NFL Week 2 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s a quick look at all Week 2 NFL games, played Sunday unless noted.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, Thursday
The NFL officially welcomes Amazon Prime Video as the league’s new Thursday night partner. Great matchup for the site’s debut with Justin Herbert against Patrick Mahomes. These QBs should duel at a high level for a decade. The teams split last season, each winning a close game on the road. The Bolts likely will be without injured Pro Bowl receiver Keenan Allen.
Pick ATS: Kansas City
New York Jets at Cleveland Browns
The Jets lost at home to Baltimore in Week 1 without starting quarterback Zach Wilson due to a preseason knee injury, and he’ll miss at least two more games – meaning it will remain veteran Joe Flacco under centre. If not for his suspension, this would be the Cleveland home debut of QB Deshaun Watson, but it’s Jacoby Brissett again. He was not great in the season-opening win at Carolina.
Pick ATS: Cleveland
Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions
Believe it not, this will be the first time the Lions are home favourites since November 15, 2020 … when they beat Washington 30-27. Detroit lost at home in Week 1 to Philadelphia but did stage a late rally to at least cover. Washington trailed Jacksonville by eight about midway through the fourth quarter but rallied for a 28-22 win. In his Commanders debut, Carson Wentz threw for 313 yards and four TDs but also two picks.
Pick ATS: Detroit
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New Orleans Saints
The Saints have given Tom Brady and the Bucs absolute regular-season fits since he arrived in Tampa. The Bucs didn’t have much trouble in their season opener, winning 19-3 in Dallas as the defence dominated. The Saints began the post-Sean Payton era with a 27-26 comeback win in Atlanta. After missing all of last season injured, receiver Michael Thomas had two TD catches.
Pick ATS: New Orleans (alternate line of +3.5)
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants
Carolina’s Matt Rhule was the betting favourite to be the first coach fired this season, and his seat got a bit hotter with Sunday’s 26-24 home loss to Cleveland. Baker Mayfield threw for a score and rushed for one in his Panthers debut. Major kudos to first-year Giants head coach Brian Daboll as he never hesitated to go for a two-point conversion and the win near the end of Sunday’s game in Tennessee. The Giants got it for the 21-20 upset victory.
Pick ATS: New York
New England Patriots at Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh shouldn’t have won Sunday in Cincinnati as the Bengals missed the potential winning PAT in the final seconds, but the Steelers would prevail 23-20 in overtime. However, reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year TJ Watt injured his pectoral and will miss probably six weeks – actually good news as if it was fully torn, he might have been done for the year. There were rumours this summer that the Patriots’ offence looked terrible and boy did it Sunday in a 20-7 loss in Miami. QB Mac Jones hurt his back, and he’s no sure thing for Week 2.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars
Indianapolis was a big favourite in Houston on Sunday but had to settle for a 20-20 tie. The Colts were fortunate for that as they were down 20-3 in the fourth. Rodrigo Blankenship’s 42-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right with two minutes left in OT, and he was released on Monday. Tough business. Jacksonville blew a fourth-quarter lead in Houston and lost 28-22. The Jaguars lost on the road for an 18th consecutive game and extended their NFL-record streak of losses to NFC opponents to 17.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville
Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens
Mike McDaniel’s head coaching debut with Miami was a success as the Dolphins beat New England 20-7. Tyreek Hill caught eight passes for 94 yards in his Fins debut. Baltimore barely broke a sweat in a 24-9 win at the Jets. Lamar Jackson, who said he will not talk contract extension now that the season has started, threw for three scores.
Pick ATS: Baltimore
Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams
Atlanta is expected to be one of the NFL’s worst teams this year but played well in a 27-26 home loss to the Saints. We should say played well until the fourth quarter when they blew a 26-10 lead. Younghoe Koo’s 63-yard field goal attempt was blocked as the clock ran out. The Rams are on extra rest after losing 31-10 at home to Buffalo in the Kickoff Game last Thursday. Matthew Stafford had some elbow problems during camp and whether that was a factor in his three interceptions remains to be seen.
Pick ATS: Atlanta
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers
Seattle pulled off a pretty big upset on Monday night, 17-16 at home over Denver. Geno Smith, Russell Wilson’s QB replacement (for now), threw for two scores and had only five incompletions. Rookie running back Kenneth Walker was out injured but is expected back for this one. Perhaps we now know why the 49ers didn’t trade or release QB Jimmy Garoppolo – young QB Trey Lance didn’t look ready to be a starter in Sunday’s 19-10 loss in Chicago. Granted, it was pouring, but he was just 13-for-28 with a pick. Top running back Elijah Mitchell injured his knee and will miss two months.
Pick ATS: Seattle (alternate line of +10.5)
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys lost starting quarterback Dak Prescott to a thumb injury in Sunday’s ugly home loss to Tampa Bay, and he’ll likely miss 6-8 weeks. Cooper Rush will take over. He won his first start last season replacing an injured Prescott against the Vikings. The Bengals were 23-20 OT home losers to Pittsburgh as Joe Burrow was icked off four times. The team still should have won, but the potential winning PAT in the final seconds was blocked.
Pick ATS: Dallas
Houston Texans at Denver Broncos
Short week for Denver off an upset loss in Seattle on Monday. In a very baffling decision, first-year head coach Nathaniel Hackett opted to try for a 64-yard field goal in the final minute instead of going for it on fourth-and-5 and with Denver having all its timeouts. Russell Wilson threw for 340 yards and a TD in his Denver debut. Houston blew a 20-3 fourth-quarter lead at home vs. the Colts but did manage to tie 20-20.
Pick ATS: Houston (alternate line of +10.5)
Arizona Cardinals at Las Vegas Raiders
The injury-ravaged Cardinals were schooled at home by Kansas City on Sunday, 44-21. Receivers DeAndre Hopkins (suspension) and Rondale Moore (hamstring) were among those out. Hopkins will sit the first six games. The Raiders lost 24-19 at the Chargers on Sunday. Davante Adams was excellent in his Vegas debut, though, with 10 catches for 141 yards and a score.
Pick ATS: Las Vegas
Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Sunday night game – the NFL’s oldest rivals play one prime-time game essentially every year. Green Bay swept Chicago last season, but that’s really nothing new as the Pack have dominated their southern neighbours for years. The Packers didn’t look good Week 1 in a 23-7 loss at Minnesota. Perhaps Davante Adams will be missed in a big way. The Bears upset the 49ers 19-10 in a rainstorm despite having just 204 yards offence.
Pick ATS: Green Bay (alternate line of -9.5)
Tennessee Titans at Buffalo Bills, Monday
First MNF kickoff at 7:15 p.m. ET and on ESPN. The Titans were upset at home 21-20 on Sunday by the Giants. Tennessee led 13-0 at the half. Randy Bullock missed the potential winning 47-yard field goal in the final seconds. The Bills looked like the Super Bowl favourites they are in last Thursday’s 31-10 win at the Rams. Josh Allen totaled four touchdowns.
Pick ATS: Tennessee (alternate line of +10.5)
Minnesota Vikings at Philadelphia Eagles
Kicks off at 8:30 p.m. ET and on ABC. Minnesota beat Green Bay 23-7 on Sunday in Kevin O’Connell’s head coaching debut. Justin Jefferson is probably already the best receiver in the NFL in Year 3 and had 184 yards receiving and two scores. The Eagles were 38-35 winners in Detroit as they rushed for 216 yards and four scores. A.J. Brown had a career-high-tying 155 yards receiving in his Philadelphia debut.
Pick ATS: Philadelphia