the week two predictions

Last Week ATS: 10-6-0
Season to Date ATS: 10-6-0

Last Week SU: 12-4-0
Season to Date SU: 12-4-0

Last Week Upset / Week: close, but not quite.
Season to Date Upset / Week: 0-1-0
This Week's Upset / Week: Ravens (+3.5) over Chargers.

As always, all lines from today's USA Today.

The Non-Chiefs Predictions:

* at Falcons (-6.5) 31, Panthers 20. I don't think Delhomme is as bad as he's been his last two outings ... but the Panthers are just about done. They're staring 0-3 in the face, as they go to Dallas in the Monday Nighter next week. The Falcons, meanwhile, had a nice win last week against a solid Dolphins team, but they also need this one. Their next three after this game: at Patriots, at 49ers, vs Bears on a Monday night. I'll take the Falcons at home behind a nice 270 yard, 3 TD day out of Matt Ryan.

* Vikings 24, at Lions (+9.5) 20. Will be closer than people think. I can actually see Detroit winning this game. Brad Childress has sprinted past Rich Kotite bad. He's approaching Ray Rhodes levels of incompetence. Yes, the Vikings are arguably the NFC's best team. They're inarguably its worst coached.

* at Packers (-8.5) 35, Bengals 3. When you lose like Cincinnati did on Sunday, one of two things happens. Either (a) its a rallying point and you play with reckless abandon, or the far more usual and likely outcome, (b) you quit. I've seen nothing from the Bengals to convince me they're going to show up going forward.

* Cardinals (+3.5) 24, at Jaguars 20. A virtual must win for the Cardinals -- the Colts come calling next Sunday night. I think the line on this game is completely out of whack. The Jaguars are not a good team. The Cardinals muster up some pride and salvage the early part of the season with a huge road win.

* at Jets (+5.5) 24, Patriots 23. Did you know the Jets haven't beaten New England at home since the Al Groh era? I was really impressed with the Jets last week. I also thought it was awesome with a capital A, the personal phone call Rex Ryan left for every season ticket holder, urging them to show up and be the 12th, 13th, 14th man on Sunday. Most of the week, I was prepped to pick the typical Patriots blowout in the Meadowlands. But after reading about the phone call, screw it, I'm swallowing the Kool Aid. A late Sanchez to Dustin Keller touchdown gets the Jets the win.

* Saints (+1.5) 41, at Eagles 20. This line is completely out of whack. Even if McNabb plays, you don't think Gregg Williams isn't going to unleash a blitz on every down to knock him out of there? Saints roll early and win a laugher at the Linc.

* at Titans 28, Texans (+6.5) 24. Texans have the Jags and raiders coming to Reliant the next two weeks, so 0-2 isn't as bad as it would seem for them. Titans struggle but find a way to win at home.

* at Redskins (-9.5) 38, Rams 3. Yes, I watched every second of last week's debacle in the Meadowlands. And I'm still laying the 9 1/2 points. The Rams are this bad. And I don't think the Redskins are as bad as the Giants made them look last week. The next four after this for the Redskins: at Detroit, vs Tampa, at Carolina, vs KC. 5-1 hosting Philly on a Monday night come late October is not at all unrealistic.

* Bucs (+4.5) 13, at Bills 10. See Packers vs Bengals.

* at 49ers (-1.5) 27, Seahawks 24. Arguably the biggest game Candlestick has hosted since the 2002 wildcard win over the Giants. I think the 49ers are ready for it.

* at Bears (+2.5) 31, Steelers 13. I refuse to believe the Bears were as bad as they looked Sunday night. This one smells like a 350 yard, 4 TD day for Cutler, and a 3 turnover day for Ben.

* at broncos (-2.5) 24, Browns 20. I literally wanted to puke seeing that horrific ending in Cincinnati last week. I literally wanted to puke. Instead, I settled for throwing a beer can at the TV, screaming a bunch of obsenities, and reminding myself that its kyle orton. He can't do that every week. Sadly though, this week, the donkeys could start Barrel Man under center and win.

(and yes, I capitalized Barrel Man. The guy, well, (president obama voice) he's a jackass. But he's as legit of a fan as you get. I respect him. Which is why he gets capitalized while nearly everything else affiliated with that taint of a franchise will remain in lower case).

* Ravens (+3.5) 38, at Chargers 20. I refuse to take Norv Turner as a favorite against any legitimate NFL team. The implosion's getting closer Bolts fans. Its getting closer.

* at Cowboys (-2.5) 31, Giants 28. Smells like a last second field goal game.

* at Dolphins (+2.5) 17, Colts 13. After week one, I'd say Jim Caldwell is skipping the usual "awful coach treads water for seasons one and two" step and going straight to the "awful coach's team implodes in year three, and completely collapses if he sees a year four" mode.

The Chiefs Prediction:

I could give some inspirational, truly visionary speech in this spot to encourage you to show up on Sunday. But honestly, if coming out for our co-most hated rival, on a beautiful bright sunny day, for the home opener of a new era isn't enough to motivate you, then there's no reason for me to try.

Oh, who am I kidding. I can't let it go that easily.

Because you did catch the key part in there right? "The Home Opener of a New Era".

For the better part of a decade, a lot of Chiefs fans have wanted regime change at One Arrowhead Drive. I joined that chorus after the disasterous 2007 season. We got our wish after the even more catastrophic 2008 season.

Chiefs fans, we got what we wanted. We wanted a new general manager that is a proven winner in this league. Clark Hunt heard us, opened the checkbook, and went out and got, if not the best, then certainly a top five football mind in Scott Pioli. You know, the guy whose teams he helped construct haven't had a losing season since 2000, and whose teams in the eight years since 2000 have 6 division titles, 5 AFC Title Game appearances, 4 Super Bowl berths, and 3 Lombardi Trophies. You wanted regime change? You got it.

We wanted a franchise quarterback, someone who we could build a championship roster around over the next decade. I'll be honest, I don't know if Matt Cassel is that guy or not. I honestly believe he is. But he's gotta prove it, I'll grant that to the doubters. What I won't grant, however, is anyone upset over making the trade for Cassel. Brodie Croyle is atrocious. Tyler Thigpen is mediocre. Matt Cassel may wind up somewhere in between those two undesirable points, but he also might be the best thing this franchise has had under center in 35 years. We wanted someone who could be great. Our owner and GM went out and got that someone.

We wanted a new head coach that was willing to embrace what made Chiefs football so spectacular to root for. Someone who would kick the malcontents to the curb. Someone who would open up the offense, demand an aggressive defense and special teams that emphasized field position and winning the turnover battle. We got it in Todd Haley.

Furthermore, I wanted a head coach, and a coaching staff, that didn't shy away from hating our rivals, but THRIVED on hating them. I got it, we all got it, in Todd Haley, a man who was bred to hate the oakland raiders with a passion thanks to his father.

My point is this: we demanded change at One Arrowhead Drive. We demanded a new direction, and we demanded ownership hold the old regime accountable for their mistakes and lack of postseason success. We demanded a new quarterback, new players, a new organizational philosophy.

Ownership delivered. They gave us everything we wanted (and then some).

Now its our turn to step up, show up!, and do our part.

Sunday truly begins a new era. I'm excited to see how this plays out.

Because I think Sunday jumpstarts a truly magical season.

at Chiefs (-2.5) 30, raiders 27, on a last minute Ryan Succup 44 yard field goal, and a Brandon Flowers INT to seal it. Every Chiefs / raiders game is a heart attack in the making. Sunday will be no different.

You know the drill. Gates open at 8:30ish. We'll be in our usual spot, on the grassy knoll at the back of Lot G. Ribs, steak, kabobs, and a keg are the menu. But what really matters is getting the fans of this team in a seat on Sunday. Again, ownership gave us every damned thing we asked for. The least we can do is show up and say "thank you" ...