By Ron Alderman
There are nine games in the early window on Sunday evening, with a few cracking matchups, none more so than the all-AFC North clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
What a game this promises to be! Last season’s meeting saw the Steelers destroy the Bengals 34-12. The Bengals had backup Joe Flacco under centre, and the Steelers ended with their backup Mason Rudolph in for Aaron Rodgers. This season will see Rodgers go up against Joe Burrow.
The Bengals have beaten the Buccaneers and the Texans so far this season, and QB Joe Burrow has been almost back to his best after his turf toe injury. He has completed 45 of 66 passes for 461 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
RB Chase Brown has rushed for 136 yards on 36 carries and a touchdown. WRs Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase have had good seasons as well, Higgins with eight receptions for 154 yards, and Chase 87 yards on nine receptions and two touchdowns.
The Steelers beat the Falcons in Week 1, but lost heavily to the Patriots 20-3 last weekend. Veteran QB Aaron Rodgers has been good so far this season, having completed 47 of 79 passes for 408 yards, one touchdown and an interception.
Jaylen Warren has been the top RB for the Steelers, with 81 yards on 21 carries, and seven receptions for 61 yards. WR D.K. Metcalf only has eight receptions for 67 yards so far this season, so he will want to start getting into the game more.
Prediction: The Bengals to beat the Steelers by five points.
Carolina Panthers (1-1) @ Cleveland Browns (1-1)
A bit of a surprise game now, as both sides are perhaps better than everyone expected. Their last meeting was back in Week 1 of the 2022 season, with the Browns coming out on top 26-24.
The Panthers lost in a shootout with the Bears 59-37, but beat the Falcons 34-3 last week. QB Bryce Young has completed 46 of 73 passes for 648 yards, six touchdowns and only one interception so far.
WRs Jalen Coker and Tetairoa McMillan have had the lion’s share of receptions, with Coker having 16 receptions for 204 yards and two touchdowns, and McMillan 10 receptions for 176 yards. RB Chuba Hubbard has 102 yards on 22 carries and a touchdown.
The Browns were soundly beaten in Week 1 by the Jaguars 34-10, but beat the Buccaneers in a tight game, 23-19. QB Deshaun Watson has completed 40 of 52 passes for 443 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, so he will start to win the crowd over if he keeps up with those numbers.
He has also rushed for 60 yards on 13 carries. WR Denzel Boston has seven receptions for 154 yards and two touchdowns.
Prediction: Another tight game, but I have the Panthers beating the Browns by five points.
New England Patriots (1-1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)
The last time these two sides met was at Wembley Stadium in Week 7 of the 2024 season, with the Jaguars winning 32-16.
The Patriots lost to the Seahawks in the Super Bowl rematch in Week 1, 13-10, but beat the Steelers 20-3. QB Drake Maye has completed 37 of 55 passes for 386 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions. RB Rhamondre Stevenson has 94 yards on 24 carries, as well as six receptions for 47 yards. WR Mack Hollins has six receptions for 69 yards.
The Jaguars beat the Browns 34-10 in Week 1, but lost to the Broncos 20-13 last week. QB Trevor Lawrence has completed 35 of 52 passes for 434 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. RB Bhayshul Tuten has 131 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown. WR Brian Thomas has six receptions for 80 yards, and Jakobi Meyers has three receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Prediction: The Patriots beat the Jaguars by three points.
Best of the Rest
The New York Jets (1-1) are another surprise package, and they take on the Detroit Lions (1-1) at Ford Field. The Jets have Geno Smith at QB, and he has completed 46 of 65 passes for 462 yards and a touchdown so far this season. Lions QB Jared Goff has completed 52 of 77 passes for 533 yards and six touchdowns.
Prediction: The Lions to beat the Jets by seven points.
This all-AFC South clash has two sides who are both searching for that first win, as the Houston Texans travel to Lucas Oil Stadium to take on the Indianapolis Colts. Texans QB C.J. Stroud has completed 56 of 93 passes for 627 yards and two touchdowns. Colts QB Daniel Jones has completed 41 of 62 passes for 376 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Prediction: The Texans to beat the Colts by five points.
Next up for the winless Los Angeles Chargers (0-2) is a trip to Highmark Stadium to take on the Buffalo Bills (2-0). Chargers QB Justin Herbert has completed 32 of 54 passes for 401 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Bills QB Josh Allen has completed 40 of 60 passes for 582 yards and five touchdowns. He has also rushed for 92 yards on 20 carries and four touchdowns.
Prediction: The Bills to beat the Chargers by 10 points.
The Tennessee Titans (0-2) go to MetLife Stadium to take on the New York Giants (1-1). Titans QB Cam Ward has completed 32 of 52 passes for 323 yards and a touchdown, whilst also scoring two touchdowns on eight carries for 28 yards. Giants QB Jaxson Dart is out with a knee injury, so Jameis Winston takes over as starter.
Prediction: The Titans to beat the Giants by a point.
Reigning Super Bowl champs, the Seattle Seahawks (2-0) travel to the capital to take on the Washington Commanders (0-2) at Northwest Stadium. The Seahawks have had Drew Lock under centre after Sam Darnold suffered a glute injury just five plays into the season. Lock has completed 35 of 48 passes for 422 yards and four touchdowns, but Darnold has been cleared to return and will start this weekend.
The Commanders also have their injury issues at the QB position. Starter Jayden Daniels dislocated his elbow last week and is out for a period of time, so backup Marcus Mariota starts this week.
Prediction: The Seahawks to beat the Commanders by 10 points.
And finally, the Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) travel down to South Florida to take on the winless Miami Dolphins (0-2). Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes has completed 47 of 74 passes for 566 yards and five touchdowns, and I would not be surprised if he doubled his tally of both against the Dolphins.
Prediction: The Chiefs to thrash the Dolphins by 20 points (at least).
Come back here for the late window games and the Sunday Night Football preview when the Los Angeles Rams (1-1) take on the Denver Broncos (1-1).
Originally published on VAVEL; republished with the author’s permission.
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