It was a wild Week 1, and there is certainly some money to be made this week as the dust continues to settle at the start of the new NFL season. Make sure to check in with BettingPros throughout the year for top picks and predictions for each and every NFL game. Our writers dive into their favorite picks and predictions for every remaining game on this weekend’s NFL slate.
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NFL Week 2 Odds, Picks & Predictions
Packers vs. Falcons
Both teams are riding high, coming off of impressive Week 1 wins over divisional rivals. And while Packers QB Jordan Love was solid in his first start as the guy in Green Bay, I’m not ready to anoint him as the next coming of Aaron Rodgers or Brett Favre just yet. Love benefitted from not only a tremendous gameplan but from playing against what could be one of the league’s worst defenses in Chicago. Atlanta’s defense should prove to be more formidable. In addition, this is schematically a bad matchup for the Packers’ defense that’s historically struggled against the run. Chicago still managed to average 4.2 yards per rush, and this Packers D allowed opponents to rush for five yards a carry a season ago, and that’s partially by design. If we learned anything in Week 1, it’s that Arthur Smith wants to win with his running game. And Atlanta’s offensive line should control the line of scrimmage far better than Chicago’s did. Throw in the fact that Aaron Jones, Green Bay’s most important offensive player, could miss the game with a hamstring injury. The Packers offense won’t have nearly as much explosiveness with AJ Dillon taking the lead, and an inability to establish the running game could put Love in more dire situations. This line has flipped in Atlanta’s favor, and I’d still take Atlanta at -1.5 or better.
Pick: Falcons -1.5 (-110)
-Matt Barbato
Raiders vs. Bills
Monday night was a disastrous performance from QB Josh Allen and the Bills. Buffalo outgained the Jets, but four costly turnovers by Josh Allen and a special teams touchdown surrendered left them 0-1 on the season. The Raiders surprised many with a road win at Denver in Week 1. The Raiders came out with the win, but it’s not an indication of things to come. If anything, it is an indictment on the Broncos. The Raiders struggled to move the ball on the ground. They won’t find much luck against a Bills defense that gave up just 3.3 yards per carry outside Breece Hall’s 83-yard burst. Orchard Park has been a tough place for opposing teams in the last few years. The Bills should get back on track Sunday and remind everyone why they’re a Super Bowl contender.
Pick: Bills -8.5 (-112)
-Ryan Rodeman
Ravens vs. Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals just didn’t look ready to play in Week 1. And it makes sense, as Joe Burrow missed most of camp with a calf injury. Combine rust with miserable conditions and a Browns defense that could be among the league’s best with Jim Schwartz at the helm, and it was the perfect storm. Cincinnati should match up far better with a Ravens defense that’s struggled to contain Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase in the past. To make matters worse, Baltimore will be without top cornerback Marlon Humphrey as well as safety Marcus Williams, not to mention two starters on the offensive line. Oh, and Mark Andrews might miss another game, and we’ve seen how critical he is for Lamar Jackson. Let’s also not forget Jackson and the Ravens’ offense struggled against a Texans defense that’s well-coached but not overly talented. I get a little squeamish laying more than a field goal in a divisional game, but I’d expect a top-notch effort from Burrow against an undermanned Ravens defense.
Pick: Cincinnati -3 / Ja’Marr Chase over 80.5 receiving yards
-Matt Barbato
Seahawks vs. Lions
It was a highly disappointing game for the Seahawks in Week 1, as they could not get any offense going against the Rams. They scored on their first three drives, but after that, absolutely nothing with a missed field goal, four straight punts, and no drive going more than five plays. Lions had plenty of rest since the huge upset win in Kansas City. The offense led by Jared Goff is looking great again and is poised to be one of the top scorers. This matchup last season had each team trading points until the last minute. Let’s look for the same type of game again.
Pick: Over 47 (-110)
-John Supowitz
Chargers vs. Titans
Brandon Staley as a road favorite vs. Mike Vrabel as a home underdog. The coaching disparity alone could serve as a reason to take the Titans with the points. But there’s more reason to like Tennessee Sunday. Offensively, this is a great matchup for Derrick Henry against Staley’s scheme, which is designed to limit big plays through the air and, as a result, be more generous against the run. Last season, Los Angeles allowed opponents to average 5.4 yards per carry, the worst in the league. Of course, adjustments can be made, especially considering how awful Ryan Tannehill looked in Week 1. But Los Angeles’ personnel can’t change much to stop the run. I’d expect a traditional Henry performance here. Second, I suspect Los Angeles to have a hard time running the ball. Tennessee’s defense was the best in the league against the run last year, and the potential absence of Austin Ekeler means Joshua Kelley will have to shoulder the load. Kelley performed well in Week 1, rushing for a career-high in yardage. But he’s still a downgrade from an explosiveness perspective. Tennessee’s secondary is suspect, but I expect Vrabel to deliver with a gameplan that flusters Justin Herbert, who went 28-of-42 for 313 yards and two picks in their meeting last season. Trusting Tannehill over Herbert is a gross proposition. But so is laying a field goal with the Chargers on the road.
Pick: Titans +2.5 (-110)
-Matt Barbato
Bears vs. Buccaneers
The Buccaneers pulled off one of the most surprising upsets in Week 1 when they took down the Vikings in Minnesota. They host the Bears in Week 2. Chicago’s pass defense was atrocious and made QB Jordan Love look like an All-Pro in his first stint as a full-time starter. The problems in the Chicago secondary are real, and Baker Mayfield should be able to exploit it with his cast of elite receivers. On the other side of the ball, Kirk Cousins was able to light up this Tampa defense, and if he didn’t keep shooting himself in the foot in the red zone, the Vikings probably win. This should be a back-and-forth game, so I’m staying away from a side and just taking the over.
Pick: Over 40.5 (-115)
-Ryan Rodeman
Chiefs vs. Jaguars
The Kansas City Chiefs are the defending champions. Therefore, it would be shocking if the Chiefs went 0-2 to begin the season. However, Travis Kelce’s status will likely be a game-time decision, and Patrick Mahomes doesn’t have a great receiver room, especially without Kelce. Meanwhile, the Chiefs brought back Chris Jones on the defensive side. But after the Lions earned 371 yards of offense against the Chiefs, it’s looking like the Chiefs’ defense is in trouble this year. On the other hand, the Jaguars added a 31-21 win over the Colts last weekend. However, it took until the fourth quarter to re-take the lead against Indianapolis. Still, with all the uncertainties surrounding the Chiefs, I like the Jaguars at +3.5.
Pick: Jaguars +3.5 (-110)
-Jason Radowitz
Colts vs. Texans
It’s the first battle between two rookie quarterbacks this season. Anthony Richardson of the Colts will take on CJ Stroud of the Texans. One of those rookie quarterbacks will earn their first win unless we get a tie in this game. Although Richardson threw for 223 yards and rushed for another 40 yards, I thought CJ Stroud of the Texans looked better. He added 242 yards passing and didn’t have an interception. However, the Colts were dominant against the run versus the Jaguars and should be just as dominant against the Texans. The Indianapolis defense will dictate this game. Give me the Colts at +1.
Pick: Colts +1 (-110)
-Jason Radowitz
49ers vs. Rams
The Rams surprised everyone with a 30-13 win over the Seahawks in Week 1. The Rams are without Cooper Kupp, but Puka Nacua and Tutu Atwell stepped up with a combined 16 receptions and nearly 240 yards receiving. Those two could have big years for the Rams if Kupp misses the entire season. But it won’t happen against the 49ers. San Francisco’s got the best defense in the league and showed out against the Steelers, earning multiple three-and-outs in a 30-7 win. Brock Purdy would love an offensive line that could block better. But he’s got a lot of talent around him. Purdy needs to limit turnovers and get the ball to his playmakers, like Christian McCaffrey. With that said, I’ll take the Under. Los Angeles won’t be nearly as good offensively in this game.
Pick: Under 44.5 (-110)
-Jason Radowitz
Giants vs. Cardinals
The Giants looked lost against the Cowboys in Week 1’s Sunday Night Football. But it was just a domino effect that never ended. New York was expected to be a playoff contender this year. And they still are. A 17-14 loss is the same as a 40-0 loss. It all counts the same. New York has the chance to rebound against a Cardinals team, starting Joshua Dobbs at quarterback. Arizona doesn’t have a great defense and won’t get much offense out of Dobbs, either. Look for the Giants to return to form and earn a four-point cover. That’s such a low number for the Giants against the Cardinals.
Pick: Giants -4 (-110)
-Jason Radowitz
Jets vs. Cowboys
Welp. The Super Bowl aspirations evaporated quickly for the New York Jets. But enough Aaron Rodgers lamenting. The question now is what New York’s offense can be with Zach Wilson back under center. The answer is probably not great. I’d expect New York’s coaching staff to put the training wheels on Wilson to mitigate the risk of throwing the ball away to Dallas’ aggressive cornerbacks. That being said, New York’s conservative approach will limit the upside of this offense despite the fact that it has some great players in Breece Hall, Dalvin Cook, and Garrett Wilson. Let’s also mention that New York’s offensive line is among the league’s worst and could be overwhelmed by Dallas’ pass rush. On the flip side, New York’s defense is great enough to keep it in games and steal them, as we saw Monday night. And while Dallas absolutely demolished the Giants Sunday night, we didn’t really learn much about the Cowboys’ offense. Granted, Dak Prescott and the Dallas offense didn’t have to do much. But this unit could also struggle against a New York defense that plays with a ton of speed and is deep upfront. I lean with the Jets and the points, but I fully recognize that Wilson could throw the cover away with a back-breaking turnover. So, instead, I’ll take the under. The Jets will look to shorten the game on the ground, while Dallas likely won’t take too many chances, knowing it doesn’t need to put up a ton of points to beat Wilson.
Pick: Under 38.5 (-110)
-Matt Barbato
Commanders vs. Broncos
The Commanders nearly suffered an early upset against a Cardinals team they were favored to win by seven points. It was not an impressive game all around with just 248 total yards of offense, something you hope will improve as this team acclimates to Eric Bienemy’s offense. The Sean Payton era in Denver didn’t start out well either, as we saw the same struggling offense from last year. Even with the run game working well, Russell Wilson could not push the ball and only had 4.6 yards per pass. You have to wonder if last year’s struggles weren’t a fluke. Both teams have phenomenal defenses, and Washington should have Chase Young back in the lineup. I feel the under will be the best play for each of these teams a lot this year.
Pick: Under 38.5 (-110)
-John Supowitz
Dolphins vs. Patriots
The Dolphin offense looked in mid-season form against the Chargers, but they’ll go up against a Patriot defense that shut down the Eagles in Week 1. With the books holding this line around -3 for Dolphins, it feels like the books are setting a trap. I’m going to go the other direction and back the Patriots. After Mac Jones got the turnovers out of his system early in Week 1, he settled down, and the Patriots actually outplayed the Eagles the rest of the game. I’m almost always going to back Bill Belichick as a home dog but throw in that it’s a key divisional game, and the Patriots are a must-play at +3.
Pick: Patriots +3 (-110)
-Ryan Rodeman
Saints vs. Panthers
The Saints have to be happy with Derek Carr’s debut as he threw for 305 yards and a touchdown, with the connection to Chris Olave starting off well with 112 receiving yards. There were still some miscues and points left off the board, so it was a closer game than it should had been against Tennessee. All eyes were on the overall No. 1 pick Bryce Young, and he certainly won’t highlight this game as he threw for 146 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. He also had a fumble that was luckily recovered by his team, so ball security is a large concern for someone who likes to run and throw from out of the pocket. There are a lot more positives to take away from the Saints than the Panthers last week, so New Orleans will cover this spread.
Pick: Saints -3 (-110)
-John Supowitz
Browns vs. Steelers
Cleveland had a dominant win against the Bengals by holding the Cincinnati offense to just 142 total yards in the 24-3 win. With the Browns in clear control, Deshaun Watson and the passing offense weren’t a factor, so Nick Chubb led the ground game as usual with 106 rushing yards. The Steelers were also involved in a lopsided game but on the wrong side. The offensive line was clearly outmatched by the San Fransisco defensive front by allowing five sacks, but Kenny Pickett was pressured throughout that game, even when the 49ers didn’t blitz. Now they’ll see a Cleveland defensive front with guys like Myles Garrett and Z’Darius Smith, and I feel this spread is generous because it’s in the division.
Pick: Browns -2.5 (-110)
-John Supowitz
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