BEST BETS
LOS ANGELES RAMS (0-1) at ARIZONA CARDINALS (0-1)
LINE: Arizona by 1.5
Not only have the Rams placed Puka Nacua on injury reserve, but they lost more than half their offensive line to injuries in Sunday night’s overtime defeat at Detroit. But with 14 catches versus the lines, Cooper Kupp looks to be back to his old self, the guy who couldn’t be covered in 2021. Rams have won each of the past nine meetings in the desert.
TAKING: L.A. RAMS +1.5
(O/U 49): Rams 27, Cardinals 24
CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-1) at KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1-0)
LINE: Kansas City by 5.5
Bengals aren’t as bad as they looked against the Patriots, but they need Tee Higgins back to take some heat off Ja’Marr Chase. They also need their O-line to keep some pressure off Joe Burrow, and that means containing Chris Jones. Good luck. Chiefs looked strong against the Ravens and while Xavier Worthy has given Patrick Mahomes another target along with Rashee Rice and Travis Kelce, Isiah Pacheco will a field day against a run defence that gave up 120 yards to Rhamondre Stevenson.
TAKING: KANSAS CITY -5.5
(O/U 47.5): Chiefs 28, Bengals 17
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (1-0) at DENVER BRONCOS (0-1)
LINE: Pittsburgh by 2.5
Does Russell Wilson rebound from the calf injury that kept him out of the opener to show the Broncos he can actually still play, or does Pittsburgh get the luxury of starting Justin Fields again? If it’s the latter, Fields will run all over the Denver ‘D’, but either way it shouldn’t matter. Steelers defence had three turnovers in last week’s road win and T.J. Watt will show Bo Nix what it’s like to face the best rush end in football.
TAKING: PITTSBURGH -2.5
(O/U: 36.5): Steelers 17, Broncos 10
THE REST
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (1-0) at DALLAS COWBOYS (1-0)
LINE: Dallas by 6
Combined, these teams scored 80 points in Week 1.The 33 Dallas put up in Cleveland against a strong Browns D was more impressive than New Orleans’ 47 at home in the dome against the (ugh) Panthers. Cowboys prevail in their home opener.
TAKING: DALLAS -6
(O/U 46.5): Cowboys 24, Saints 17
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (0-1) at BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-1)
LINE: Baltimore by 8.5
Isaiah Likely said his team’s loss to the Chiefs last week will be remembered as the Ravens’ worst game of the season. That’s un-Likely, but they will have a different result against a Raiders squad travelling across the country to be the guests in a second straight home opener.
TAKING: BALTIMORE -8.5
(O/U 41.5): Ravens 27, Ravens 17
NEW YORK GIANTS (0-1) at WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (0-1)
LINE: Washington by 1.5
Giants QB Daniel Jones was horrible at home last week in a 28-6 trouncing by the Vikings. He’ll face a softer defence than the Vikings this week, while Jayden Daniels will have success running and throwing against a Giants team that appears to be in for a very long season.
TAKING: WASHINGTON – 1.5
(O/U 43.5): Commanders 21, Giants 17
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (1-0) at CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-1)
LINE: L.A. Chargers by 6
It has been 20 years (five games) since the Chargers beat the Panthers, and while Carolina and Bryce Young will be better this season under the guidance of Dave Canales, they sure weren’t in losing by more than five converted touchdowns to New Orleans last week. J.K. Dobbins showed he’s over the Achilles injury he suffered last season by averaging 13.5 yards a carry against the Raiders, and expect more of the same in Carolina.
TAKING: L.A. CHARGERS -6
(O/U 39): Chargers 31, Panthers 14
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-1) at GREEN BAY PACKERS (0-1)
LINE: Indianapolis -3
The replacement for injured Packers QB Jordan Love really is green, as Malik Willis has started just three NFL games and has no career touchdown passes but three picks. He has shown he can run, however, and while Packers coach Matt Lafleur will keep passes short, Josh Jacobs will pound the rock against a Colts D that gave up the most rushing yards in Week 1. Close one.
TAKING: GREEN BAY +3
(O/U 41): Colts 21, Packers 20
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-0) at MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-0)
LINE: San Francisco by 5.5
No break for the Vikings if Christian McCaffrey misses his second game, with Jordan Mason racking up 147 yards as his replacement against the Jets on Monday. Of the 49ers’ last 14 wins, 13 have been by double digits, so picking the Vikings to cover may seem foolish, but I think Sam Darnold is going to surprise a lot of people as he works behind a solid O-line and is surrounded by tremendous playmakers. Niners will avenge 22-17 loss in Minnesota last season, but Vikes ‘D’ will keep it close.
TAKING: MINNESOTA +5.5
(O/U: 45.5): 49ers 24, Vikings 20
CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-1) at JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-1)
LINE: Jacksonville by 3
The Jaguars held the Dolphins offence to 20 points so the Browns, under an awful Deshaun Watson, should be lucky to get 10, especially if their starting tackles are once again missing. Cleveland’s defence will earn back some respect, but expect Jacksonville to prevail in its home opener.
TAKING: JACKSONVILLE -3
(O/U: 41.5): Jaguars 14, Browns 10
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-0) at NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-0)
LINE: Seattle by 3.5
Consecutive strong games by the Pats? Can’t see it. They’re not good enough. Seattle is a strong team and has won three of the last four meetings, but is also travelling across the country, so this one should be low-scoring.
TAKING: SEATTLE -3.5
(O/U 38.5): Seahawks 17, Patriots 12
NEW YORK JETS (0-1) at TENNESSEE TITANS (0-1)
LINE: N.Y. Jets by 3.5
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers wasn’t good last week, but he was better than Will Levis, who threw two interceptions and for just 127 yards against the Bears. The Jets defence will fix its mistakes in this one, but the Titans are an underrated team and will make improvements too. I’ll bite on this hook.
TAKING: TENNESSEE +3.5
(O/U 40.5): Jets 24, Titans 21
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-0) at DETROIT LIONS (1-0)
LINE: Detroit by 7.5
The Lions beat the Rams in overtime last week with a running attack that racked up 163 yards. This week they’ll do it through the air against a depleted Bucs secondary. Can Baker Mayfield keep it close after throwing four TD passes against the Commanders? Yes. But in this divisional playoff rematch, I’ll back the Lions and hope against a back-door cover.
TAKING: Detroit -7.5
(O/U 51): Lions 31, Bucs 23
CHICAGO BEARS (1-0) at HOUSTON TEXANS (1-0)
LINE: Houston by 6.5
The Bears were victorious in Week 1 in spite of their first overall pick, QB Caleb Williams. The Chicago defence, which was very good against the Titans, now has a much stronger test against C.J. Stroud and a well-rounded Houston attack. The Texans will win, but Williams will show improvement and Chicago’s ‘D’ will allow the visitors to cover.
TAKING: CHICAGO +6.5
(O/U 43.5): Texans 20, Bears 16
ATLANTA FALCONS (0-1) at PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-0)
LINE: Philadelphia by 6.5
The Eagles get the edge in a great battle between all-purpose playmakers Saquon Barkley of Philadelphia and Bijan Robinson of Atlanta, while Eagles receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith combined for 12 catches, 203 yards and a touchdown in the 34-29 victory over the Packers in Brazil. Expect the Falcons to be better than they were in the 18-10 home loss to the Steelers, especially Kirk Cousins, who threw for only 155 yards while getting picked off twice. As for Cousins’ career 3-10 record on Monday night, know that he has won three of his last four MNF appearances.
TAKING: ATLANTA +6.5
(O/U: 47): Eagles 28, Falcons 24
