Week 2 NFL Picks: Rematch of Super Bowl, McDaniel on hot seat, Return of the Mac

It was a ho-hum first week of the season. Some ups, some downs. The results were right around .500 which I will take for Week 1, which is always a tricky week without much data to go on. Here were my results:
Record Summary
- Straight Up: 9–7
- Against the Spread (ATS): 8-8
- Over/Under: 7-9
My goal – just like what the Patriots' goal should be – is to get better and better every week.
Thursday
- Packers @ Commanders — Spread: Packers –3.5 ; O/U: 48.5
The Packers made an impressive statement in Micah Parsons' debut with them. They held the Detroit Lions to two field goals through three quarters on their way to an easy 27-13 home win.
Washington proved last year wasn't a fluke by taking care of business against the Giants in Week 1, 21-6. Might we have a defensive struggle in this one?
Prediction: Packers 20, Redskins 17. Take the COMMANDERS and the UNDER.
Sunday
- Jaguars @ Bengals — Spread: Bengals –3.5 ; O/U: 48.5
The Bengals opening game struggles continued despite beating the Browns, 17-16. Joe Burrow was only 14 of 23 for 113 yards. How is that possible?
The Jaguars were impressive in head coach Liam Coen's debut. The Jags were so impressed with Travis Etienne Jr's performance (16 carries, 143 yards) that they traded his backup, Tank Bigsby, to Philadelphia this week.
Prediction: Jaguars 22, Bengals 20. Take the JAGUARS and the UNDER
- Giants @ Cowboys — Spread: Cowboys –5.5 ; O/U: 44.5
The Cowboys hung in there against the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles. They showed a little bit of a running game, surprisingly, with Javonte Williams rushing for 54 yards and 2 touchdowns.
The Giants were disappointing in their opener. I didn't expect much from their offense, but I expected more from their defense. There was already speculation about Russell Wilson starting Game 2. He will.
Prediction: Giants 19, Cowboys 16. Take the GIANTS and the UNDER.
- Bears @ Lions — Spread: Lions –6.5 ; O/U: 46.5
The Bears choked big time on Monday night. I'm not surprised. Ben Johnson returns to Detroit.
Lions' head coach Dan Campbell lost not only Johnson--his offensive coordinator last year, but also his defensive coordinator, Aaron Glenn, and defensive line coach, Terrell Williams. We'll see who was responsible for last year's success.
Prediction: Lions 31, Bears 21. Take the LIONS and the OVER.
- Rams @ Titans — Spread: Rams –5.5 ; O/U: 41.5
The Rams aren't the same Rams we may remember. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is 37 years old and he doesn't have Cooper Kupp for the first time since Stafford arrived in LA in 2021. Puka Nacua had 10 catches for 130 yards, but he will need someone to take some attention away from him. Can Davante Adams be that guy?
Prediction: Rams 27, Titans 10. Take the RAMS and the UNDER.
- Patriots @ Dolphins — Spread: Dolphins –1.5 ; O/U: 42.5

Both AFC East teams were a disappointment in Week 1. If Miami head coach Mike McDaniel wasn't on the hot seat before last week's game, he certainly is now.
The Patriots led the Raiders, 10-7, at halftime, but for whatever reason, they ran the ball only three times in the second half. Vrabel has preached ever since his introductory press conference about creating an identity of toughness and physicality. That's not the way you do it.
Prediction: Patriots 30, Dolphins 27. Take the PATRIOTS and the OVER.
- 49ers @ Saints — Spread: 49ers –3.5 ; O/U: 40.5

The 49ers are banged up. Tight end George Kittles will be out for the next four weeks as he was put on IR with a hamstring injury. Quarterback Brock Purdy's status for this game is up in the air as he is dealing with a myriad of injuries, including a left shoulder and a toe injury. Not to worry, if he can't go, the 49ers have Mac Jones.
Prediction: San Francisco 23, Saints 16. Take the 49ers and the UNDER.
- Bills @ Jets — Spread: Bills –6.5 ; O/U: 46.5
How about that Sunday night game between the Bills and the Ravens? It was yet another amazing comeback by Josh Allen. Allen has struggled the last three seasons (3 TD, 5 INT) on the road against the Jets. Might the Bills be due for a letdown?
Prediction: Bills 26, Jets 24. Take the JETS and the OVER.
- Seahawks @ Steelers — Spread: Steelers –2.5 ; O/U: 39.5

Speaking of letdowns--Aaron Rodgers was very pleased with himself after throwing four touchdowns in a win over his former team, the Jets. He said there were "probably people in the organization that didn’t think I could play anymore. So it was nice to remind those people that I still can." Will he be as motivated to beat the Seahawks in the Steelers' home opener?
Prediction: Seahawks 20, Steelers 19. Take the SEAHAWKS and the UNDER.
- Browns @ Ravens — Spread: Ravens –11.5 ; O/U: 44.5
Halfway through the fourth quarter Monday night, I was half-joking on social media when I posted the Ravens were going to go 17-0. Somehow they are 0-1. The Browns will pay the price.
Prediction: Ravens 34, Browns 13. Take the RAVENS and the OVER.
- Broncos @ Colts (Afternoon window) — Spread: Broncos –1.5 ; O/U: 42.5
Are the Colts this good with Daniel Jones at quarterback or are the Miami Dolphins just that much of a mess right now? We're about to find out.
The Broncos have some questions, too. Bo Nix surprised many last year but his two-interception performance in a win against the Titans last week has people whispering "sophomore slump."
Prediction: Broncos 24, Colts 13. Take the BRONCOS and the UNDER.
- Panthers @ Cardinals — Spread: Cardinals –6.5 ; O/U: 43.5
The Cardinals weren't as dominating against the Saints as I would have expected. Kyle Murray returns home where he was 6-3 last year. The Panthers seem stuck in mediocrity--and that may be being kind.
Prediction: Cardinals 26, Panthers 14. Take the CARDINALS and the UNDER.
- Eagles @ Chiefs — Spread: Eagles –1.5 ; O/U: 46.5
It is a rematch of last year's Super Bowl. The Chiefs are in trouble. Their wide receiving corps consists of Hollywood Brown, JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Tyquan Thornton with Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice not playing. Patrick Mahomes may be feeling like Tom Brady, circa 2006, when Brady's best receivers were Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney.
Prediction: Eagles 27, Chiefs 20. Take the EAGLES and the OVER.
- Falcons @ Vikings (Sunday Night) — Spread: Vikings –4.5 ; O/U: 45.5
The Falcons were on the wrong end of a Baker Mayfield comeback. Meanwhile, the Vikings were on the right end of a J.J. McCarthy comeback. It was quite the performance by a quarterback making his NFL debut and who looked lost in the first three quarters. McCarthy looks to beat another fellow first-round quarterback pick from the 2024 draft class.
Prediction: Falcons 23, Vikings 17. Take the FALCONS and the UNDER.
Monday
- Buccaneers @ Texans — Spread: Texans –3 ; O/U: 42.5

The Texans' offense just isn't the same without running back Joe Mixon. C.J. Stroud didn't do anything (19/27, 0 TD, 1 INT) to quell worries that his terrific rookie year may have been a fluke.
Baker Mayfield continues to show up when games matter. Mayfield hit rookie Emeka Egbuka with a 25-yard strike with 59 seconds left to give the Bucs a 23-20 victory over the Falcons. Mayfield is one of the top five most entertaining players to watch in the NFL right now.
Prediction: Bucs 26, Texans 17. Take the BUCS and the OVER.
- Chargers @ Raiders — Spread: Chargers –3.5 ; O/U: 46.5
Justin Herbert is right up there with Mayfield as one of the more entertaining players in the NFL to watch. He just lacks Mayfield's clutch gene. Herbert's 318-yard, 3 TD performance helped his Chargers beat their divisional rival Chiefs in the opener. They will need to avoid a letdown against the Raiders.
The Raiders won Pete Carroll's debut as Las Vegas' head coach. We await Ashton Jeanty's breakout game. It shouldn't be long.
Prediction: Chargers 23, Raiders 16. Take the CHARGERS and the UNDER.