Head coach Rex Ryan – the first coach in Bills history to win on his debut on opening day - has his locker room believing it can beat anyone, and if they get past that tough opening double of the Colts and Pats, maybe there’s and open road all the way to Super Bowl 50. The Bills had a top notch defence last season and even this early, showed they have some offensive potency. QB Tyrod Taylor was good for 195 yards and receiver Percy Harvin was good for another 79.
VERDICT: The herd will trample on the Pats.
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DALLAS COWBOYS @ PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
The Cowboys are minus injured receiver Dez Bryant and have seen running back DeMarco Murray move to Sunday’s opponents, but QB Tony Romo is only focusing on a second win. Last Sunday’s fourth-quarter rally – the 24th comeback of Romo’s 10-year starting career – only serves as a reminder that at 35, this passer has still very much got it. He will run out onto Lincoln Financial Field this weekend with observers saying he must carry the Cowboys for the next few games without these two star names to deliver the ball to. He’s up to it.
As for Murray, who signed a five-year, $42 million deal in the offseason to make him an Eagle, he has a point to prove to his former employers. It seems they were cool with letting him go. But his two touchdowns against the Atlanta Falcons in last week’s 26-24 defeat is proof the Cowboys must lasso him.
VERDICT: Cowboys clawed.
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BALTIMORE RAVENS @ OAKLAND RAIDERS
You remember the Raiders, sure you do. That evocative team logo, the menacing combination of silver and black in the game uniform. Don’t you? Where have they been all these years. Losing mainly. Since their Super Bowl-losing season of 2002 they haven’t posted a winning season, although they did manage a couple of 8-8 regular seasons ... and the losing goes on. Oakland dropped their regular season opener 33-13 to the Cincinnati Bengals ahead of their next opponent, the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.
But, like the Silver and Black, the Ravens slipped up in their season opener, falling to the Denver Broncos 19-13 at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Franchise quarterback Derek Carr has yet to show why the Raiders might start to build a team around him. He must start against the Ravens.
VERDICT: Raiders of the lost art.
And because the Jags are our ‘home’ team in London ...
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MIAMI DOLPHINS @ JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
With London looming on October 25 (week seven), the Jaguars will be looking to bring something to that party as the hosts. On the evidence of week one’s 20-9 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, they risk coming in with a couple of warm cans and a half-eaten tube of Pringles or even empty-handed. Much was anticipated after the lows of recent seasons but the highs were not evident and the promise of pre-season fell flat from the get go.
Jags quarterback Blake Bortles was a bit too careful. His head coach, Gus Bradley, talked post-game about the need to give the receivers the chance to make plays, to try and haul in the the 50-50 pass. Chance it, go for it ... the Dolphins only bettered the hapless Redskins in Washington by one touchdown, 17-10, last time out.
