Fansided

The Armchair Quarterback’s Guide to the NFL: Week 2

By Lyle Graversen

Nov 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) greets Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) after the NFL football game on Thanksgiving at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (5) greets Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) after the NFL football game on Thanksgiving at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 9
Next
Nov 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Fernando Velasco (61) prepares to snap the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during a NFL football game on Thanksgiving at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 28, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers center Fernando Velasco (61) prepares to snap the ball against the Baltimore Ravens during a NFL football game on Thanksgiving at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports /

Pittsburgh Steelers at Baltimore Ravens

This is a really big early season game for the Ravens. They already have a home divisional loss after losing to the Bengals at home last week so dropping another to their long time rivals from Pittsburgh would be putting themselves in a huge hole to start the season. You add to that the distraction of the Ray Rice situation on a short week and things are off to a pretty stressful start in Baltimore. I have a feeling that things aren’t going to be any better after this week. I don’t think the Ravens will be able to take full advantage of the Steelers suspect run defense and I’m not a fan of their decision to bring Gary Kubiak in to be their offensive coordinator. Plus, I think Pittsburgh may have the two best offensive playmakers on the field Thursday night in Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell. I’m calling for the minor upset here as Pittsburgh goes on the road and knocks off their division rival.

Steelers 24
Ravens 23

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills

A week ago if you’d have told me I’d pick Buffalo to beat Miami I would have told you that you must be smoking something. After all, I picked the Dolphins to beat the Patriots last week and I think the Patriots are better than the Bills. So what changed? Well, the Bills pulled off an upset of their own last week when they went on the road and beat the Bears and their high-powered offense. This week Buffalo is at home where they have been very tough to beat even when their overall record hasn’t been great. In addition, the Bills actually swept the Dolphins last season including a week 16 shutout in Buffalo when Miami was still in the playoff hunt. While I still like Miami to finish with a better record overall, I’m taking the Bills in this one.

Dolphins 17
Bills 20

Home/Arizona Cardinals