Week 2 Patch Pick'Em

Welcome to the weekly Patch NFL Pick 'Em, where Fair Lawn residents and wannabe NFL prognosticators Stuart Pace, Steve Brown, Rich Seibel and Zak Koeske offer up their picks for three games each week and dish out a little fantasy football advice to boot.

If you'd like our opinion on fantasy roster moves, have a fantasy football question you'd like answered or would like to compete against us as a Guest Picker, email Patch NFL Pick 'Em at zak.koeske@patch.com

This week's Pick 'Em games:

• Chicago Bears @ Green Bay Packers (Thursday, 8:20 p.m.)
• Baltimore Ravens @ Philadelphia Eagles (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
• New York Jets @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 4:25 p.m.)

Stuart Pace’s Game Picks:

Green Bay, Baltimore and New York Jets

Green Bay Packers over Chicago Bears -- Bears come into visit the 0-1 Packers who haven't lost two in a row at home since gosh knows when. While the Cutler/Marshall Combo looks exciting and Matt Forte is a beast, I still expect Rodgers and Co. to squeeze out a victory at home. An 0-2 start for Green Bay would be semi-disastrous. Confidence Level: 2

Baltimore Ravens over Philadelphia Eagles -- The Tippi Hedren Bowl begins with Michael Vick wondering how he won with four picks last week. It won't happen agains as Joe Flacco looks outstanding and Ray Rice and the Defense are too much for the fading Iggles. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

New York Jets over Pittsburgh Steelers -- This is one of those games where I think Pittsburgh should have a field day. But their O-line looks weak, they had NO running game last week (I should know, I have Isaac Redman) and the defense is stout, but susceptible to big plays. If Sanchise plays like he did last week, I would take the Jets. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Upset of the Week

St. Louis Rams over Washington Redskins -- The Rams  played a close game with a pretty explosive Lions team last week. I think the Skins are the same type of team, and I think this time the Rams prevail.

Sleeper of the  Week

James Jones, WR (GB) -- With Jennings sidelined, Jones needs a big week to help the Pack. I expect him to have 80-plus yards and a score.

Bust of the Week

Calvin Johnson, WR (DET) -- With the 49ers able to shut down the Packers WRs into pedestrian numbers, I expect more of the same from the Lions as Johnson is blanketed and unable to put up his typical fantasy numbers.

Steve Brown’s Picks:

Green Bay, Baltimore and Pittsburgh

Green Bay Packers over Chicago Bears -- Give me the Pack at home after a loss at home and I will take them every time. I lost my statistician to a nasty underwater Ninja attack last night but I'd bet that the Pack haven't lost two at home very often in the 2000s. Confidence Level: 2 

Baltimore Ravens over Philadelphia Eagles -- The Ravens will claw the Eagles' eyes out and then peck away at their intestines until sated. Yes, the Eagles laid a huge egg last week against a woeful Browns team and were lucky to walk away with a win, but all their fans are acting like it was a loss in their screeching calls to sports radio. Long ago talk of the Dream Team fades as they prepare to face a Murder of Ravens who murderalized a good Bengals team on Monday Night Football. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Pittsburgh Steelers over New York Jets -- To pick this game one has to decide whether or not the Jets were awesome last week or the Bills were putrid.  I'm going with the thought that it was putrid, rotting Bills carcass laying across the field from the Jets last week.  Steelers at home, too much pride to fall to 0-2. Big Ben still better than Little Mark and a low scoring slug fest won by the Men of Steel. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Upset of the Week

Indianapolis Colts over Minnesota Vikings -- I expect the Colts to beat my Vikings this week. Why? Because they are my Vikings and there is no way they will start the season 2-0.  Further that, I worry that Andrew Luck will be better having gotten the first game of his career jitters out of the way. Couple that with a shaky Vikings secondary that allowed Blaine Gabbert to throw  a 39-yard lead-taking touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter. Luck couldn't ask for a better chance in his first home game than to face the Vikings's DBs.   

Sleeper of the Week

Jonathan Dwyer, RB (PIT) -- I watched this ex-Yellow Jacket from the rambling wreck of Georgia Tech run with wild abandon last week. He fought for every yard and didn't give up on a single play no matter how doomed it looked.  I don't know if the Steelers brass were as impressed as I was, but the Jets certainly gave up some big plays to CJ Spiller and I think Dwyer might become the man in Pittsburgh.  

Bust of the Week

Ahmad Bradshaw, RB (NYG) -- The Bucs' Gerald McCoy did one helluva good Warren Sapp impression last week and the Bucs defense held the Ground and Pound Panthers to 10 yards total with their top rusher accounting for a whopping 5 yards. The Giants didn't impress against the Cowboys and even though Bradshaw did account for 93 total yards and one score, I expect his stats to be down against the Bucs this week.

Rich Seibel's Picks:

Green Bay, Baltimore and Pittsburgh

Green Bay Packers over Chicago Bears -- It is very difficult for a team to lose two home games in a row, especially teams the quality of the Packers. Or are the Packers pretenders? Frank Gore and Randy Moss looked like enthusiastic rookies last week against that defense. Chicago looked great against a rebuilding Colts team and could do no wrong. That said, I believe Rodgers will come to life and the Pack is back in a good high scoring game full of missed calls and phantom calls by the zebras. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident) 

Baltimore Ravens over Philadelphia Eagles -- The Eagles barely got by the Browns last week. This is going to be a bloodbath in the City of Brotherly Love. I just think the Ravens are on a path to a Championship this year and Michael Vick will have difficulty with this defense. Confidence Level: 2 

Pittsburgh Steelers over New York Jets -- The Steelers will be a surly bunch this week and the Jets come down to earth in a rout. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Upset of the Week

Indianapolis Colts over Minnesota Vikings -- Go Colts! This is the week Andrew Luck gets his first win.

Sleeper of the Week

Delanie Walker, TE (SF) -- Detroit will try to cover the wide outs and Walker has a huge day at home.

Bust of the Week

Mike Vick, QB (PHI) --Big Time Blitz coming his way this week.

Zak Koeske's picks:

Green Bay, Baltimore and Pittsburgh

Green Bay Packers over Chicago Bears -- Tempted to buck the trend here and go with Chicago in a high scoring affair, but I can't give up on the Pack after one week. Especially at home. Cedric Benson should get untracked in this one and Rodgers bounces back with 4 TDs. Confidence Level: 2 

Baltimore Ravens over Philadelphia Eagles -- After the well-rounded display the Ravens put on Monday night, it would be hard not to pick them against just about anyone. This team looks like a legit Super Bowl contender if Joe Flacco keeps playing well. Mike Vick and the Eagles are in for another miserable week, although I like Shady McCoy in this one. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Pittsburgh Steelers over New York Jets -- I realize it's early but this is a make or break week for the Steelers. If they lose at home to the Jets, I fear it's going to be a long season for the Black and Gold. I think Pittsburgh bounces back from last week's loss to the Broncos and brings Mark Sanchez and the Jets back down to earth. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Upset of the Week

Carolina Panthers over New Orleans Saints -- Carolina almost knocked off the Saints at home last year. This year, I think they pull the upset and drop New Orleans to 0-2. Cam Newton will need to have a huge day.

Sleeper of the Week

Andrew Hawkins, WR (CIN) -- I never heard of this guy before Monday night and he's tiny, but I was impressed with his quickness and ability to make plays after the catch. He seems to be the Bengals' clear No. 2 wideout and Andy Dalton looked his way often. Look for another solid game from the Johnstown, Pa. native.

Bust of the Week

Michael Turner, RB (ATL) -- This is the year Turner's legs finally give way and he starts ceding carries to other backs. He couldn't get it going last week against the Chiefs and I expect another lousy performance against the Broncos on Monday night.

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