“Pick ‘Em or Kick ‘Em”™: FGT VS. Urban Sports Scene 2023 Week 2 NFL Picks

September 14, 2023

By the Football Garbage Time Staff

If you followed last year, you won over 60% of your picks, and we aim to do even better this year.

And if you’ve been following us, you know that we here at Football Garbage Time have gone head-to-head against Wally, Will and Ray at Urban Sports Scene on our NFL Picks for the last 6 seasons. Why? Because they’re awesome competitors, they KNOW their sports, and, heck, they’re just good guys! This year we’ll have their picks up right HERE, so keep it tuned in, to both us and them, because we’ll be picking all season all long.

Without further to do, here we go:

Week 2 Games

Ha Kung Wong’s Picks

Ha Kung’s Thoughts:

After a 64.7% record two seasons ago, I ended last season 63.3% (178-103). So that’s eight years in a row with over a 60% pick rate. I also ended up 16-4 for Locks of Week (80%) and 8-12 for Upsets of the Week (40%) which is also eight years in a row of Locks being over 70%. I was just 6-10 in Week 1 for a rough start, but I did nail my Lock of the Week (Ravens) and Upset of the Week (Browns). And there are plenty of weeks to go!

Let’s get to that Lock (for Survivor Leagues) and Upset for Week 2…

Lock of the Week ➡ Buffalo Bills (-9.5) over Las Vegas Raiders

The Bills looked terrible against the Jets, even after they lost star offseason acquisition Aaron Rodgers, with Josh Allen turning over the ball 4 times. The Jets defense were amazing. But the Raiders defense is nowhere near the Jets and the Bills are certainly looking to bounce back at their home opener. The Bills have been effectively using a two TE set with Dalton Kincaid and Dawson Knox, something the Raiders defense isn’t built to handle. Lock it in.

Upset of the Week ➡ Atlanta Falcons (+1.5) over Green Bay Packers

Desmond Ridder didn’t look great in Week 1, but the Falcons ground game between Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson certainly did averaging 5 yards per carry and the defense was absolutely blazing with 2 interceptions, a fumble recovery, 2 sacks and 8 QB hits. I’m not saying that the Packers weren’t also impressive against the Bears, but no Christian Watson and Aaron Jones now suffering from a hamstring injury hampers them significantly. Plus, the Bears were absolutely inept running the ball, the RBs averaging just over 3 yards per carry. The Falcons will be a lot better and will be playing at home. I like the potential for an upset here.

Joanne Kong’s Picks

Scott King’s Picks

Scott’s Thoughts:

Week 2 is here, and we still have a lot to learn. Some blowouts last week still leave us with a lot of questions. Hope to see some teams bounce back, especially for my fantasy season. Good luck.

Wole’s Picks

Wole’s Thoughts:

Check out Wole’s thoughts on his picks in the recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ray’s Picks

Ray’s Thoughts:

Check out Ray’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Will’s Picks

Will’s Thoughts:

Check out Will’s thoughts on his picks in the most recent Urban Sports Scene Podcast!

Ryan’s Picks

Coming Soon!

George’s Picks

George’s Thoughts:

Beware of overestimating week 1 and especially the 1-0 vs. 0-1 traps the NFL has set up and there are several.

Baltimore is 1-0 and Cincinnati were horrific in losing at Cleveland. Bengals have had the wood on the Ravens recently and Joe Burrow will look a lot better with more of the rust off. Plus Lamar Jackson wasn’t great against a poor Texans defense. Take Cincinnati.

Tampa Bay shocked many by winning at Minnesota (you can now pause to laugh at Kirk Cousins and the Kirk hive 1 more time if you wish). Meanwhile the Bears were thumped by the Packers and new QB Jordan Love. That means Tampa Bay is going 2-0 and surprising everyone. No the heck it doesn’t. Baker Mayfield is still a turnover machine, and the Bears defense will take advantage of that. Back to reality for the Bucs.

For once Washington fans aren’t getting that carried away with their win or the fact Denver lost at home to Las Vegas. Russell Wilson was functional but not fantastic, but he will make just enough plays with his legs and the Broncos defense will make enough plays against the Commanders struggling offensive line that Denver wins by a field goal.

New Orleans is 1-0 behind a tough defense and the should feast on rookie QB Bryce Young right? No. Young will impress in his first home start and the Saints offense that was pretty pedestrian against the Titans will struggle here. Take Carolina.

Cleveland were ultra impressive in clamping Joe Burrow and the Bengals so they are going to beat Pittsburgh and take early control of the AFC North by going 2-0 in the division. No they won’t. This is the classic Browns loss. With an early chance to make a statement they will let Kenny Pickett and the Steelers win a classic bounce back game behind Najee Harris and an angry defense.

Who will beat the 1-0 vs. 0-1 curse. Miami (at New England) and Detroit (vs. Seattle).