Week 4 Predictions

     After three weeks of sloppy calls from replacement referees, the lockout has finally ended. Now, the regular referees have returned to make the game as fair as possible. Last weekend's play was one of the most surprising Sundays in recent memory. The amount of upsets seen in Week 3 is unlikely to carry over into tomorrow, but we can always expect a few upsets each and every game day. The largest storyline apart from the return of professional referees is the rumors circling Michael Vick. It is said that Andy Reid will remove Vick from the lineup if he does not get the turnover issue under control. The Eagles are matched up against a very talented pass rush in the New York Giants. The rivalry featured on Sunday Night Football will be this week's game of the week. Along with a preview of the rivalry match-up, The NFL Report follows its usual formatting to supply you with everything you need to know about Week 4.

Larry Fitzgerald

Game to Watch: Giants over Eagles: Whenever these two teams clash for a regular season battle, there is always a surprise in store. Remember 2010, when DeSean Jackson and the Philadelphia Eagles won on a game winning punt return? Since that match-up, the tension of this division rivalry has transformed into something more, where both teams are out to prove something. Dallas began their 2012 campaign in a disappointing manner, losing to Dallas at home. However, since the Week 1 loss, New York has been able to prove themselves worthy of a divisional championship. They only thing in their way is Philadelphia, a team who is looking to avenge their disappointing 2011 season. Quarterback Michael Vick has been struggling when it comes to turnovers, and his two fumbles against Arizona cost the Eagles the game. By the time Sunday evening rolls around, you will be all knowledgeable on this division rivalry game thanks to The NFL Report's Game of the Week Preview.

New York Giants: Last weekend's dominant win over Carolina proved Manning and the Giants are capable of defending their title. Eli Manning threw for over 800 yards in hist first two games, and though his passing game was not stellar in Week 3, the running game picked up the slack. Tight end Martellus Bennett (3 games, 185 receiving yards, 3 TDs) has been more than impressive in the red zone, adding a whole other dimension to this receiving corp. Once starter running back Ahmad Bradshaw left Week 2's game to a neck injury, Andre Brown was able to fill the void perfectly. His 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns helped New York win easily over a reasonably talented Carolina team. Bradshaw has been cleared to play in Week 4, and the offense looks extremely well balanced. New York's defense has recorded 6 interceptions so far, with a mediocre 21.7 points allowed per game. Offensively, New York will have to play consistently on the road if they wish to overtake Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Eagles: In the past three games, Michael Vick has combined for NINE total turnovers. His unreliable play prevented Philadelphia from gaining any sort of momentum. Vick spent too much time in the pocket, and he needs to get the ball off faster, or else his hurried play will create more and more turnovers. Both fumbles against Arizona could be blamed on Vick and the amount of time he needed to get a pass off. LeSean McCoy has anchored this offense throughout Vick's struggles, and it is likely he will have a decent game against New York this Sunday. The defense has proved to be extremely well rounded these past three games, and New York will be the ultimate test. However, a think if they come out firing, they are capable of overwhelming the Giants.

Stand Out Performance: RB Maurice Jones-Drew: After a contract holdout kept Jones-Drew from playing throughout the majority of this past off season, the Jags running back has proven the hiatus will not affect his play. The past two weeks, MJD has rushed for 237 yards with two total touchdowns. Last year, MJD's biggest accomplishment was being handed the 2011 rushing title. Though he doesn't necessarily look the same, MJD is just as lethal. As Cincinnati comes to town for a Week 4 duel, it is projected the star running back runs over this struggling defensive line. Jones-Drew is the lone star of a struggling franchise, and his spectacular performance in Week 4 will help this offense compete against a serious playoff contender.

Maurice Jones-Drew: 125 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD

Player to Watch: QB Michael Vick: Less than a week ago, head coach Andy Reid stated the quarterback situation will be evaluated by the organization. Though he confirmed Vick will be starting against New York, the fact that the Eagles had to question their quarterbacks consistency puts Vick on the hot seat. His two turnovers last weekend against the undefeated Cardinals was one of the main reasons why Philadelphia was unable to come out on top. Michael Vick's mobility makes him prone to injury, and if he were to suffer an injury of any kind, I believe Andy Reid would be more than happy to replace him long term, even if it isn't necessary. These two issues put a lot of pressure on the Eagles starting quarterback, and a defiant win over the reigning champs would secure his starting job for several weeks.

Michael Vick: 245 passing yards, 1 passing TD, INT

Week 4 Predictions:

Falcons over Panthers

Patriots over Bills

Lions over Vikings  (OT)

Texans over Titans

Chiefs over Chargers

49ers over Jets

Seahawks over Rams (OT)

Cardinals over Dolphins

Broncos over Raiders

Bengals over Jaguars

Packers over Saints

Buccaneers over Redskins

Giants over Eagles

Cowboys over Bears

Game of the Week: Giants @ Eagles

     Whenever these two teams clash for a regular season battle, there is always a surprise in store. Remember 2010, when DeSean Jackson and the Philadelphia Eagles won on a game winning punt return? Since that match-up, the tension of this division rivalry has transformed into something more, where both teams are out to prove something. Dallas began their 2012 campaign in a disappointing manner, losing to Dallas at home. However, since the Week 1 loss, New York has been able to prove themselves worthy of a divisional championship. They only thing in their way is Philadelphia, a team who is looking to avenge their disappointing 2011 season. Quarterback Michael Vick has been struggling when it comes to turnovers, and his two fumbles against Arizona cost the Eagles the game. By the time Sunday evening rolls around, you will be all knowledgeable on this division rivalry game thanks to The NFL Report's Game of the Week Preview.

LeSean McCoy

New York Giants: Last weekend's dominant win over Carolina proved Manning and the Giants are capable of defending their title. Eli Manning threw for over 800 yards in hist first two games, and though his passing game was not stellar in Week 3, the running game picked up the slack. Tight end Martellus Bennett (3 games, 185 receiving yards, 3 TDs) has been more than impressive in the red zone, adding a whole other dimension to this receiving corp. Once starter running back Ahmad Bradshaw left Week 2's game to a neck injury, Andre Brown was able to fill the void perfectly. His 113 rushing yards and two touchdowns helped New York win easily over a reasonably talented Carolina team. Bradshaw has been cleared to play in Week 4, and the offense looks extremely well balanced. New York's defense has recorded 6 interceptions so far, with a mediocre 21.7 points allowed per game. Offensively, New York will have to play consistently on the road if they wish to overtake Philadelphia.

Philadelphia Eagles: In the past three games, Michael Vick has combined for NINE total turnovers. His unreliable play prevented Philadelphia from gaining any sort of momentum. Vick spent too much time in the pocket, and he needs to get the ball off faster, or else his hurried play will create more and more turnovers. Both fumbles against Arizona could be blamed on Vick and the amount of time he needed to get a pass off. LeSean McCoy has anchored this offense throughout Vick's struggles, and it is likely he will have a decent game against New York this Sunday. The defense has proved to be extremely well rounded these past three games, and New York will be the ultimate test. However, a think if they come out firing, they are capable of overwhelming the Giants.

Offensive Edge: New York Giants

Defensive Edge: Philadelphia Eagles

Prediction: Giants over Eagles 20-17

Week 4 Power Rankings (1-10)

1. Atlanta Falcons (3-0): The offense under quarterback Matt Ryan has been thriving in Atlanta, ranking first in touchdowns passing touchdowns (8) and third in points (31.3). Their first three games  have proved they can handle a difficult schedule, and the Falcons have shown no signs of slowing down.

Aaron Rodgers

2. Houston Texans (3-0): The Houston Texans have all but clinched the AFC West at 3-0, with an absurdly talented defense leading the way. Even the offense is doing well in the broad scheme of things, especially with one of the best running backs in the league in Arian Foster.

3. San Francisco 49ers (2-1): A loss to Minnesota in Week 3 shocked the league, but San Francisco has already proven they can overtake talented teams. A deconstruction of the Packers defense in Week 1 was not there last Sunday, but they now have the chance to prove themselves on the road against the Jets.

4. Baltimore Ravens (2-1): A win over New England in Week 3 overshadowed their loss to Philadelphia two weeks prior. Ray Rice needs to stay healthy, otherwise the game plan would put too much pressure on Flacco. However, the passing game has taken major stride since 2011, and hopefully they can refine it by the end of October.

5. New England Patriots (1-2): For the first time since 2003, the Patriots have found themselves with a 1-2 record, with a not-so-easy game against Buffalo in Week 4. Tom Brady is not necessarily playing like he did in 2011, but he remains an elite quarterback in terms of leadership. Patriots fans should have nothing to worry about, as it is a given that New England reaches the playoffs once again.

6. Arizona Cardinals (3-0): Personally, I do not believe the Arizona Cardinals deserve to be in the top 10, and that they will fade out of the picture by the time December rolls around. However, I did say the same thing abut San Francisco last year, and as we know, my prediction turned out to be false. If the Cardinals deserve to be 3-0, they shouldn't have any problem against Miami this upcoming Sunday.

7. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1): A dramatic increase of turnovers is the main contributing factor of last weekends loss to Arizona. Michael Vick has not yet proved he is consistent enough to lead this team into the playoffs. Once he finds his groove, however, Philadelphia has a legitimate shot at winning the competitive NFC North.

8. Green Bay Packers (1-2): Who would have thought the Green Bay Packers would start off the 2012 regular season below .500 by Week 4. Similar to New England, I believe the Packers have to look forward to an easy stretch of games, and from there they might be able to gain some momentum. Also, Aaron Rodgers is not playing like we, the fans, were expecting from him. As soon as he returns to form, Green Bay will find themselves atop the NFC.

9. New York Giants (2-1): The reigning champs were not able to begin Week 1 the way they would have liked, but since their loss to Dallas, the team has been clicking on all cylinders. Their demolition of both the Panthers and the Bucs (more so Carolina) proved they are ready to defend their title.

10 Seattle Seahawks (2-1): Seattle's past two wins this season have come against two highly talented teams, and in both instances the defense was the difference maker. Their eight sacks in the first half against Green Bay really set the tone, and it will be hard for any quarterback, no matter what skill level, to dominate when he spends most of the time on the ground.

Week 3 Sunday Headlines

     By far the most exciting week of football yet took place today, Week 3. Eight games were decided by a touchdown or less, and not all of them turned out the way we predicted. Along with the eye-opening upsets, many players showed off their skills in the third week of football, helping their teams win in a tight situation. These surprises help shape the league we know, and The NFL Report will update you on the three main things you missed on Sunday.

Sebastion Janikowski

1. Upsets from around the league: Entering Week 3, I would estimate 99% of football fans did not predict the Minnesota Vikings to defeat San Francisco. However, in a surprising turn of events, Christian Ponder and the Vikings over powered San Francisco, beating the heavy favorites 24-13. This was not the only upset to take place on Sunday, in fact nearly half of the games ended in a shocking manner. The Cardinals remain undefeated by beating Philadelphia, the Raiders beat Pittsburgh thanks to a Stephen Janikowski game winner, San Diego scored just three points against the Atlanta Falcons, the Titans tamed the Detroit Lions, winning by a field goal, and the Chiefs handed New Orleans their third loss of the season as they remain win less. And last but not least, last night’s game featuring Baltimore and New England ended in a strangely familiar manner, this time, however, Baltimore’s kicker “made” the game winning field goal. I doubt Week 4 can be any better than what we witnessed last Sunday, but anything is possible in the National Football League

2. Jamaal Charles is back: After an injury kept Jamaal Charles from playing the majority of the 2011 season, Week 3 proved this former star is back and ready for action. His 233 rushing yards and lone touchdown helped guide Kansas City towards a win over New Orleans. Though he is not known for scoring countless amounts of touchdowns, Charles has no problem racking up yards consistently. Over the course of his five year career, Charles averages a yards per carry of 6.0, even when spending much of his time as a second string running back. Unfortunately for fantasy owners, we are not yet sure on how newly acquired running back Peyton Hillis will affect Charles' statistics, but if Kansas City is still willing to hand him the ball 20 to 25 times per game, he has a legitimate shot at the 2,000 yard mark.

3. CJ Spiller suffers an injury: Spiller is not the first Buffalo Bills member to suffer an injury this season, the first key loss coming from fellow running back Fred Jackson. Jackson's injury is what gave Spiller the opportunity to succeed in the first place, and succeed he did. His outstanding statistics ensured him multiple weekly awards, as well as help out his fantasy owner from around the nation. His shoulder injury suffered against Cleveland rules him as doubtful in this weekend's game against New England. Buffalo was able to defeat the Patriots in 2011, but without two big stars, the chances of them winning by the same margin are slim.

Week 3 Predictions

     Six seconds left in the game. Stephen Gostowski lines up for a potential game winning kick. There's no way he misses. The Patriots kicker was 4 for 4 on the day, the largest contributor to the Patriots offense against Arizona. Leading up to this kick, Cardinals running back Ryan Williams fumbled the football with less than 1:10 left to play. Then, Danny Woodhead rushed into the end zone, with what appeared to be the game winner. However, a holding call on Gronk cost them the touchdown. So now, it came down to Gostowski's kick. The ball was snapped and.....he missed! A tragic loss has the potential to put New England at 1-2 by the end of Week 3, as they play the Baltimore Ravens. This rematch of last year's AFC Championship is just one of many spectacular games to take place this weekend, and The NFL Report has got you covered.

Brandon Flowers (footballsfuture.com)

Game to Watch: Patriots @ Ravens: Last Sunday's game was one of the most sloppiest performances witnessed by Patriot fans in recent memory. Tom Brady struggled to put points on the board against Arizona, and his messy play forced Gostowski to make all of his kicks. Sadly, the one kick he missed was with no time left on the clock. Their Week 3 match-up is against a very talented Ravens team, who is also coming off of a Week 2 loss. Similar to Brady, Joe Flacco was not the same quarterback who showed up to play in Week 1. Both teams are highly regarded when it comes to this year's playoff race, but only one can exit Week 3 with a winning record.

New England Patriots: Three and a half quarters went by before the Patriots were even able to score a touchdown. The Patriots, a team with one of the most lethal passing games in the NFL, was unable to score more than one touchdown in Sunday's game, which put a lot of pressure on their kicker. Last week's performance made Arizona's defense look like one found in San Francisco or Baltimore. Compared to Brady's 2011 start (2 games, 940 passing yards, 7 TDs), the Patriots' quarterback has not yet found his groove, but it is expected he succeeds later on in the season. Baltimore will truly test this offense, and if prove to us if Brady can overcome such a talented squad. A division title is almost expected from New England, but I doubt they wish to start the year 1-2.

Baltimore Ravens: After an impressive victory over Cincinnati in Week 1, Baltimore fell short of the 2-0 mark by losing to Philly on the road. Baltimore had multiple chances to win the game, whether it be a 10 point lead, a controversial incomplete pass, or an overturned 4th quarter touchdown, the Ravens seemed like the better team throughout the duration of the game. Joe Flacco is projected to dominate this Patriots defense, as is Pro-Bowl running back Ray Rice. Baltimore's motivation will overpower the Patriots team as a whole.

Ravens over Patriots 17-10

Stand Out Performance: RB CJ Spiller: This year's breakout player, running back CJ Spiller of Buffalo, is projected to have another great game against Cleveland. His speed and elusiveness resembles that of CJ2K (or I should say the CJ2K seen in 2009), as does his stat line. 292 rushing yards in 2 games gives him a yards per carry of 10.1, by far the best in the league. The three rushing touchdowns to go along with it makes him a valuable player in fantasy football. Fred Jackson is not excepted to play this week, so the touchdowns will keep on coming. Cleveland's defense has allowed the fourth highest rushing yards per game in 2012, and those numbers are bound to be increased by the end of Week 3. The question is, by how much?

CJ Spiller: 85 rushing yards, 1 rushing TD, 1 receiving TD

Player to Watch: OLB Clay Matthews: Just a year after defensive end Jared Allen sacked the quarterback 22 times, 1 away from breaking the league record, linebacker Clay Matthews is on track to trump this record with flying colors. His six sacks in two games came against two relatively weak offensive lines, especially when talking about the Chicago Bears. Last year was a relatively disappointing stat line for Matthews considering his spectacular performance in 2010. However, Clay Matthews sent a message to the league when sacking Jay Cutler 3.5 times. It will extremely difficult for him to maintain such a fabulous stat line over the course of the season, for the double and triple teams are expected. However, the Seattle Seahawks had a sub-par offensive line in 2011, and not much as changed in 2012. Keep an eye out for Matthews, as he fights for the single season sack record.

Clay Matthews: 6 tackles, 1 sack

Week 3 Predictions:

Giants over Panthers

Bears over Rams

Bills over Browns (OT)

Buccaneers over Cowboys

Colts over Jaguars

Dolphins over Jets

49ers over Vikings

Saints over Chiefs

Lions over Titans

Redskins over Bengals

Eagles over Cardinals

Falcons over Chargers

Broncos over Texans

Steelers over Raiders

Ravens over Patriots

Packers over Seahawks

Game of the Week: Patriots @ Ravens

     Last Sunday's game was one of the most sloppiest performances witnessed by Patriot fans in recent memory. Tom Brady struggled to put points on the board against Arizona, and his messy play forced Gostowski to make all of his kicks. Sadly, the one kick he missed was with no time left on the clock. Their Week 3 match-up is against a very talented Ravens team, who is also coming off of a Week 2 loss. Similar to Brady, Joe Flacco was not the same quarterback who showed up to play in Week 1. Both teams are highly regarded when it comes to this year's playoff race, but only one can exit Week 3 with a winning record.

New England Patriots: Three and a half quarters went by before the Patriots were even able to score a touchdown. The Patriots, a team with one of the most lethal passing games in the NFL, was unable to score more than one touchdown in Sunday's game, which put a lot of pressure on their kicker. Last week's performance made Arizona's defense look like one found in San Francisco or Baltimore. Compared to Brady's 2011 start (2 games, 940 passing yards, 7 TDs), the Patriots' quarterback has not yet found his groove, but it is expected he succeeds later on in the season. Baltimore will truly test this offense, and if prove to us if Brady can overcome such a talented squad. A division title is almost expected from New England, but I doubt they wish to start the year 1-2.

Baltimore Ravens: After an impressive victory over Cincinnati in Week 1, Baltimore fell short of the 2-0 mark by losing to Philly on the road. Baltimore had multiple chances to win the game, whether it be a 10 point lead, a controversial incomplete pass, or an overturned 4th quarter touchdown, the Ravens seemed like the better team throughout the duration of the game. Joe Flacco is projected to dominate this Patriots defense, as is Pro-Bowl running back Ray Rice. Baltimore's motivation will overpower the Patriots team as a whole.

Offensive Edge: Baltimore Ravens

Defensive Edge: Baltimore Ravens

Prediction: Ravens over Patriots 17-10

Best Pictures (Week 2)

Perry Knots/NFL

Matt Slocum/AP Photo

Rainier Erdhart/AP Photo

Gary Wiepert/AP Photo

Denis Poroy/AP Photo

Gene J. Puskar/AP Photo

Week 2 Scores

Robert Mathis

Packers over Bears 23-10

Giants over Buccaneers 41-34

Dolphins over Raiders 35-13

Texans over Jaguars 27-7

Bengals over Browns 34-27

Bills over Chiefs 35-17

Panthers over Saints 35-27

Cardinals over Patriots 20-18

Rams over Redskins 31-28

Chargers over Titans 38-10

49ers over Lions 27-19

Seahawks over Cowboys 27-7

Eagles over Ravens 24-23

Colts over Vikings 23-20

Steelers over Jets 27-10

Falcons over Broncos 27-21

Week 2 Sunday Headlines

    Wide left! Sound familiar to New England Patriots fans. Today, however, New England was on the other end of a missed field goal; the losing end. Gostowski's miss was one of the many headlines to come out of Week 1's action, and though the San Francisco-Detroit game enters halftime, with one more game expected to take place on Monday, Week 2 did not disappoint.

Tom Brady (

1. Cardinals upset Patriots in last second thriller: As I mentioned earlier, the New England Patriots suffered a devastating missed field goal with barely any time left on the clock. Leading up to the play, the Arizona Cardinals were two downs away from winning the game, and many Patriots fans were exiting the arena. Then, in an unexpected turn of events, running back Ryan Williams fumbled the ball at the worst possible time, and it was pounced on by nose tackle Vince Wilfork. The Pats then scored what appeared to be the game winner, except Rob Gronkowski was called for holding and the touchdown did not count. Finally, it came time for Gostowski to make the somewhat easy field goal, but he was unsuccessful. Who would have thought the Cardinals would be 2-0?!

2. Steelers too much for Mark Sanchez: Things were looking up for Jets fans after New York's triumphant win over Buffalo in Week 1, but things came to a stop when playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. Missing some of their key stars, the Steelers were still able to get inside the opposing quarterback's head. Throughout the duration of the game, Sanchez was unable to get any sort of rythym going, and though he was sacked twice with zero interceptions, he did not eclipse the 200 yard passing mark, nor did he pass for multiple touchdowns. His ineffectiveness cost the Jets the game, and took the cockiness out of this Jets team entering Week 3.

3. Saints are 0-2: It is now clear just how important Sean Payton was to the Saints franchise before he was suspended for the entire 2012 season. Brees was not able to lead New Orleans to victory against both Washington and Carolina. His statistics are not struggling, for he has thrown for 300 yards in back to back games. However, it appears that his interception problems of 2010 have returned. Unfortunately, it will only get harder from here; the next three games are against playoff contenders from around the league: Kansas City, Green Bay, San Diego. The coaching staff better make some radical changes to their gameplan if they wish to have a shot at the post season.

4. CJ2K has lost his touch: No one wants Chris Johnson to succeed more than me, a fantasy owner who went out of his way to acquire the 2,000 yard rusher. If Johnson's struggles continue, he would rush for a whopping (sarcasm) 168 yards by the end of the season. His speed is still there, but once New England restricted him to just 4 rushing yards, it appears that the Tennessee Titans have lost all faith in their running back. Houston is scheduled for Week 4, but the following week he will play a not so difficult Vikings defense. All I can say is he better get some points in Week 3, or he will be a free agent in many fantasy football leagues.

Week 2 Predictions

    As expected, Week 1 brought us plenty of upsets, last second heroics, and extraordinary performances from players around the league. One of the biggest story lines to take place on Sunday was the show put on by rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III. While playing a very talented Saints team, RGIII posted some impressive statistics, passing for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile, quarterback Peyton Manning proved his reign in the NFL was not yet over. When taking down the Pittsburgh Steelers, Manning did not  look like the one we saw in 2004 per say, but he remains a top 10 quarterback. Last but not least, the New York Jets somehow managed to score 48 points against a highly regarded defense in Buffalo. New York was mocked throughout the preseason due to their three game touchdown drought. Their embarrassing play was a cause for concern among Jets fans, but Sanchez managed to get in a groove at home. Week 2 will separate the men from the boys, and, like always, will make for an exciting Sunday afternoon.

Charles Woodson

Game to Watch: HEEEE'S BAAACK! The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first team to be defeated by Peyton Manning since his neck injury. Manning looked close to his old self, passing for 253 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 129.2. However, the road ahead is not any easier, for he will go up against the Atlanta Falcons away from Denver. Atlanta is coming off of a monstrous win over the Kansas City Chiefs, a team projected to do very well in 2012. After adjusting their game plan, Matt Ryan has been given more freedom when it comes to throwing it deep to his lethal weapons at wide receiver. Monday's game will not be a defensive battle, so it will be interesting to see who wins in this shootout.

Denver Broncos: Last Sunday's game may not have been Manning's best performance, but he is on track to throw for 30-plus touchdowns and 4,000 passing yards. The Broncos somehow managed to make the playoffs in 2011, and though it is only Week 1, they might just win the AFC West for the second year in a row. A loss to Atlanta however would hurt their confidence, and the momentum would no not be as strong. Unfortunately, with Tim Tebow gone, the running game suffered quite a bit, no longer the same unit as in 2011. This entire team will rely on Manning's leadership, who is 3-1 against Atlanta in his 14 year career. If he can stay accurate and consistent, the entire team will feed off of his success.

Atlanta Falcons: What if the Matt Ryan who showed up in last Sunday's game was the Matt Ryan we saw week in and week out. His extraordinary receiving corp, consisting of Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White, and Julio Jones, will always create problems for opposing defenses. Michael Turner's 11 attempts in Week 1 racked up just 32 yards, a mere 2.9 yards per attempt. It appears as if Turner's statistics will not improve much from here, for head coach Mike Smith wants to incorporate more passing into his offensive game plan. Smith won't be relying on this defense to stop Manning on each drive, so that will put even more pressure on Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense. Based on how they played against Kansas City, Atlanta has the edge entering Week 2's biggest stage.

Falcons over Broncos 34-20

Stand Out Performance: RB Adrian Peterson: Entering the 2012 season, it was speculated by many that  running back Adrian Peterson would not be the same rusher who has electrified the league for the past six years. His knee injury suffered on Christmas Eve forced him to miss the rest of 2011, and made him unstable for much of 2012. In Week 1, however, Peterson started off the regular season with a bang. The Minnesota Viking running back rushed for 84 yards, and his two touchdowns helped substantially in defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars. His Week 2 game is against yet another soft defense, this time the Indianapolis Colts. Indianapolis allowed three rushing touchdowns in Week 1, and had one of the worst overall defenses in the league last year. Peterson looked great in Week 1, and should be able to make his fantasy owners proud.
Adrian Peterson: 75 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs, 1 receiving TD


Players to Watch: QB Mark Sanchez: It is hard to believe that New York was able to be so dominant offensively after their historically atrocious pre season. They did not use Tim Tebow as much as expected in Week 1, and that is due to Sanchez's spectacular performance. His 266 passing yards and three touchdowns made for an easy win over the Buffalo Bills. Sanchez was able to utilize his extremely talented wide receiver in Stephen Hill, a rookie out of Georgia Tech. Sanchez's skills will be put to the test when playing Pittsburgh on the road. The Steelers do not wish to start off their 2012 season at 0-2, so don't be surprised if Sanchez is battered around a bit.
Mark Sanchez: 210 passing yards, 1 passing TD, 2 INTs


Week 2 Predictions:

Packers over Bears

Chiefs over Bills

Saints over Panthers (OT)

Bengals over Browns

Colts over Vikings

Texans over Jaguars

Raiders over Dolphins

Patriots over Cardinals

Giants over Buccaneers

Ravens over Eagles

Cowboys over Seahawks

Redskins over Rams

Steelers over Jets

Chargers over Titans

49ers over Lions

Falcons over Broncos

The NFL Report Predictions:

Week 1: 11-5

2012 Season: 11-5

Game of the Week: Broncos @ Falcons

    HEEEE'S BAAACK! The Pittsburgh Steelers were the first team to be defeated by Peyton Manning since his neck injury. Manning looked close to his old self, passing for 253 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 129.2. However, the road ahead is not any easier, for he will go up against the Atlanta Falcons away from Denver. Atlanta is coming off of a monstrous win over the Kansas City Chiefs, a team projected to do very well in 2012. After adjusting their game plan, Matt Ryan has been given more freedom when it comes to throwing it deep to his lethal weapons at wide receiver. Monday's game will not be a defensive battle, so it will be interesting to see who wins in this shootout.

Denver Broncos: Last Sunday's game may not have been Manning's best performance, but he is on track to throw for 30-plus touchdowns and 4,000 passing yards. The Broncos somehow managed to make the playoffs in 2011, and though it is only Week 1, they might just win the AFC West for the second year in a row. A loss to Atlanta however would hurt their confidence, and the momentum would no not be as strong. Unfortunately, with Tim Tebow gone, the running game suffered quite a bit, no longer the same unit as in 2011. This entire team will rely on Manning's leadership, who is 3-1 against Atlanta in his 14 year career. If he can stay accurate and consistent, the entire team will feed off of his success.

Atlanta Falcons: What if the Matt Ryan who showed up in last Sunday's game was the Matt Ryan we saw week in and week out. His extraordinary receiving corp, consisting of Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White, and Julio Jones, will always create problems for opposing defenses. Michael Turner's 11 attempts in Week 1 racked up just 32 yards, a mere 2.9 yards per attempt. It appears as if Turner's statistics will not improve much from here, for head coach Mike Smith wants to incorporate more passing into his offensive game plan. Smith won't be relying on this defense to stop Manning on each drive, so that will put even more pressure on Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense. Based on how they played against Kansas City, Atlanta has the edge entering Week 2's biggest stage.


Offensive Edge: Falcons

Defensive Edge: Broncos

Prediction: Falcons over Broncos 34-20

Best Pictures (Week 1)

    In our first installment of the series "Best Pictures", we hand picked eight snapshots from Week 1. Enjoy! Comment, subscribe, and like us on Facebook at facebook.com/thenflreport! Also, if you wish to set up a link exchange with The NFL Report, email me at ledzepfan09@gmail.com!

Chris O'Meara/AP Photo

Jeffrey Phelps/AP Photo

Ron Schwane/AP Photo

Ric Tapia/NFL

Mike Roemer/AP Photo

Nick Wass/AP Photo

Week 1 Scores

Robert Griffin III

Cowboys over Giants 24-17

Bears over Colts 41-21

Eagles over Browns 17-16

Lions over Rams 27-23

Patriots over Titans 34-13

Falcons over Chiefs 40-24

Vikings over Jaguars 26-23

Redskins over Saints 40-32

Jets over Bills 48-28

Texans over Dolphins 30-10

49ers over Packers 30-22

Cardinals over Seahawks 20-16

Buccaneers over Panthers 16-10

Broncos over Steelers 31-19

Ravens over Bengals 44-13

Chargers over Raiders 22-14