NFL Week 2 schedule, predictions and best bets

Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers

• Sunday, September 20, 6pm BST

• Point spread: Panthers -2.5

Both NFC South teams looked quite poor in Week 1. The Panthers scored 37 points at home and still lost easily to Chicago.  Carolina QB Bryce Young threw for 361 yards and totaled four TDs to open a critical season for him. Your guess is as good as mine as to whom starts at QB for Atlanta in this one as it was down to third-stringer Cooper Rush for Sunday in Pittsburgh and predictably struggled offensively in a 20-13 loss. The Falcons have won the past three in the series, but two in overtime.

Pick ATS: Falcons

Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings

• Sunday, September 20, 6pm BST

• Point spread: Bears -5.5

The Bears put on quite a show in the opener by scoring 59 points in a blowout win at Carolina. Chicago’s six rushing scores tied the most in a season opener in NFL history. The Bears defence left a lot to be desired, however. The Vikings rallied past Green Bay despite losing starting QB Kyler Murray early to a possible concussion. Carson Wentz looked great in his place and presumably would go if Murray isn’t ready. The NFC North rivals split last season, each winning away.

Pick ATS: Bears

Tennessee Titans vs Philadelphia Eagles

• Sunday, September 20, 6pm BST

• Point spread: Eagles -7

A lot more was expected from the Titans this year with a new coaching staff but it was same old, same old from the offence Sunday in a brutal 23-10 home loss to the Jets. Those were the fewest home points in a season opener in franchise history. The Eagles held off the Commanders, 24-22, on a late failed two-point PAT. Jalen Hurts looked terrific with three TD passes.

Pick ATS: Titans alt +7.5

New England Patriots vs Pittsburgh Steelers

• Sunday, September 20, 6pm BST

• Point spread: Patriots -5

The final opener of Aaron Rodgers’ Hall of Fame career was a success for the Steelers as they beat the visiting Falcons, 20-13, although Rodgers was fairly quiet. T.J. Watt has been one of the NFL’s great pass-rushers for the past five years but had his first career pick-six and it was the difference. Pittsburgh star cornerback Joey Porter Jr. sat out in a contract disagreement. Patriots QB Drake Maye was second in the 2025 NFL MVP voting but looked like an overmatched rookie in his team’s 13-10 Kickoff Game loss in Seattle.  Maye had three picks, all in the fourth quarter and an inexcusable one in the final seconds in field-goal range. Top WR AJ Brown left injured and will miss a few weeks.

Pick ATS: Patriots

New York Jets vs Green Bay Packers

• Sunday, September 20, 6pm BST

• Point spread: Packers -4

The Packers played without two key Pro Bowlers in running back Josh Jacobs (off-field issue) and pass-rusher Micah Parsons on Sunday and blew a 22-10 second-half lead in a 39-22 loss at Minnesota. It marked Green Bay’s sixth straight loss including playoffs. Neither will play here. The franchise had gone 610 games without a six-game skid, longest in league history. The Jets were 23-10 winners at the Titans. It was New York’s fewest points allowed in a season opener on the road since 2009.

Pick ATS: Jets

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs Cleveland Browns

• Sunday, September 20, 6pm BST

• Point spread: Buccaneers -8.5

This will surely be personal for Bucs quarterback Baker Mayfield, who got a huge extension ahead of Week 1, because he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 draft by Cleveland but was run out of town after four seasons. Tampa Bay was a 33-27 loser in Week 1 at Cincinnati in large part because Mayfield lost three fumbles. The Browns looked like a clown show in a 34-10 loss in Jacksonville. Deshaun Watson was mediocre in his first NFL game in nearly 700 days and apparently will remain the starter.

Pick ATS: Browns

Baltimore Ravens vs New Orleans Saints

• Sunday, September 20, 6pm BST

• Point spread: Ravens -8.5

The Saints nearly staged an incredible comeback Sunday in Detroit. Head coach Kellen Moore opted to try for a 2-point PAT in overtime and the win, but it failed. Think you have to play for the tie on the road there, especially coming all the way back from 21-0. Second-year QB Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and three scores but two picks. Baltimore looked better than anyone in Week 1 with a 41-23 win in Indianapolis. Derrick Henry rushed for 144 yards and three scores. That was Henry’s seventh career game with at least 140 yards and three scores to tie Jim Brown for most in league history. But top Ravens wideout Zay Flowers left injured.

Pick ATS: Ravens

Houston Texans vs Cincinnati Bengals

• Sunday, September 20, 6pm BST

• Point spread: Texans -3

Cincinnati got a whopping 20 points off fumbles to beat Tampa Bay in the opener, 33-27. The Bengals addressed their defence big-time in the offseason and many of those new guys came up big. Sunday marked the first time since 2007 that the Bengals recovered four fumbles in a game. Houston had the NFL’s No. 2 scoring defence last season but lost 36-31 at home to Buffalo in Week 1 to see a nine-game regular-season winning streak snapped. New addition running back David Montgomery had three touchdowns.

Pick ATS: Texans alt -2.5

Denver Broncos vs Jacksonville Jaguars

• Sunday, September 20, 9.05pm BST

• Point spread: Broncos -2.5

Home opener for Denver off the tough task of playing in Kansas City on Monday night to conclude Week 1. The Broncos were healthy entering but got dominated, 31-10, as QB Bo Nix struggled. The Jaguars looked terrific Sunday in trashing visiting Cleveland, 34-10. That’s nine straight regular-season wins. Trevor Lawrence had four TDs in the victory. This winner may hold a crucial AFC tiebreaker.

Pick ATS: Broncos

Los Angeles Chargers vs Las Vegas Raiders

• Sunday, September 20, 9.05pm BST

• Point spread: Chargers -7

No doubt the biggest upset of Week 1 was the Chargers at nearly -10 losing at home to the Cardinals, 24-16. It was the largest Week 1 upset league wide since 2018. And it was the first home loss in a season opener in Jim Harbaugh’s head coaching career (now 6-1). Klint Kubiak’s first game as Raiders head coach was a 27-13 win over Miami. Kirk Cousins threw for three scores as the Silver & Black played without star tight end Brock Bowers. He’s iffy for Week 2. L.A. has won the past four in this series.

Pick ATS: Chargers alt -6.5

Dallas Cowboys vs Washington Commanders

• Sunday, September 20, 9.25pm BST

• Point spread: Cowboys -3.5

Washington failed on a 2-point PAT late in Sunday’s 24-22 loss in Philadelphia, but the team looked so much better offensively with a healthy Jayden Daniels under centre. He was unstoppable in nearly leading the big fourth-quarter comeback. Dallas was pretty bad on the road last season and that showed up in Week 1 on Sunday night in a 28-20 loss at the Giants. A rebuilt Cowboys defence was no better than a bad 2025 version. The Cowboys swept the NFC East series last year, both high-scoring.

Pick ATS: Cowboys alt -3

Arizona Cardinals vs Seattle Seahawks

• Sunday, September 20, 9.25pm BST

• Point spread: Seahawks -4.5

The Seahawks won the NFL Kickoff Game last Wednesday, 13-10 over New England, but lost starting QB Sam Darnold to a hip injury and he didn’t return. Not likely that Darnold will be ready here so it should be veteran Drew Lock starting. Arizona pulled a huge upset Sunday at the L.A. Chargers, 26-14, to snap a nine-game skid. Mike LaFleur became the first Cardinals full-time coach to win his debut since Don Coryell did it in 1973. The Cardinals have lost the past nine in this NFC West matchup.

Pick ATS: Cardinals

San Francisco 49ers vs Miami Dolphins

• Sunday, September 20, 9.25pm BST

• Point spread: 49ers -13.5

The Niners spent more than a week in Australia ahead of last Thursday’s Kickoff Game and that seemed to work really well for them as they upset the Rams in dominant fashion, 27-7, behind three Brock Purdy touchdown passes. The only bad news was rookie wideout De’Zhaun Stribling leaving with an ankle injury. He was the first pick in Round 2 of the 2026 draft. The Dolphins are expected to be one of the NFL’s worst teams and looked it Sunday in a 27-17 loss in Las Vegas. New QB Malik Willis was under siege and sacked five times.

Pick ATS: Miami alt +14

Kansas City Chiefs vs Indianapolis Colts

• Monday, September 21, 1.20am BST

• Point spread: Chiefs -6.5

Sunday night game, which helps a little on a short week for Kansas City as it dominated Denver, 31-10, in the Monday night game to conclude Week 1. Chiefs starting left tackle Josh Simmons, the team’s 2025 first-round pick who protects Patrick Mahomes’ blind side, missed it with a lower back injury. New addition running back Kenneth Walker III rushed for 173 yards and totaled two scores. The Colts were clobbered at home by Baltimore on Sunday, 41-23. Indy was outgained by 255 yards, its worst margin since 2017.

Pick ATS: Chiefs

Los Angeles Rams vs New York Giants

• Tuesday, September 22, 1.15am BST

• Point spread: Rams -7.5

Rams coach Sean McVay opted to fly his team to Australia for last Thursday’s Kickoff Game essentially 24 hours before kickoff. His guys got dominated by the rival 49ers, 27-7. That made Los Angeles the first preseason Super Bowl favorite to lose its opener by 20 or more in the past 50 seasons. Reigning league MVP Matthew Stafford was flat-out bad. The Rams played without unretired former three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald for conditioning reasons. Decent chance he will be ready for the home opener. But fellow DPOY Myles Garrett needs knee surgery and is out. The Giants kicked off the John Harbaugh coaching era with an impressive 28-20 home win over Dallas. Jaxson Dart became the first in Giants history to complete at least 70 per cent of his passes, pass for at least three scores and rush for a minimum of 50 yards.

Pick ATS: Giants

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All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.