Week 2 NFL Primer

Matt CasselSunday’s Best: Patriots (1-0) at Jets (1-0), 4:15 PT ET CBS
The best game on the Week 2 schedule is actually Monday night when the Cowboys host the Eagles, but there will be plenty of time to hype that game before kickoff. The best and arguably most intriguing matchup Sunday is the Patriots and the Jets. Tom Brady’s season-ending knee injury opens the door for the Jets in the AFC East and a win Sunday would go a long way in proving that the power has shifted in the division. Pats’ backup Matt Cassel played well in New England’s victory over the Chiefs last week, but with a full week to prepare, expect Jets’ head coach Eric Mangini to use multiple defensive fronts in efforts to confuse the inexperienced signal caller. This will also be a great test for the Pats’ secondary (a unit that looks thin on paper), as Brett Favre will look to take chances downfield in the passing game. The Jets are currently 1-point favorites.

Upset Watch: Chargers (0-1) at Broncos (1-0), 4:15 PM ET CBS
San Diego is coming off a devastating last second loss to the Panthers at home, while Denver dismantled Oakland on Monday Night Football. The Chargers will be without linebacker Shawne Merriman (knee) for the rest of the season and now reports have surfaced that running back LaDainian Tomlinson (toe) might not be ready to play either. The Broncos did a tremendous job pressuring JaMarcus Russell on Monday night and if LT can’t go, look for Denver blitz early and often. The Broncos have two corners in Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly that can play one-on-one with any of the Chargers’ receivers, so expect them to send extra defenders on most plays to try and get QB Philip Rivers to make mistakes. Jay Cutler and the Broncos’ offense will also receive a boost with the return of receiver Brandon Marshall, who was serving a one-game suspension. San Diego is currently a 1-point favorite on the road.

David GarrardIntriguing Matchup: Bills (1-0) at Jaguars (0-1), 1:00 PM ET CBS
Many people figured these teams’ records would be flipped heading into this game. But the Titans absolutely flustered the Jaguars’ offense by taking away the run and sacking QB David Garrard seven times in a 17-10 win, while the Bills used a combination of outstanding special teams and solid defense to destroy the Seahawks in their home opener. The Jags were a perennial Super Bowl contender coming into the season, so it’ll be interesting to see how they respond to their Week 1 loss. And if Buffalo pulls out a win they now become instant contenders in the AFC East with Brady out for the year. Jacksonville is currently a 5.5-point favorite.

Other Notable Games:
Steelers (1-0) at Browns (0-1), 8:15 PM ET NBC
These two teams are expected to battle all season for the AFC North crown, but with how bad the Browns looked last week against Dallas, the Steelers might still be the class of the division.

Bears (1-0) at Panthers (1-0), 1:00 PM ET FOX
Both of these teams played inspired football in Week 1 and the winner of this game might prove to be a sleeper contender in the NFC.

Colts (0-1) at Vikings (0-1), 1:00 PM CBS
High expectations surrounded these teams entering the season, but both squads were embarrassed in last week. Which team will get back on track?

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