NFL Game Previews: Breaking Down Monday Night

N.Y. Jets (+2.5) at Buffalo, 42.5 o/u - Thursday, 8:25 p.m. EDT

Comments: The Jets lost a tough one in Week 1, but it was more a case of Cinci just being slightly better, as it took a last-minute field goal to put them down. Gang Green's pass rush nearly won the game on its own, taking down Andy Dalton seven times despite the Bengals' elite offensive line work last season, and if not for the fact that age seems to have finally caught up with Darrelle Revis they would have come away with the win. The Bills' O-line was poor in pass protection in 2015 and doesn't have anyone on the outside in A.J. Green's league with Sammy Watkins (foot) less than 100 percent healthy, so this could be a very long night for Tyrod Taylor. ... On the other hand, there's a clear path to success for the Bills' offense in this one, and it comes through LeSean McCoy's pass-catching abilities, and maybe Reggie Bush's too. The Jets' linebacking corps is all kinds of banged up with David Harris nursing a shoulder injury, Jordan Jenkins all but ruled out due to a calf strain and Bruce Carter also dealing with a shoulder issue. Some early big gains on screen passes could not only keep the chains moving for Buffalo, it could blunt the edge of that Jets' pass rush, buying Taylor some time later in the game to actually look downfield. Of course, Giovani Bernard only managed two catches on four targets for five yards against them last week but hey, I didn't say it was an easy path, just an obvious one. ... Quincy Enunwa's production was one of the most surprising performances in Week 1, but don't write it off as a fluke just yet. The third-year WR was one of those raw, late-round picks with ideal NFL measurables when he was drafted in 2014, and he might finally now have the skills to allow his physical abilities to shine through. Buffalo's secondary also shares some similarities with Cincinnati's, as it has questionable CB depth behind two name-brand starters in Ronald Darby and Stephon Gilmore, so Enunwa could once again be able to abuse whoever's trying to cover him. In the long run his targets could dry up once Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker are in midseason form, but then again neither veteran is exactly an iron man. In terms of this week's more popular waiver-wire options, Enunwa might just be the most intriguing.

Predictions: Matt Forte doesn't quite match his big Jets debut, but still racks up 100 combined yards and scores. Ryan Fitzpatrick throws for 220 yards and a TD to Marshall. McCoy piles up 120 combined yards, mostly through the air, while Taylor runs for 30 yards and a touchdown. He's held to just 170 passing yards, though, getting sacked four times and picked off twice. Jets, 20-10

San Francisco (+13.5) at Carolina, 48.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Comments: Last week I either badly underestimated Chip Kelly's ability to turn things around quickly in San Fran, or I badly overestimated Los Angeles. Probably a bit of both, to be honest. The game was won in the trenches and not through the air, as the Niners' run defense showed up Monday night and the Rams' didn't. It helped that San Fran correctly figured Case Keenum couldn't hurt them, which allowed them to stack the box, but that's a much more dangerous assumption to make against Cam Newton. ... Newton looked great last week until a couple big hits slowed him, but there was no sign from the Panthers afterward that he'd suffered any sort of injury. Despite the preseason hype around Devin Funchess, Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen dominated the targets, and that seems unlikely to change as long as both stay healthy. Jonathan Stewart, however, picked up an ankle injury in Denver (shocking, I know), which could mean more touches for Fozzy Whittaker. ... Carlos Hyde was the big fantasy star in Week 1 for the Niners, but Blaine Gabbert still attempted 35 passes in a game the team was never in any real danger of losing. He didn't turn those passes into a whole lot of yards, mind you, but it is a good sign for his volume under Kelly. With Carolina's rookie cornerbacks looking like, well, rookies in their debuts, Gabbert's arm might end up being the key to any upset chance San Francisco has.

Predictions: Hyde gets held to just 50 yards. Gabbert throws for 210 yards, runs for 40 more, and hits Quinton Patton for a TD. Stewart plays but gains just 40 yards, while Whittaker rushes for 50 and a score. Newton racks up 260 passing yards and touchdowns to Benjamin and Ted Ginn while running in another TD himself. Panthers, 31-10

Dallas (+3.5) at Washington, 44.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Comments: A lot of things went wrong on offense for the Cowboys in Week 1, from Ezekiel Elliott failing to make a splash to Terrance Williams' brain cramp at the end of the game, but Dak Prescott's failure to get the ball to Dez Bryant might have been the most damaging. You could dismiss that as just rookie growing pains or a smart defensive scheme by the Giants, but it's worth noting that the same thing happened at the end of last season when Tony Romo was out. At that time Bryant wasn't 100 percent healthy due to his foot, of course, but it's fair to start wondering if the coaching staff just calls far too conservative a game when Romo isn't in the lineup. After watching what Antonio Brown did to the Washington secondary Monday night, they certainly shouldn't need any more incentive to find a way to get the ball to their superstar WR. ... Kirk Cousins did a great MacBeth in Monday's loss to the Steelers, putting up passing numbers that were full of sound and fury but signifying nothing. It certainly looks so far as though Washington will live and die by Cousins' arm this year, which not only puts a damper on Matt Jones' ceiling, it also makes secondary options like Jamison Crowder (10 targets in Week 1) more interesting. Then again, the Dallas defense didn't do much to slow the Giants' running game last week, so Jones should at least have better production than he did in the opener. ... It could be wet and rainy Sunday afternoon in DC, but if anything that could be a boon for the offenses, given the way both defensive units struggled to make tackles on solid footing in Week 1.

Predictions: Elliott breaks through in a big way for 130 rushing yards and two TDs. Prescott has another quiet game, throwing for 180 yards but hitting Bryant for his first career NFL touchdown pass. Jones rumbles for 90 yards and a score while Cousins lights up the Cowboys' secondary, throwing for 350 yards and touchdowns to DeSean Jackson, Jordan Reed and Chris Thompson. Washington, 34-27

Cincinnati (+3.5) at Pittsburgh, 47.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Comments: The AFC North got off to a fairly predictable start, with the Bengals winning a close one and the Steelers blowing out their opponent. That was the script last year too in the two meetings between them, though the road team won both games as Cinci held Pittsburgh to 10 points at Heinz Field in Week 8 before letting it erupt for 33 points back at Paul Brown Stadium in Week 14. Neither starting QB was exactly 100 percent healthy for both games, though; Ben Roethlisberger has just returned from an MCL sprain in the first meeting and got picked off three times, while Andy Dalton broke his thumb early in the second, an injury that potentially cost the Bengals a shot at a Super Bowl appearance. Both quarterbacks are fully healthy for this one, so we should get a much better sense of who the division kingpin really is. Markus Wheaton (shoulder) also appears ready to return to action, like Big Ben needed another weapon to throw to, but Tyler Eifert (ankle) remains out for Cincinnati. ... Somewhat surprisingly for a couple defenses that finished in the top 10 in sacks last year, the Steelers and Bengals combined for only one sack in Week 1. Dalton, however, was brought down seven times by the Jets, a shocking result given that he had arguably the league's best offensive line protecting him in 2015, a line that returned mostly intact this year. If either front seven can muster a better effort this time around, or if the Bengals' o-line continues to struggle, it could prove to be the difference in this one. ... The weather all over the eastern part of the country could be rainy and miserable Sunday afternoon, and Pittsburgh is no exception. If the game does devolve into muddy, smashmouth, old school football, it'll probably favor Jeremy Hill and the Bengals.

Predictions: Hill bangs out 80 yards and a score, while Dalton stays mostly on his feet and throws for 320 yards and TDs to A.J. Green and C.J. Uzomah, with Green topping 100 yards again. DeAngelo Williams racks up 110 combined yards and scores. Roethlisberger outduels Dalton, firing up 340 yards and touchdowns to Antonio Brown and Wheaton. Steelers, 28-24

New Orleans (+4) at N.Y. Giants, 51.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Comments: Oh, these guys again. You might remember what happened the last time these two teams met – Eli Manning threw for 350 yards and six touchdowns, and was only the second-most valuable fantasy QB on the field. That Week 8 barnburner in 2015 was under the dome in New Orleans, however. This one will be played at Met Life Stadium, and with the possibility of thunderstorms in the air, so the climate might not be quite as conducive for Manning and Drew Brees to heave up 13 total TD passes. ... Both teams came out on opposite ends of one-point squeakers in Week 1, as the Giants survived a trip to Dallas against an undermanned defense and a rookie QB, while the Saints got burned at home by a gutsy Jack Del Rio two-point conversion call. If you get the sense I wasn't impressed with either effort, you'd be right. The passing games put up big numbers, but neither team seems to have fixed any of their rather sizable flaws from last year. At the very least, though, this game might be a good test for the pricey additions to the New York defense. ... Jason Pierre-Paul is nursing a shoulder injury but should play Sunday, while Dannell Ellerbe, expected to be the Saints' weakside LB this season, doesn't appear ready to make his 2016 debut as he works through a quad strain.

Predictions: Mark Ingram grinds out 60 yards. Brees throws for 240 yards and finds Coby Fleener for a score. Rashad Jennings hits for 80 yards, while Manning throws for 270 yards and two TDs to Odell Beckham, who hauls in 110 yards. Giants, 23-13

Miami (+5) at New England, 42.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Comments: Both these teams far exceeded expectations in Week 1, but only one came away with a win. The Dolphins' defense held up in Seattle, though Russell Wilson's ankle injury certainly aided their cause, but a flat showing from the offense prevented them from pulling the upset. The hiring of Adam Gase was supposed to turn things around for Ryan Tannehill, but he managed only 186 passing yards and couldn't get the ball into the end zone. If DeVante Parker (hamstring) is able to suit up Sunday it should help, but if Tannehill can't get it done under a coach who even got decent numbers out of Jay Cutler, Miami could start looking for a new QB to build around next offseason. ... The Patriots' win Sunday night might well have been due to the Cardinals being disjointed, but it's hard to take anything away from a Bill Belichick-coached squad. Despite missing Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski, Jimmy Garoppolo was efficient and spread the ball around, the defense was good enough, and the Patriots got their usual amount of luck when Chandler Catanzaro missed a late field goal. It was, basically, a typical Patriots game, even if there weren't typical Patriots on the field. The home team in this AFC East rivalry is riding a seven-game winning streak with only one of those seven games being decided by less than 10 points, so if New England puts in another typical performance, they should walk away with this one fairly easily. ... In addition to Parker's hamstring, the Dolphins also have to worry about Arian Foster's, though he was able to practice Thursday. Jay Ajayi, who was left home in Week 1 for excessive pouting but is supposedly now out of Gase's doghouse, might get a bigger workload as a result. Their front seven also remains banged up with Mario Williams (concussion), Jelani Jenkins (knee) and Jordan Phillips (ankle) missing practice Wednesday. Gronk (hamstring) still isn't 100 percent healthy and could be a late scratch again, especially if there's any hint of rain or a wet field Sunday.

Predictions: Foster doesn't make to halftime, with Ajayi picking up 60 yards in his place. Tannehill puts up better numbers than last week, throwing for 230 yards and a TD to Kenny Stills, who manages not to drop this one. James White leads the Pats backfield with 70 combined yards but LeGarrette Blount punches in two short touchdowns. Garoppolo is quietly efficient again, throwing for 280 yards and a score to Julian Edelman. Patriots, 24-13

Kansas City at Houston (PK), 43.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Comments: Apparently, the Joe Montana stem cells the Chiefs injected Alex Smith with in the offseason worked like gangbusters. The prototypical game manager of a QB somehow pulled off a 17-point second half comeback against the Chargers last week (the biggest comeback in Chiefs history), capping it off by scrambling for a touchdown in overtime. It helped that Spencer Ware was doing a spot-on Jamaal Charles impression too, gaining 129 of his 199 yards on the day through the air. Take the total volume of production with a grain of salt – it was the San Diego defense, after all – but the end result and the momentum and confidence it generated could carry Kansas City a long way. ... The Texans' win wasn't nearly so dramatic, but they used up all their drama in the offseason when they signed Brock Osweiler and Lamar Miller. The duo were both productive, but the win mostly came thanks to a defense that stepped up even with J.J. Watt not his usual dominant self after offseason back surgery. First-round pick Will Fuller also had a big game and got more targets than DeAndre Hopkins for what might end up being the only time this season. ... Charles remains iffy as he recovers from last year's knee injury, while Ware also came out of Sunday's win with a minor toe injury. It might be Charcandrick West's turn to post big numbers in Week 2. Houston's injury report is nearly empty, but it could be a couple more weeks before Watt is back in top form.

Predictions: West, not Ware, leads the Chiefs' backfield with 110 combined yards and a TD. Smith doesn't repeat last week's numbers but does throw for 230 yards and a touchdown to Chris Conley. Miller is held to 70 yards and a score. Osweiler has a tough home opener, throwing for 210 yards and a touchdown to Hopkins but getting picked off twice. Chiefs, 20-17

Tennessee (+5.5) at Detroit, 47.0 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Comments: The Titans' new ground-and-pound offense got a tough test against a stout Vikings defense in Week 1 and it pretty much failed, as DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry combined for 45 rushing yards and a meager 2.5 YPC. Murray, at least, saved his day with a couple receiving TDs, but second-round pick Henry was a complete non-factor. Things should get a little easier this week, though the Lions did hold Frank Gore in check. That's not very intimidating though, as a) it's Frank Gore, and b) that game was a track meet pretty much from the start. Detroit's passing game isn't quite in "run the ball to keep them off the field" territory but it did look pretty darn good Sunday, and Marcus Mariota doesn't have the weapons to keep pace in a shootout. Tennessee may need to keep the ball on the ground to stay in this one. ... While drawing conclusions from a game against the Colts defense is foolhardy, Matthew Stafford still had one of the best statistical games of his career last week (his 128.6 QB rating was his sixth-best game score ever, with two of his top five coming in his final six starts last year) and the Jim Bob Cooter-guided offense didn't miss a beat after its big finish to 2015. The Titans' pass defense may not be much better than the Colts, though, as it made Shaun Hill look almost respectable, so it could be more of the same for Stafford in Week 2. Bill Simmons' Ewing Theory column about Calvin Johnson almost writes itself if the Lions do jump out to a quick start to 2016. ... Ezekiel Ansah (shoulder) and DeAndre Levy (quad) are both nicked up for Detroit, while Derrick Morgan (hamstring) and Kendall Wright (hamstring) are hobbled for Tennessee.

Predictions: Murray manages 60 combined yards, while Henry again makes little impact. Mariota throws for 240 yards, hitting Delanie Walker for a TD, and runs for 40 and a second score. Ameer Abdullah has another big game, running for 100 yards and a touchdown, while Stafford once again lights it up, throwing for 310 yards and TDs to Golden Tate, Eric Ebron and Anquan Boldin. Tate also hauls in 110 receiving yards. Lions, 31-20

Baltimore at Cleveland (+2.5), 43.5 o/u – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Comments: The RGIII era in Cleveland lasted all of four quarters before he landed on IR again, this time with an injured shoulder. Frankly it might end up being a blessing in disguise for the Browns, as Robert Griffin looked awful in Week 1, while Josh McCown is at least reliably below average. The big winner from the switch could well be Gary Barnidge, who thrived last year with McCown under center but got basically ignored by Griffin. If the defense doesn't shape up though, the only real difference could be the size of their deficit each week. ... The Ravens ground out a tough win over the Bills in their opener, with their defense allowing just seven points and needing to with the offense not doing much. Joe Flacco looked fully recovered from last year's ACL tear, taking four sacks and popping back up, and finding his new deep threat Mike Wallace for a 66-yard bomb, but unless the running game turns around Baltimore will need to hold most opponents to less than 10 points every time out to have a chance. Neither Justin Forsett nor Terrance West did much with their touches, and the Ravens' longest carry of the day was actually an 11-yard jet sweep by Wallace. Javorius Allen, inactive in Week 1, might get his chance soon if the more veteran duo continues to sputter. ... Elvis Dumervil (foot) is likely out again for the Ravens. Other than Griffin, the Browns come into the game with a relatively clean bill of health.

Predictions: Forsett leads the Baltimore backfield with 70 combined yards. Flacco throws for 250 yards and TDs to Steve Smith and Dennis Pitta. Duke Johnson racks up 80 combined yards for the Browns but Isaiah Crowell vultures a short touchdown. McCown throws for 180 yards and a score to Corey Coleman. Browns, 20-17

Seattle at Los Angeles (+3.5), 39.5 o/u – Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT

Comments: You have to hand it to Russell Wilson's pain tolerance. After suffering an ankle sprain against the Dolphins on Sunday it looked like he might miss this week's game, but there he was a full participant in Wednesday's practice. Having limited mobility should be a problem when you're up against Aaron Donald and his cohorts, but the Rams failed to register a single sack on Blaine Gabbert on Monday night. Part of that is Chip Kelly's tempo on offense, but if Wilson gets rid of the ball quickly enough, that supposedly dangerous defensive front might come up empty once again. ... Speaking of which, Los Angeles can't be that bad, right? I mean, that was baaaaad. Sure, having Case Keenum under center is going to make Todd Gurley face eight-man boxes all the time, but the defense still boasts some supposedly good talent up front and they were nowhere to be found in Levi's Stadium. That seriously looked like a team that has quit on its coach, which makes Thursday's news about a possible three-year extension for Jeff Fisher all the more baffling. What, exactly, about that season-opening performance made the Rams front office think Fisher was the man to lead them into the future? Was it their inability to stop the run in the red zone? Was it the collective ole job by the offensive line in pass protection? Was it the way the team basically gave up in the fourth quarter? Donald, at least, showed some frustration at the end of the game, which unfortunately led to his ejection. Most of the rest of the team just looked dejected. ... Wilson aside, neither team reports any major injuries. Thomas Rawls is now healthy enough to assume lead-back duties, but Christine Michael could still be in the mix.

Predictions: Rawls busts out for 140 yards and a touchdown. Wilson clearly isn't 100 percent, but still throws for 270 yards and TDs to Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. Gurley gets held to just 50 yards, while Keenum is once again a disaster, throwing for 160 yards and getting picked off twice. Seahawks, 30-6

Tampa Bay (+7.5) at Arizona, 50.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT

Comments: Jameis Winston made the folks predicting a breakout for him look very smart indeed in Week 1, tossing four TDs in a win over the Falcons and spreading the ball around nicely. The Cardinals' defense should be a much tougher challenge, especially coming off last week's home loss, but the unit is also missing Tyrann Mathieu and Frostee Rucker (both with knee injuries) along with a number of other depth players, and could be without Kevin Minter (ankle) as well. A Patriots team without Brady or Gronk rolled up 363 yards on them, so there's no guarantee they keep a healthy Bucs offense in check. ... Arizona's offense isn't in a whole lot better shape, though Larry Fitzgerald's lingering knee issues didn't seem to affect him in the red zone last week. Jaron Brown (ankle) and J.J. Nelson (shoulder) are also less than 100 percent healthy, which might leave Carson Palmer with only Michael Floyd, John Brown, David Johnson, Andre Ellington and a clutch of serviceable tight ends to throw to. Poor guy. ... The key to this one might come through Johnson's legs, not his hands. He gashed New England's defense for 89 rushing yards and a 5.6 YPC, but the Bucs' young, nasty front seven held Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman to a combined 42 yards and a 2.2 YPC. If it can also bottle up DJ and get the Arizona offense out of sync, the Bucs might keep it close.

Predictions: Doug Martin rushes for 70 yards, while Charles Sims adds 60 combined yards, but neither one scores. Winston has another strong effort, throwing for 300 yards and TDs to Mike Evans and Cameron Brate while running for a third score. Johnson is held to 90 combined yards, but Palmer throws for 340 yards and touchdowns to Floyd and Fitzgerald. Ellington also returns a kickoff for a TD as the Cards pull out the win. Cardinals, 27-24

Jacksonville (+2.5) at San Diego, 48.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT

Comments: As moral victories go, Jacksonville's home-opening loss wasn't bad. The Jaguars outgained the Packers and held the ball longer and, if it weren't for a couple of Houdini moments from Aaron Rodgers, they probably would have come away with the win. Getting better production from their running game would also help, but Chris Ivory doesn't seem likely to return in Week 2 after being hospitalized over the weekend with what the team is calling a "general medical issue," whatever that means. The Chargers couldn't stop the Chiefs from running the ball even with a three score lead early in the second half (that's 21 points not 60, folks. I ain't Abe Lincoln), but T.J. Yeldon is no, hmm, Spencer Ware? Maybe the Jags will be able to get things going on the ground this week after all. ... Blowing said 21-point lead, on the road against a division rival, is just about the worst way San Diego could have begun the season, but losing Keenan Allen for the year is just the poisoned cherry on top of that rancid sundae. Allen was arguably the most important receiver in the league simply due to the fact that the Chargers' depth chart is awfully bare behind him. A 36-year-old Antonio Gates doesn't seem to have much left, Travis Benjamin has just one decent season as a deep threat on his resume, Dontrelle Inman was adequate at best filling in for Allen last year and waiver-wire darling du jour Tyrell Williams has caught just four of his 11 targets through the first eight games of his NFL career. My money's on Danny Woodhead leading the team in receptions at season's end, and while that would be great for anyone with PPR shares in Woodhead, it doesn't paint a rosy picture for Philip Rivers or the San Diego passing game in general. ... Dante Fowler (illness) and Prince Amukamara (hamstring) are both on the injury report for the Jags. Joey Bosa continues to look like a genius for holding out for more guaranteed money, as he remains sidelined with a hamstring strain.

Predictions: Yeldon bangs out 60 yards and a TD. Blake Bortles throws for 350 yards and touchdowns to Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns, with each topping 100 yards. Melvin Gordon has another strong game, putting up his first career 100-yard game, but Woodhead matches him with 100 combined yards. Rivers throws for 280 yards, finding Gates for his only score. Jaguars, 30-16

Atlanta (+6.5) at Oakland, 47.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT

Comments: While all eyes will be on the Saints-Giants game looking for fireworks, the real offensive explosion might happen in Oakland. These two offenses racked up a combined 59 points and 860 yards as the defenses combined to allow 65 points and 878 yards in Week 1, and while you can excuse the Raiders' largesse playing on the road against Drew Brees, the Falcons were at home against Jameis Winston. The Law of Cranky Contrariness says you can therefore expect this one to be a field goal-battle, but somehow I don't see either defensive unit getting their act together that quickly. Atlanta simply lacks impact players on that side of the field (after recording a league-worst 19 sacks in 2015, they failed to bring Winston down once to begin 2016), and Oakland's free-agent imports haven't gelled around Khalil Mack yet. ... The "Missing" flyers for Devonta Freeman haven't yet started going up on telephone poles around Atlanta, but the original is on the office photocopier – 40 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches is not what anyone had in mind when they used a high draft pick on him this year and, more worrying than his own lack of production for his long term prospects, Tevin Coleman got 13 touches against Tampa and did a lot more with them. The 2015 third-round pick caught just two passes a rookie but hauled in five in Week 1, turning them into 95 yards. The Falcons' offense is potent enough that both could still be productive in a backfield time share, but if Freeman continues to be stuck in the mud and Coleman thrives, there's no guarantee Coleman doesn't just take over the starting job outright. All that pessimism aside, Freeman was too explosive last year to just write him off after one bad game against what could end up being a pretty solid defensive unit. ... Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu are both nursing ankle injuries, but both should be in the lineup Sunday. The Raiders report no significant injuries, though Taiwan Jones is dealing with a concussion but was able to practice Thursday. His role in the Oakland offense could be shrinking anyway after Jalen Richard's surprising performance last week.

Predictions: Freeman bounces back with 80 combined yards and a TD, but Coleman remains involved and picks up 50 rushing yards. Matt Ryan throws for 290 yards and touchdowns to Jones and Jacob Tamme. Latavius Murray scampers for 100 yards and a score while Derek Carr fires up 270 yards and TDs to Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree and Clive Walford. Bruce Irvin also returns a fumble for a touchdown after a Mack strip sack. Raiders, 38-27

Indianapolis (+4) at Denver, 44.0 o/u – Sunday, 4:25pm EDT

Comments: While it's no longer the Peyton Manning Bowl, a Colts-Broncos rodeo still possesses some intrigue. Despite a loss, Andrew Luck took the bad memories of 2015 to the glue factory with last week's performance, and while Indy is still being careful with his shoulder during practice he didn't seem limited at all when the starting gate rose. Denver, meanwhile, won even though Trevor Siemian did very little in the saddle, as they rode the same defensive formula to victory that they used in Super Bowl 50. Indy's offense is a horse of a different color than Carolina's, but the Broncos still boast the deepest and most talented collection of cornerbacks in the league, so if anyone can keep tabs on the Colts' stable of young wide receivers it's them. OK, I think I'm out of horse metaphors now. ... Siemian may need to lean even more heavily on his running game in Week 2. Demaryius Thomas may play but won't be 100 percent healthy due to a hip injury, and depth WR Benny Fowler is still out with an elbow issue, so the Broncos have few viable receiving options. Fortunately, they're facing a defense that made Ameer Abdullah and Theo Riddick look like Pro Bowlers, so C.J. Anderson should be in for another big day. ... Part of the issue for the Colts' defense is simply finding healthy bodies. They list 10 players on the injury report who were expected to see significant snaps this season, including Vontae Davis (ankle), Robert Mathis (foot), Trent Cole (back), Antonio Cromartie (hamstring) and second-round pick T.J. Green (knee). Siemian might not be the guy to exploit all those injuries in the secondary, but then again he doesn't need a lot of arm strength to hit Emmanuel Sanders on a slant and let Sanders do the rest.

Predictions: Frank Gore grinds out just 30 yards. Luck throws for 240 yards but does hit Donte Moncrief for a TD. Anderson piles up 150 combined yards and scores twice for the second straight game. Siemian minimizes his mistakes and throws for just 200 yards, but does throw a touchdown to Sanders and runs one in as well. Broncos, 28-10

Green Bay at Minnesota (+3.5), 44.0 o/u – Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

Comments: I have to wonder if all the people proclaiming that "The Pack are back!" watched the same game I did last week. Sure, they won, but Aaron Rodgers threw for less than 200 yards, Jordy Nelson didn't look like his pre-injury self, and the defense's best player was the penalty flag. If it weren't for a couple of ridiculous/lucky plays by Rodgers, including his TD pass to Davante Adams when Rodgers was being pulled backward by his jersey, Green Bay would have come out of Jacksonville empty-handed. Yeah, it's Rodgers, and miraculous plays are to be expected, but since when was beating the Jags any kind of statement win? ... The Vikings did what they had to do as well to get a road win in Tennessee, but in their case that was to rely on their defense to score points rather than their quarterback. Minnesota isn't going to get two defensive TDs every week, but with Sam Bradford on track to take over from Shaun Hill they hopefully won't have to. Bradford's presence as at least a credible threat to throw the ball downfield should open things up for Adrian Peterson, who couldn't find much room against the Titans. ... Sharrif Floyd and Xavier Rhodes are both dealing with knee issues, but the former is more likely to suit up in Week 2 than the latter. Left tackle Matt Kalil may have also aggravated his hip injury last week, which should make Clay Matthews happy. The Packers are mostly healthy, though Sam Shields (concussion) looks iffy for Sunday.

Predictions: Eddie Lacy is held to 50 yards but does score. Rodgers throws for 250 yards and a TD to Nelson. Peterson gets 80 yards and a touchdown while Bradford has a solid Minnesota debut, throwing for 240 yards and a TD to Stefon Diggs. Vikings, 23-17

Philadelphia (+1) at Chicago, 43.0 o/u – Monday, 8:30 p.m. EDT

Comments: Either there's less of a gap between the competition in the NFL and the NCAA's FCS second division than we thought, or the Browns' defense was really, really bad last week. Otherwise, there's no real explanation for Carson Wentz's performance – while nursing injured ribs, no less. Things should be at least slightly more challenging for the second overall pick Monday, but the Bears' defense has already allowed one rookie to look like a star against them this season in Will Fuller, so you can't put it past them to make it two in a row. ... Jay Cutler was his usual erratic self in Week 1, but his offensive line did him no favors as he was sacked five times. New offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains (what is it with the names of offensive coordinators in the NFC North? "Dowell Loggains" is no "Jim Bob Cooter," but it's still pretty awesome) did his best to get receivers other than Alshon Jeffery involved, and as a result Eddie Royal caught Cutler's only TD pass, but Kevin White will need to start showing a lot more if he's going to continue seeing seven targets a game. ... Zach Ertz (ribs) has been all but ruled out, but Brent Celek can step in without much of a dropoff for the Eagles. Leodis McKelvin also strained his hamstring in Week 1 and seems iffy. Kyle Fuller (knee) might also miss his second straight game for the Bears.

Predictions: Ryan Mathews picks up 70 combined yards. Wentz shows his inexperience, throwing for 240 yards and TDs to Celek and Nelson Agholor but also getting picked off twice. Jeremy Langford tops 100 combined yards and scores, while Cutler throws for 260 yards and two touchdowns to Jeffery. Bears, 24-14

2016 regular-season record: 11-5, 8-7-1 ATS, 10-5-1 o/u