.The Showdown returns for Week 2 with a bit of a shift: from here on, our heroes will simply be picking against the number and leaving the outright winner calls for the PFF Pick'em. Let's see if helps them focus at all as they could both surely do with a better week after getting out of the gates slowly.
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As it stands, Nathan holds the lead, going 8-6-2 against the spread on opening weekend while Joe managed a 6-8-2 mark. Both hit on Detroit, Oakland and Cincinnati and missed on Atlanta and Pittsburgh. Who's going to get hot first?
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Baltimore -6 @ Tennessee
Nathan: Tennessee didn’t do nearly enough to show me they can contend in the AFC after losing to Jacksonville, while Baltimore won big. Easy pick for me. Pick: Baltimore to cover ◄
Joe: The Ravens are pros so they shouldn’t have a let down game. Pick: Baltimore to cover
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Jacksonville @ New York Jets -9.5
Nathan: The Jets should be able to win this game, as they will give the Jacksonville offense more trouble than Tennessee did. I think it can stay within a touchdown though. Pick: Jacksonville to cover
Joe: Same thing I said for Ravens. Will they let down after their big SNF game against the boys? Late change, liking the Jags and the points. Pick: Jacksonville to cover
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Arizona @ Washington -3.5
Nathan: Against the Cardinals' secondary, Rex Grossman should succeed again, but so can Kevin Kolb. It should be very close, but I give the Cardinals the edge. Pick: Arizona to cover
Joe: It’s a bit of a guess at this point, but right now it looks like the ‘Skins start the season 2-0. Pick: Washington to cover
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Oakland @ Buffalo -4
Nathan: I don’t want to put too much stock in one game, and I think the Bills won’t dominate twice. I think the Raiders are a better team and the Bills could be over confident now. Pick: Oakland to cover
Joe: Both teams coming off of nice wins on the road. Right now I will take the Raiders, but hoping to get to look into this one a bit more. Pick: Oakland to cover
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Tampa Bay @ Minnesota -1
Nathan: Josh Freeman played well last week, and Donovan McNabb won’t do nearly as well as Matthew Stafford did against this defense. Pick: Tampa Bay to cover ◄
Joe: It might not be easy, but Tampa gets back on track with a win over the Vikes. Changing up here, Vikings get this one and I'm feeling pretty good about it. Pick: Minnesota to cover ◄
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Chicago @ New Orleans -4.5
Nathan: This will be a very good game to watch. Matt Forte should have a huge game, and I don’t see the Saints winning big. Pick: Chicago to cover
Joe: Worst coaching job of the week goes to … Sean Payton. Never would have thought I get to say that. Right now I think they rebound in a big way at home. Pick: New Orleans to cover ◄
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Green Bay -10.5 @ Carolina
Nathan: The Packers pass defense is significantly better than Arizona’s, however the Packers have had a problem of letting teams hang around Pick: Carolina to cover
Joe: Green Bay started right where they left off. Aaron Rodgers’ head seems to be getting a little too big so lets try the Panthers again this weekend getting a bundle. Pick: Carolina to cover
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Cleveland -2 @ Indianapolis
Nathan: This time I’m going with a feeling, and that’s Indianapolis won’t be nearly as bad. I don’t think Cleveland is ready for Dallas Clark. Pick: Indianapolis to cover
Joe: What to do with this one. Indy fans will be sick to see them lose at home to the Browns, but right now it looks like it may happen. Pick: Cleveland to cover
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Kansas City @ Detroit -8
Nathan: Kansas City is not that bad of a football team, and their offensive line is one that can handle Detroit’s. Jamaal Charles should rebound this week Pick: Kansas City to cover
Joe: The Detroit Lions are laying eight points. If you said that two years ago we would have checked you into a mental hospital. I will go with them for now. Pick: Detroit to cover
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Seattle @ Pittsburgh -14
Nathan: Pittsburgh should win this game easily, and if not there will be a lot of problems in Pittsburgh. It’s just a matter of if they let Seattle stay in it, which I think Seattle will score something late. Pick: Seattle to cover
Joe: Steelers let out a lot of frustration in this one, and it gets ugly fast. Pick: Pittsburgh to cover
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Dallas -3 @ San Francisco
Nathan: Dallas needs a rebound to stay alive, and have much more talent than San Francisco. They just need to use that talent. Pick: Dallas to cover
Joe: My first thoughts are to roll with the ‘Niners in this one. You have a big problem when you might need Alex Smith to match scores, because you know Dallas will likely get in the end zone. Pick: San Francisco to cover
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Cincinnati @ Denver -4
Nathan: Denver’s offense looked absolutely horrible on Monday night. The Bengals could actually be the better team here. Pick: Cincinnati to cover ◄
Joe: Next weeks biggest headline will be the Redskins and Bengals both being 2-0. Hey it could happen. Pick: Cincinnati to cover ◄
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Houston -3 @ Miami
Nathan: Both teams looked good last week, although for Miami it was in a losing effort. It should stay very close, and since I think it’s a coin flip, it’s safer for me to go Miami. Pick: Miami to cover
Joe: Houston gets a real test from the ‘Phins is what I am thinking right now. I would like to look into this one a little more as well though … time pending. Pick: Miami to cover
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San Diego @ New England -7
Nathan: Going into the season, I thought the Chargers would be a better team than last year, but against the Vikings they gave me reason to worry. The Patriots looked awesome on the other hand. Pick: New England to cover◄
Joe: How many people will pass up the Chargers getting seven. One of my biggest plays ever was on the Pats a couple years ago when the Chargers came to town (Sunday night I think?). I see this being a much tougher challenge. Pick: San Diego to cover
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Philadelphia -3 @ Atlanta
Nathan: This game means too much to the Falcons, and after their last two games they have a lot to prove to everyone. The Falcons should come out on top. Pick: Atlanta to cover
Joe: Eagles took care of business on the road, but they meet up with a Falcons team looking to make a statement. Pick: Atlanta to cover
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St. Louis @ New York Giants -5
Nathan: Both teams looked disappointing last week, and now we’re stuck with them on Monday Night. The Giants have a better chance of making big plays and should win. Pick: New York to cover
Joe: Giants take out their many frustrations on the Rams as Spagnuolo returns. Pick: New York to cover ◄
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