine interceptions in his last 51 passes. That’s two fewer than Atlanta QB Matt Ryan had last season as a rookie. ... In last week’s 19-7 victory over Miami, the Falcons’ average starting field position was its 47 yard line and the Dolphins’ was their 22. That 25-yard differential was exceeded only twice last season.
• Analysis: OK, let’s say Delhomme’s self-confidence isn’t what it should be and he gets yanked midway. His likely replacement will be Eagles reject A.J. Feeley, who just arrived and admits the offense confuses him. Uh-oh.
• Forecast: Falcons 29, Panthers 14
St. Louis (0-1) at Washington (0-1)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Redskins -10 Total: 37
• Weather: Mid-70s, 10 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Last year the Rams won at Washington 19-17 as 12-point underdogs, matching the league’s second-biggest upset in 2008. They had only eight first downs, the fewest by a winning team all season. ... Just like this year, the Redskins opened 2008 with a road loss to the Giants. But then they won four in a row en route to a 6-2 start. ... Tough defense: Washington caused the Giants to stall inside the 30 five times last week without a TD.
• Analysis: Last week it was a visit to Seattle for the Rams, now Washington, D.C. Maybe the powerful teams can get away with their preparation periods interrupted by heavy travel, but not these guys.
• Forecast: Redskins 35, Rams 13
Arizona (0-1) at Jacksonville (0-1)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Jaguars -3 Total: 42½
• Weather: Mid-80s, 40 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Counting last year’s Super Bowl at Tampa, this is the Cardinals’ eighth trip to the Eastern time zone the past two years, more than anyone. The only game they won was their 33-13 playoff victory over Carolina. ... Jacksonville’s bookend rookie tackles led an offensive line that allowed only one sack by the formidable Colts last week. ... Arizona’s defense forced five three-and-outs on six 49ers possessions in the second half last week, but gave up a 15-play, 80-yard drive for the decisive score in a 20-16 loss.
• Analysis: WR Anquan Boldin (questionable) is not helping the Cardinals by loping through the secondary while babying a hamstring injury. Plus, Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew held up well last week, with 21 runs for 97 yards.
• Forecast: Jaguars 23, Cardinals 17
Seattle (1-0) at San Francisco (1-0)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: 49ers -1½ Total: 39½
• Weather: High 70s
• Facts: San Francisco won at Arizona last week despite gaining less than a yard per rush (25 carries, 21 yards). ... Mike Singletary’s indoctrination to the head coaching club occurred last year in Week 8 when Seattle came to town. The Seahawks won 34-13 as 5½-point underdogs, which remains Singletary’s worst loss in 10 games at the helm.
• Analysis: The 49ers’ offensive line, especially right tackle Adam Snyder, was unsuccessful at handling the Cardinals’ blitz last week. Since the Seahawks watch film, they surely took note.
• Forecast: Seahawks 26, 49ers 13
Tampa Bay (0-1) at Buffalo (0-1)
Time: 1:05 p.m. Line: Bills -4½ Total: 42
• Weather: Mid-70s, 10 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Tampa Bay gave up an obscene 12.8 yards per drop-back against Dallas last week, the worst average in the league. ... Uh-oh: Buffalo’s Terrell Owens had only two catches for 46 yards last week. The lava is bubbling inside him. ... Tampa Bay is without veteran center Jeff Faine (triceps). ... Buffalo third-year RB Fred Jackson filled in ably for suspended Marshawn Lynch, getting 140 yards of total offense at New England in the Bills’ 25-24 loss Monday.
• Analysis: Monday’s loss was Buffalo’s most crushing since that one-for-the-ages collapse at home against the Cowboys in 2007. That also was by 25-24. Buffalo didn’t sulk, though, and won its next four.
• Forecast: Bills 28, Buccaneers 13
Cleveland (0-1) at Denver (1-0)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Broncos -3 Total: 38½
• Weather: Mid-70s, 20 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Both teams scored their only offensive touchdowns last week in the final half-minute. The Broncos’ fluke TD won at Cincinnati, while the Browns’ came in garbage time against Minnesota’s backups. ... In Week 2 last year, Denver’s Brandon Marshall caught a league season-high 18 passes for 166 yards and a TD in the Ed Hochuli botched-call game against San Diego.
• Analysis: The Eric Mangini reign in Cleveland got off to a horrible start, as the Browns allowed the Vikings 225 yards on 37 carries and failed to intercept Brett Favre. Broncos fans will be charged up for this one.
• Forecast: Broncos 34, Browns 14
Pittsburgh (1-0) at Chicago (0-1)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Steelers -3 Total: 38
TV: CBS (8)
• Weather: Mid-70s, 30 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Pittsburgh outlasted Tennessee 13-10 last week despite rushing for only 36 yards. In 2008, teams failing to rush for at least 40 yards went 4-17 (against the line and straight-up). ... Jay Cutler threw four interceptions in his Bears debut last week. He hadn’t thrown that many in a game in three years with Denver. ... Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger, who threw for 363 yards last week, was sacked four times. But that’s nothing. Last year, he was sacked six times in a span of 7 minutes at Philadelphia.
• Analysis: It wasn’t enough that Cutler was lousy in last week’s loss at Green Bay, but all-purpose RB Matt Forte was held to 2.2 yards a carry on 25 rushes. What’s Plan C for Bears coach Lovie Smith?
• Forecast: Steelers 21, Bears 10
Baltimore (1-0) at San Diego (1-0)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Chargers -3 Total: 40
RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
• Weather: High 80s, zero chance of rain
• Facts: Chargers RB LaDainian Tomlinson is out with an ankle sprain. Most of his carries will go to Darren Sproles. Also, center Nick Hardwick (ankle) is questionable. ... The Ravens ran 85 plays to Kansas City’s 44 last week. That 41-play gap was exceeded only once last season. ... Second-year Ravens QB Joe Flacco attempts 43 passes against the Chiefs. Last year he attempted 30 or more only three times in 16 games.
• Analysis: The way Raiders receivers were roaming free in the Chargers’ secondary last week, you’d think San Diego made Norv Turner its defensive coordinator. Baltimore has too many weapons.
• Forecast: Ravens 31, Chargers 20
N.Y. Giants (1-0) at Dallas (1-0)
Time: 5:20 p.m. Line: Cowboys -3 Total: 44
TV: NBC (3) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
• Weather: Mid-80s, 20 percent chance of rain
• Facts: Dallas hopes to break the NFL attendance record in its regular-season debut at Cowboys Stadium. The record is 103,467 in Mexico City in 2005 for a Cardinals-49ers game. ... There were four teams that didn’t make a sack last week, but the Cowboys were the only winner. The other three lost by at least 17 points. ... The Giants play three straight road games. The last time they did that was when they were marching through Tampa Bay, Dallas and Green Bay to the Super Bowl.
• Analysis: Dallas’ defense couldn’t get off the field down the stretch at Tampa Bay last week, allowing the Bucs three consecutive 11-play drives. The Giants specialize at grinding it out.
• Forecast: Giants 27, Cowboys 21
MONDAY’S GAME
Indianapolis (1-0) at Miami (0-1)
Time: 5:30 p.m. Line: Colts -3 Total: 42
TV: ESPN (30) RADIO: KWWN-AM (1100)
• Weather: High 80s, 40 percent chance of rain
• Facts: The Dolphins had four turnovers in their loss at Atlanta last week, as many as they had in their closing 5-0 rush to win the AFC East in 2008. Two were fumbles by tight end Anthony Fasano; he had none in his first three years in the league. ... The Colts are into the toughest segment of their schedule, visiting Miami on Monday and having to play at Arizona six days later. ... Indianapolis had five possessions inside Jacksonville’s 40 last week that didn’t result in points.
• Analysis: QB Peyton Manning wore out Reggie Wayne last week (10 catches, 162 yards) and probably will look to do so again, especially with standout WR Anthony Gonzalez (knee) out. Miami knows that, too, and will lock in.
• Forecast: Dolphins 20, Colts 17
Last week record: 5-11 vs. spread; 9-7 straight-up
