Life gets hectic, and by the time Sunday rolls around you’ve probably been pulled in a dozen directions — which makes keeping up with every NFL storyline and betting angle a chore. If you want to sprinkle some wagers into your viewing but don’t have the time to dig through every matchup, here are five top Week 2 bets plus a full set of single-game picks for the Sunday (and Monday) slate.
Odds referenced are from DraftKings Sportsbook.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons — Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox)
Cooper Rush will start again for Atlanta after a rough Week 1 debut: he posted the lowest passer rating of any Week 1 starter (54.9), averaged only 3.5 air yards per attempt (31st among QBs) and had an off-target rate of 13.6% (22nd). While Carolina’s defense gave up 59 points to the Bears in Week 1, they won’t see comparable firepower in Atlanta. Meanwhile Bryce Young had a strong individual performance in Week 1 (.29 EPA per dropback, sixth among QBs) and has a solid recent record vs. Atlanta.
Projected score: Panthers 24, Falcons 20
The pick: Panthers -2.5
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This could be one of the last chances to bet against Deshaun Watson: his opener was shaky, he looked uncomfortable in the pocket, threw an early interception and has a poor stretch of results (0-6 SU, 1-5 ATS over his last six starts). Cleveland also struggles historically as a large road underdog (1-10 ATS in their last 11 such games). Baker Mayfield, meanwhile, has rebuilt his form in Tampa and the Bucs have started home openers well with him under center. Expect Tampa Bay to handle Cleveland.
Projected score: Buccaneers 30, Browns 13
The pick: Buccaneers -8.5
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
New England blew a winnable game in the fourth quarter of Week 1 and now face a potentially pivotal home opener before a two-game road stretch. Pittsburgh’s offense showed flaws against Atlanta — their Week 1 output averaged just 4.1 yards per play — while the Patriots’ defense looks stronger, with an effective secondary and a pass rush that created pressure in Week 1. This feels like a spot New England needs to win to avoid slipping into a tough early-season hole.
Projected score: Patriots 24, Steelers 17
The pick: Patriots -5.5
Green Bay Packers at New York Jets — Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox)
New York looked sharper than expected in Week 1: Geno Smith was accurate (the only QB on the slate without an off-target throw) and the defense showed signs of life, including a sack from their rookie. By contrast, Jordan Love and the Packers struggled versus Minnesota — Love had the highest off-target rate in Week 1 (23.8%) and Green Bay looked shaky on the road. The Packers may be the more talented club, but this should be close enough for the Jets to cover.
Projected score: Packers 24, Jets 21
The pick: Jets +3.5
Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans — Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox)
Tennessee’s quarterback play in Week 1 was underwhelming — among the lower-ranked QBs in EPA per dropback and accuracy, and he took three sacks — and the Titans managed only 10 points at home, the franchise’s fewest in a home season opener. Philadelphia’s offense looked productive in Week 1 and their pass rush should continue to create problems for Tennessee. I’m expecting a comfortable Eagles win.
Projected score: Eagles 27, Titans 17
The pick: Eagles -7
Rest of the slate (projected scores and picks)
– Bengals at Texans — Bengals 28, Texans 24 — Pick: Bengals +2.5
– Vikings at Bears — Bears 27, Vikings 20 — Pick: Bears -4.5
– Saints at Ravens — Ravens 30, Saints 20 — Pick: Ravens -8.5
– Jaguars at Broncos — Jaguars 23, Broncos 21 — Pick: Jaguars +2.5
– Raiders at Chargers — Chargers 33, Raiders 20 — Pick: Chargers -6.5
– Dolphins at 49ers — 49ers 30, Dolphins 16 — Pick: 49ers -13.5
– Seahawks at Cardinals — Seahawks 27, Cardinals 17 — Pick: Seahawks -3.5
– Commanders at Cowboys — Cowboys 33, Commanders 30 — Pick: Commanders +3.5
– Colts at Chiefs — Chiefs 28, Colts 20 — Pick: Chiefs -6.5
– Giants at Rams (Monday) — Rams 30, Giants 21 — Pick: Rams -7
Fan Take: Week 2 looks like a chance for teams that underperformed opening week to reset and for emerging units to build momentum — those narratives shape playoff trajectories and affect betting markets early. For fans, these matchups matter because early surprises and injuries can quickly reshape expectations and the balance of power across divisions.
Source: www.cbssports.com
