The Rich Top 5: NFL Week 2’s Most Intriguing Matchups

Rich had five games circled for the rest of Week 2, and every one of them came with a scenario that could reshape a division before September is out.

"Here we go," he said. "The five remaining matchups I'm keen to see."

**5. Bengals at Texans**

Cincinnati came in 1-0, Houston 0-1, and Rich laid out exactly why the Texans cannot afford this one. A loss means dropping their first two games at home, and it hands a tiebreaker to a team they might see again in January. Whether Houston wins the division or goes in as a wild card, Rich warned, the road could run through Cincinnati or Buffalo. "These are two bad tiebreakers if the Texans lose this one."

For the Bengals, the stakes run the other direction. "For them to start 2-0 after all they do is start poorly, what a massive thing that would be."

**4. Steelers at Patriots**

Chris flagged the weather. Rich flagged the standings. If New England falls to 0-2, Buffalo could carry a two-game lead into Week 3, and the Patriots then head to Jacksonville while the Bills stay home against the Chargers. "That's not good," Rich said.

His advice to New England was pointed. "Look Aaron Rodgers in the face and say, 'Your last trip to New England is not a good one for you, sir. Enjoy your retirement. We'll see you down the road. Vaya con Dios.'" Meanwhile, Pittsburgh has its own chance to start 2-0.

**3. Vikings at Bears**

A caller had already framed this as a fight for the NFC North, and Rich did not argue. Carson Wentz gets the start with Kyler Murray officially ruled out. And if Wentz does not last the game? Rich pointed to J.J. McCarthy, who came into Chicago last year and stuck it to the Bears on a Monday night. "He's just a heartbeat away. My guy J.J. Got to be ready, stay ready."

The math is simple. The winner goes to 2-0 and takes the division lead, since Green Bay can be no better than 1-1.

**2. Jaguars at Broncos**

Denver needs to answer for what Rich called "that Week 1 clunker on Monday night in Kansas City." His questions were the ones every Broncos fan is asking: "How does this offense show up as opposed to last week with a no show? Do we talk about the play-calling again?" And can the defense do to Jacksonville what the Jaguars did to Denver last year? "I can't wait to see a physical, nasty, late window game on CBS."

**1. Giants at Rams**

Rich insisted he is "not a company man," then made Monday Night Football his top pick anyway. The question is whether New York can go 2-0 by doing to the Rams what it did to Dallas. Or do the Rams simply point out that they slept in their own beds this time? That led to a very Los Angeles debate over whether they would take the 405 or the 105 to get to the stadium.

**The Bonus Round**

The crew demanded one more, so Rich added Washington against Dallas. That brought out some lingering Week 1 frustration. "I put myself out there for this team. I feel let down," came the lament, and the prescription was simple: "Leave that behind with your appendix." Rich, recently parted from his own, had the topper. He had just given up "the greatest appendix there is," with "57 years of shelf life."

"It's always great when Washington and Dallas have at it," he said.