Cup O' Joe - Week 2 Predictions

Author: Joe Simpson
Date: September 7, 1990

Week 2 Preview

Week 1 saw sixteen teams go undefeated, sixteen with their backs against the wall. This week, five teams will definitely stay undefeated, while five will start the year 0-2. Among the surprises that could be 2-0 are Kansas City, St. Louis, San Diego, and Atlanta. Those that would have 0-2 as a shock include Philadelphia, Portland, Minnesota, Chicago, and Nashville. So, let's take a look at the week to come.

[b]Game of the Week[/b]
[i]Los Angeles @ Cleveland[/i]

The Marshalls and Blues both took care of business in Week 1. And now, both crash in Los Angeles, where the Marshalls faithful will be rabid to see Sammy Baw take the field. He was simply brilliant in Week 1, leading the Marshalls to a key victory over Tampa. But Baw and company will go against the seventh-best pass defense in the league. Cleveland held Arizona's high-energy passing attack to just 160 yards. I don't know if they'll get the same kind of pressure on Baw that they got on Lamar Burton. But this game will be a lot closer than people think. I think it's a field goal's difference, and could be who has the ball last. I think this will be the game Sammy Hoambrecker breaks out, however, and Los Angeles will go to 2-0 in a tight one.

Prediction: LOS ANGELES 30, Cleveland 27

Other Games (Home games in CAPS):

Baltimore 20, MIAMI 10
CINCINNATI 24, Indianapolis 23
PHILADELPHIA 44, New York 34
Atlanta 20, KANSAS CITY 16
PITTSBURGH 21, Carolina 17
Louisville 13, DENVER 9
SEATTLE 27, Portland 23
Tampa 38, NEW ORLEANS 30
DALLAS 16, Minnesota 13 (OT)
Houston 27, ST LOUIS 14
San Francisco 17, OAKLAND 14 (Upset Special)
SAN DIEGO 34, Arizona 20
Nashville 19, MICHIGAN 17
WASHINGTON 31, Boston 30 (Upset Special #2)
Chicago 27, IOWA 17

Last Week: 11-5
Season: 11-5

Matchups to watch:

Cleveland RB Gary Johnson vs. Los Angeles D - The Marshalls held Tampa to 23 yards rushing. Johnson had 87 rushing yards on 19 carries and a touchdown against Arizona. Something will have to give. I think Johnson will do better than Tampa did, but not quite as well.

New York WR Roy Scott vs. Philly secondary - The Shamrocks secondary was built to stop a guy like Roy Scott. He's an absolute beast, and Matt Adams, Charles Scuillo, and Jack McCoy will have have their hands full. However, I think the Shamrocks can shut him down, hold him to under four catches, and win this game going away. Then again, with the Shamrocks defense, this could go either direction.

Seattle QB Monte Meier vs. Portland pass defense - Portland held Russell Stock and the Minutemen to just 144 yards passing last week in a tough loss. I think this game will be very tight if they can do the same to Meier. He's just a rookie, and if Portland and Kamil Jones can get in to pressure him...this game can completely swing the other way. As SF found out, it only takes one play late to swing the game.