As we dive into week two of the NFL season, the excitement is palpable. Last week, I had a solid outing, correctly picking 12 out of 15 games, despite missing the Minnesota and Giants matchup. The opening week brought a mix of upsets, blowouts, and some expected results, setting the stage for another thrilling week of football. Let’s break down the intriguing matchups ahead and see how I envision the outcomes.
Pittsburgh at Denver: My preseason prediction of a 2-0 start for the Steelers is on track, and I’m sticking with them this week. The Steelers’ defense is poised to confuse rookie quarterback Bo Nix, while Justin Fields is expected to shine against a less formidable defense than he faced last week. T.J. Watt, who had a frustrating outing due to penalty calls, will be fired up to wreak havoc in Denver. With fresh talent making a significant impact, I foresee a dominant performance from Pittsburgh. Steelers 30 / Broncos 13
Buffalo at Miami: The Bills managed a narrow victory against the Cardinals in their opener, but they’ll need to elevate their game to take down the Dolphins in Miami. The Dolphins also showed resilience, coming back to beat the Jaguars. This matchup promises to be a high-scoring affair, and I’m leaning towards Miami to edge out Buffalo in a thrilling contest. Dolphins 34 / Bills 28
New Orleans at Dallas: Dak Prescott’s new contract seems to have energized the Cowboys, leading them to a solid win against the Browns. Meanwhile, Derek Carr is on the rebound, but consistency will be key for him. The Cowboys are likely to have a strong season, but history suggests a playoff collapse. For this matchup, I expect Dallas to take care of business at home. Cowboys 30 / Saints 17
Tampa Bay at Detroit: This matchup could very well be the NFC game of the week. Baker Mayfield is riding high after a strong start, and he’ll face a tough challenge against one of the conference’s best teams in Detroit. It’s a close call, but I’m giving the edge to the Lions in a nail-biter. Lions 24 / Bucs 21
Indianapolis at Green Bay: With Jordan Love sidelined and Anthony Richardson struggling, the Colts are turning to Malik Willis, who hasn’t exactly lit it up in his previous stints. The Packers should capitalize on this situation, but it might not be a blowout. Expect a close game, but I’m favoring Green Bay to come out on top. Packers 17 / Colts 13
New York Jets at Tennessee: The Titans had a tough outing against the Bears, but expectations are high for Aaron Rodgers in his second game. I anticipate a much-improved performance from the Jets, leading to a decisive victory over Tennessee. Jets 35 / Titans 10
San Francisco at Minnesota: The Vikings had a strong showing against the Giants, but they’re up against the best team in the NFC this week. Unless the 49ers beat themselves, I don’t see Minnesota having a chance. Expect a commanding performance from San Francisco. 49ers 37 / Vikings 20
Seattle at New England: The Patriots pulled off an impressive upset against the Bengals, and I like their chances at home against the Seahawks, who also come in with a win. This matchup should be tightly contested, but I’m leaning towards New England to secure another victory. Patriots 23 / Seahawks 21
New York Giants at Washington: The Commanders faced a tough opponent in Baker Mayfield, while the Giants were utterly embarrassed last week. Daniel Jones is under immense pressure to perform, and I don’t see him rising to the occasion. Washington should take this one comfortably. Commanders 30 / Giants 13
Los Angeles Chargers at Carolina: The Chargers are coming off a win, while the Panthers are still struggling to find their footing. With Carolina’s lackluster performance last season and Bryce Young’s rocky start, I expect the Chargers to dominate this matchup. Chargers 41 / Panthers 17
Cleveland at Jacksonville: The Browns have a long-standing streak of failing to start a season with a winning record, and this week won’t change that. The Jaguars are poised to take advantage of Cleveland’s struggles. Jaguars 20 / Browns 17
Las Vegas at Baltimore: The Ravens put up a strong fight against the Chiefs in their opener, and I expect them to continue that momentum against the Raiders. Baltimore should handle this matchup with relative ease. Ravens 38 / Raiders 9
Los Angeles Rams at Arizona: The Cardinals had a decent start, but facing the Rams will be a tough challenge. However, I’m calling this one as my upset of the day, with Arizona pulling off a surprise victory. Cardinals 27 / Rams 24
Cincinnati at Kansas City: The Chiefs are set to hand the Bengals a second consecutive loss, which could spell trouble for Cincinnati early in the season. Expect Kansas City to assert their dominance in this matchup. Chiefs 37 / Bengals 23
Chicago at Houston: Caleb Williams had a rough start to his NFL career, and now he faces last season’s Rookie of the Year, C.J. Stroud. This matchup promises to be exciting, but I expect Stroud to lead the Texans to victory. Texans 31 / Bears 13
Atlanta at Philadelphia: The Falcons are looking to bounce back after a disappointing performance, but the Eagles are a formidable opponent. I expect Philadelphia to continue their strong play and send Atlanta to an 0-2 start. Eagles 37 / Falcons 20
Running Pick Record from Week to Week
Week 1: 12/15
Week 2: TBD