The second week of the NFL season isn’t quite the same National Holiday that the first week is. But week two is often a more accurate reflection of how good or bad teams actually are.
Because many NFL starters barely play in the preseason, week one can sometimes be a “shake off the rust” game with more mistakes than usual, so the results are often more unpredictable.
In week two, all of the players will have had four quarters of competitive play under their belts, and will have acclimated to the game speed. Better yet for gamblers, we finally have some actual data to pair with our observations in order to guide our wagers.
For our preview we’ll look at each game and try to ascertain if there is an advantage for one side or the other. All of the games are presented with the point spread, but you can place a variety of wagers (moneyline, props, over/under) on these games at numerous online sportsbooks.
Week 2 NFL Matchups and Point Spreads (Courtesy of Bovada)
A refresher on point spreads: If the number next to a team is negative (-), that team is the favorite and must win by more than the – number to win the bet.
If the number next to the team is a positive (+) that team is the underdog and will win the bet if they lose by less than the + number.
This week the Eagles (-6) are favored by 6 points over the Vikings and the Titans (+3.5) are 3 ½ point underdogs to the Chargers.
Thursday, Sept 14
- Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles (-6 )
Sunday, Sept 17
- Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons (-1)
- Las Vegas Raiders @ Buffalo Bills (-8)
- Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5)
- Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions (-2.5)
- Los Angeles Chargers @ Tennessee Titans (+3.5)
- Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1.5)
- Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+3)
- Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (-1)
- San Francisco 49rs @ Los Angeles Rams (+4.5)
- New York Giants @ Arizona Cardinals (+4)
- New York Jets @ Dallas Cowboys (-2.5)
- Washington Commanders @ Denver Broncos (-3.5)
- Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (+2)
Monday, Sept 18
- New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers (+1)
- Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-1 )
NFL Week Two Betting Odds & Guide
Week Two features another full slate of games (byes don’t begin until week 5) with a doubleheader on Monday night. Ravens/Bengals, Chiefs/Jaguars and Jets/Cowboys highlight the week two matchups.
Thursday, Sept 14. NFL Schedule & Odds
Minnesota Vikings @ Philadelphia Eagles (-6 )
Week two kicks off with two NFC playoff teams going at it in Philadelphia. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has a reputation for shrinking in prime time games, which is actually a symptom of his real problem. Kirk Cousins has beaten bad teams and lost to good teams throughout his entire career. Most prime time games feature good teams (theoretically), so Kirk’s opponents in those games are usually pretty good, or at least too good for Kirk to defeat.
The Eagles were the best team in the NFC last season and look to be at least as talented this year. They continue to find value in the draft and have dominant offensive and defensive lines. The Vikings might have the best wide receiver in the NFL, but Justin Jefferson can only do so much by himself.
This looks like an easy home win for the Eagles to us. The spread could easily grow to be a point or two higher the week before the game, if not more. Grab the Eagles here (-6) while you can.
Sunday, Sept 17. NFL Schedule & Odds
Green Bay Packers @ Atlanta Falcons (-1)
There are a lot of question marks for both of these teams, starting at quarterback. Jordan Love is taking up the reins in Green Bay, right where Aaron Rogers dropped them. He has only started one NFL game in his career, so we really don’t know what he’s capable of.
In Atlanta, Desmond Ridder was 2-2 over the final 4 games of last season. He was better than Marcus Mariotta for the Falcons, but that isn’t exactly a ringing endorsement. There are still questions about Ridder’s arm and while Atlanta seems committed to him this year, he hasn’t yet shown enough to engender much confidence.
This is a game that we will be staying away from until after week one when we can take a look at both of these squads in action and make a determination. The tiny 1 point spread (Falcons favored) indicates that the odds makers don’t know what to make of this one either. Better bets on the board for sure.
Las Vegas Raiders @ Buffalo Bills (-8)
We are writing this game preview with one caveat, if Tom Brady somehow ends up as quarterback of the Raiders, disregard the rest of this and hope that you were able to get the Raiders plus 8 points. Otherwise…
The Bills are going to be on a mission (again) this season. They are clearly more talented than the Raiders but 8 points is a lot of points, in fact this is the highest spread of the week. The Bills will also be coming off of a short week, having played the Jets on Monday night in week one.
If the Jets end up beating Buffalo on Monday night, we would be pushing the Bills despite the 8 points, figuring that they would take out their frustrations on the Raiders, but it’s just as possible that Josh Allen and Co. are ripe for a letdown after spoiling Aaron Rogers’ Jets debut. This is another game we will probably wait until the week-of to choose our bet.
Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3.5)
How did Monday Night Football NOT get this game on a week where they have two games scheduled? Oh well, I guess Sunday deserves some marquee matchups and it doesn’t get much better than this AFC North battle.
The Ravens and Lamar Jackson were finally able to agree on a contract and the quarterback should go into the season happy (or at least quite wealthy). He has to be happy with the Ravens signing Odell Beckham and Drafting Zay Flowers to bolster their wide receiver room. This offense should be fun to watch.
Speaking of, the Bengals didn’t need to add any wide receivers with their starting trio of Chase, Higgins and Boyd (although they did draft two). Along with Joe Burrow, they make up one of the most potent passing games in the NFL.
The Bengals are favored by 3 ½ at home, which is basically a wash when you consider that home field is generally worth 3 points. This is a game we want to watch, but this game has a “whoever has the ball last will win” kind of feel to it, and we have no idea who will have the ball last.
Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions (-2.5)
Both of these teams finished 9-8 last season, with the Seahawks winning a tiebreaker to go to the playoffs. Detroit and Seattle both have their sights set on the playoffs and perhaps even divisional titles. Either way, the outcome of this game is sure to have ramifications down the line.
The Lions will be more rested, having played in the season opening Thursday night game against the Chiefs. Of course the Lions are also more likely to be 0-1 coming into this game.
We are tempted to take the Lions here, but we’re going to advise holding off again until the season starts. It’s very possible that this line goes down and it isn’t out of the question for the Lions to be an underdog when this game is actually played. The Lions love being underdogs and we would love betting on them with some points in hand.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Tennessee Titans (+3.5)
Now here we have an actual home underdog, instead of a theoretical one. The Titans were horrible after Ryan Tannehill was injured and not much better with him. Tennessee could very well end up tanking this season, but that wouldn’t start this early.
On paper, the Chargers should beat Tennessee by two touchdowns, but as they showed us in the playoffs last year against Jacksonville, LA can keep any opponent in the game. Perhaps they’ve learned their lesson and can avoid the inconsistency that plagued them last year. If you believe in the Chargers go ahead and put your money down on this bet. By the time the game is played the Titans could be getting 5 or more points. The Chargers value is with the early play on this line.
Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+1.5)
The Bears might have improved their offense as much as any team this off season. Trading the #1 overall pick to Carolina netted them a true number one wide receiver in DJ Moore as well as Darnell Wright, their new right tackle, drafted with the #10 overall pick. Last season, the combination of a porous offensive line and a sub par receiving corp made things difficult for QB Justin Fields. This Bears offense should be much more potent.
The Buccaneers defense returns most of its starters from last season, but that really doesn’t move the needle much when you consider that on offense they are losing the best player in the history of the NFL, Tom Brady. Apologies to Kyle Trask and Baker Mayfield, but no one is going to be able to step into those shoes successfully.
These are two teams headed in opposite directions and we think the Bears will pull off the road victory and cover the spread as well. We like the value of the Bears a lot in this one.
Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+3)
This seems like a reasonable point spread when you consider the last time these teams met, in the divisional playoff round last season in Kansas City, the Chiefs won a hard fought contest 27-20.
Trevor Lawrence served notice to the rest of the AFC that he’s entered the argument for best young QB in the AFC. Of course, that argument has revolved around Patrick Mahomes for the last several years as he unquestionably sits at the top of the mountain of current NFL QBs.
And that’s exactly why we think Kansas City is good value as only a three point favorite. Yes, the game is in Jacksonville and home underdogs have a good record of covering. We think Andy Reid and Co are aware of the Jags potential and will want to send a message to the rising franchise. Plus, Kansas City will have four extra days to prepare for Jacksonville due to their appearance in the season opening Thursday night matchup.
Andy Reid + extra time to prepare = TAKE THE CHIEFS.
Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans (-1)
Both of these teams drafted quarterbacks with top picks and this is the first time that we will see the Texans C.J. Stroud and the Colts Anthony Richardson square off.
There is no question that at this point Stroud is the more polished passer of the two, and so it would stand to reason that the Texans would be favored. The odds makers didn’t want to get carried away though and Houston is only favored by one point at home. This suggests to us that the people in charge of the lines don’t quite know what to make of this one and we wholeheartedly agree.
Trying to figure out who has an advantage between two rookie quarterbacks playing in their second career games is not a question we want to put money on. Move along on this one. I suspect everyone will have plenty of opportunities to bet on Stroud vs Richardson in the coming years and we’ll have a lot more data to digest by then. We love digesting data.
San Francisco 49rs @ Los Angeles Rams (+4.5)
It says a lot for your franchise when you can be a four and a half point favorite on the road with no idea who the starting quarterback will be. I’m sure Kyle Shanahan has an idea, but he isn’t telling the people making the odds. It hasn’t really mattered who was back there for the past few seasons so why should it matter now.
Especially against a Rams team that is still paying for the moves that brought them the 2022 NFL title. There are still big names headlining the squad like Aaron Donald and Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp, but the other fifty players on the 53 man roster are where the problem lies.
We think the 49rs will be the better team coming into week two but we can’t advise any kind of wager on this. It’s possible if not probable that betting on San Francisco would mean you were counting on Sam Darnold to win by 5 points on the road. That’s asking a little bit too much, if you ask us.
New York Giants @ Arizona Cardinals (+4)
These were two of the bigger surprise teams last season, for completely opposite reasons.
The Giants started strong and squeaked into the playoffs, where they won a road game in the first round against the Vikings. Giants head coach Brian Dabol was voted AP coach of the year for the unexpected turnaround. Quarterback Daniel Jones signed a huge contract after a career best year. By most accounts, the Giants had an excellent draft to pair with some big time free acquisitions, most notably TE Darren Waller. Expectations are high in New York.
Expectations were high last season in Arizona, before the bottom fell out. A season that began with controversy over QB Kyler Murray’s contract, ended with the termination of nearly every other contract in the franchise besides Murray’s.
That said, Kyler Murray is one of the few players in the league who can single handedly keep his team in a game and we’re always wary of teams that have to travel 3000+ miles to a game.
Both of these teams are tough to read and we’d like to wait until we see them in week one before deciding on a wager for week two.
New York Jets @ Dallas Cowboys (-2.5)
If the Giants fans think THEY have high expectations this season, Jets fans would like a word. Aaron Rogers is the best quarterback the Jets have ever had and it isn’t particularly close. He will have to be at his best in this one, just 6 days after facing the Buffalo Bills and Josh Allen on Monday night. I’m sure the New York media won’t give Rogers a hard time if he starts 0-2.
Rogers actually has a history of slow starts (remember when he told Packers fans to “relax”?). It wouldn’t surprise us if Dallas ran away with this one. The Jets will still be acclimating to Rogers and Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons is exactly the kind of player who can take Rogers out of his game.
Take the Cowboys at home in this one and hope that Rogers tells Jets fans to “relax” afterwards. It might be almost as entertaining as this game.
Washington Commanders @ Denver Broncos (-3.5)
Sean Peyton gets a visit from his old NFC South foe Ron Rivera in this Superbowl XXII matchup (Look it up).
The Broncos are hoping that Peyton can turn Russel Wilson back into an effective NFL quarterback, after floundering during his first season in Denver. Peyton’s track record with Drew Brees suggests he’s the right guy for the job and we think Wilson still has some gas in the tank.
Washington’s quarterback situation has been running on empty for the past several seasons. It looks as if they are putting this season in the hands of second year signal caller Sam Howell, who was underwhelming in his brief appearances last year.
Both teams should have good defenses, but we only see one team with an NFL offense in this one and it’s the Broncos.
Miami Dolphins @ New England Patriots (+2)
You might do a double take when you see the Patriots as a two point home underdog to the Dolphins. Even in the post-Brady era, New England is no pushover, especially at home.
And yet, something is pushing us to recommend the Dolphins here. Head Coach Mike McDaniel has successfully implemented the 49rs offense in Miami, and he may actually be taking it to places it’s never been with the weapons he has available to him.
If this game were later in the season we would be more on the fence, but in week two we can be reasonably sure that the weather in New England won’t be a factor and Miami QB Tua Tagovialoa will probably still be healthy. Take Miami, give the points.
Monday, Sept 18 NFL Schedule & Odds
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers (+1)
Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-1 )
Monday Night Football brings us a doubleheader of so-so divisional matchups.
Derrick Carr leads the Saints into Carolina for our first nationally televised look at the #1 overall pick in the draft, Panthers quarterback Bryce Young. The Panthers are slight underdogs in this one, even at home. We actually think they should be bigger underdogs. Although Young is a proven winner, he’ll be facing an excellent New Orleans defense. And Young might have had better weapons on his Alabama offense than he currently has in Carolina. Go with the Saints.
In Pittsburgh, the Browns come to town hoping to get some return on the enormous contract they gave Deshawn Watson last season, right before he was suspended for 11 games.
Watson looked rusty in his return last year and hopes to return to his Texans form.
Steelers second year QB Kenny Pickett didn’t look much better than Watson last season, though he improved as the season went on. We trust the Steelers organization soooo much more than Cleveland that we are willing to recommend the Steelers in this one, just based on organizational superiority. Cleveland always finds a way to screw up.
NFL Week Two Betting Tips and Strategies
We’ve put together some words of wisdom for the curious sports bettor to help you navigate the football season and NFL betting systems. Take or leave whatever you like.
Have a Bankroll– Your Bankroll is the total amount of money you can afford to wager for the season. Divide your Bankroll by 100 and this number will be 1 betting “unit” for you. If you have $500 total in your bankroll, each unit would be $5. Professional bettors use this system, so why shouldn’t you? Also, the pros very rarely put more than 2 or 3 “units” on any one wager.
Shop for Value – Sports betting has become legal in most of the country, meaning more people than ever have access to Online sports betting. If you live in one of the states where it’s legal you can sign up to wager on multiple different sites. Oftentimes, these sites will offer different lines from one another on various games. If you are registered at numerous sites, in just a couple of minutes you can search for lines on all of your sites and find the best one for your wager.
A ½ point difference in a spread can be the difference between winning and losing, why wouldn’t you get the best odds for all of your wagers?
Be Choosey- Only a fool bets on every game of the week. You aren’t a fool are you? I didn’t think so. Concentrate on just a few games to research and wager on each week.
Parlay? No Way- Don’t do Parlays. Did you know if you made every bet in a parlay individually and they all hit, you would win more money than if you bet them in the parlay? Now you know! Plus you don’t lose the whole thing when you lose one leg.
Important Stats-. Two statistics directly related to chances of winning are turnover margin and passing yards per attempt. Look for the team with the advantage in these statistics, if you want to win more than you lose.
Home Underdogs and Unders– Home underdogs cover more often than not, historically speaking. The Under hits more often than the over. If you only made these 2 types of bets, history says you would win more often than not.
Suggested Reading: Super Bowl Betting Odds 2024
Where to Bet on NFL Week 2
You can bet on week two NFL games at a number of online sportsbooks or even at your local brick-and-mortar establishment, depending on where you live.
We’d recommend spending your money at a big, established online bookie like Bovada or MyBookie though, where you’ll also be able to place individual game and prop bets as well.
Top 5 Online Betting Sites for NFL Week 2 Odds:
- Bovada: Best overall
- MyBookie: Best sign up bonus
- BetOnline: Best mobile app
- BUSR: Top choice for beginners
- Sportsbetting.ag: Best Crypto Bonus
These sites have been around for years, building up a reputation for treating players fairly. That’s far from the only reason to bet with them, though:
- They’re Convenient: You can get the most up-to-date lines anytime you want, simply by refreshing the page.
- They Reward Players: These sites are always competing for your business and are constantly offering bonuses and special promotions. They’re always looking for ways to get you into the action — other sportsbooks simply can’t compete with that.
- They Offer Round-The-Clock Action: You can bet on most sports matchups right up to the start time, and then you can get the best NFL live bets during the game.
Why Bet on NFL Week Two?
The NFL is the most popular sport in America to wager on. Week two is the first time you have some regular season history to base your picks on and information is the key to success! Here are some more reasons why betting on the NFL week two Matchups represents unique value:
- Early odds = Great odds: As we get closer to the games, the line makers wise up and the value on some of these point spreads goes away.
- More than just the Spread: With the explosion of legal online gambling there are more wagers available to bettors than ever before. Futures, Props and Over/Under bets are great ways to get involved without having to pick a winner!
- You’re already ahead of the public: If you’ve made it to this point in the preview, you’ve put more research into your wagering than the vast majority of casual bettors. Knowledge is power and now that you’ve got it, go out and use it!
NFL week 2 Odds: FAQs
When is NFL Week 2?
The NFL Week 2 games begin on Thursday September 14, and end with two Monday night games on September 18.
How Long is the NFL Season?
The NFL season runs for 18 weeks from Sept 7 until January 7, 2024. Each team plays 17 games over the course of the season. The NFL playoffs begin the following week, culminating in the Superbowl on Sunday February 11.
Where can I watch the NFL Week Two Games?
The NFL is available on a number of networks and streaming services.
- Thursday Night Football- Weeks 2-17 Amazon Prime Video
- Sunday 1pm and 4pm games- CBS and Fox
- Sunday Night Football- NBC
- Monday Night Football- ESPN (Doubleheaders shown on ABC)
Got Your Pick for NFL Week Two?
The pomp and circumstance of the new NFL season is taken care of in Week one and by the time week two rolls around we can concentrate on the games at hand.
Week two lets us make informed wagers based on what we saw in the first week. But if you already know who you are taking in week two, acting early might get you value that won’t be there in September. Make sure to check out the best NFL betting sites too.
No matter when you place your wagers, be sure to do so responsibly and good luck!
DISCLAIMER: The information on this site is for entertainment purposes only. Online gambling comes with risks. There’s no guarantee of financial gain, so you should only gamble with what you can afford to lose. All information on this site is for entertainment purposes only.
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