| Game | APR | SRS | Line |
|---|---|---|---|
| Titans @ Chargers | Chargers ρ=1.9304 | Chargers δ=19.0 | Chargers -6 |
| Vikings @ Colts | Vikings ρ=1.7372 | Vikings δ=23.0 | Vikings -1 |
| Raiders @ Dolphins | Raiders ρ=1.7372 | Raiders δ=22.0 | Raiders -2½ |
| Bears @ Packers | Bears ρ=1.6075 | Bears δ=28.0 | Packers -6 |
| Buccaneers @ Giants | Buccaneers ρ=1.6036 | Buccaneers δ=13.0 | Giants -7½ |
| Saints @ Panthers | Panthers ρ=1.4461 | Panthers δ=2.0 | Saints -2½ |
| Jets @ Steelers | Jets ρ=1.3166 | Jets δ=32.0 | Steelers -6 |
| Browns @ Bengals | Browns ρ=1.3157 | Browns δ=30.0 | Bengals -7 |
| Chiefs @ Bills | Bills ρ=1.2156 | Chiefs δ=4.0 | Bills -3 |
| Redskins @ Rams | Redskins ρ=1.1811 | Redskins δ=12.0 | Redskins -3 |
| Cowboys @ Seahawks | Cowboys ρ=1.1810 | Cowboys δ=11.0 | Cowboys -3 |
| Texans @ Jaguars | Texans ρ=1.1116 | Texans δ=23.0 | Texans -7½ |
| Lions @ 49ers | 49ers ρ=1.0629 | 49ers δ=4.0 | 49ers -7 |
| Broncos @ Falcons | Broncos ρ=1.0469 | Falcons δ=4.0 | Falcons -3 |
| Ravens @ Eagles | Eagles ρ=1.0171 | Ravens δ=30.0 | Eagles -2½ |
| Cardinals @ Patriots | Patriots ρ=1.0048 | Patriots δ=17.0 | Patriots -14 |
Comments:
The Giants, Packers, Saints, Bengals, and Steelers are all playoff teams from last year in danger of falling to 0-2. Long-time readers will know an 0-2 start is almost always a very bad sign.
The Giants could be in particular trouble. Their game against the Buccaneers appeared to be one of the few soft spots in an otherwise very tough schedule. But the Buccaneers' resurgent defense might make this a very tough battle. No Super Bowl-winning team has started the following season 0-2 since the Elway-less Broncos in 1999.
The Lions and Eagles both needed late scores against (presumably) weak opponents to come away with a win last week. They're both facing much tougher opponents this time around, so we'll see how much of Stafford's and Vick's troubles were just early season jitters, and how much they the sign of things to come.
The Browns' 28-year-old QB Brandon Weeden had the toughest outing of all the rookie quarterbacks last Sunday, and there's already been calls to switch back to Colt McCoy. Given that Weeden was a first round draft pick, the Browns have to give him a chance to succeed. But if he doesn't do better than a 34% completion rate and 4 interceptions a game, that chance can't last very long.
The good news for Kevin Kolb is he looked very good in relief of John Skelton, and will have at least one game to re-establish himself as the permanent starter. The bad news is the Cardinals haven't beat the Patriots since 1991, and I don't see any reason to think that streak will end Sunday. Still, as long as Kolb stays healthy and doesn't look completely awful, he should have a good chance at a second start in week 3.
