NFL Week 2 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 1 NFL games, played Sunday unless noted.
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles, Thursday
Both teams were division winners last year and also played in Philadelphia in primetime in Week 2 with the Eagles winning 24-7 behind three total touchdowns from Jalen Hurts. The Vikings won an NFL-record 11-one score games last season but have now lost back-to-back such games with their Week 1 defeat to Tampa Bay following a home playoff upset loss to the Giants. The Eagles avoided the Super Bowl Loser hangover in Week 1 by winning 25-20 in New England, but the offence was extremely quiet after the first quarter.
Pick ATS: Philadelphia (buy down to -6.5)
Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons
Maybe the Packers won’t miss Aaron Rodgers after all? Despite playing without No. 1 receiver Christian Watson, Jordan Love trashed the Bears in his second career start this past Sunday, 38-20. However, Packers No. 1 running back Aaron Jones tweaked his hamstring and is questionable this week. The Falcons only passed for 91 yards Sunday but ran still beat Carolina behind two rushing scores from Tyler Allgeier – who was supposed to be behind rookie first-round RB Bijan Robinson, but Allgeier got more touches overall.
Pick ATS: Atlanta
Las Vegas Raiders at Buffalo Bills
The Raiders played Week 1 without former Pro Bowl pass-rusher Chandler Jones because of some very strange social media issue he has going on with the team. Vegas rallied to win in Denver without Jones, 17-16, as Jimmy Garoppolo threw two TD passes in his Raiders debut. It’s a short week for Buffalo as it lost 22-16 at the Jets on Monday night despite knocking out Aaron Rodgers early injured. Josh Allen was terrible with four turnovers (three picks, one fumble).
Point spread: Bills -8.5
Pick ATS: Las Vegas
Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals
Baltimore played the opener without Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews due to injury but still easily handled Houston. While he might play in this one, the Ravens also lost No. 1 running back JK Dobbins to a season-ending injury in the easy win over Houston. The team plans to replace him in-house with some committee of Justice Hill, Gus Edwards and Melvin Gordon. Cincinnati QB Joe Burrow became the highest-paid player in NFL history on the eve of the season and then went out and laid an egg in a 24-3 loss in Cleveland as Burrow threw for only 82 yards. The Bengals were 2-1 vs. the Ravens last season including playoffs.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions
Detroit stunned the reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs in Kansas City in the Kickoff Game. Jared Goff didn’t throw a pick and now has gone 359 attempts without an interception, third all-time behind Aaron Rodgers (402) and Tom Brady (399). Seattle looked about as bad as any team in Week 1, losing at home to a rebuilding Rams team 30-13. The Seahawks totaled just 180 yards. Maybe QB Geno Smith’s 2022 season was a fluke.
Pick ATS: Seattle
Los Angeles Chargers at Tennessee Titans
The Chargers played terrific offensively on Sunday but were gashed for 536 yards in a 36-34 home loss to the Dolphins, and Pro Bowl running back Austin Ekeler suffered a minor ankle injury so monitor his status. Tennessee was a 16-15 loser at New Orleans. QB Ryan Tannehill was picked off three times. He may not have a very long leash already.
Pick ATS: Tennessee (buy up to +3.5)
Chicago Bears at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bears were expected to be vastly improved but were dominated 38-20 at home by Green Bay on Sunday. Chicago’s offensive line couldn’t protect Justin Fields in 2022, and it was more of the same as he was sacked four times and rushed many others. Tampa Bay was a 20-17 upset winner at Minnesota. After an ugly start, Baker Mayfield finished strong in his Bucs debut. Chase McLaughlin’s 57-yard field goal with about five minutes left was the difference.
Pick ATS: Tampa Bay (buy down to -2.5)
Kansas City Chiefs at Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City’s best player is QB Patrick Mahomes of course, but the Chiefs’ second- and third-best players are tight end Travis Kelce and defensive tackle Chris Jones and both missed the Week 1 home upset loss to Detroit. Jones has gotten the extension he wanted, so he should play in this one. Kelce is dealing with a bone bruise and his status is TBA. Jacksonville was a 31-21 winner at Indianapolis in Week 1 and looks for payback as it lost in Kansas City, 27-20, in last season’s Divisional Round.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville (buy up to +3.5)
Indianapolis Colts at Houston Texans
This is the best chance of either team to get a win this season … until they meet again in Indianapolis in Week 18. And it will be the first time two rookie QBs face off this year in Indy’s Anthony Richardson, the No. 4 overall pick in this year’s draft, and Houston’s CJ Stroud, the No. 2 overall pick. Both played better than expected in Week 1 losses. Richardson is going to be a monster on the ground, too.
Pick ATS: Houston
San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Rams
The Niners seemed like they were in an upset spot Week 1 in Pittsburgh but dominated a good Steelers team 30-7. Brock Purdy barely threw this offseason due to shoulder surgery but was very efficient in throwing for two scores, and Christian McCaffrey rushed for 152 yards and a TD. The Rams were upset winners in Seattle despite playing without superstar WR Cooper Kupp, who will miss at least the first four games on the PUP list. The Niners have owned the Rams in recent regular seasons.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
New York Giants at Arizona Cardinals
The Giants entered this season with a ton of optimism after last year’s surprise run to the playoff, but they were blasted at home by Dallas on Sunday night 40-0. It was the biggest shutout loss in the history of the series. Daniel Jones got a big extension in the offseason and then threw for 104 yards and two picks. Arizona honestly is tanking this year and pushed Washington before losing 20-16. Journeyman Josh Dobbs showed enough to warrant another start under centre for the Cards.
Pick ATS: Arizona
New York Jets at Dallas Cowboys
Lot of experts like the Cowboys to win the NFC this year, and I’m one of them. Dallas looked fantastic on Sunday night in a 40-0 crushing of the Giants. Dallas forced three turnovers and sacked Daniel Jones seven times. It was the Cowboys’ biggest shutout victory in any game, topping their 38-0 win over the Baltimore Colts in 1978. What a crushing Monday night for the Jets. Yes, they did rally to beat Buffalo but likely lost Aaron Rodgers to a season-ending torn Achilles.
Point spread: Cowboys -7.5
Pick ATS: Dallas (buy down to -7)
Washington Commanders at Denver Broncos
Sean Payton was acquired as Denver’s coach from New Orleans this offseason because Payton was supposed to be an offensive genius, but the 2023 Broncos looked much like the 2022 version in losing 17-16 home to Las Vegas. Special teams really did Payton’s team in. Washington was a 20-16 home winner over Arizona. In his second career start, QB Sam Howell threw for 202 yards and a score while rushing for a TD.
Pick ATS: Denver (buy down to -3)
Miami Dolphins at New England Patriots
Sunday night game. If Tua Tagovailoa stays healthy in that Dolphins offence, he could set the NFL record for passing yards this season as he showed with 466 yards passing and three TDs on Sunday in a 36-34 win at the Chargers (most passing yards ever against them). Tyreek Hill caught 11 passes for 215 yards and two scores. New England fell into an early 16-0 hole at home vs. the Eagles on Sunday and did play better as the game progressed but lost 25-20. QB Mac Jones did threw for 316 yards and three scores.
Pick ATS: Miami
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers, Monday
Quarterbacks taken No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft are now 0-14-1 in their past 15 first starts in the league after Carolina’s Bryce Young was beaten 24-10 in Atlanta on Sunday. His offensive line was a problem in the preseason and was again in the defeat. New Orleans beat Tennessee 16-15 despite playing without Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara, who is suspended the first three games of the year.
Pick ATS: Carolina (buy up to +3.5)
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday
Arguably no team looked better this preseason than the Steelers did but they were punched in the mouth immediately at home Sunday and lost to San Franscisco 30-7. Pittsburgh had just 239 yards and lost Pro Bowl defensive tackle Cameron Heyward for several weeks to a groin injury. Cleveland’s defence was the story Sunday in a 24-3 home win over Cincinnati. Deshaun Watson ran for a touchdown and threw for another.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh
