Steve Brownlee

There’s lots to talk about after just one week of the NFL season, most notably in these parts about the status of Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love.

I’m not sure I can a whole lot to what’s been said, other than to agree with those that say the Packers organization needs to scour the earth high and low to find a suitable replacement for the one, two, maybe seven or eight weeks Love will be out.

I can’t see them in good conscience running Love back out on the field when he’s much less than 100%, unless you want to hold your breath and risk the couple hundreds of millions of dollars the franchise has invested in him over the next handful of years.

With this team being true contenders for the NFC championship, the Packers shouldn’t just cross their fingers and hope that recently acquired Malik Willis can nurse them through a week, a month, two months or however long the face of the franchise will be out.

From what I’m seeing, Willis doesn’t really have a meaningful regular season NFL game under his belt. And he couldn’t beat out Will Levis for the Tennessee Titans starting QB job before they were willing to part with him for what, a sixth-round draft pick a couple weeks ago to Green Bay?

Doesn’t sound promising, does it?

But let’s say he lights the world on fire on Sunday at home vs. Indianapolis. Will that still quell the doubters, even if you as Packer fans are looking for the ultimate silver lining?

Just about everyone will say: did Willis just get hot for one game, did the Colts’ defense play terribly, or will the league figure him out once they get a little bit of film on him?

The TV pundits have been talking up Ryan Tannehill as available. Ironically, if that’s the correct term, he’s another washed-up Titans QB. But he has a ton of experience that Willis doesn’t, which ought to make him more adaptable to a new system like the Packers. Plus the poise to deal with adversity during games, you would hope.

There are probably other QBs out there. I’ve got to believe there’s a few who may not have a high profile, but coach Matt LaFleur & Co. can probably see fit into the Green Bay system fairly well.

Well, we’ll see what happens this weekend, and from that, what happens next week as well.

Now onto the picks:

———————–

Today, 8:15 p.m.

Buffalo at Miami — Maybe bad news that the Dolphins are at home, even though they should have the heat-and-humidity advantage against a team from up north. The disadvantage is if the Miami police are still pulling over players and throwing them to the ground for not wearing a seat belt.

OK, enough of the cheap shots. I understand the Bills took quite a hit to their secondary in the offseason, not something favorable against what looks like the U.S. 4-by-100 Olympic track relay team playing wide receiver for Miami. Dolphins, 33-26.

———————–

Sunday, 1 p.m.

Cleveland at Jacksonville — Oooh boy, talk about QB problems, but it’s a mess the Browns built for themselves. A couple years ago, they signed Dashaun Watson, a player at that time under investigation for sexually assaulting about a dozen women at massage parlors, to a league-record guaranteed contract. I won’t even get into new allegations that came up this week.

Now they’ve brought in Jameis Winston as his backup, the guy who in college was also accused of sexual misconduct when he wasn’t shoplifting shrimp cocktail or crab legs or whatever seafood it was from a grocery store. As a pro, he went on to have the famous — infamous? — 30-30 season when he threw for 30 touchdowns AND 30 interceptions with Tampa Bay.

Jacksonville looks at least good enough to take advantage of this traveling circus. Jaguars, 27-17.

———————–

Indianapolis at Green Bay — Sure, the Colts don’t have tape on new Green Bay QB Malik Willis, as mentioned earlier. But then, neither do the Packers. So what do you do with Green Bay’s fleet of talented receivers — have them run toward the pocket and take handoffs all game? I’ll have to see this one to believe in the Packers with Willis. Colts, 29-19.

———————–

Las Vegas at Baltimore — Two teams coming off losses, but Baltimore has to feel an extra sense of urgency as an expected contender for the No. 1 record in the AFC, whether that gets them anywhere in the playoffs. Ravens, 31-23.

———————–

Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina — It’s Carolina, so think of this like the challenge now-Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh had last season when the Michigan Wolverines were facing, oh, let’s say, Rutgers. I looked up that score — the Wolverines won 31-7. So since this is the pros, I’ll say, Chargers, 31-10.

———————–

New Orleans at Dallas — Though the Saints had the dominant performance in the league last week, winning 47-10, it came against — you guessed it — Carolina. Give me the Cowboys, 28-24.

———————–

New York Giants at Washington — I heard the Giants were crowned with the worst performance in the league in Week 1. And not unexpectedly. This will make life a lot easier for a rookie QB like Washington signal caller Jaden Daniels. Commanders, 24-14.

———————–

New York Jets at Tennessee — If the QB remaining with the Titans, Levis, doesn’t make a bonehead desperation, off-balance throw directly into the hands of a defensive back for a pick-six TD, then maybe Tennessee has a chance.

Actually, that sounds like a play the Jets would make, even with Aaron Rodgers at QB. But because it’s Rodgers, give me the Jets, 23-20.

———————–

San Francisco at Minnesota — This is one of those trap games. Obviously the 49ers look better on paper, but they’re on the road, playing a game at 10 a.m. Pacific time, and coming off the short week after playing on Monday night. But it’s Week 2, and who should be already exhausted on a short week this early in the season? And with some players coming back who weren’t there vs. the Jets, give me the 49ers, 30-27.

———————–

Seattle at New England — Again, a West Coast team playing at 10 a.m. their time after a win at home. I don’t think the Seahawks are quite the juggernaut the 49ers are, so give me Patriots, 19-17.

———————–

Tampa Bay at Detroit — Another home rematch of a playoff game the Lions won at home in January. I guess it was encouraging that everyone said Detroit didn’t play its best game and still won on Sunday night, so I’ll count on a better game this week. Lions, 31-27.

———————–

Sunday, 4 p.m.

Los Angeles Rams at Arizona — Aah, a divisional game this early. I’m quite worried about the Rams’ injuries after just one game. Reading a report on Wednesday, it says one of their offensive linemen is certainly out, with another two or three questionable. And that doesn’t include other players like Puka Nacua, who became a pivotal receiver last year.

Seems like L.A. is starting to resemble Matthew Stafford’s old Lions teams. Cardinals, 26-21.

———————–

Cincinnati at Kansas City — Speaking of injuries (and holdouts), Cincy is still reeling from its missing troops. KC ain’t. Chiefs, 35-27.

———————–

Pittsburgh at Denver — Just about every team in the league scored a TD last week. But the Steelers didn’t and still won 18-10 by kicking six field goals. Hmm. I like the Pittsburgh defense against Denver rookie QB Bo Nix in only his second game. Possibly by kicking eight field goals this week, Steelers, 24-19.

———————–

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Chicago at Houston — There weren’t glowing reviews of Bears QB and overall No. 1 draft kick Caleb Williams. Except one analyst who said, “The Bears got outplayed and won. Any other year and it would’ve been the Bears doing the outplaying and still losing.” So there’s progress, but still, I can see Chi-town being outplayed AND losing. Texans, 26-20.

———————–

Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Atlanta at Philadelphia — Despite Philly coming off a win — that’s bad in my world of reverse momentum — and having to come home from Brazil, the extra three days rest should at least cancel out those disadvantages. Especially the way the Falcons’ offense looked last week. Eagles, 23-16.

———————–

Last week — 12-4, 75 percent. Season — 12-4, 75 percent.

Steve Brownlee can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 552. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.