Week 1 in the NFL, as unpredictable as it is, often lends itself to overreactions. So it’s best not to put too much stock into 60 minutes of football.
That said, some takeaways can’t be ignored, starting in Kansas City. Does Patrick Mahomes have the help he needs to lead the Chiefs back to the Super Bowl?
With that in mind, here are some of our favorite NFL Week 2 picks.
NFL Week 2 Predictions
All NFL betting odds used for these Week 2 predictions are current as of Monday, Sept. 11, and courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Giants vs Cardinals Prediction
Best Bet: NYG -4.5 (-110)
New York was really bad Sunday night. No, check that; they were awful.
Big Blue set records for all kinds of ineptitude in their 40-0 loss to Dallas. But it was just one game.
The Giants have work to do, especially along the offensive line. Dallas sacked Daniel Jones seven times, constantly forcing him into preservation mode.
But as ugly as things looked, they’re still better than the Cardinals, who very well could be tanking. Look for New York to respond on the road.
Chiefs vs Jaguars Prediction
Best Bet: JAX +3 (-110)
Week 1 exposed a glaring problem for the defending Super Bowl champs: the lack of reliable playmakers beyond Travis Kelce. Eleven different players caught at least one pass in the opening night loss to Detroit, though none made a difference.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville picked up where it left off, outlasting Indianapolis behind an efficient performance from Trevor Lawrence. Calvin Ridley also showed no signs of rust after a year-long suspension.
- Wager on this game further with our Week 2 NFL prop bets.
Kansas City will get its issues straightened out. Getting Kelce back this week or soon after will undoubtedly help. So, too, will the return of DT Chris Jones, who ended his holdout Monday, reportedly agreeing to a one-year contract worth up to $25 million.
Still, the Chiefs will have to play much better against an improved Jacksonville team on the road. Even if the Jaguars don’t win, they’ll keep this game close.
Chargers vs Titans Prediction
Best Bet: LAC -3.5 (-110)
With all due respect to Ryan Tannehill, it may be time for Tennessee to consider different options at quarterback.
Tannehill completed just 47% of his passes and was picked off three times in Sunday’s 16-15 loss to New Orleans, as the Titans settled for five field goals.
If Tennessee’s defense isn’t up to the task, it could be a long day for Tannehill and Co., who will need to keep pace with the high-scoring Chargers.
That’s a tall order, no matter who is under center.
Ravens vs Bengals Prediction
Best Bet: Under 46.5 (-110)
Cincinnati was woeful Sunday, managing only a field goal in a 24-3 loss to rival Cleveland.
The most alarming issue was the lack of big plays. Joe Burrow threw for a meager 82 yards on 31 attempts, and Tee Higgins was held without a catch for just the second time in his NFL career.
- Check out our favorite NFL Week 2 parlay picks.
The Bengals will bounce back. They have too much offensive talent not to. But frankly, this total seems a tad high. Cincinnati and Baltimore went Under 46.5 points in all three meetings last season, including in the AFC Wild-Card Round. Notably, Lamar Jackson missed that game with an injury.
Baltimore was a bit disjointed in its first game under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, and it’s now without its No. 1 running back, J.K. Dobbins (torn Achilles). Because of that, I’m siding with both defenses to keep this total Under 46.5.
Packers vs Falcons Prediction
Best Bet: ATL ML (+102)
Rookie first-rounder Bijan Robinson looked as good as advertised in his NFL debut, producing 56 rushing yards (notably, on 5.6 yards per carry), 27 receiving yards, and a touchdown in a Week 1 victory over Carolina.
Add in Tyler Allgeier, who ran for two scores, and the Falcons have the makings of a dynamic ground game. Their success helped alleviate the pressure on Desmond Ridder, who attempted only 18 passes.
On the other side, Jordan Love looked good, too. Maybe even better than expected. But this is a tough spot on the road for the first-year starter.
The Falcons are also available against the spread at +1.5, but taking them to win outright at plus odds is worth the risk.