Week 2 Recap

QB Matthew Stafford threw 4 TD's in Sunday's rout.

Kansas City 3, Detroit 48

Coming into Week 2, this was looking like one of the easiest predictions of the week. The Lions did not disappoint in many people's predictions, as they rolled the Chiefs into humiliation. For the second consecutive week, the Chiefs offense did nearly nothing while the defense allowed at least 40 points. RB Jamaal Charles tore his ACL in this game also, so the Chiefs have lost their two best players in consecutive weeks. The Chiefs can be contenders for 0-16.

Next Week: Chiefs at Chargers, Lions at Vikings

Seattle 0, Pittsburgh 24

The Steelers got back on track, just as everyone expected, with a home-opening victory over the Seahawks. QB Ben Roethlisberger completed over 70% of his passes for nearly 300 yards and a touchdown in the easy victory. His favorite target happened to be WR Mike Wallace, who caught eight passes for 126 yards and was the recipient of Roethlisberger's lone touchdown pass. QB Tavaris Jackson wasn't bad, but their running game gave them absolutely nothing. The Seahawks only had 31 yards rushing, and Jackson led the team in rushing with 12 yards.

Next Week: Cardinals at Seahawks, Steelers at Colts

Green Bay 30, Carolina 23

QB Aaron Rodgers and the Packers' offense started off slowly, as the Panthers jumped out to a 13-0 lead in the first half, and held a 13-7 lead at halftime. The Packers made adjustments that worked, as they outscored the Panthers 23-10 in the second half, while the defense picked off QB Cam Newton three times. Newton was fascinating again, throwing for 432 yards. However, his three interceptions were costly, as it afforded the Packers the opportunity to go ahead for good.

Next Week: Packers at Bears, Jaguars at Panthers

Tampa Bay 24, Minnesota 20

The Vikings appeared to be rolling in the second half, behind the strength of two touchdowns from RB Adrian Peterson. That all changed in the second half as the Buccaneers got their act together and made plays, reversing a 17-point halftime deficit and stunning the Vikings in the Metrodome. RB LeGarrette Blount scored two touchdowns in the second half, and QB Josh Freeman threw a touchdown pass in the comeback win. QB Donovan McNabb was much better than last week, throwing for 228 yards, completing 18 of 30 attempts. The second straight close loss leaves the Vikings searching for second half consistency.

Next Week: Falcons at Buccaneers, Lions at Vikings

Jacksonville 3, New York Jets 32

QB Mark Sanchez threw two first half interceptions, giving the Jaguars a chance to stay in the game. It wasn't meant to be, as QB Luke McCown threw four interceptions before being benched in favor of rookie QB Blaine Gabbert. Sanchez only threw for 182 yards, but threw two touchdown passes to WR Santonio Holmes and TE Dustin Keller. The bright spot for the Jaguars was RB Maurice Jones-Drew, who rushed for 88 yards. The benching of McCown will raise questions all week for coach Jack Del Rio as to who will be the starter next week.

Next Week: Jaguars at Panthers, Jets at Raiders

Baltimore 13, Tennessee 26

The Titans rode the arm of veteran QB Matt Hasselbeck in beating the Ravens, one week removed from the Ravens handling of the defending AFC champion Pittsburgh Steelers. QB Joe Flacco was off all day, completing less than 50% of his passes and throwing two interceptions. Meanwhile, Hasselbeck had 358 yards passing on that Ravens' defense when they decided to focus on stopping RB Chris Johnson. WR Kenny Britt had a career-high nine catches for 135 yards and a touchdown. WR Nate Washington also chipped in with 99 yards receiving.

Next Week: Ravens at Rams, Broncos at Titans

Chicago 13, New Orleans 30

The Bears took the early lead with a touchdown pass from QB Jay Cutler to WR Dane Sanzenbacher, but they fell hard after that. Playing on an emotional day after the death of LB Brian Urlacher's mother, the made mistakes offensively and defensively that cost them the game. QB Drew Brees completed 26 of 37 attempts for 270 yards and three touchdowns. Cutler, on the other hand, completed less than 50% of his passes but did not throw an interception. However, he was sacked six times and fumbled once.

Next Week: Packers at Bears, Texans at Saints

Bills' QB Ryan Fitzpatrick fired 3 TD passes in the comeback.

Oakland 35, Buffalo 38

In what clearly was the best game of Week 2, the Bills improved to 2-0 in a thriller which came down to the last minute. The Raiders jumped out to a 21-3 halftime lead behind three touchdown runs from RB Michael Bush, RB Darren McFadden and QB Jason Campbell. However, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick turned the page on the first half performance, and was excellent in the second half with three touchdown passes. The Bills scored five touchdowns in the second half to make the comeback. Fitzpatrick threw for 264 yards while Campbell threw for 323 yards and two touchdowns, both in the second half as well.

Next Week: Jets at Raiders, Patriots at Bills

Arizona 21, Washington 22

The Redskins continue to dominate the Cardinals historically, winning their eighth straight matchup against them with a close one-point victory. This game was close throughout, with the Redskins up 3 at the half. The Cardinals had an eight-point lead in the fourth quarter, but they couldn't hold it. QB Rex Grossman threw two interceptions, but he also threw two touchdown passes and completed a key pass to WR Santana Moss on fourth down in the fourth quarter. QB Kevin Kolb threw for 251 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn't enough. K Graham Gano kicked the game-winning field goal for the Redskins.

Next Week: Cardinals at Seahawks, Redskins at Cowboys

Cleveland 27, Indianapolis 19

The Colts continue to look awful without QB Peyton Manning, as the Browns weathered an early deficit to defeat the Colts for the first time since 1994. RB Peyton Hillis ran for nearly 100 yards and two touchdowns, putting the finishing touches on the game with his last touchdown. The Colts are 0-2 for the first time since Manning's rookie season. While it appeared QB Kerry Collins was more comfortable early on, he reverted back to last week's form in the loss.

Next Week: Dolphins at Browns, Steelers at Colts

Dallas 27, San Francisco 24 OT

QB Tony Romo was criticized all week for his fourth quarter performance against the Jets last week, but it was completely different this week. Romo suffered a fractured rib in the first half, but came back in the game to lead the Cowboys back down 10 in the fourth quarter. WR Jesse Holley, who won a spot on the team via Michael Irvin's reality show, caught the first OT pass from Romo and took it all the way down to the one-yard line, setting up the game-winning field goal. It was a much needed win for the Cowboys, as plenty of doubt would've crept in if they would've started the season 0-2.

Next Week: Redskins at Cowboys, 49ers at Bengals

Houston 23, Miami 13

The Dolphins lost their sixth consecutive home game dating back to last season, while the Texans looked sharp again. QB Chad Henne looked brilliant last week against the Patriots, but was awful this week. He completed less than 50% of his passes for only 170 yards. QB Matt Schaub, on the other hand, completed 21 of 29 attempts for 230 yards and two touchdowns. RB Ben Tate rushed for over 100 yards, just as his counterpart RB Daniel Thomas did on the other side. Thomas' game was the one bright spot for the Dolphins.

Next Week: Texans at Saints, Dolphins at Browns

San Diego 21, New England 35

QB Tom Brady was his usual self, constantly going to no-huddle and lighting up the Chargers' secondary just as he did to the Dolphins last week. Brady threw for 423 yards, his second straight 400+ yard game. QB Cam Newton, as a rookie, has done the same thing this season. However, while Newton's performances has resulted in two losses, Brady's performance has led to two victories. QB Philip Rivers was on point as well, completing 29 of 40 attempts for 378 yards and two touchdowns. However, Rivers' two interceptions were costly, in addition to RB Mike Tolbert's fumble in the second half. WR Vincent Jackson was a bright spot, with 10 catches for 172 yards and two touchdowns.

Next Week: Chiefs at Chargers, Patriots at Bills

Cincinnati 22, Denver 24

Rookie QB Andy Dalton was impressive in his second NFL start, throwing for 332 yards and two touchdowns. However, it wasn't enough as the Broncos were able to scrape by. QB Kyle Orton's numbers weren't pretty, but his two touchdown passes, both to WR Eric Decker, were huge. The Broncos were in a strange position once WR Eddie Royal got hurt. Since WR Brandon Lloyd was out, they were extremely thin at the receiver position. They put in beloved QB Tim Tebow to play the position shortly to fill in.

Next Week: 49ers at Bengals, Broncos at Titans

QB Michael Vick had the Eagles ahead before he left with a concussion.

Philadelphia 31, Atlanta 35

Once QB Michael Vick left with a concussion, the Eagles were doomed. Even though backup QB Mike Kafka showed flashes of greatness, the Eagles were unable to maintain their lead after Vick left and lost a close one. Vick, playing in front of his old home fans, was throwing with efficiency and picking his spots when he ran the ball. The Falcons, not a good blitzing team, found it extremely difficult to keep up with him and the offense. QB Matt Ryan was praised by analysts for his performance, but it was shaky at best. Although he threw four touchdowns, he threw two boneheaded interceptions and only threw for 195 yards. The Eagles still had a chance to win it. WR Jeremy Maclin, spectacular all day, dropped an easy pass from Kafka to seal it.

Next Week: Giants at Eagles, Falcons at Buccaneers


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Week 2 Predictions

Kansas City @ Detroit

QB Matthew Stafford is looking for a 2-0 start.

After watching Week 1, this might be the easiest pick of the week. The Chiefs, coming off of a division title last season, looked horrible in their home opener against the Buffalo Bills. Losing 41-7 at home was bad, but things got worse when S Eric Berry was injured when Bills' WR Steve Johnson blocked him very low, giving him a season-ending injury. For the Lions, they lived up to expectations with an impressive road victory against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Their home opener should be easy.

Edge: Detroit

Oakland @ Buffalo

Both teams started the season on the road, and both teams took care of business on the road to start off 1-0. There weren't any expectations for either team coming into the season, so their road victories were impressive. After this game, someone will be looking good at 2-0. Who will that be? QB Ryan Fitzpatrick had arguably the best quarterback performance in Week 1 of all. Their defense was impressive too, limiting the Chiefs' offense that looked good last year. The Raiders got a good win against the Broncos, but they committed a lot of penalties in a sloppy game.

Edge: Buffalo

Baltimore @ Tennessee

The Baltimore Ravens had their best performance in years when they stomped the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. QB Joe Flacco was very efficient, and RB Ray Rice was making plays out of the backfield, whether it was running the ball or receiving. The defense was stout, forcing seven turnovers and making QB Ben Roethlisberger look dreadful. The Tennessee Titans, on the other hand, were a disappointment on all levels last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Expect the same this week.

Edge: Baltimore

Jacksonville @ New York Jets

The Jets have a knack for making things look close when they really shouldn't be. Most people thought they would blow out the Dallas Cowboys, yet the Cowboys had the game won if it wasn't for several boneheaded mistakes. The last time the Jaguars played in New Jersey, they came out the victor, during Rex Ryan's first season. So it isn't set in stone that the Jets will win this easily. This is a trap game for them, and hopefully Ryan has put that in his players' heads. Look for the Jets to take advantage of QB Luke McCown behind center, coming with an array of blitz packages.

Edge: New York Jets

Cleveland @ Indianapolis

Both teams were extremely disappointing in Week 1, so it is very hard to determine who will come out as the winner. Most people, including myself, thought the Cleveland Browns would easily handle the Cincinnati Bengals, who were starting a rookie quarterback and rookie receiver. Instead, the Bengals won by 10, and left the Browns searching for answers. The Indianapolis Colts were dreadful, and it makes me wonder whether WR Reggie Wayne was right when he said the Colts were better off going to QB Curtis Painter than QB Kerry Collins. The Colts' defense is still fairly healty, so they should play well at home against the Browns.

Edge: Indianapolis

Arizona @ Washington

Both teams won their season openers at home, but they are completely different. While QB Kevin Kolb passed for 309 yards and two touchdowns, he was helped out by possibly the worst defense in the NFL, which the Redskins are far from this year. The Redskins were very impressive, albeit against a defense with a ton of injuries. QB Rex Grossman looked like a man on a mission to prove that these Redskins will come out as the division winner. Kolb didn't fare well against the Redskins last year when QB Michael Vick got hurt, so he'll look for redemption.

Edge: Washington

Tampa Bay @ Minnesota

Most experts probably didn't see the fact that the Buccaneers are overrated because they played a team in the Detroit Lions who are on the rise. The Buccaneers haven't lost to the Vikings since they both split from the NFC Central division in 2002. However, history is history and the Vikings have QB Donovan McNabb now. That's not saying much, especially after his horrible performance at San Diego. Still, the Vikings defense looked somewhat solid in making the Chargers work for their victory. This may not be as close as you think.

Edge: Minnesota

Green Bay @ Carolina

QB Cam Newton was the story of the week, passing for 422 yards in his NFL debut, an NFL record. He was playing the Cardinals' defense, who are not the Packers' defense. Granted, the Packers defense did give up 34 points to the New Orleans Saints and looked outright bad at times as well. However, an experienced quarterback will be lucky to have half the production he had last week.

Edge: Green Bay

Chicago @ New Orleans

Many people say the Bears looked good last week in their rout of the Atlanta Falcons. They only reinforced what I expected out of the Falcons, which wasn't much. However, that doesn't mean the Bears are an excellent football team. Going into the Louisiana Superdome will cause problems for QB Jay Cutler, and QB Drew Brees will pick up where he left off from last week.

Edge: New Orleans

Seattle @ Pittsburgh

After starting the season at Baltimore, the Steelers get a relatively easy season opener. The Steelers looked awful against the Ravens in a 35-7 loss, leaving Mike Tomlin speechless as expected. When the Steelers are winning, Tomlin has the answers. When they're losing, he doesn't know. Let's just say he's just a motivational speaker for his ball club. The Seahawks didn't look good against the San Francisco 49ers, and more importantly, QB Tavaris Jackson didn't look good. That's trouble for this franchise.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Dallas @ San Francisco

Even though QB Tony Romo received a lot of criticism for his failures in the fourth quarter, Romo was excellent for the first three quarters. Echoing the sentiments of Skip Bayless, if TE Jason Witten would just become a man and handle small S Jim Leonhard, the Cowboys would be 1-0. Instead, a lot of unfortunate circumstances have them in need of a victory now. The 49ers are 1-0 after an easy victory against the Seahawks, but the Cowboys are much different. This used to be a rich rivalry, but now it's a matchup of pedestrian football teams.

Edge: Dallas

San Diego @ New England

QB Tom Brady is coming off a 517-yard performance.

These two teams are regularly labeled Super Bowl contenders year after year, so this is clearly the best game this weekend. The Chargers didn't look too good in beating the Vikings, but a win is a win. The Patriots, on the other hand, beat the Miami Dolphins into embarrassment. QB Tom Brady was setting records all day, but 500+ yards won't happen against the Chargers. However, Brady and the offense displayed the kind of offense they were thriving in during their record 2007 season. This might be trouble for the NFL.

Edge: New England

Cincinnati @ Denver

Broncos' fans are calling for QB Tim Tebow to take over, but coach John Fox isn't budging. That's a good idea, because you don't want to make a change this early in the season to a quarterback you're unsure of. Simply put, Tebow cannot throw like an NFL quarterback yet, so he's not ready. The Broncos were sloppy in their home loss to the Raiders, and QB Kyle Orton was a part of that. Still, he kept the Broncos close and made them competitive. The Bengals surprisingly won against the Browns, but I'm still very unsure of what I'll see from this team. Makes for an interesting game or season.

Edge: Denver

Houston @ Miami

While the Texans rang up 34 points in the first half against the Colts, they didn't quite look good. QB Matt Schaub still threw a poor interception and his touchdown pass to WR Andre Johnson was tipped before it reached his hands. If the Colts' offense weren't disastrous, they probably have a chance to win the game. The Texans were given good field position all day as a result of QB Kerry Collins' poor play. That's a different outcome if he moves the ball more effectively. The Dolphins defense looked bad, but QB Chad Henne was surpringly good. If he can keep that up, they'll be better than I thought.

Edge: Miami

Philadelphia @ Atlanta

QB Michael Vick starts in Atlanta for the first time.

Most people are pitting this game as the most interesting matchup, only because QB Michael Vick is returning to Atlanta. However, the Falcons aren't all they're made out to be. Until they get consistent quarterback play from QB Matt Ryan, they'll forever be just a decent team. Their schedule is much harder this year, since they have to play the NFC North. The Eagles are a great team, when Vick is on top of his game. As shown in their game against the St. Louis Rams, they're only as good as Vick allows them to be.

Edge: Philadelphia

St. Louis @ New York Giants

Both teams are suffering from a rash of injuries heading into this game, so both teams should be thankful for an extra day to prepare. Rams' coach Steve Spagnuolo will be in the Meadowlands for the first time since the 2007 season, when he led the Giants' defense to a Super Bowl victory. He has done a good job leading the Rams, but they have injuries at real important positions heading into this game. The Giants hope to have DE Justin Tuck and WR Hakeem Nicks playing. Tuck is the most important defensive player and Nicks is the most important offensive player behind QB Eli Manning.

Edge: New York Giants

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Nuggets Don't Want Season

F J.R. Smith is taking his talents to China.

F Wilson Chandler decided to take a chance and play in China.

Two weeks ago, F Wilson Chandler, who was scheduled to be a free agent once the lockout ended, announced he was signing with an organization in the Chinese Basketball Association. Chandler started the 2010-2011 season with the New York Knicks, but was sent to the Denver Nuggets in the big deal that sent F Carmelo Anthony to the Knicks. Nuggets' coach George Karl was impressed with Chandler's work, which helped the Nuggets stay in contention in the Western Conference.

 J.R. Smith was also scheduled to be a free agent once the lockout ended, but he has followed Chandler's path and signed on to play in the Chinese Basketball Association as well. The league decided to not pursue any NBA players under contract, and stated whatever players signed there had to play the entire season. That eliminates Smith and Chandler for the 2011-2012 NBA season, should there be one.

There was no telling if the Nuggets management actually wanted to bring both of them back. If they did, this is a big blow to the organization. It's likely they wanted Chandler back, since he's still very young at 24, and can play multiple positions offensively and defensively. Smith always seemed to be a thorn in Karl's side, putting up ridiculous shots and not playing sound defense. At times, Smith was an electric scorer as the sixth man, putting up at least 35 points on several occasions.

Losing both of them would be detrimental to the Nuggets, who lost their superstar. No one knows if Chandler or Smith would've wanted to re-sign with them anyway, but the Nuggets cannot afford to lose two talented individuals. After the trade, they had about eight players who were capable starters in this league. Chandler, a starter with the Knicks, actually came off the bench behind F Danilo Gallinari, who was also traded to the Nuggets from the Knicks.

If there is a season, the Nuggets have some decisions to make. It seemed as if they were determined to trade G Raymond Felton, another member of the trade, this offseason. Now with the guaranteed loss of Chandler and Smith, do they proceed and trade another scoring option? That remains to be seen, but the season actually starting remains to be seen as well.

IF there is a season, the Nuggets contending for a championship won't be happening. Most people would make the argument that they are not capable of contending even with Smith and Chandler. The top four teams in the Western Conference this past season were the Spurs, Lakers, Mavericks and Thunder. The Nuggets, as crazy as it may seem, are capable of beating any of those four fielding the team they had after the Anthony trade.

Finally, let's see if the Nuggets are interested in bringing them back when they return to the states.

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Week 1 NFL Predictions

Jay Cutler looks to get the Bears a division crown again.

Atlanta @ Chicago                                                                             

Both teams had bye weeks in the playoffs last season, and proceeded to lose to Green Bay in consecutive weeks. This season, the Falcons have high expectations after giving up several draft picks in a trade to draft WR Julio Jones. Lined up opposite WR Roddy White, the Falcons are expected to have another great season. However, playing in Soldier Field is no easy task, especially for a team not used to success. This game should be close, but the Bears will come out the victor.

Edge: Chicago

Indianapolis @ Houston

The Colts received some very bad news when they announced QB Peyton Manning will miss this game. Then, Manning went on to have another neck procedure, which is sure to put him out for a couple of months. With that in mind, the Colts are doomed. These two teams met in the first game last season in Reliant Stadium, and RB Arian Foster introduced himself to the nation. After a breakout season, Foster may miss this game. However, the loss of Manning is too much to overcome.

Edge: Houston

Buffalo @ Kansas City

The Chiefs surprised many by winning the AFC West, but quickly bowed out to the Ravens at home in the Wild Card round. This time around, the Chiefs don't figure to be sneaking up on anybody this year. The Bills aren't considered by anyone to be a contender, but they do have promise with QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, WR Stevie Wilson, and RB Fred Jackson. With the Jets and the Patriots in the AFC East, the Bills will still be out of playoff contention, but they will be improved.

Edge: Buffalo

Cincinnati @ Cleveland

This is probably the easiest pick for analysts looking for a sure pick. There is nothing positive about what the Bengals are displaying this season. Rookie quarterback, rookie top receiver, and a lackluster defense is shaping up to be one of those Bengals' seasons Cincinnati fans are used to. The Browns are in the AFC North, where the Ravens and Steelers figure to dominate. That being said, the Browns will not being a contender. However, they are far better than the Bengals.

Edge: Cleveland

The Steelers and Ravens renew their rivalry in Week 1.

Pittsburgh @ Baltimore

Until the Ravens can prove they can beat the Steelers with QB Ben Roethlisberger, this isn't a fair rivalry. The Ravens beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh last season, but Roethlisberger was serving a suspension. Every time these two teams play each other, QB Joe Flacco looks dreadful, the game is always close in the fourth quarter, and Roethlisberger leads his team to victory. I expect the same on Sunday.

Edge: Pittsburgh

Philadelphia @ St. Louis

Backup QB Vince Young called the makeup of the Eagles' roster a "Dream Team." The Eagles have been the best team in free agency, and management should thank QB Michael Vick for being the force luring these free agents to Philly. However, their success depends squarely on the arm and decision-making of Vick. It seems as if he has regressed from what we saw in the middle of the season. The Rams, on the other hand, seem to be the logical choice to win the NFC West. The other three teams don't look quite as good.

Edge: St. Louis

Detroit @ Tampa Bay

These are two teams who have high expectations this season. For the Lions, this is new territory, as they have been the laughingstock of the league for a decade. Infusion of young talent through the draft the past couple of years have them looking high, trying to see what can be in the next couple of years. While their future looks bright, the Buccaneers went through the same deal last season and were denied the playoffs despite a 10-6 record. While the Buccaneers surprised most analysts with their improvement, only one of those wins came against a team with a winning record. This figures to be an interesting game between two young teams, but the home team figures to be the victor.

Edge: Tampa Bay

Tennessee @ Jacksonville

This might very well be the least interesting matchup of Week 1. This is also a matchup of teams with interesting issues at the quarterback position. The Jaguars may have shot their season down by releasing QB David Garrard. 30-year old QB Luke McCown takes over, and while the Jaguars believe there's a lot of potential in him, I'm not buying it. The Titans, on the other hand, could be the surprise team this season. If QB Matt Hasselbeck limits the amount of turnovers and makes good decisions like he's capable of, the Titans are very capable of winning the division. Let's see what they got.

Edge: Tennessee

Minnesota @ San Diego

Joe Buck and Troy Aikman will be in Landover, MD covering the Giants-Redskins game. They should be in San Diego covering this game, a much more interesting matchup. The last time RB Adrian Peterson played the Chargers, he set an NFL record in his rookie season with 296 rushing yards in a win. While there isn't much hype for the Vikings, they could very well surprise many folks as well. QB Donovan McNabb is in a much better situation than with the Redskins, and they have a defense that, if playing at the level of 2009, can take them places. On this day, however, the Chargers are the better team unless QB Philip Rivers gets injured.

Edge: San Diego

Carolina @ Arizona

Both teams are starting fresh, with new quarterbacks, hoping the future is bright. QB Cam Newton is facing the odds, immediately starting after being the #1 overall pick in this year's draft. Troy Aikman and Peyton Manning are two notable examples that have struggled mightily in their first season being the #1 pick. However, both of them have gone on to Hall of Fame careers, so there is upside with Newton. The Cardinals, on the other hand, are looking to see if QB Kevin Kolb can be the replacement for Kurt Warner. The Cardinals have a golden opportunity in a weak division, whereas the Panthers aren't so lucky. However, that may not be true for this game.

Edge: Carolina

New York Giants @ Washington

The Redskins should be applauded for their offseason moves. Other than the Eagles, they probably have had the most productive offseason, which is rare. On the defensive side, they signed DL Barry Cofield, DE Stephen Bowen, and S O.J. Atogwe. On offense, they acquired WR Jabar Gaffney, WR Donte Stallworth, and RB Tim Hightower. The only thing holding them back is their sketchy quarterback situation. Still, the Redskins can be a surprise improvement. The Giants have had the worst luck this offseason, but they have the most important pieces to their success.

Edge: New York Giants

Seattle @ San Francisco

This doesn't look like an interesting matchup, but Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh make it a bit interesting. Back in Harbaugh's Stanford days and Carroll's USC days, Stanford routed USC in their house in a stunning upset. However, up 48-21, Harbaugh decided to go for a two-point conversion, which didn't sit well with Carroll. During the postgame handshake, they both exchanged words that were not pleasantries. Let's see if the animosity is still there.

Edge: San Francisco

Dallas @ New York Jets

After coming up short of the Super Bowl in consecutive seasons, the Jets look to finally break the ice this season. They made headlines by acquiring WR Plaxico Burress and WR Derrick Mason, two veterans who have been around the block. This matchup pits Rex Ryan against his twin for the second straight season, so this figures to be an electric Sunday night game. The Cowboys haven't made many moves, but they have been on an interesting pattern of success these past couple of years. The Cowboys may bounce back this season, but a win in MetLife Stadium doesn't look to be in the cards.

Edge: New York Jets

New England @ Miami

The Patriots ended the season in disheartening fashion, losing at home to their division rivals after a 14-2 regular season. It's been a while since the Patriots have been very successful. QB Tom Brady will look to get the Patriots back to championship contention, while the Dolphins look to be in disarray. Sure, they acquired RB Reggie Bush. But they failed to land QB Kyle Orton, and seem to be stuck with QB Chad Henne, who seems to have made zero progress. If Henne does not show drastic improvement, this can be an abysmal year.

Edge: New England

Oakland @ Denver

The Raiders swept the AFC West last season, yet failed to make the playoffs. The likelihood of them sweeping the division again is unlikely, but there is promise with this franchise. QB Jason Campbell gives them a little bit of stability at the quarterback position, and if they get more out of their other offensive weapons and better defensive play, they could surprise folks. Hopefully, that isn't asking too much. The Broncos, on the other hand, don't quite know what they're doing at quarterback. A failed attempt to trade QB Kyle Orton has him as the starter, but in limbo. QB Tim Tebow figured to be the starter, but, in the eyes of John Fox, hasn't proven enough. That has angered some Broncos fans and Tebow supporters. Who knows what will happen for the Broncos going forward, but Orton still gives them the best opportunity to win games. Maybe, not this night.

Edge: Oakland

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RB Johnson Gets Paid

RB Chris Johnson is now locked until the 2016 season.

It was just a matter of time before the Tennessee Titans realize they need RB Chris Johnson. From Johnson's camp, getting a deal done soon probably was urgent as well. Johnson hasn't made much money thus far in his career. To his credit, he did hold out until he got the pay he felt he deserved. With a four-year extension worth $53 million, Johnson will now be paid roughly $13 million a season, putting his yearly salary up with the top salaries in the league.

Some have made the argument that Johnson deserves to be paid among the elite NFL players in the league, leading the NFL in total rushing yards since he has gotten into the league. With the lack of productive wide receivers and offensive playmakers on offense, Johnson's productivity stands out that much more. Johnson most likely won't be able to play in the Titans' final preseason game in New Orleans, but his new extension assures him that he'll be ready September 11 in Jacksonville for the season opener.

Does Johnson really deserve to be paid among the elite NFL players? During his rookie season, the Titans were 13-3 and had the AFC's top seed. That success quickly ended when they lost at home to the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional Round. Johnson split rushing duties that season with RB LenDale White, who is no longer with the team. Johnson's second season was his best, rushing for over 2,000 yards as he became the primary back. However, the Titans got off to an 0-6 start, including a 59-0 loss at New England.

After QB Vince Young took over, he led them to an 8-2 record, but it was too late at that point. The 2010 season saw Johnson's production drop to over 1,300 yards, and the Titans weren't so successful either. They finished the season at a disappointing 6-10, in which the season went downhill during the second half of the season. Johnson is looked at by many as the best running back in the game, but his team hasn't shared his success.

This forces me to wonder - why pay top dollar for a guy who isn't bringing much success? Johnson isn't going to bring success for the Titans this year unless the defense plays better and QB Matt Hasselbeck has a more than decent season. Johnson will probably have around 1,500 yards, but if his team isn't doing anything, what sense does it make?

The Titans are banking on QB Jake Locker being the franchise quarterback for years to come, but that is only hope. The Titans still need to get better receiving weapons. WR Kenny Britt has showed promise at certain points, but hasn't turned out to be as productive as they would like. Couple that with his off-the-field troubles, and the Titans have some thinking to do with his future. If Britt gets in trouble once or twice more, he could be facing a lengthy suspension at the hands of Commissioner Roger Goodell. Then, what happens going forward?

The Titans lost in their battle with Johnson. But, if everything falls into place for the Titans, they will be just fine. That's a big IF however. That would mean Locker turns into a Pro Bowl quarterback, and Britt turns into a fine wide receiver. That would mean the Titans' defense, minus the departed DE Jason Babin, would be much better than last season as a unit.

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