I've already bet five NFL spreads for Week 2, in addition to my favorite total and an anytime touchdown lottery ticket featuring Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan.
Let's get into my NFL Week 2 picks and predictions for Sunday, September 14.
Editor's Note: A parlay of these picks is not the author's formal recommendation. These NFL picks have value as straight bets.
NFL Week 2 Picks & Predictions
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Rams vs. Titans
I'm back to the well with the Titans, who finally covered for me last week after a miserable experience backing them in 2024.
I have apparently not recovered from my crippling addiction of backing a team that has lost eight straight home games against the number – the longest drought since another Titans squad went 10 straight without a cover over a decade ago.
Admittedly, I did like this a bit more earlier in the week before the injury report broke Los Angeles' way. There was a chance the Rams would have to make do without multiple offensive linemen, including both guards, against a ferocious Tennessee interior capable of causing interior pressure that could cause issues for Matthew Stafford, who is just 4-9 ATS (31%) as a road favorite of more than a field goal. You also never know when any back issues will flare up for the 37-year-old signal caller, especially for an early kickoff in the Eastern Time Zone for a West Coast team.
However, it appears that only starting guard Steve Avila will miss Sunday's road opener, while the Titans won't have the services of T'Vondre Sweat's big body on the interior of the defensive line. Tennessee also will have a backup right tackle with JC Latham ruled out, which could collapse the entire offense against a relentless Rams pass rush.
Regardless, I show value in this number and remain higher on the Titans than the market.
Even without Latham, it's an improved offensive line and Cam Ward is a massive upgrade over Will Levis. The defense also remains feisty (getting productive snaps from corner L'Jarius Sneed was a very good sign), while the special teams look significantly improved after a disastrous 2024.
The statistical output certainly won't show it, but I actually came away pretty impressed with Ward in Week 1 given the circumstances of making his first career start on the road in the altitude of Denver against one of the league's best defenses. He didn't make any crippling mistakes and seemed poised in the pocket.
While he may be under heavy pressure once again, things should get substantially easier this week — his wide receivers should have a much easier time finding separation against a vulnerable Rams secondary that gave 50 snaps to Emmanuel Forbes in Week 1.
Keep in mind Los Angeles really benefited from Houston's offensive line situation last week. Not only did the Texans have to shake up the entire starting unit after Ed Ingram got ruled out on game day, they suffered multiple injuries throughout the game and had to constantly shuffle the rotation. That's asking for trouble in Week 1 on the road.
Maybe the Rams also get caught peeking ahead a bit to a revenge date with the Eagles next week, but this is just a shade too high in a game where points should come at a premium (I also heavily lean under) — making the home pup even more attractive.
Trending: 0-1 underdogs in Week 2 have gone 101-75-4 (57%) ATS since 2005.
Pick: Titans +6
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Bills vs. Jets
I loved what I saw from the Jets (who should have beat the Steelers in Week 1; net +7.5% net success rate) offense last week under new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, who came over from Detroit.
Justin Fields looked much more comfortable (and effective) running the show than I imagined he would. New York also looks to also have its best offensive line in years, especially with what we saw from rookie right tackle Armand Membou, who pitched a shutout (no pressures, hurries, sacks) in 26 pass protection snaps against a ferocious Pittsburgh pass rush.
There's no reason why the Jets can't have another offensive explosion against a Buffalo defense that has major issues across the board.
Additionally, the Bills will be without stud defensive tackle Ed Oliver and could also have to make do without two starting cornerbacks where the depth is extremely murky.
New York's defense didn't have the greatest Week 1 effort, but I expect a bounce-back season on that side of the ball, led by cornerback Sauce Gardner (who had a terrific opener). It's also just a more serious operation under head coach Aaron Glenn.
For what it's worth, in October of last year, the Bills closed as a 1.5-point favorite in New York in a game it won 23-20, partly due to the Jets' inability to make the field goal.
Asking Buffalo to win by a margin on the road in a divisional game with a shaky defense is just too much, even with Josh Allen, who is almost always going to get his. New York can keep up.
Lastly, it wouldn't be totally shocking if the Bills were a bit flat emotionally after their thrilling comeback victory over Baltimore in Week 1.
Trending: Home 'dogs of 7-plus have gone 37-10-2 ATS (78.7%) since 2020, including 18-1-2 ATS since 2022.
Pick: Jets +7
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Eagles vs. Chiefs
The Chiefs certainly have issues, notably with their weapons without Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice.
However, I'm going to trust Patrick Mahomes (who has never lost three straight games in his career), Andy Reid and Steve Spagnuolo with extra time to prepare to find a way to avoid a 0-2 start. Expect plenty of Mahomes scrambles and a full-on assault over the middle of the field.
Plus, it's not like I have full confidence in the Eagles' operation as of this moment.
The defense lost an abundance of talent in the offseason and still has some exploitable gaps, while the offense could struggle to find its footing under new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.
It's only one game, so I don't want to overreact, but there's a chance this turns into a Brian Johnson situation from two seasons ago after the playcalling and design we saw against Dallas.
There's also a chance A.J. Brown might not be 100% healthy, while tight end Dallas Goedert will not suit up due to injury.
Therefore, the Eagles might not be fully capable of taking advantage of some of Kansas City's current issues in the secondary. And I do at least trust the Chiefs' run defense — which has been excellent over the past two seasons — to contain Saquon Barkley as much as any team can.
Trending: Mahomes has gone 12-2-1 ATS as an underdog (85.7%) — covering by an average of 6.7 PPG
Pick: Chiefs +1
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Vikings vs. Falcons
On National Revenge Narrative Day, we will cap things off with a quarterback rematch of the 2024 national championship between Washington (Michael Penix) and Michigan (JJ McCarthy). I like the former to at least cover this time around.
On the surface, it's a decent spot for Atlanta, coming off a loss in a game it really should have won. The Falcons had a +6.7% net success rate over the Bucs and lost in the final seconds of a game it missed a critical kick, dropped three or four potential Baker Mayfield interceptions and had a pair of critical fourth-down attempts go against them earlier in the game.
From a surface stats perspective, they finished with more than 100 net yards, in addition to a 5.4-to-4.5 yards per play edge. I came away impressed with a number of the rookie defenders they will be relying on this year, and Penix handled the blitz well even without Darnell Mooney (and Drake London late).
That will obviously be key against a Brian Flores defense. Most importantly, it does appear that both London and Mooney will give it a go. Therefore, we may not have to watch KhaDarel Hodge Hodge fail to look up for the potential game-winner in the end zone like last week.
Meanwhile, the Vikings have a short week following a comeback divisional win on Monday Night Football against the Bears.
J.J. McCarthy, who missed a day during a short prep week due to the birth of his child, composed himself well late in that contest, but he struggled mightily over the first three quarters against an extremely shorthanded Chicago defense.
Questions still remain for the Michigan product in his second career start, especially against a defense that will utilize more zone looks than he saw last week. Don't be surprised if he makes a key mistake or two.
More importantly, Minnesota won't be anywhere close to full strength.
The Vikings were already shorthanded at wide receiver and will once again be without star left tackle Christian Darrisaw. And defensively, Flores will not have the services of Blake Cashman, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jeff Okudah, and possibly Harrison Smith. Those are pretty significant losses, especially in aggregate.
Taking all of that into account, I'd take anything over a field goal.
Trending: Head coach Raheem Morris is 20-17-1 ATS on the road (10-4 ATS following a home loss) compared to just 12-25 ATS at home.
Pick: Falcons +4
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Buccaneers vs. Texans
I like the Texans to cover — be on the look out for my Monday Night Football writeup later this weekend.
Pick: Texans -2.5
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Talkin' Totals: Browns vs. Ravens
This is just too low for the Ravens at this point.
I get the Browns defense returned to form last week, but we've certainly seen the Bengals struggle against Cleveland and early in the season historically. There are still some holes at linebacker, slot and safety that Lamar Jackson and company can exploit.
Baltimore has scored 30-plus points in 12 of its last 15 games, with 15 of its past 18 hitting at least 45 (average of 53, median 51). There's really just no slowing down this offensive juggernaut (unless it's a Steelers–Ravens game) that has also averaged a hair under 30 PPG over the past four meetings with the Browns.
There's also a chance both teams might be a bit more aggressive than usual, with Cleveland coming in as a double-digit underdog with an unreliable kicker and the Ravens blowing a big lead.
My one concern is that the Browns just bleed too much clock on their drives, but they should throw a ton. I mean, Joe Flacco (who is highly likely to make a critical mistake or two) threw it 45 times in a 17-16 game last week.
And this Browns offense might have a bit more juice than many expected coming into the season based on how rookies Harold Fannin Jr. and Dylan Sampson looked in the opener.
Side note: The Ravens in the first half continues to be a cash cow under Lamar Jackson, who is 59-34-2 ATS (63.4%), covering by approximately a field goal per game. That includes a gaudy 12-3-1 ATS mark when favored by 6-plus in the first half.
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Potential Add: 49ers vs. Saints
I might be the only one on the planet looking to bet an over between Mac Jones and Spencer Rattler, but I have this circled as a potential target.
If we dip into the 30s, I may have to bite. Even with all of the offensive injuries, this matchup still features two plus playcallers in a dome going up against non-elite defenses.
Plus, the Saints played with plenty of tempo in Week 1 and Rattler at least looked serviceable.
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Anytime Touchdown Parlay
Tetairoa McMillan Anytime TD + Travis Hunter Anytime TD
I'm taking a shot with a pair of rookies finding pay dirt on Sunday.
On our NFL Week 2 preview (Action Network Podcast), Chris Raybon talked about the touchdown rate bump that high-end rookies have seen in their second start historically.
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