The world’s most popular league begins play after more than 200 days of pontificating and waiting, and it either confirms or disproves our assumptions. The Falcons, the NFC South favorite, are at a loss. Both its division rival and the current AFC No. 1 seed, the Baltimore Ravens, and the Bengals, who many bookmakers believe will win the AFC, are 0-1 as well.
However, trends start to emerge in Week 2. In a single game, any team can look fantastic or terrible, but the best teams emerge in Week 2.
Here are the top five predictions for Week 2 of the NFL season that you can wager on with PA’s top sportsbooks, armed with information from a week full of games and an exciting schedule ahead.
1. The Bills will win in Miami (again)
Buffalo has won 13 of the last 15 head-to-head meetings and four in a row, dominating the series against the Dolphins. The last time the Bills lost against the Fins was in 2022, when Buffalo defeated Miami 21-19 at Hard Rock Stadium despite outscoring Miami 497-212.
In the most recent meeting of this rivalry, which will occur Thursday night in the first game of Prime Video’s NFL schedule, Miami is favored by around a field goal, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. Despite appearing slow at points during its 34-28 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, there is no reason to think Buffalo shouldn’t win.
Even though Tua Tagovailoa had a fantastic game throwing for 338 yards and a touchdown in Miami’s 20–17 victory, Josh Allen is an obvious choice if quarterback play is the deciding factor. However, it is concerning that Miami did not convert all of the yards into points, particularly when playing Buffalo, who scored 34 points and placed sixth in football in terms of points per game the previous season (26.5).
Additionally, Tagovailoa needs to demonstrate that he can prevail in a high-profile match, particularly when facing a top-tier quarterback. Miami was thrashed at Baltimore in 2023 and fell twice to Buffalo and Kansas City the previous season.
Despite having inferior weapons without Stefon Diggs and Gabriel Davis, Allen appeared to be the league’s MVP in the first game of the season. In Week 2, expect that pattern to continue in Miami.
2. Russell Wilson will never start a regular-season game for the Steelers
Although he dressed in his full gear for Pittsburgh’s game in Atlanta, Russell Wilson’s strained calf is probably going to keep him out of the field for the Steelers’ second game this weekend in Denver.
Justin Fields was an excellent and efficient player, particularly when it came to rushing the ball for 57 yards. The Pittsburgh offense did not make any significant errors against Atlanta, as Najee Harris led the Steelers with 70 yards on a comparatively effective 3.5 yards per rush.
Given that Wilson rarely misses games, this injury appears to be legitimate. However, Fields should continue to feel confident because of the way he managed Arthur Smith’s system, particularly the way he connected with George Pickens, the number one receiver, who had 85 yards on six catches.
Wilson was only selected as the starting quarterback on August 28 after a real quarterback competition took place in Pittsburgh during training camp. Wilson’s $1 million one-year contract with Pittsburgh is a pittance for a backup quarterback, never alone a starter.
Additionally, Fields has a great chance to continue the momentum at Denver, who lost to the Seahawks 26–20 on Sunday after giving up 146 rushing yards. At the moment, the Steelers are -142 on the moneyline at FanDuel Sportsbook.
3. The Falcons will start 0-2
Atlanta was meant to be different this year. Kirk Cousins and Raheem Morris were expected to heal the ailing Falcons club after witnessing Desmond Ridder and Taylor Heinicke ruin the aforementioned Smith’s offense and squander the valuable peak years of Bijan Robinson, Kyle Pitts, and Drake London.
However, the Steelers arrived in Atlanta and won with a humiliating score of 18–10. Even though Atlanta’s defense was strong, it allowed Fields, Harris, and Pickens to get into field-goal range six times, and Cousins was awful, throwing for just 155 yards and a touchdown while also throwing two interceptions.
Atlanta will now have to travel to Philadelphia to play Saquon Barkley and the soaring Eagles. Prior to its disappointing performance against the Steelers, Atlanta was a -120 favorite to win the NFC South. Barkley scored twice on the ground last season, and the Falcons, who were 20th in the NFL in running yards per game (118.2), might struggle against him at the hostile Lincoln Financial Field.
With a 2-10 career record on Monday Night Football, Cousins has a notoriously bad primetime record from a betting standpoint.With the Saints and Bucs playing tough Week 2 games, a 0–2 start would not cost Atlanta the South title, but it will probably set the stage for 2024 first-round choice Michael Penix Jr. to take over as quarterback.
4. The Bengals (also) will start 0-2
Cincinnati, like Atlanta, lost to the New England Patriots 16–10 in Week 1 after having a very winnable game slip through their fingers.
However, similar to the Falcons, the Bengals are facing a 0–2 start, which would be Cincinnati’s third consecutive season with a losing start. Despite having a 3-1 record versus Patrick Mahomes, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has lost two straight games in the rivalry against the Chiefs. Burrow has also never won a Week 2 game in his four prior NFL seasons.
Given that almost every football fan’s home will be watching the game in the late hour on Sunday, it would be extremely Burrow for him to step up and defeat Mahomes at Arrowhead. In Week 1, the Chiefs defeated the Ravens 27–20, but they didn’t exactly look in control.
However, it would also be extremely Bengali for them to fail with such high standards. In addition, the Chiefs, the two-time reigning Super Bowl champions, need to drop the Bengals once more.
When the New York Jets play the Tennessee Titans in Nashville on Sunday, they will look to bounce back from their season-opening defeat in Northern California.
New York’s season-opening loss to the San Francisco 49ers, 32-19, was a complete defeat. The Jets defense gave up 147 yards to reserve running back Jordan Mason, Aaron Rodgers only passed for 167 yards and an interception, and Breece Hall had 93 all-purpose yards and a rushing touchdown.
Additionally, Tennessee is coming off a season-opening loss to the Chicago Bears, losing 24–17 after blowing a 17–0 lead in the second quarter. Although the Titans’ defense did not allow a touchdown, their offense only managed 244 total yards, and the Bears scored with a pick-six by Will Levis in the fourth quarter and a blocked punt.
5. Bryce Young will be benched by Carolina this week (again)
Young may have scored Carolina’s only offensive touchdown this season, but if one week’s performance at 161 yards and two interceptions in the Panthers’ 37-point loss to the Saints is any guide, he hasn’t improved. All of the top Pennsylvania bookmakers currently have the Panthers as the underdog.
The clamor for Young to sit down is getting louder, and Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers don’t provide much relief. Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa will undoubtedly be sniffing blood after the Chargers overcame the rival Raiders 22–10 on Sunday, especially after they combined for 2.5 sacks in the first game and Young was sacked four times in Carolina’s debut.
Even though it isn’t the long-term answer to the Panthers’ quarterback problems, going to Andy Dalton in the second half of a crushing defeat appears likely. However, having a reliable veterinarian like Dalton waiting there might also help Young regain his confidence so he can leave the fire for a few weeks.