The first week of the NFL season came and went like a blur, and with it came many upsets and surprise performances. I faired alright in the opening week, going 10-6 overall. This week offers a little more clarity, and we should use that to our advantage. It’ll be a slate full of great games, so let’s get into it.
New York Giants at Washington Football Team
Winner: Washington Football Team
Score: 23-14
Summary: This should be a more defensive battle between two teams that disappointed in Week 1. I like Heinicke, and I think he’ll be good enough to get the win. He’s going to find Terry McLaurin for a score, and then Antonio Gibson will get the other. Daniel Jones will toss two touchdowns but won’t be enough to get the win as the Giants fall to 0-2.
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers
Score: 24-17
Summary: This will be the opposite of the first game on the slate, because this is between two teams that overperformed in Week 1. The Steelers defense will make sure that this game doesn’t get too out of hand, and a bounce back performance from Najee Harris seals the deal for the Steelers to move to 2-0. The Raiders find Darren Waller and Josh Jacobs for scores in this one but fall to 1-1.
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Winner: Philadelphia Eagles
Score: 38-28
Summary: This may come as a surprise to a bunch of people, but I’m taking the Eagles here. They were one of the most impressive teams in Week 1 and Jalen Hurts has the scramble ability to keep the talented front seven of San Fran on edge. He’ll build more chemistry with Devonta Smith and throw another touchdown to him, and Miles Sanders will play outstanding for the Eagles. The 49ers will fight hard with a solid game from Jimmy Garappolo and a great running game, but they will fall to 1-1.
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns
Winner: Cleveland Browns
Score: 34-17
Summary: Coming into this game, the Browns are winless and the Texans are undefeated. That’s why I tell people not to overreact too much to Week 1. The Browns are way better and will win this football game. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will each have huge games and Mayfield will find Landry for a touchdown as well. Tyrod Taylor finds Brandon Cooks and Nico Collins for scores, but the Texans undefeated season ends in Week 2.
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars
Winner: Denver Broncos
Score: 28-14
Summary: The Broncos showed a lot of promise in Week 1, and have a great chance to move to 2-0 here. Teddy Bridgewater has another great game, the run game fires on all cylinders, and the defense gets a pick six off of Trevor Lawrence. On the other side, the Jaguars continue to struggle aside from a James Robinson touchdown and a lone Trevor Lawrence touchdown.
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
Winner: New Orleans Saints
Score: 31-24
Summary: The Saints were outstanding in Week 1, and they’ll look to play like that again. It’ll be a running back battle in this one between Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey, as they go for two scores apiece. Jameis Winston will do enough to push the Saints over the Panthers though, as he throws for two scores and continues to play very efficiently.
Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts
Winner: Los Angeles Rams
Score: 35-24
Summary: The Rams are scary good, and that’s a problem for Indy. They’ll fall to 0-2 after the Rams come to town. Carson Wentz will throw for two scores, and Jonathan Taylor gets one on the ground, but it’s not enough. Stafford throws for four scores against a defense that struggled against Russell Wilson last week.
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
Winner: Buffalo Bills
Score: 27-21
Summary: The Bills are surprisingly 0-1, and they’ll look to turn around their slow start against a division rival. Josh Allen will throw for 300 yards and three scores. The Dolphins will have a chance to win it at the end but Tua Tagovailoa will throw an interception to end this one as the Bills move to 1-1.
New England Patriots at New York Jets
Winner: New England Patriots
Score: 24-21
Summary: The Patriots will go to New York for a battle between two rookie signal callers. They’ll both play well in this one, but Mac Jones will slightly edge out Zach Wilson to win this one. They’ll both throw for two scores in this one, and it’ll be the first of many division battles between these two QBs.
Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears
Winner: Cincinnati Bengals
Score: 23-17
Summary: Is it too early to start a Bengals hypetrain? We probably need more proof to do so, but the Bears aren’t exactly a test. Joe Burrow will work some late game magic to move the Bengals to 2-0, and Ja’Marr Chase will make the uneducated haters angry again with 100 yards and a score again. Andy Dalton will struggle again, but David Montgomery should have a solid game in this one. Bengals. 2-0. Who would’ve thought.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Score: 38-14
Summary: The Buccaneers are good. The Falcons suck. This shouldn’t be close, though divisional games can be surprising sometimes I guess. Not this one though. The Bucs will take down a bad Falcons team and Tom Brady will throw for four scores. Calvin Ridley will be the only bright spot for the Falcons this Sunday.
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
Winner: Arizona Cardinals
Score: 35-28
Summary: The Cardinals were great in Week 1, and the Vikings were not. I expect the Vikings to look better this week, but not enough to take down the Cardinals. Kyler Murray will use his numerous weapons to throw for four more scores. Justin Jefferson goes for 100 yards and two scores himself as the Vikings fall to 0-2.
Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
Score: 31-28
Summary: The Titans are not as bad as they played last week, but the NFC West will not get any easier in Seattle for them. This game will be a shootout that goes to overtime, and Russell Wilson will close it out for the Seahawks as he throws for three touchdowns. Derrick Henry will hit his rhythm with over 100 rushing yards, but the Titans sink to 0-2.
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Score: 34-31
Summary: This was by far the hardest game to pick this week. It could truly go either way. This will be a great game, as Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott will combine for 800 passing yards and 6 scores. It will be the Cowboys that pull this one off though as their fans get another reason to have obnoxiously high expectations for this team.
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
Score: 31-21
Summary: This should be a great Sunday night game that features two loaded rosters. The Chiefs are healthy, and that’ll be enough to win this contest. Patrick Mahomes will find his two favorite guys, Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill, for scores and Clyde Edwards-Helaire will be solid for them as well. Lamar Jackson will find Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown for touchdowns and then run one in himself, but the Chiefs will be too much for the Ravens to handle on Sunday night.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Winner: Green Bay Packers
Score: 31-17
Summary: The Packers were awful in Week 1. Like putrid. Thankfully, they get the Lions in Week 2. If they lose this game, then I don’t know what to tell you. I think Rodgers turns it around this week and finds Davante Adams for two scores here. The Lions will look alright, especially D’Andre Swift and T.J. Hockensen, but will fall to 0-2 at the hands of the Packers.
