NFL Week 2 Odds and Predictions: Best Picks Against the Spread
Here’s quick look at all Week 2 NFL games, played Sunday unless noted.
New York Giants at Washington Football Team, Thursday
The Football Team will be forced to start backup QB Taylor Heinicke because veteran Ryan Fitzpatrick might miss the rest of the season with a hip injury suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. Frankly, Heinicke is probably better than Fitz at this point. The Giants have been the worst home bet in the NFL over the past few seasons and that showed again Sunday in a 27-13 loss to the Broncos.
Pick ATS: Washington
Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears
Two of the coaches on the hottest seats in the NFL in the Bengals’ Zac Taylor and Bears’ Matt Nagy, and the loser’s seat will be scalding hot. Taylor’s got a bit cooler with Sunday’s home upset win over Minnesota, but Nagy’s got much hotter with the Bears getting dominated at the Rams. Everyone on the planet but Nagy can see that rookie Justin Fields is the superior QB to Andy Dalton, but Dalton apparently will start again.
Pick ATS: Chicago (-2.5 alternate line)
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns
Houston was projected by many to be the worst team in the NFL this season. The Texans were a lot better than the Jaguars on Sunday, though, in a 37-21 victory. Cleveland nearly stole a game at Super Bowl-favoured Kansas City but blew a nine-point fourth-quarter lead and lost 33-29.
Pick ATS: Houston
Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts
The Matthew Stafford Era got off to a terrific start with the Rams as the former Detroit Lion threw for 321 yards and three touchdowns in a rout of Chicago. Indianapolis was thumped at home by Seattle 28-16 as the Carson Wentz Colts Era didn’t get off to a great start. He was missing No. 1 receiver TY Hilton due to injury and Hilton won’t play in this one, either.
Pick ATS: Indianapolis
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Miami was the only AFC East team to win in Week 1, knocking off the Patriots 17-16. Not sure that game answered the lingering questions about second-year Fins QB Tua Tagovailoa, however. He did hit first-round rookie wideout Jaylen Waddle on a three-yard TD pass. Buffalo was upset at home by Pittsburgh, 23-16. The Bills swept the Dolphins last season.
Pick ATS: Miami
New England Patriots at New York Jets
This rivalry gets some big-time added spice this year with both starting rookie quarterbacks – No. 15 overall pick Mac Jones of the Patriots and No. 2 overall pick Zach Wilson of the Jets. Could be fun to watch in the AFC East for the next decade. Jones played pretty well on Sunday, but New England was upset by Miami. Wilson was under siege all day in a 19-14 loss to the Panthers. Top wideout Jamison Crowder missed it in the COVID protocols but should play here.
Pick ATS: NY Jets
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
San Francisco had little trouble Sunday in a 41-33 win at Detroit, although it was a horrible beat for backers of the Niners at -8.5 or -9 as they led 41-17 with less than two minutes left. Rookie QB Trey Lance’s first pass was a touchdown, but Jimmy Garoppolo remains the starter. Philadelphia was a 32-6 upset winner at Atlanta. Jalen Hurts quieted any Deshaun Watson trade talk with three TD passes while rushing for 62 yards.
Pick ATS: Philadelphia
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
Short week for the Raiders as they hosted Baltimore on Monday – perhaps without top running back Josh Jacobs, who was dealing with an illness (not clear if COVID-related). Pittsburgh was very impressive in a 23-16 win in Buffalo on Sunday. Canadian receiver Chase Claypool had three catches for 45 yards and a rush for 25 yards.
Pick ATS: Pittsburgh
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
New Orleans shockingly obliterated Green Bay on Sunday in Jacksonville, Fla., as the game had to be moved there from the Big Easy due to damage from Hurricane Ida. In his first start with the team, Jameis Winston was fabulous with five TD passes. However, Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore injured his thumb and will miss a few games. QB Sam Darnold’s starting debut for Carolina was a success as the Panthers beat the Jets. The Saints swept Carolina last year.
Pick ATS: Carolina (alternate line of +3.5)
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars
The home debut of Jacksonville QB Trevor Lawrence and head coach Urban Meyer. Their NFL debut didn’t go very well as the Jaguars were blasted in Houston. Lawrence did throw for 332 yards and three scores but was picked off three times. No quarterback has been more profitable this century ATS on the road than Denver’s Teddy Bridgewater and that continued Sunday as the Broncos won 27-13 at the Giants in his Denver debut. Top pass-rusher Bradley Chubb missed it but should play in this one.
Pick ATS: Jacksonville
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
This writer believed that Arizona QB Kyler Murray was a good value bet for NFL MVP this year, and he looked the part in Sunday’s upset win at the Titans, throwing for four scores and rushing for another. We can guarantee you that the Cards’ Chandler Jones will be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week as he had five sacks and two forced fumbles. Minnesota was upset 27-24 in OT at Cincinnati. Dalvin Cook’s fumble was recovered by Cincinnati linebacker Germaine Pratt to set up the game-winning score.
Pick ATS: Arizona
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bit of extra rest for the Super Bowl champs after they rallied for a 31-29 home win over the Cowboys last Thursday. At age 44, Tom Brady looked in his prime by throwing for 379 yards and four scores. Atlanta was a home favourite against Philadelphia on Sunday but got crushed 32-6. Matt Ryan was held to 164 yards passing and sacked three times.
Pick ATS: Atlanta
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers
Dak Prescott’s return from a serious ankle injury went about as well as anyone could have hoped last Thursday as he threw for 403 yards and three TDs, but the Cowboys lost in the final seconds to the Bucs. That Dallas defence was a major issue in 2020 and didn’t look any better. The Chargers were 20-16 upset winners at Washington. The Bolts were a shocking 14-for-19 on third-down conversions against one of the league’s top defences.
Pick ATS: Los Angeles
Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee looked downright awful Sunday in a 38-13 home loss to the Cardinals as the Titans’ offensive line could not protect Ryan Tannehill. Two-time league rushing champion Derrick Henry had just 58 yards on the ground. Seattle was a 28-16 winner at Indianapolis as Russell Wilson threw four TD passes.
Pick ATS: Seattle
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Sunday night game. These have been pretty clearly the two best AFC teams the past two seasons. One major disadvantage here for Baltimore as it’s a short week after the Ravens played at the Raiders on Monday night to conclude Week 1. Already having lost No. 1 running back JK Dobbins to a season-ending injury, the Ravens got a double gut-punch last week in also losing new No. 1 tailback Gus Edwards and All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters to season-ending injuries. Kansas City rallied to beat Cleveland on Sunday, 33-29. MVP favourite Patrick Mahomes was his usual self with three TD passes and a TD run.
Pick ATS: Kansas City
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers, Monday
Not sure what the Lions are doing on Monday Night Football as they are terrible, and it’s not like that was a secret when the schedule was made. They were largely dominated at home on Sunday by San Francisco. Maybe the most surprising result of Week 1 was Green Bay getting crushed 38-3 by New Orleans. Aaron Rodgers had one of the worst games of his Hall of Fame career with two picks and just 133 yards passing. The Packers swept the Lions last season and usually do.
Pick ATS: Green Bay (alternate line of -9.5)