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NFL Picks and Predictions Week 2

By Robert Hayek

Posted on September 13, 2024

NFL Picks and Predictions

The season’s first week is over, and there were a lot of shockers. A lot of people lost their survivor pools, and a lot of people saw their favorites stumble out of the gate. I’m here to review our NFL picks and prediction column and gauge how things will pan out in Week 2. Before that, let’s check out how I did on the seven games I published. My record after the first week is:

Moneyline: 6-1
ATS: 3-4
O/U: 1-6

I chose seven games last week and seven this week. Before you read my picks, you can analyze the team rankings and trends from the previous week to see what to expect. While I did exceptionally well at the money line, I could do better against the spread and the over/under. But I have 17 more weeks to bring that up, and so do you.

We will showcase the odds using the lines from our NFL Odds page and then make a pick, just as we did to start the season. Once settled, you can make predictions based on the betting odds while fully understanding the games. Come with me as I share my Week 2 picks and predictions for seven marquee games.

See all our NFL Picks Here

SAINTS (+6.5) VS. COWBOYS (O/U 46.5)

The Saints are ninth in total offense after their Week 1 explosion.
The Cowboys are fifth in total defense after stuffing the Cleveland Browns.
The Cowboys are 24th in total offense after doing just enough to beat the Browns.
The Saints are second in the NFL in total defense after destroying the Carolina Panthers.
The Cowboys averaged 37.4 points per game at home in 2023.
The Cowboys lead the all-time series 17-13.
The Cowboys defeated the Saints 27-17 on December 2, 2021, at the Superdome.
The Cowboys edged out the Saints 13-10 in the last battle at AT&T Field on November 29, 2018.

Derek Carr exploded for 200 yards and three touchdowns, leading the Saints to a 47-10 shellacking of the Carolina Panthers to start the season. But Carr had some great help from his running backs. Alvin Kamara ran 15 times for 83 yards, a touchdown, and five catches for 27 yards. Likewise, Jamaal Williams got in on the fun, running 11 times for 38 yards while breaking into the endzone for a touchdown. The offense had a good buffer because the defense kept stopping Carolina and confusing quarterback Bryce Young. But things will get much more challenging this weekend. The Dallas Cowboys will have a better offensive line and better weapons, including one of the best quarterback-wide receiver combos in the NFL.

Dak Prescott was productive in a 33-17 win over the Cleveland Browns, going 19 for 32 with 179 yards and one touchdown. Ultimately, he found Ceedee Lamb, who had five catches for 61 yards to help pace the offense. The defense destroyed Deshaun Watson, sacking him six times and intercepting two of his paces. Additionally, they stuffed Jerome Ford and held him to 12 rushes for 44 yards. The Cowboys also limited the Browns to 2 for 15 on third-down conversions. The one issue the Cowboys must negate is penalties, as they committed 11 in their win over the Browns. Therefore, it could be the one thing that hurts them if they cannot stay disciplined.

The Saints tamed the Panthers last weekend, while the Cowboys defeated a solid team with an underachieving quarterback. While the Saints could pose some challenges against the Cowboys, they don’t have the offense to keep up with them. If Prescott can get the ball to Lamb, then it will be a tough day for the Saints. Lamb had seven catches for 89 yards in his first game against the Saints. I can see something similar: he wins the battle against Marcus Lattimore, helping the Cowboys escape with a win.

Final Prediction: Cowboys 24, Saints 20

Picks: Saints +6, U 47

49ERS (-5) VS. VIKINGS (46.5 O/U)

The 49ers are fifth in total offense after marching down the field and scoring nine consecutive times in a 32-19 victory over the Jets.
The Vikings are seventh in total defense after clamping down on the New York Giants in Week 1.
The Vikings are 14th in total offense after firing some scores against the Giants.
The 49ers are 10th in total defense after holding the Jets to 19 points and
The 49ers lead the overall series 25-24-1
Brock Purdy is 0-1 against the Vikings. Last season, on Monday Night Football, he lost 22-17 to them, going 21 for 30 for 272 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
The 49ers have not won in Minnesota since 1992, losing seven games in a row at the HHH Metrodome and US Bank Stadium.

The 49ers started the season without Christian McCaffrey. Regardless, they still defeated the Jets handily. Amazingly, Jordan Mason came through in stride, running 28 times for 147 yards with one touchdown on a 5.3 yards per carry clip. Deebo Samuel Jr. was also solid, running eight times for 23 yards while catching five passes for 54 yards. Ultimately, Brock Purdy was great at getting the ball to his receivers, finishing with a modest stat line of 19 for 29 with 231 yards. The defense showed up, sacking Aaron Rodgers once and intercepting one of his passes while also causing Breece Hall to fumble. Now, they will face a Vikings team that is led by Sam Darnold, who was on the Niners’ roster last season.

The Vikings dominated the Giants, stomping them 28-6 at the Meadowlands. Darnold came through, going 19 for 24 with 208 yards passing, two touchdowns, and one interception. Meanwhile, Aaron Jones had a great Minnesota debut, rushing 14 times for 94 yards and a touchdown. Justin Jefferson caught four passes for 59 yards and a score. Now, the Vikings will play the first home game of the season, hoping to continue a strange dominance over the 49ers.

When the teams met on Monday Night Football last season, the Niners did not have Samuel or offensive tackle Trent Williams. They likely will be without McCaffrey, as he is still dealing with Achillies tendonitis. The Vikings don’t have any significant injuries heading into this one. Ultimately, the Niners have some good options, even without McCaffrey. While they won’t be caught off guard this time, the long trip off a Monday Night Game will make this close.

Final Prediction: 49ers 27, Vikings 24

Picks: Vikings +5, O 46.5

BUCCANEERS (+7.5) VS. LIONS (O/U 51)

The Bucs are seventh in total offense after routing the Washington Commanders 37-20.
The Lions are 25th in total defense after edging out the Rams last weekend.
The Lions are 10th in total offense after Week 1.
The Bucs are 16th in total defense after Week 1.
The Lions lead the head-to-head series 33-29.
The Lions defeated the Bucs 31-23 in the NFC Divisional Round at Ford Field.
The Lions also defeated the Bucs 20-6 on October 15, 2023, at Raymond James Stadium.
The Lions are 6-4 over the past 10 games against the Bucs.
The Bucs are 4-1 in the last five regular-season games against the Lions at Ford Field.

The Buccaneers dominated the Commanders 37-20 last weekend, as Baker Mayfield went off, going 24 for 30 with 289 yards and four touchdowns. Also, rookie Bucky Irving rushed nine times for 62 yards while averaging 6.9 yards per carry in his NFL debut. Chris Godwin caught all eight of his targets for 83 yards and one touchdown. Meanwhile, Mike Rvans had five catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns. The Bucs dominated from start to finish and did not let up. They will face a significantly more challenging test as they head to Motown for a rematch of the NFC Divisional Round, the same spot where their 2023 season ended.

The Lions overcame the Los Angeles Rams in a thriller, overcoming them 26-20 in overtime on opening weekend. David Montgomery rushed 17 times for 91 yards, including the game-winning touchdown. Jahmyr Gibbs added 11 rushes for 40 yards and a touchdown, with four catches for 34 yards. Significantly, Jared Goff was solid in getting the ball to his receivers. Jameson Williams was explosive, catching five passes for 121 yards for a touchdown. Tight end Sam LaPorta had four catches for 45 yards. The defense generated two sacks and one turnover.

The teams are more evenly matched than most would admit. The Bucs were tied with the Lions entering the fourth quarter last season in the Divisional Round before crumbling in the final stanza. Ultimately, they will find a way to hang around and steal this game. However, the Bucs will be without All-Pro safety Antoine Winfield and cornerback Bryce Hall, both of whom suffered devastating injuries last weekend. Also, Zyon McCollum sustained a concussion and might not be ready for Sunday. The Lions will find a way to exploit a vulnerable secondary.

Final Prediction: Lions 35, Bucs 27

Picks: Lions -7.5, O51

COLTS (-3) VS. PACKERS (O/U 40.5)

The Colts are 16th in total offense after hanging with the Houston Texans last weekend.
The Packers are 29th in total defense after failing to stop the Philadelphia Eagles in the opener.
After laying out some points against the Eagles, the Packers are third in total offense.
The Eagles are 30th in total defense after allowing the Packers to march down the field.
The Colts lead the all-time series 24-21-1
The Colts edged out the Packers 34-31 in the last showdown on November 22, 2020, at Lucas Oil Field.
The Colts have won the last three games in the series.
The last time the Packers defeated the Colts, Aaron Rodgers was the starting quarterback.

The Colts hung around but ultimately fell to the Houston Texans 29-27 last weekend. But their offense looked good. Anthony Richardson went 9 for 19 with 212 yards passing for two touchdowns with one interception while rushing six times for 26 yards. Jonathan Taylor added 16 rushes for 48 yards and a score. Likewise, Alex Pierce was excellent, catching three passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. But the defense was not good, allowing the Texans to march down the field without opposition. They will face a Packers team that just lost Jordan Love for a few weeks. Therefore, they will battle Malik Willis in this one.

The Packers will likely be without Love, who suffered an MCL strain, and it will be challenging for them to overcome his absence. Unfortunately, it occurred on the last play of a 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Josh Jacobs will likely have to put the offense on his back after rushing 16 times for 84 yards. But the receivers may have a tougher time catching passes from Willis. This is where the defense must step up, and do everything they can to stop the Colts. It won’t be easy, especially with the dual-threat combo of Richardson and Taylor.

Injuries always change everything. The Packers would have been favored had Love been playing. Unfortunately, it looks less likely that it will happen. While the Colts are not the greatest team in the world, they have a healthier team and a quarterback who can be very dangerous with his legs. The Colts will not blow the Packers out, but they will win this game.

Final Prediction: Colts 23, Packers 16

Picks: Colts -3 (U40.5)

JETS (+4) VS. TITANS (O/U 41.5)

The Jets are 23rd in total offense after struggling against the San Francisco 49ers’ defense.
The Titans are first in total defense after containing number-1 pick Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
The Titans are 25th in total offense after allowing the Bears’ defense to maul them.
The Jets are 28th in total defense after struggling to contain Jordan Mason and the 49ers.
The Titans lead the all-time series 25-20-1.
The Jets won the last battle, 27-24, on October 3, 2021, at Met Life Stadium at the Meadowlands.
The Titans last played the Jets at home on December 2, 2018, when they defeated them 26-22.

The Jets suffered a brutal 32-19 loss to the 49ers on Monday Night Football. Aaron Rodgers labored, going 13 for 21 with 167 yards passing, with one touchdown and one interception. Breece Hall rushed 16 times for 54 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Allen Lazard paced the receivers with six receptions for 89 yards and two scores. But the defense could not stop the run game, allowing Jordan Mason to gash them for 147 yards on the ground. Now, they will face another team that likes to run the ball and a duel-headed monster at running back.

The Titans fell apart, losing 24-17 to the Chicago Bears despite a good outing from Tony Pollard. Amazingly, Pollard rushed 16 times for 82 yards and one touchdown. But for some reason, the Titans did not continue running the ball, and quarterback Will Levis gave the game away with a poor performance that saw him go 19 for 32 with 127 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.

The Titans are having their home opener, and the crowd will be ready to rumble. However, something in me says the Jets will respond after Monday Night Football. Rodgers is still a good quarterback, but he needs an extra session. Likewise, this Titans team is nowhere near as good as the 49ers. Expect the Jets to win an ugly one, with the defense carrying them.

Final Prediction: Jets 19, Titans 16

Picks: Titans +4, U 41.5

BENGALS (+5.5) VS. CHIEFS (O/U 48)

The Bengals are 30th in total offense after stumbling against the New England Patriots defense in the opening week.
The Chiefs are last in total defense after allowing the Baltimore Ravens to move the football.
The Chiefs are 11th in total offense after moving the ball efficiently against the Ravens.
The Bengals are 14th in total defense after doing enough to stay competitive against the Pats.
The Bengals lead the head-to-head series 18-16.
The Chiefs defeated the Bengals 25-17 last season, in a game which Joe Burrow did not play.
Patrick Mahomes is 2-2 in four career games (including two playoff showdowns) against the Bengals.
Joe Burrow is 3-1 in four career games (including two playoff battles) against the Chiefs.

The Bengals stumbled again in their season opener, falling to the Patriots at home. Burrow had a quiet day, going 21 for 29 with 164 yards passing without a single score. Meanwhile, Zack Moss made his Bengals’ debut by rushing nine times for 44 yards and a touchdown. Ja’Marr Chase had six catches for 62 yards. Unfortunately, the offense had no punch on Sunday, getting only 13 first downs. Also, they turned the ball over twice. The Bengals need to do much better to keep pace with the Chiefs.

The Chiefs opened their Super Bowl title defense by clipping the Ravens 27-20 at Arrowhead Stadium. Mahomes was productive, going 20 for 28 with 291 yards passing, one touchdown, and one interception. Xavier Worthy had an explosive debut, running 21 yards for a touchdown and catching two passes for 47 yards and another score. Meanwhile, Isiah Pacheco ground out 15 rushes for 45 yards and a touchdown. Rashee Rice had seven catches for 103. Now, the Chiefs will face an old rival who has proven to be one of the teams who can hang with them. While the Bengals have started slowly, they can still shock the Chiefs.

The Bengals and the Chiefs always play close games. All of their past four showdowns have been one-score games. I expect Burrow to play much better, especially if Tee Higgins can play. But the Chiefs also play well at home, and I would feel more confident in giving the Bengals this game if it were later in the season. Sadly, they struggle in September, and it’s tough to trust them. Give the Chiefs the edge.

Final Prediction: Chiefs 31, Bengals 24

Picks: Chiefs -5.5, O48

BEARS (+6.5) VS. TEXANS (0/U 45.5)

The Bears are last in total offense after struggling to move the football against the Tennessee Titans.
The Texans are 17th in total defense after the opening clash with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Texans are second in total offense after exploding against the Colts.
The Bears are eighth in total defense after leading a rally against the Titans.
The Texans are 4-2 against the Bears over six games.
The Bears edged out the Texans 23-20 in their last showdown on September 25, 2022 at Soldier Field.
The Texans have won both home games against the Bears by an average of eight points.

The Bears defeated the Titans 24-17 last weekend, but the defense did almost all of the work. Caleb Williams went just 14 for 29 with only 93 yards in his NFL debut. D’Andre Swift ran the ball 10 times for 30 yards in his Bears’ debut. But the defense caused three turnovers, one of which resulted in a pick-6. Likewise, special teams blocked a punt and took it back to the house for a touchdown. Chicago will need better results from the offense and from Williams if they want to have a chance to challenge the Texans.

The Texans edged out the Colts 29-27 last weekend, with the offense showcasing how good they could be. CJ Stroud went 24 for 32 with 234 yards passing and two touchdowns. Additionally, Joe Mixon had a great Texans’ debut, rumbling 30 times for 159 yards and a touchdown while also nabbing three receptions for 19 yards. Nico Collins paced the Houston receivers with six catches for 117 yards. Likewise, Tank Dell had three receptions for 40 yards, and Stefon Diggs had an excellent Texans’ debut with six catches for 33 yards and two touchdowns. The Texans will now face a significantly better defense. Ultimately, they will face a Chicago pass rush that mauled Anthony Richardson three times. It will be a tough go, and the Texans must devise a game plan to escape this defense’s clutches.

The Bears look somewhat better this season, but they have a long way to go. Conversely, the Texans already look much better than they did last season. Because of this defense, I can see the Bears hanging around, at least for a little while. But I can also see the Texans pulling away in the fourth quarter and finding a way to take down the Bears on Sunday Night Football.

Final Prediction: Texans 27, Bears 20

Picks: Texans +6.5, O 45.5