NFL picks, predictions in opposition to unfold Week 2: Chiefs personal Ravens; Packers, Cowboys, Browns rebound

Week 1 had its share of shock outcomes with loads of groups being unknown portions going into the 2021 NFL common season. However it’s good to have some knowledge factors and perceive what sort of vibes each crew within the league is placing out early.

That ought to make Week 2 a bit simpler to deal with one other full slate of video games. What’s notable is having three huge favorites on the board whereas the remainder of the matchups name for one-possession spreads.

Whether or not the quantity is large or small, here is serving to you navigate by means of all of it. This is additionally hoping to construct on some stable however unspectacular preliminary returns:

(Sport odds courtesy of FanDuel)

NFL POWER RANKINGS: Big bumps for Steelers and Saints, but how about that NFC West?

NFL picks in opposition to the unfold for Week 2

• Sport of the Week: Chiefs (-3.5, 54.5 o/u) at Ravens

Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC

The Chiefs have managed this sequence when it has been Andy Reid vs. protege John Harbaugh and Patrick Mahomes vs. Lamar Jackson. Do not count on a special outcome right here with Baltimore coming off a brief week and Kansas Metropolis being a fearless touring crew. The Chiefs’ protection is best positioned to comprise Jackson whereas the Ravens will not be as outfitted to deal with Mahomes throwing downfield usually to his favourite targets, Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce. Make the most of the low quantity within the Chiefs’ favor.

Choose: Chiefs win 27-23 and canopy the unfold.

• Sport of Midweek: Giants at Washington Soccer Group (-4, 41 o/u)

Thursday 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL Community

The Giants seemed like an offensive fiddle Daniel Jones in Week 1 and though their protection performed at nicely at instances, it nonetheless gave up an excessive amount of on the fallacious instances. Washington additionally was handed a tough house defeat from an AFC West crew and likewise misplaced Ryan Fitzpatrick to a hip harm, prompting a return to Taylor Heinicke at QB. WFT is the put-together crew offensively and defensively beneath Ron Rivera, whereas New York is certain to have extra dysfunction nonetheless with out an id for Joe Decide.

Choose: Washington wins 20-13 and covers the unfold.

Consequence: Washington wins 30-29

• Lock of the Week: Steelers (-6.5, 46.5 o/u) over Raiders

Sunday 1 p.m. ET,  CBS

There is not any break for Las Vegas, coming from house in opposition to Baltimore, having performed deep into extra time on a brief week, out to a different AFC North energy in Pittsburgh. The state of the Raiders’ passing sport with Derek Carr does not encourage it would deal with the Steelers’ aces in cross rush and protection. The Steelers folded offensively in opposition to the Payments, however this will probably be a get-well sport for his or her proficient trio of broad receivers and a breakout alternative for rookie first-round operating again Najee Harris.

Choose: Steelers win 31-14 and canopy the unfold.

MORE: Worst overreactions from NFL Week 1

• Upset of the Week: Eagles over 49ers (-3, 49.5 o/u)

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox

The Eagles’ domination of the Falcons in Week 1 can’t be ignored. They obtained every little thing they might have requested for from Jalen Hurts and the offense. The protection was very lively and obtained after it up entrance. Nick Sirianni already seems like a younger teaching star within the Kyle Shanahan vein. San Francisco has traveled nicely to the East with Shanahan, however their sloppiness late in Detroit will carry over a bit to Philadelphia. The Eagles will discover lots of the identical issues to use within the 49ers’ protection the Lions did, solely at the next stage.

Choose: Eagles win 27-24.

• Bengals at Bears (-2.5, 45.5 o/u)

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox

The Bears are messing round with their quarterbacks and doing their whole offense a disservice. They’ll run the ball nicely with David Montgomery, however they will not faucet into their full passing potential till rookie first-rounder Justin Fields is the common starter. Chicago’s cross protection points additionally confirmed up in opposition to the Rams’ receivers and Cincinnati’s trio is harmful for Joe Burrow. The Bengals additionally discovered a cross rush and run protection in key conditions to upend the Vikings. Cincinnati continues to be an early season nice shock, whereas the new seat will start to scorch for Andy Dalton and Matt Nagy.

Choose: Bengals win 24-20.

• Texans at Browns (-13.5, 47.5 o/u)

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS

Tyrod Taylor was terrific in lifting Houston out of its Deshaun Watson issues in Week 1. He has good management qualities on high of twin risk abilities that embody a powerful arm and athleticism when wanted. Now he will get a “revenge sport” on the highway in Cleveland, the crew that displaced him for Baker Mayfield 4 seasons in the past. Sadly, the Texans are dealing with a extra harmful offense this week that additionally focuses on exploiting their main run protection weak spot with Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt. Search for Mayfield to flip the script, this time holding an enormous lead because the Browns’ protection retains Taylor from pulling off a Mahomes-like comeback.

Choose: Browns win 38-21 and canopy the unfold.

MORE: Grading the rookie QB debuts from Week 1

• Rams (-3.5, 48.5 o/u) at Colts 

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox

The Rams love their new QB in Matthew Stafford. The Colts are nonetheless making an attempt to have those self same emotions for Carson Wentz. Indianapolis will get one other brutal house sport in opposition to an NFC West offenisve energy, one with a fair stronger protection led by Aaron Donald and Jalen Ramsey. As soon as the Colts are contained with Jonathan Taylor within the operating sport, they do not have the weapons for Wentz to reply Stafford. The Colts’ protection did not encourage in faltering in opposition to the Seahawks’ Sean McVay-adjacent offense.

Choose: Rams win 27-17 and canopy the unfold.

• Payments (-3.5, 47.5 o/u) at Dolphins

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox

The Payments misplaced their offensive mojo with the Steelers’ protection stymying Josh Allen within the opener. The Dolphins obtained simply sufficient offense from Tua Tagovailoa to bounce the Patriots. The excellent news, each Buffalo and Miami are coming off sturdy defensive peformances of their wins. That may hold this sport lower-scoring and a grind between two division rivals. The Payments will scratch this sport out as Allen may be trusted to make the important thing couple large performs along with his arm and legs over Tagovailoa.

Choose: Payments win 23-20 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Patriots (-6, 42.5 o/u) at Jets

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS

The Patriots have an important historical past in opposition to rookie quarterbacks with Invoice Belichick and the Panthers may have supplied loads of good sport movie on how you can frustrate a promising however inexperienced Zach Wilson. Search for New England to not fear a lot concerning the run and deal with taking away Wilson’s clear high goal, Corey Davis, even with out Stephon Gilmore. Rookie counterpart Mac Jones has extra help along with his offensive line, operating sport and versatile supporting talent personnel to maneuver the ball in methodical, mistake-free vogue.

Choose: Patriots win 24-13 and canopy the unfold.

• Saints (-3.5, 44.5 o/u) at Panthers

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox

The Saints got here by means of with an emotional victory taking part in their house opener distant from New Orleans, dominating the Packers in Jacksonville. Though they may calm down a bit on the true highway in Carolina, Alvin Kamara will win the scrimmage duel with Christian McCaffrey given the superior offensive line, which additionally means Jameis Winston may be trusted to ship the important thing large performs downfield over Sam Darnold. The Saints have a good suggestion of what former assistant Joe Brady desires to do, a lift to an impressed protection in transition.

Choose: Saints win 24-20 and canopy the unfold.

• Broncos (-6, 45.5 o/u) at Jaguars

Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS

The Broncos beat he Giants with their protection and operating sport, however they misplaced a key goal for Teddy Bridgewater within the passing sport with Jerry Jeudy struggling a excessive ankle sprain. Defensive stud Von Miller is again to guide the stress package deal for Vic Fangio, buoyed by higher protection. Miller will assist rattle Trevor Lawrence after the Jaguars’ operating sport is contained. Denver does not have to deviate from its successful system in opposition to one other lesser crew. Jacksonville will construct on a superb second half in opposition to the Texans to look extra with it for City Meyer, however that is about it at 0-2.

Choose: Broncos 24-20 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Vikings at Cardinals (-3.5, 50.5 o/u)

Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox

The Vikings anticipated to be higher defensively, particularly up entrance. The Cardinals have gotten rather a lot higher defensively with the mix of J.J. Watt and a wholesome Chandler Jones. Minnesota has loads of extra firepower than Tennessee does, nevertheless, to enhance its personal run-heavy method with Dalvin Prepare dinner. Former long-time Cardinal Patrick Peterson will do his greatest to deal with DeAndre Hopkins, however Kyler Murray has extra weapons than Kirk Cousins, together with his legs. Arizona wins a wild one within the desert to improves to 2-0, whereas Minnesota is dealt one other shut highway loss.

Choose: Cardinals win 30-27 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Falcons at Buccaneers (-12.5, 52.5 o/u)

Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, Fox

The Falcons seemed terrible offensively within the first sport with Arthur Smith, who may need pressured the operating sport in opposition to the Eagles and put Matt Ryan in an uncomfortable state of affairs when that led to trailing within the second half. Count on the adjustment of letting Ryan unfastened early along with his broad receivers and hybrid rookie tight finish Kyle Pitts, as a result of passing on the Bucs will probably be rather a lot simpler than making an attempt to run on them. The Bucs’ edge cross rush will shut the door on any kind of division spoiler comeback after Tom Brady does loads of harm along with his personal wideouts and tight ends once more.

Choose: Buccaneers win 31-21 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Cowboys at Chargers (-3, 54.5 o/u)

Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

The Cowboys needed to be happy with Dak Prescott’s return in defeat at Tampa and he will get a protracted week to get his shoulder stronger for Week 2. Dallas considers L.A. a house away from Oxnard, Calif., and will have loads of followers packing SoFi Stadium. Dallas may have extra success operating the ball with Ezekiel Elliott on this sport, to assist additional open up the massive cross performs for Prescott to CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper. Justin Herbert and Los Angeles’ talent gamers will probably be sharper than they had been in Washington, main to a different thrilling sport wherein Prescott outduels him.

Choose: Cowboys win 34-27.

• Titans at Seahawks (-6.5, 54.5 o/u)

Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS

The Titans have an issue. Their protection is counting on a youthful secondary behind a non-existent cross rush. Additionally they are a game-script dependent offense, the place they work solely when Derrick Henry can get going operating early or Ryan Tannehill can function off play-action. The Seahawks jumped on the run-heavy Colts final week with Russell Wilson lighting it up and did not look again with their protection capable of tee off within the second half. Henry will run higher this week to assist hold the Titans within the sport, however Wilson ought to be sure that Seattle will get to 2-0 at house, by late comeback if wanted.

Choose: Seahawks win 31-27 however fail to cowl the unfold.

• Lions at Packers (-12.5, 48.5 o/u)

Monday 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN

The Packers have tended to have an absolute clunker with Matt LaFleur each season, so they need to be hoping the listless efficiency in opposition to the Saints in Jacksonville is the 2021 model. They have a tendency to come back again sturdy from these spots in get-well video games. This will probably be simply that for Aaron Rodgers and Aaron Jones, with the protection additionally taking part in extra impressed at Lambeau Discipline. Detroit will not be getting a back-door cowl once more on the highway in opposition to a supposed NFC energy.

Choose: Packers win 38-14 and canopy the unfold.

Vinnie Iyer’s 2021 picks:

• Week 1 document in opposition to the unfold: 8-7
• Week 1 document straight up: 9-6
• Season ATS: 8-7
• Season straight up: 9-6