It is solely the second week of the NFL season, but it appears like soccer by no means left.
Upsets and insane performances dominated the headlines final week, reminding us how unpredictable this sport actually is.
So, here is the rundown to assist make sense of all the nice matchups which can be on deck for Week 2 of the season:
Thursday, Sep. 17
Detroit Lions @ Buffalo Payments: 8:15 p.m. ET
Taking part in within the new Highmark Stadium for the primary time, Josh Allen and co. might be trying to placed on a present for Payments trustworthy. And if there is a staff that is aware of a factor or two about high-flying offences, it is Detroit.
Each groups like to run up the scoreboard, and each are coming off slim Week 1 victories the place defences appeared optionally available.
The important thing right here might be Jahmyr Gibbs. The Payments’ defence surrendered 102 yards on the bottom to Houston’s duo of David Montgomery and Woody Marks, and Montgomery — Gibbs’ outdated operating mate — discovered the tip zone 3 times within the opener.
However Gibbs is broadly thought of the highest again within the league, has a greater O-line in entrance of him regardless of the unit being down two starters and out-produced the Texans’ RB duo on his personal.
Count on a giant recreation from the three-time Professional Bowler.
Sunday, Sep. 20
Philadelphia Eagles @ Tennessee Titans: 1 p.m. ET
Cam Ward and the Titans fell to the (perhaps not so) lowly Jets by 13 final week — not a perfect debut of their new uniforms.
Philly, in the meantime, has recorded 4 straight seasons with double-digit wins, and due to a two-point cease with a minute remaining in Week 1, has it travelling to Tennessee 1-0.
With a powerful supporting forged and stable defence, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles ought to head to Chicago undefeated.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ New England Patriots: 1 p.m. ET
The Patriots, like just a few different high groups from a 12 months in the past, endured main struggles of their season opener. Drake Maye and the squad have been unable to actual revenge on Seattle for his or her Tremendous Bowl 60 loss, and likewise misplaced their high offensive weapon in WR A.J. Brown within the course of.
However, the Steelers defence — albeit in opposition to Cooper Rush — appeared dominant as soon as once more after the unit regressed final season. Aaron Rodgers is reunited with Mike McCarthy, and if just a few extra passes might be accomplished — DK Metcalf and Roman Wilson completed second and eighth, respectively, in air yards in Week 1 — the passing recreation can compete with New England’s stingy secondary.
Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears: 1 p.m. ET
A staff that simply almost dropped 60 factors in its season opener, taking over a backup QB is sort of the matchup.
Nonetheless, that backup is Carson Wentz, and he led the Vikings to a powerful 39-22 win over the Packers in Week 1. Sadly for Minnesota, it isn’t simply Kyler Murray who’s (possible) out this week, because the staff can also be down co-starting RB Jordan Mason.
It is probably not the tip of the world although, as Chicago’s defence struggled to maintain the Panthers off the board.
However the historic offensive efficiency provides Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams all the boldness to maintain it going, and including some manufacturing from the Bears’ high cross catchers in Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Colston Loveland needs to be an excessive amount of for even Brian Flores and his blitz-heavy defence to deal with.
Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons: 1 p.m. ET
Slowing down the pass-catching duo of Drake London and Kyle Pitts is all the time a problem.
This is the factor: the Falcons would possibly do it themselves.
Final week, London was restricted to 29 yards on two grabs, whereas Pitts went catch-less.
Enter Bijan Robinson, the Falcons’ resolution to all the things. He put up 83 yards on the bottom and added eight grabs for 90 yards and a rating via the air.
If the Panthers can decelerate Robinson, whoever begins at QB for Atlanta can deal with the remaining.
Inexperienced Bay Packers @ New York Jets: 1 p.m. ET
The Packers want a rebound recreation after final week’s debacle, and one of many worst groups of the previous few years stares them proper within the face.
This won’t be the identical outdated Jets, nevertheless, as Geno Smith seems to have this staff taking part in competent soccer. The defence lacks playmakers, but when Smith can get the ball to his younger pass-catching corps whereas Breece Corridor handles the bottom recreation, New York can preserve this one shut.
It simply won’t be sufficient to maintain it inside a area purpose.
New Orleans Saints @ Baltimore Ravens: 1 p.m. ET
A battle between two of the extra spectacular groups from Week 1 ought to deliver some fireworks.
The Ravens outclassed the Colts in each section of the sport, whereas second-year man Tyler Shough and the Saints battled again to power OT in opposition to the Lions.
Already masking a landing unfold in opposition to one of many betting favourites to hoist the Lombardi, the Saints proved they’ll hold with one of the best.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans: 1 p.m. ET
Final season’s high defence is tasked with slowing down yet one more celebrity QB and highly effective offence. The Texans weren’t in a position to pull out the win or cowl the unfold final week, so this decide could appear a bit dangerous.
The primary issue is Joe Burrow. Everyone knows his expertise. Everyone knows concerning the expertise that surrounds him. However is he wholesome sufficient to be at full-go?
Burrow did not throw throughout observe on Wednesday resulting from what he categorized as again tightness, and if that lingers via Sunday, who is aware of what may occur.
Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 1 p.m. ET
There won’t be a extra fiery participant on the offensive aspect of the ball than Baker Mayfield. The Oklahoma product will get to face the staff that drafted and traded him on Sunday, and the final time he had a private vendetta in opposition to a staff, he pulled out the win.
Deshaun Watson appeared like a backup final week, and it is robust to see how the Browns’ offence will fare any higher this time round.
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Denver Broncos: 4:05 p.m. ET
Discuss a distinction in Week 1 outcomes.
The Jaguars completely dismantled the Browns to the tune of a 34-10 beatdown, whereas the Broncos have been punched sq. within the mouth by the Chiefs on primetime.
Jacksonville handily received this matchup final season in Denver, and with Trevor Lawrence wheeling and dealing because the finish of final season, it is a shock the Jags are the underdogs.
The Broncos’ loss wasn’t essentially indicative of who they’re, nevertheless it’s no secret that Sean Payton-coached groups get out to sluggish begins. Over the course of his head teaching profession, Payton’s file is simply above .500 within the month of September, and the troubling begins have hit Bo Nix as effectively.
If the Broncos can get the run recreation going early and infrequently, the offence ought to get on observe and make final week’s catastrophe a one-off. As of proper now, that is one massive if.
Denver’s working on a brief week, and the momentum is on Jacksonville’s aspect.
Los Angeles Chargers @ Las Vegas Raiders: 4:05 p.m. ET
The Raiders have not crushed the Chargers since scoring 63 factors on them in 2023, and the latest 4 losses have all been by at the very least 10 factors.
However Kirk Cousins appeared a little bit nearer to his Minnesota self than his Atlanta self, and Ashton Jeanty lastly appeared like the highest decide he was a 12 months in the past.
The Chargers are coming off a demoralizing loss to Arizona and have a gauntlet of groups to undergo over the following seven video games, so a loss may actually sink their season. To win by a landing, although, is likely to be a bit an excessive amount of on this battle between AFC West rivals.
Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals: 4:25 p.m. ET
Sam Darnold stays out, which means Drew Lock might be underneath centre but once more.
Whereas nothing spectacular, Lock did sufficient for the Seahawks to squeak out a win in a Tremendous Bowl rematch on the NFL’s opening evening.
On the opposite sideline is the Cardinals, one of many pre-season favourites to land the highest decide within the 2027 draft, who simply upset the Los Angeles Chargers on the street.
Seattle boasts arguably the highest defence within the NFL, and Arizona hasn’t received this divisional matchup since 2021.
Miami Dolphins @ San Francisco 49ers: 4:25 p.m. ET
The Niners are again from Melbourne and able to roll for his or her residence opener, though already battered by accidents (what else is new).
The Dolphins could have some guys for the longer term in kids Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell so as to add to the offence alongside De’Von Achane, however the future is not now.
Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys: 4:25 p.m. ET
There’s nothing like back-to-back divisional video games to get the blood pumping early within the season.
The Commanders and Cowboys each fell to NFC East foes final week, and in pretty uninspiring vogue.
Washington has QB Jayden Daniels again and wholesome, and whereas it took him some time to get within the swing of issues, the previous Rookie of the Yr winner appeared to have settled in in direction of the latter half of Week 1.
Dallas’ defence, which is now led by Christian Parker, did not do something in opposition to the New York Giants to encourage confidence that this unit might be higher than years previous. It’s going to as soon as once more be as much as Dak Prescott, Javonte Williams, Ceedee Lamb and George Pickens to prepared the ground.
Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas Metropolis Chiefs: 8:20 p.m. ET
Patrick Mahomes is again, but the Chiefs’ win final week was virtually completely despite him. Low season signing Kenneth Walker seems to have lastly solved the RB drawback in Kansas Metropolis, operating everywhere in the Broncos for 173 yards and a TD.
The Colts’ season opener was fairly the other of KC’s, falling massive to the Ravens. The excellent news is the Chiefs appeared very beatable.
If the Colts can sort out (which is a prerequisite to play soccer, by the best way), they need to preserve the rating inside a landing.
Monday, Sep. 21
New York Giants @ Los Angeles Rams: 8:15 p.m. ET
The John Harbaugh period with Massive Blue bought off to a sizzling begin with a win on Sunday Night time Soccer, whereas all that got here out of the Rams’ loss was that their journey plans blew up of their face and star cross rusher Myles Garrett landed on IR.
Now again on the West Coast, maybe we’ll see if the concept behind not acclimating to the time change in Australia will assist the offence get again on observe.
Regardless, the Giants appeared rejuvenated with their younger nucleus and will preserve this one inside a one-score recreation.
*BetMGM traces topic to vary
