Week 1 of the NFL season lived up to the hype. We saw 4th quarter comebacks, shootouts, blowouts, and everything in between. Teams like the Lions, 49ers, and Chiefs lived up to the offseason hype, while fans of the Giants, Panthers, and Raiders may be concerned their seasons are already over.
With the first week of the 2024 NFL season in the books, we turn the page to a loaded week 2 slate. We have predictions ready for all 16 week 2 games, so let's jump right into it:
Spread: Dolphins -2.5
Total: 50 Points
Both of these explosive offenses hit the ground running in week 1, and we expect fireworks in this Thursday Night Football matchup. Buffalo's defense got picked apart by Kyler Murray and the Cardinals, but Josh Allen put on his Superman cape to lead the Bills to a week 1 win.
Tua threw for 338 yards and a touchdown to lead the Dolphins to a win over a Jacksonville team that looks like a playoff contender this season.
Prediction: Buffalo 27 - Miami 31
Spread: Chargers -6
Total: 39 Points
Jim Harbaugh made his Chargers' debut and it was exactly what we expected. LA ran the ball extremely well and played solid defense to beat the Raiders 22-10.
The Panthers opener was an absolute disaster for first-year head coach Dave Canales and second-year QB Bryce Young. We do think the Panthers are more competitive at home, against a more conservative Chargers team.
Prediction: Panthers 17 - Chargers 21
Spread: Ravens -9.5
Total: 41.5 Points
The Raiders got steamrolled by the Chargers' run game, which does not bode well for this week 2 matchup with the Ravens. Baltimore ran for 185 yards against one of the better defenses in the NFL in week 1, and should find even more success against a Raiders defense that allowed 176 yards rushing last week.
Prediction: Raiders 10 - Ravens 24
Spread: Cowboys -7
Total: 45.5 Points
Bettors will have their hands full betting this game, as both teams benefited from their opponents imploding in week 1. Both of these defenses are good, but neither is likely as good as it looked on Sunday. Offensively, we still believe the new OC will be a difference-maker for the Saints, and still have questions about the Cowboys ability to run the ball.
Prediction: Saints 21 - Cowboys 24
Spread: 49ers -5.5
Total: 45.5 Points
We expect this line to be one of the big movers throughout the week and predict it creep up to a touchdown by kickoff. Minnesota looked great against a Giants team with tons of personnel and coaching concerns. The 49ers have a loaded roster and perhaps the best staff in the league. We expect San Francisco to cruise to a win on Sunday.
Prediction: 49ers 27 - Vikings 17
Spread: Colts -3.5
Total: 40.5 Points
The story heading into this game is clearly the Jordan Love injury. The Packers' star QB is expected to miss 3-6 weeks with a Grade 2 MCL sprain. If there is hope for the Packers, it will have to be the run game. The Colts gave up 213 rushing yards (5.3 YPC) against the Texans in week 1. Matt LaFleur is one of the NFL's best coaches, and he'll need to be if the Packers have any chance of avoiding a week 2 loss.
Prediction: Colts 24 - Packers 17
Spread: Seahawks -3
Total: 38 Points
Two first-year coaches will look to move to 2-0 in Foxborough in a game with the lowest total on the schedule this week. Both teams relied on the run game and solid defense to win in week 1. We think the Patriots' week 1 win is a reflection on a rusty Bengals offense and expect the Seahawks to win and narrowly cover on Sunday.
Prediction: Seahawks 20 - Patriots 16
Spread: Lions -7
Total: 51 Points
The Lions managed to beat the Rams on Monday night despite some offensive struggles. Jameson Williams looked great, but Sam Laporta and Amon-Ra St. Brown were nowhere to be found. We think that changes this week and the Lions move to 2-0 while covering the spread against a Bucs team that beat up on a bad Washington team in week 1.
Prediction: Bucs 20 - Lions 31
Spread: Commanders -2.5
Total: 44 Points
Both of these teams looked terrible in week 1. Brian Daboll still can't get the Giants' offense rolling, as Daniel Jones was under pressure the entire game, finishing with 186 yards, 0 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions on 42 attempts. Facing the Commanders defense may help. Washington gave up 411 yards of total offense and 37 points to the Bucs in week 1. This is a stay-away game, but we can't back the Giants right now.
Prediction: Giants 20 - Commanders 23
Spread: Jaguars -3.5
Total: 41.5 Points
The Deshaun Watson saga continues as the Browns continue to waste a loaded roster on the most expensive quarterback in NFL history. Jacksonville nearly beat the Dolphins in Miami in week 1, holding the Dolphins to just 3.2 YPC and 20 points. We expect Jacksonville to win and cover in a low scoring week 2 game with the Browns.
Prediction: Browns 16 - Jaguars 24
Spread: Jets -4
Total: 42 Points
Aaron Rodgers looked rusty and the Jets struggled to stop the run against the 49ers on Monday night. Their week 2 opponent, the Tennessee Titans, found a way to lose a game in which their defense held the Chicago Bears to just 148 total yards. We think the Jets find a way to make the Titans one-dimensional, win, and cover the spread in Tennessee this week.
Prediction: Jets 24 - Titans 14
Spread: Cardinals -1.5
Total: 49.5 Points
The over in the Bill-Cardinals game was one of our favorite week 1 bets and it is hard to find an alternative narrative to a shootout in this matchup. Arizona will put up points at home, but we just watched the Rams offense humming against a tough Lions defense. The Rams are clearly the better football team, and we just aren't ready to buy the Cardinals hype.
Prediction: Rams 27 - Cardinals 26
Spread: Chiefs -6
Total: 48 Points
The Bengals offense better get right in a hurry, because their week 2 opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, look like the best team in football. Mahomes showed no rust in his Thursday night matchup with the Ravens, and this defense will be hungry for a bounce back performance this week. With added rest, and facing a Bengals offense that couldn't move the ball last week, we think the Chiefs win big at home.
Prediction: Bengals 16 - Chiefs 31
Spread: Steelers -3
Total: 36.5 Points
The Steelers got 6 field goals from Chris Boswell to earn a 18-10 week 1 win over the Atlanta Falcons. The Broncos could not overcome 2 Bo Nix turnovers in a 26-20 loss to the Seahawks.
Both of these offenses looked terrible in week 1, so the question is which responds and plays better this week. We trust Sean Payton to have his team improved and think they find a way to cover and win outright at home.
Prediction: Jets 24 - Titans 14
Spread: Texans -6.5
Total: 45.5 Points
The Bears found a way to win in week 1, despite one of the worst offensive performances we will see this season. On the other side, the Texans played a nearly flawless game outside of a few big plays that the defense gave up to Anthony Richardson. We think Chicago is getting too much respect here and expect the Texans to win by more than a touchdown on Sunday night.
Prediction: Bears 17 - Texans 29
Spread: Eagles -6.5
Total: 47 Points
The Falcons offense looked rough in week 1, managing just 226 yards of total offense and 10 points against the Steelers. Philly's offense looked great, racking up 410 yards and 34 points against the Packers. The Eagles defense was another story. They allowed 414 total yards and 29 points to the Packers, and have major issues in the secondary.
While we think this Falcons offense will play much better, but it won't be enough to pick up a week 2 win. The Eagles win and cover at home.
Prediction: Falcons 23 - Eagles 31