Cover photo taken from NFL.com.
The first week of the NFL season is in the books, and it was a doozy. So many crazy things have already happened in just 17 games, and we could be in for some more drama this week. This is a great slate of games that should provide some more great moments as the young season continues to get underway. Amidst all the chaos, I went a measly 9-6-1 in Week 1. Let’s try to have a bounce back week, shall we?
Chiefs 27-24 Chargers 
Thursday, 8:15 PM EST, Prime Video
Even against a team as good as the Chargers, picking against the Chiefs in September is sacrilegious, especially in Arrowhead. I think this game is going to be a blast, and it’s always fun to have the week’s best game as its first. Every time Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert face off, fireworks ensue. The promise of this game speaks for itself and is even further amplified by how great both of these teams looked in Week 1. The matchup I’m most interested in is LA’s defense trying to contain the Chiefs offense, which looked as dominant as ever last Sunday. If they can, then it’ll be up to the Chargers without their top WR in Keenan Allen to muster up enough offense to win the game. In Kansas City, with #15 doing what he does, it’s just too hard to visualize that coming to fruition.
Browns 26-16 Jets 
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS
The Browns looked much better than I thought they would last week, and the Jets somehow looked worse than I imagined. That makes this pick rather easy. New York is easily football’s worst team right now, and continuing to start Joe Flacco at QB doesn’t help that situation whatsoever. I have infinitely more faith in Jacoby Brissett, who looked solid last week for the Browns. Most importantly, Cleveland’s rushing attack and defense are good enough to beat most other opponents on their own, and they should ride both of those to a very easy victory.
Commanders 28-27 Lions 
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX
This might be the biggest tossup of the week. The Commanders had a nice game last week in their comeback win while the Lions’ furious attempt at one failed. Both of these teams showed some flashes in Week 1, but their weaknesses were also on full display. The common thread was offensive explosiveness at times but incompetence at others as well as some porous defense sprinkled in. With Washington playing a much more complete game last week, it’s hard to pick against them here. Detroit’s defense was nonexistent whereas the Commanders were able to get consistent pressure and stops to win the game. And while the Lions offense might be a bit spookier, Washington’s playmakers showed out in a huge way last week. Against another weak defense, I can see a repeat performance with them squeaking out another close win.
Saints 23-20 Buccaneers 
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX
I am done making the same mistake. I have picked the Bucs to beat the Saints every time since Tom Brady arrived in Tampa, and every time New Orleans manages to pull off a win. So, if the Buccaneers actually manage to win this game, you’ll know why! And if you’re curious, yes, that is the only reason I’m picking the Saints here. I like Tampa better on both sides of the ball, even with Chris Godwin out with yet another injury. That being said, I do think very highly of New Orleans, and their offense showed what they’re capable of last week. If their defense tightens up from how they began that game, then they could very easily give a battered Bucs offense trouble and allow their offense to win the game. That has to be the formula, as it has been every other time they’ve beaten this team in the last two seasons.
Panthers 20-17 Giants 
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, FOX
This game admittedly looks awful on paper, but perhaps it won’t be the worst game ever. The Panthers showed some flashes at the end of their game last week and arguably should have won, and the Giants actually did pull away with a win thanks to their offensive ability although they arguably should have lost. So, while this game might not look interesting, there’s actually quite a lot going on underneath the surface. While I think New York looked like the better team in Week 1, I just don’t like this matchup for them. They got cut up by Dontrell Hilliard out of the backfield last week, so who knows what Christian McCaffrey has in store for them. While the Panthers run defense was dreadful and Saquon Barkley likely sees food against them, I don’t think the Giants will be able to do enough offensively to make up for their defensive shortcomings. In all honesty, this game comes down to which QB will make the game-losing decision. And though it’s very close, I trust Baker Mayfield just a tad more than Daniel Jones.
Steelers 24-19 Patriots 
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Remember when this game used to mean something? Yeah, those were good times. Now it’s just an absolute eye sore. At least the Steelers put on a very fun show in their Week 1 win and have enough players to enjoy watching them play. The Patriots, on the other hand, looked like one of the worst teams in the league last week, and I have no faith in them to do anything at this point. Against another tremendous defense, Mac Jones and the offense will once again be stifled, even with the Steelers missing TJ Watt. I do think New England’s defense can limit Mitch Trubisky and keep them lingering around in this game, but it won’t be enough to win this game. If there’s any week for the Patriots to fix their image, it’s this one, but I don’t see it happening.
Jaguars 25-22 Colts 
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS
Though the Jaguars lost and the Colts tied last week, Jacksonville showed me more than Indianapolis did. Combine that with the fact that the Colts seem to forget how to play football every time they travel to Jacksonville and you have the perfect recipe for an “upset” on Sunday. I like what the Jags are doing, as their revamped offense looked pretty solid last week despite some mistakes and redzone woes. Their defense still isn’t there, but Travon Walker had a stellar debut fitting for a #1 overall pick. While the Colts came closer to a win, they struggled mightily for three quarters against an awful Texans team. Their offense figured themselves out and the defense was able to take the ball away, but it was all too little too late. If Indy can do that more consistently across the course of this game, they should be able to win with ease. But I just have a feeling about the Jaguars this week.
Ravens 23-17 Dolphins 
Sunday, 1:00 PM EST, CBS
This is one of the better games of the week on paper, but be wary of it not exactly living up to the hype. Both of these teams feasted on vastly inferior opponents in Week 1, so their first games against real teams might be a bit sluggish. Still, the stars will be out for this one, and it should be a fun one. Both Miami and Baltimore won in the exact same fashion last week, using a dominant defense to shut down the other team while the offense did just enough for it to be out of reach. If that’s the formula, then the better offense should be the one to overcome the opposing defense win this game. While the Dolphins probably have the more high-powered offense, I can’t trust Tua Tagovailoa to win a game with his arm. I can, however, trust Lamar Jackson, especially at home. The massive gap between these two QBs is the differentiator in this game.
Rams 29-19 Falcons 
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX
The Rams need a bounce-back win more than any other team in football after being humiliated in the opener. Luckily for them, the football gods have gifted them the Atlanta Falcons on their schedule. We might not see Atlanta play three quarters better than the first three of their season. I expect most of the rest of their season to be like that fourth quarter, filled with mistakes and incompetence. LA is an angry team right now, and while I still don’t rate them too highly, they can certainly capitalize on playing an awful opponent and grab what should be one of the easier wins of the season.
49ers 24-17 Seahawks 
Sunday, 4:05 PM EST, FOX
San Francisco is another team that could definitely use the boost of a win after a subpar Week 1. While the Seahawks might be a tougher out this year than I imagined, I also recognize that there was a level of juice and emotion to their game last week that won’t be present for the rest of the season. This will likely be a tougher game for them, and I trust the Niners to bounce back with an imperative win. The world will once again be watching to see if Trey Lance can live up to the expectations placed on his shoulders. This is a great chance for him to prove the doubters wrong, but if he lays another dud, then there will be a lot of questions to be answered in the Bay.
Bengals 31-13 Cowboys 
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS
The Cowboys didn’t have a chance to win this game when Dak Prescott was still healthy. With Cooper Rush as their QB, this one will probably be over at halftime. The Bengals played far from their best game last week, especially with Joe Burrow committing a whopping five turnovers, but they still should have come away with a win. Their offense finally buttoned up and got back to their dominant ways. Going up against a secondary as weak as Dallas’ means that everyone in black is in for a huge game. The question here isn’t whether or not Cincinnati will win, but how much they will win by and what kind of stats they can put up.
Broncos 20-10 Texans 
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS
Considering the performance of both of these teams from last week, this might just be Week 2’s worst game. It should be a boring slog from start to finish on Sunday evening in Denver. No matter what the game itself looks like, I don’t see any outcome other than a Broncos win. Like so many other teams this week, they need a win to feel good about themselves after a poor first game. Playing one of the worst teams in football is always a good way to get that win. Russell Wilson and the offense should be able to bounce back, and when the defense shuts things down for Houston, the Broncos can ride to victory with ease.
Raiders 31-27 Cardinals 
Sunday, 4:25 PM EST, CBS
If you like shootouts, this is your game of the week. There are going to be points all over the place in this one. Neither of these teams possess a very good defense, which was on full display in Week 1. So, this comes down to whichever offense can make more fireworks go off to win the game. To me, the Raiders have the edge there, and it’s in large part thanks to Davante Adams. The best WR in football had a huge debut in the silver and black last week against a secondary much better than the one he’s facing this week. I expect another huge game out of him, and as long as he keeps getting fed the ball, Las Vegas will put up more than enough points to overcome Arizona.
Packers 26-17 Bears 
Sunday, 8:20 PM EST, NBC
Death. Taxes. The Packers beating the Bears on Sunday Night Football. The annual tradition returns this week and football fans everywhere are thrilled! Despite the counter-intuitive records of both of these teams, the Packers are the much better team and should win this game with ease. I was very impressed with the Bears ability to win last week, but going up to Lambeau and replicating that performance will be a challenge. While they were simply the team that made more plays in a monsoon in Week 1, they now have to overcome their nemesis Aaron Rodgers in his own home. Even though Green Bay’s offense isn’t what it once was, that’s not going to happen. I think they’ll be much more polished offensively on Sunday night, especially in the passing game. In any case, their defense should be able to contain Justin Fields and Chicago pretty easily.
Bills 30-14 Titans 
Monday, 7:15 PM EST, ESPN
Though the Titans always seem to give the Bills fits, this game feels as lopsided as any in Week 2. It helps that Buffalo looks like the scariest team in football that’s seemingly unstoppable. But Tennessee also lost to the Giants of all teams last week, and though they should have won, I don’t like the way they played at all. Derrick Henry was a non-factor for them, so it’s hard to imagine he’ll be any better against a defense as good as the Bills’. Moreover, if the Titans defense got torched by Daniel Jones, then I can’t imagine what Josh Allen has in store for them. If history repeats itself and this game is much closer, then I won’t be surprised. But this just feels like another blowout in the making for football’s best team.
Eagles 27-24 Vikings 
Monday, 8:30 PM EST, ABC
Week 2 concludes with another tremendous heavyweight fight in primetime. These are two of my most hyped teams of this season, and they both did their thing last week. Minnesota may have been much more dominant and impressive than Philadelphia was, but there’s no doubt that the Eagles still have what it takes to compete with the best teams in the league. They’re going to need to play a much tighter game on Monday night if they want to beat a Vikings team that looks as good as any on both sides of the ball. Luckily for them, I think they’ll do just that. Their defense played a great game outside of garbage time where they let up just enough to let the Lions back into the game. Their offense was firing on all cylinders both on the ground and through the air, especially with AJ Brown playing a dominant game. The Vikings looked even better on both sides of the ball, with their defense suffocating Green Bay all day long while Justin Jefferson went bonkers on offense, but it will be hard to replicate that performance in a raucous environment in Philly on Monday night. I think they are the better team in this game, but the circumstance might be too hard to overcome.
All stats taken from ESPN.
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