The Browns “new era” began last week in disappointment as the Turner offense was grounded, QB Weeden looked like he took a step backwards and RB Richardson was not used much after the first drive. Baltimore is coming off an embarrassing loss to open the NFL season but has 3 extra days of rest. CLE allowed just 20 rush yards last week (0.9) but the secondary was torched and BAL needs to get Rice/Pierce (totaled 58 yd, 2.8 vs DEN) going while Flacco had 362 pass yards and is 8-0 vs CLE. The Browns are 1-14 on the road while the Ravens have won 7 straight home openers. With the entire AFC North at 0-1 and HOU on deck, the Ravens are in dire need of a win and they get it vs a rival.

The Texans come in off a closer-than-expected 31-28 come-from-behind Monday Night win and are out to show their AFC South foes who are the kings of the division. Safety Reed should be back which will help contain CJ who only ran for 70 (2.8) vs PIT and despite him topping 1,200 last year, the Titans still only averaged 298 ypg and 16 FD’s per game on the road. Back-to-back road games are tough enough, but last year, the week after traveling to PIT, every team rushed for under their avg per game and totaled an eye-opening 3.4 ypc. Tennessee QB Locker finished last year hitting only 52% on the road with a 6.1 yards per attempt, and a 6-7 ratio and last week’s 11-20 for 125 yards shows not much has changed. The Texans have won their last 3 home openers and make it 4 straight today.

Both are off opening week wins but the Dolphins are playing in back-to-back road games while Indy stays at home for a second straight week. Last year IND hosted MIA and won 23-20 (+151 yards) with Luck passing for a career-high 433 yards (rookie record). Last week the Dolphins run game was nonexistent (20 yards, 0.9) but QB Tannehill picked apart the CLE secondary even with #1 option Wallace having just 1 grab. IND, after a 14-0 lead, needed a 19-yd Luck td run with 5:20 left to avoid the upset vs OAK. The Dolphins are 1-4 run on the road. The Colts should get the job done here as last week they allowed 171 ypg (5.2) and now face a weaker set of RB’s and a less mobile QB.

Both took on playoff teams at home last week and each took a lead into the 4Q. Both were also outscored 6-0 in the final stanza and while Buffalo may see it as a moral victory, Carolina certainly doesn’t. Another big difference is that Newton faced the league’s #1 scoring D from last year while Manuel faced the league’s #25 overall. Newton brings a dual-threat QB to the field after BUF faced the pocket-happy Brady last week.

The Packers have the advantage of facing a mobile QB for a second straight week but are at home and the Redskins are off a short week. RGIII made his return to the field, just 8 months after his ACL injury, but the high-flying Eagles offense was too much in a 33-27 loss. In what was an ugly 1H for the Skins, they were outgained 322-75 and outFD’d 21-3, holding the ball for just 9:40 and never crossing the 50. They did better in the 2H and only finished -61 yds and -1 FD, although the Philly offense did let off the gas after the break. GB lost last week in SF and hasn’t started a season 0-2 since McCarthy’s first year at the helm in ‘06. The Packers are 26-2 at Lambeau and last year, after losing their opener (also vs SF), they stomped Chicago by 18 on a short week. The Packers defense also will be more focused after a 2Q mistake last week they may have caused the defeat.

The Brees/Payton combo started right where they left off with Brees putting up 357 pass yards and an impressive 74% completion percentage with an even more impressive 10.2 yards per attempt. The Tampa trip has been a favorite of Brees’ as last year he threw for 377 (73%, 4-1) while the Saints have won 3 of the last 4. The Bucs are making a “slight” step up in competition after allowing Geno Smith to throw for 256 yards and a 63% completion rate. The Bucs struggled with costly penalties last year (#11 in ‘12 with 102) and are still playing undisciplined with 13 accepted penalties vs the Jets including 5 that resulted in FD’s. The Saints offense doesn’t need extra help but it’ll just make this win easier.

The Lions have been lacking a RB to help take the pressure off of the QB and Reggie Bush answered the call totaling 191 yards on 25 touches (7.6). His presence allowed the OL to keep Stafford clean only taking one sack against vs a Vikings DL with 94 sacks the last 2 years. There was an offensive sighting in St Louis last week and for those Arizona fans that didn’t recognize it, it was their Cardinals. Carson Palmer may be hailed as a savior as he led Arizona to 25 FD’s which is the first time that’s happened since 2009 when Kurt Warner out-dueled Aaron Rodgers making his first playoff start winning 51-45 in OT in the CSF’s. The 33 year old was under pressure vs the Rams getting sacked 4 times and getting hit 5. Now it’s the Lions turn to up the pressure as Nick Fairley has taking a leadership role on the Detroit DL with 1.5 sacks, a tfl and 2 qbh last week. Lions, like the Rams, except they have a superior QB, RB and receivers.