Bryan Paul’s 2013 Puzzling NFL Predictions: Week 2

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The way people read literature has evolved dramatically. A 2012 Pew Internet Research Center survey reported that the percentage of American e-book readers rose from 16 percent in 2011 to 23 percent in 2012, while traditional book readers dropped from 72 percent to 67 percent. The report also stated that the percentage of e-book owners rose from 18 percent in 2011 to 33 percent in 2012 and libraries offering digital content increased from 24 percent to 31 percent. People increasingly listen to books. According to an Aug. 1, 2013 Wall Street Journal article, the audiobook industry has become a $1.2 billion enterprise that allows listeners to take in books during morning commutes to work, exercising or household tasks.

While the way people engage literature might be changing, interest in classical and contemporary works remains high. But do famous literary characters and writers influence National Football League games? In honor of its changing, but still engaging nature, the Week 2 predictions theme is literature.

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New York Jets (1-0) at New England Patriots (1-0)-Sept. 12-8:25 p.m.-NFL Network

Bill Belichick became the Patriots’ head coach in 2000, the year J.K. Rowling released Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. New England was 8-6 against the Jets in years Rowling released a Harry Potter book.

Pick: New England

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Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Baltimore Ravens (0-1)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-CBS

Rowling released the first Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, in 1997, the year Mitch Albom released his best-seller Tuesdays with Morrie. The Ravens are 160-117-1 since 1997.

Pick: Baltimore

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Washington (0-1) at Green Bay Packers (0-1)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-Fox

Album was born in 1958, the year Truman Capote released Breakfast at Tiffany’s 1958. The Packers were 15-51-1 in years Capote released a book. The Redskins were 39-29-1.

Pick: Washington

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Carolina Panthers (0-1) at Buffalo Bills (0-1)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-Fox

United Artists released the film Capote in 2005, the year playwright Arthur Miller died. Since Miller’s death, the Panthers are 3-5 in Week 2 games. The Bills are 5-3.

Pick: Buffalo

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Dallas Cowboys (1-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-0)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-Fox

Miller’s Death of a Salesman premiered in 1949, the year George Orwell released Nineteen Eighty-Four. Kansas City is 235-241-2 since the actual 1984. Dallas is 256-231.

Pick: Dallas

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Minnesota Vikings (0-1) at Chicago Bears (1-0)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-Fox

Orwell died in 1950, the year C.S. Lewis released the first book in his Chronicles of Narnia series, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Bears were 49-35-2 between 1950 and 1956, the years Lewis released the books in the series.

Pick: Chicago

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San Diego Chargers (0-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-0)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-CBS

Lewis released the last The Chronicles of Narnia book, The Last Battle in 1956, the year Ian Fleming released his novel Diamonds Are Forever. Philadelphia was 76-93-8 in years Fleming released a James Bond book.

Pick: San Diego

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St. Louis Rams (1-0) at Atlanta Falcons (0-1)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-Fox

Fleming died in 1964, the year Roald Dahl released Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The Rams had a 52-47-3 record in years Dahl released a book that went on to become adapted as a feature film.

Pick: St. Louis

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Miami Dolphins (1-0) at Indianapolis Colts (1-0)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-CBS

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, a film based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory came to theaters in 1971, the year Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) released The Lorax. The Baltimore Colts were 95-68-1 at home in years Geisel released a book. But the Indianapolis Colts were 26-39 at home in years he released a book.

Pick: Miami

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Tennessee Titans (1-0) at Houston Texans (1-0)-Sept. 15-1 p.m.-CBS

Danny Devito, who voiced the Lorax in the 2012 film adaptation, was born in 1944, the year Tennessee Williams’ play The Glass Menagerie premiered. The Titans are 108-145 in road games since Williams’ death in 1985.

Pick: Houston

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Detroit Lions (1-0) at Arizona Cardinals (0-1)-Sept. 15-4:05 p.m.-Fox

Cineplex Odeon Films released a film adaptation of The Glass Menagerie in 1987, the year Bill Cosby released Time Flies. The Lions are 1-5 in Mountain Time Zone game in years Cosby releases a book. But he hasn’t this year.

Pick: Detroit

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New Orleans Saints (1-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)-Sept. 15-4:05 p.m.-Fox

Cosby released his first book, Fatherhood in 1986, the year Gary Paulsen received his first John Newbery Honor for his book Dogsong. The Buccaneers are 1-2 in Week 2 games in years Paulsen has received the honor. The Saints are 2-1. Paulsen didn’t earn the honor this year.

Pick: Tampa Bay

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Denver Broncos (1-0) at New York Giants (0-1)-Sept. 15-4:25 p.m.-CBS

Paulsen last received the Newbery Honor in 1990, the year Lois Lowry won her first Newbery Medal for her novel Number the Stars. Lowry is well-known for her four novels in her The Giver series. The Giants won 41 games in years she released one of the four books. The Broncos won 43.

Pick: Denver

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Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) at Oakland Raiders (0-1)-Sept. 15-4:25 p.m.-CBS

Lowry released the novel Son in 2012, the year Maurice Sendak died. The Raiders have lost 36 games since Warner Bros. Pictures released the film adaptation of his book Where the Wild Things Are on Oct. 16, 2009. The Jaguars have lost 40.

Pick: Oakland

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San Francisco 49ers (1-0) at Seattle Seahawks (1-0)-Sept. 15-8:30 p.m.-NBC

Sendak died in Danbury, Conn, the city Rose Wilder Lane, daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder was born. The Little House on the Prairie television series, based on Wilder’s books, aired from 1974-83. Seattle won three night games during the show’s broadcast run. San Francisco won four.

Pick: San Francisco

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Pittsburgh Steelers (0-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-1)-Sept. 16-8:30 p.m.-ESPN

Stephen King released Carrie in 1974, the year Little House on the Prairie premiered on television. The Bengals have won seven Monday Night Football games in years a King novel adaptation has come to movie theaters. The Steelers have won 19. Metro-Golwyn-Mayer Studios will release a film adaptation of Carrie on Oct. 18.

Pick: Pittsburgh