Jacksonville at Indianapolis

As tempted as I am to go with the red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars against Indy, I just can’t pick against Manning and Co. at home. The Jags are finally being mentioned as one of the NFL’s elite after a 9-0 shutout of Super Bowl champion’s the Pittsburgh Steelers.

But let’s put that game into perspective. First, it was Big Ben Roethlisberger’s first game of the year after coming back from an off-season motorcycle injury that nearly took his life and an appendectomy he had right before the season that benched him for the first game. He looked a little uncomfortable, to say the least. Second, the Steeler offence is like hamburger meat compared to the Colts’ palette-cleansing filet mignon. Indy has put up 69 points in its first two games, all without the services of the now-departed RB Edgerrin James. Look for it to be a close game, with the Colts hanging on in the end by a touchdown.

NY Giants at Seattle

The Giants have to be feeling good after stealing a game in Philly last week. Eli Manning has started to have his name mentioned amongst the elite QBs after putting together a string of two superb games (5 total TDs, 309 yards per game) against the Colts and Eagles respectively. But look for Eli to struggle against one of the game’s premiere defences in Seattle. Last week, the Seahawks held WR Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals’ powerful offence to a measly 256 total yards of offence (completely shutting down the running game, holding it to just 65 yards). Seattle’s recently acquired WR Deion Branch will also make his team debut, adding to the Seahawks’ already stacked offence that includes last year’s MVP in running back Shaun Alexander, all-star QB Matt Hasselbeck, and oft-injured WR Darrell Jackson. I see this game being ultra-competitive, but Eli will struggle and the Seahawks will pull away in the fourth quarter to start their season at 3-0. Not to knock Eli, but this is a top-notch defence playing at home.

Carolina at Tampa Bay

This game pits a pair of pre-season Super Bowl contenders now standing at 0-2. The outcome could potentially determine the faith of each team’s season. The Panthers and Bucs were both looked upon as perfect models of success in the new NFL; combining a powerful running game with an excellent defence. But neither has performed so far, with both defences looking anything but stellar and their running games being non-existent (especially in Tampa where Cadillac appears to be stalled in park, with only 59 rushing yards in two games). One will leave the game thinking about next year and I think that team will be Tampa Bay. Prior to this season, Bucs Head Coach Jon Gruden was in constant praise of young QB Chris Simms, but that praise has quickly turned sour. Last week against the Falcons, Gruden was seen shouting at Simms on the sidelines, after the QB was intercepted and had several balls batted down by the Falcons D. Look for Tampa to finally self-destruct, with Simms being pulled in favour of pre-season sensation Bruce Gradkowski.

Last week: 2-2. Season to date: 2-2.