So *Legion* is traveling for work this week (and next), and has asked that I take over the thread, in addition to tallying all the picks like I have been. I feel like my big mouth saying "just use google docs" before the season has somehow turned into a part-time job.
Week 2 Results
San Diego at Philadelphia: 33-30 Everyone (except justinbot) underestimated the Chargers. They aren't who we thought they were?
San Francisco at Seattle: 3-29 Not sure I can talk about this one objectively. I'll just say that the 49ers lost in Seattle last year but still made the Super Bowl, so Don't Panic!™
Carolina at Buffalo: 23-24 Great game, and a tough pick. EJ Manuel throws a TD with 2 seconds left to set the final score.
Washington at Green Bay: 20-38 Not even close. Packers bounce back from week 1 loss in strong fashion. Questions about RG3's health and more criticism about him not playing pre-season games come from the media.
Minnesota at Chicago: 30-31 Game-winning drive by Jay Cutler? Alright then. Another tough pick and close game, although you wouldn't know it by us since all but 3 people picked Chicago.
So, since almost everyone missed the Chargers pick, the results for this week are pretty ugly.
Week 2 Pick Results:
psu_13 : 4 - 1
Jolly Bill : 4 - 1
Stele : 3 - 2
oldmanscene24 : 3 - 2
Elliottx : 3 - 2
Jayhawker : 3 - 2
onewild : 3 - 2
Xeknos : 3 - 2
thejustinbot : 3 - 2
s0lidarity : 3 - 2
tboon : 3 - 2
Cobble : 3 - 2
garion333 : 3 - 2
Jowner : 3 - 2
iaintgotnopants : 3 - 2
Kosars : 3 - 2
Top_Shelf : 3 - 2
mudbunny : 3 - 2
Zaque : 3 - 2
TempestBlayze : 3 - 2
paleocon : 3 - 2
MilkmanDanimal : 3 - 2
FSeven : 3 - 2
Mudderfudder77 : 3 - 2
billt721 : 3 - 2
Bzzz : 3 - 2
lostlobster : 3 - 2
Kush15 : 3 - 2
Leroyog : 2 - 3
Grumpicus : 2 - 3
Gumbie : 2 - 3
kaostheory : 2 - 3
Laarrs : 2 - 3
Infyrnos : 2 - 3
Zellbrigen26 : 2 - 3
Atras : 2 - 3
TheGameGuru : 2 - 3
McFinn : 2 - 3
Jasonofindy : 2 - 3
Thin_J : 2 - 3
Blackanchor : 2 - 3
LeapingGnome : 2 - 3
Secret Asian Man : 1 - 4
karmajay : 1 - 4
And combined with last week's results (including everyone who only picked 1 week or the other), here come the season standings. What fun I had with spreadsheets during MNF last night figuring this out. :p
Season Pick Results:
Jolly Bill : 9 - 1
psu_13 : 9 - 1
billt721 : 8 - 2
Cobble : 8 - 2
Kush15 : 8 - 2
mudbunny : 8 - 2
tboon : 8 - 2
Zaque : 8 - 2
kaostheory : 7 - 3
Elliottx : 7 - 3
Jayhawker : 7 - 3
Kosars : 7 - 3
MudderFudder77 : 7 - 3
oldmanscene24 : 7 - 3
s0lidarity : 7 - 3
thejustinbot : 7 - 3
Mudderfudder77 : 7 - 3
Laarrs : 6 - 4
McFinn : 6 - 4
TheGameGuru : 6 - 4
Bzzz : 6 - 4
garion333 : 6 - 4
Jowner : 6 - 4
MilkmanDanimal : 6 - 4
onewild : 6 - 4
paleocon : 6 - 4
Stele : 6 - 4
Top_Shelf : 6 - 4
Xeknos : 6 - 4
Secret Asian Man : 5 - 5
Gumbie : 5 - 5
Jasonofindy : 5 - 5
LeapingGnome : 5 - 5
Leroyog : 5 - 5
Thin_J : 5 - 5
Zellbrigen26 : 5 - 5
FSeven : 5 - 5
iaintgotnopants : 5 - 5
TempestBlayze : 5 - 5
karmajay : 4 - 6
Atras : 4 - 6
Grumpicus : 4 - 6
Infyrnos : 4 - 6
Fedaykin98 : 3 - 2
lostlobster : 3 - 2
Certis : 2 - 3
lostlobster : 2 - 3
Blackanchor : 2 - 3
Alright, now that that's all out there, let's segue from week 2 to week 3 with some playoff talk.
Too soon to talk playoffs? Nope. Several 0-2 teams are in trouble.
Looking at the bigger picture, since the NFL expanded to a 12-team playoff field in 1990, teams that are winless after the first two weeks have only made the playoffs 11.6 percent of the time.
And more importantly, some teams are in must-win games this week, like the NY Giants.
Since 1990, only three 0-3 teams have made the NFL playoffs + none since 1998
With a couple of must-win games in mind in week 3, time to move on to the picks...
Chargers @ Titans: Both these teams lost to Houston on last-second plays or overtime in the first two weeks. Should be an interesting game between 1-1 teams fighting for respect.
Packers @ Bengals: Two teams picked by many to win their respective divisions. Two teams with disappointing losses in week 1. Two teams that bounced back with impressive wins in week 2.
Browns @ Vikings: Playoff elimination game in week 3! Pretty much. One of these 0-2 teams will fall to 0-3, and by the numbers that will probably be the end of the season for them. Choose your loser carefully here, as you are dooming them to a playoff-less year.
Lions @ Redskins: More 0-2 running on 0-3 trouble here. Can the Redskins recover their season or will things spiral out of control? The Lions haven't been tested yet, playing 2 teams in the lower half of the power rankings (*see below), and coming out 1-1.
Bears @ Steelers: Sunday Night Football. Win or go home time for the Steelers. Jay Cutler is making 4th quarter comebacks. Can the Pittsburgh defense come up big or are they too old to make another playoff run?
Make your week 3 picks here
*Other talking point besides playoffs: ESPN Power Rankings
Seattle jumps to #1, ahead of Denver, despite Seattle looking good in 1 week, while Denver looked good in both? San Diego moves up 10 spots from 26th to 16th? The entire NFC East loses and drops 2-5 spots each. Agree? Disagree?
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