To open the year, a powerhouse in the Kansas City Chiefs hosted the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 5, at Arrowhead Stadium — and they did not disappoint. This game was decided by mere inches, but the Ravens comeback was a toe short as they lost the opener to the Chiefs 27-20.
Tight end Isaiah Likely found an opening in the back of the end zone with the clock winding down, but with just enough time for quarterback Lamar Jackson to dish a last second touchdown to Likely — or so they thought. Turns out, Likely’s toe was barely out of bounds thwarting what would’ve been a potential game-typing touchdown.
The following day took us to Sao Paulo, Brazil, as the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers played the first-ever NFL game in South America. This game also marked the beginning of running back Saquon Barkley’s era in Philadelphia following his departure from the New York Giants.
Barkley made his presence known in his first game rushing for 109 total yards while scoring three touchdowns in a 34-29 win against the quarterback Jordan Love led Packers. Love would suffer than just a loss in week one as he sprained his MCL with six seconds remaining in regulation.
No surgery is required and the Packers hope is it at worst a three-to-four-week injury, according to ESPN.
With the first two opening games recapped, it’s time for week two picks!
One point is earned if the predictor placed a correct pick, wrong picks earn nothing.
The standings after the opening week are:
Hunter – 13 points
Nick – 13 points
Gabrielle – 12 points
Shane – 11 points
Nina – 10 points
Justin, Tony, Amanda and Shalom and Nina – 9 points
Jade – 7 points
Now, let’s get into the week two matchups, and what the predictors have in mind for them.
Thursday, Sept. 12, at 5:15 p.m., PDT
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
- Bills: Justin, Tony, Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade
- Dolphins: Nick
“Only team [Bills] where there logo is where they’re from and not what they are.” – Tony
“I think a buffalo could beat a dolphin on land.” – Gabrielle
“Look up the difference in the home and away bench at Hard Rock Stadium.” – Nick
Sunday, Sept. 15, at 10:00 a.m., PDT
Las Vegas Raiders at Baltimore Ravens
- Raiders: Justin, Shalom, Jade
- Ravens: Tony, Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Nick
“RAIDER NATION BABY! ONLY UP FROM HERE!” – Justin
“I just don’t see the Raiders winning… sorry Justin.” – Amanda
“Have to redeem that week one tragedy.” – Nina
“I give my condolences to Justin.” – Hunter
New Orleans Saints at Dallas Cowboys
- Saints: Justin, Shane, Nina, Amanda, Jade
- Cowboys: Tony, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nick
“Catholicism, baby.” – Justin
“If the Cowboys have no fans, that means I died.” – Hunter
“Have y’all seen the DCC Netflix series?” – Shalom
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings
- Niners: Shane, Hunter, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
- Vikings: Justin, Tony, Shalom, Gabrielle
“On my momma I ain’t ever votin’ for the Niners (my mom is a niners fan).” – Justin
“BAY AREA REPRESENT FOREVER.” – Amanda
“I will never pick the Vikings after the Minneapolis Miracle.” – Shane
“What even is a niner? Like actually.” – Shalom
Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots
- Seahawks: Justin, Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nick
- Pats: Tony, Shalom, Nina, Amanda, Jade
“I just learned in Media Law that [Bill] Belichick was always being fined for cussing.” – Gabrielle
“Are the Seahawks the most underrated team in the league?” – Nick
“I don’t even really think they’ll win, I just hate the Seahawks.” – Amanda
New York Jets at Tennessee Titans
- Jets: Justin, Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Nick
- Titans: Tony, Jade
“AARON RODGERS MAKES IT TO WEEK 2!” – Justin
“I can’t think of the last time someone said something good about the Jets.” – Tony
“When there’s trouble you know who to call….” – Jade
Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina Panthers
- Chargers: Tony, Shane, Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
- Panthers: Justin
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions
- Bucs: Shalom
- Lions: Justin, Tony, Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
Indianapolis Colts at Green Bay Packers
- Colts: Shane, Hunter, Amanda, Nick
- Packers: Justin, Tony, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Jade
Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars
- Browns: Justin, Tony, Shane
- Jags: Hunter, Shalom, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade, Nick
New York Giants at Washington Commanders
- Giants: Justin, Shalom, Gabrielle, Amanda, Jade
- Commanders: Tony, Shane, Hunter, Nina, Nick
Sunday, Sept. 15, at 1:05 p.m., PDT
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona Cardinals
- Rams: Shane, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Nick
- Cards: Justin, Tony, Shalom, Jade
“Puka Nacua owns the state of Arizona.” – Shane
“I don’t like birds and a cardinal is a bird.” – Gabrielle
“Rams, Cardinals at 1 o’clock just has that vibe of a good old fall afternoon, doesn’t it?” – Nick
Sunday Sept. 15, at 1:25 p.m., PDT
Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs
- Bengals: Justin, Shane, Shalom, Amanda
- Chiefs: Tony, Hunter, Gabrielle, Nina, Jade, Nick
“I’m pretty sure the Chiefs are good, but will fact check.” – Tony
“Guess I’m not picking the hotter QB this week.” – Hunter
“[Joe] Burrow is 3-1 against [Patrick] Mahomes and soon will be 4-1. Geaux Tigers.” – Shane
“They already look like they’re in January form.” – Nick
Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos
- Steelers: Justin, Shane, Shalom, Gabrielle. Nina, Amanda, Nick
- Broncos: Tony, Hunter, Jade
Sunday, Sept. 15, at 5:20 p.m., PDT
Chicago Bears at Houston Texans
- Bears: Justin, Tony, Shane, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Jade
- Texans: Hunter, Shalom, Nick
Monday, Sept. 16, at 5:15 p.m., PDT
Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles
- Falcons: Tony, Hunter, Shalom, Jade
- Eagles: Justin, Shane, Gabrielle, Nina, Amanda, Nick
“Made this pick to say, The Eagles have SO MANY BANGERS.” – Justin
“NO! NOT THE EAGLES.” – Jade
“ATL PROUD!! DIRTY BIRDSSS.” – Shalom
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Email Justin Rodriguez: justin.rodriguez@pepperdine.edu
