Our long wait for the NFL finally came to an end last week.
Week 1 of the season certainly brought its fair share of surprises, but now, we turn our attention to what could be a fascinating Week 2 slate. The schedule starts strong with two likely playoff teams squaring off in the return of Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime Video as the Detroit Lions travel to face the Buffalo Bills in the regular-season debut of the new Highmark Stadium.
Also on the docket is a potentially impactful AFC showdown between the Bengals and Texans as the latter looks to avoid an 0-2 start. The same is true for the Broncos, who hope to shrug off the ugly Monday Night Football loss to the Chiefs when they face a Jaguars team riding high off its blowout win against
the Browns in a matchup between AFC playoff hopefuls.
In the primetime slots, the Chiefs aim for a 2-0 start against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday night, while Monday night features the New York Giants looking to pull another upset on national television on the road against the Los Angeles Rams.
Once again, our expert staff is here to give you their picks against the spread for every NFL matchup in Week 2.
All odds via BetMGM
Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills (Thursday Night Football)
Opening Line: Bills -3
Grimes: Bills -4.5
First game at Highmark. The Bills will put on a show against a suspect defense.
Curtis: Bills -4.5
I really thought about taking the points here but Jared Goff on the road outdoors in a short week? Ehhhh.
Zeglinski: Bills -4.5
It's one game, but Josh Allen finally winning in Houston has me feeling great about what the Bills can accomplish this year. Plus, the Lions' defense, as constituted, is worse than the Bills' defense.
D'Andrea: Lions +4.5
The Bills get to christen a fancy new stadium, and the Lions get to ruin that (by keeping things close).
Nettuno: Bills -4.5
Tough game to pick. I'll stick with the home team, though, especially after they put up 36 points on the Texans defense.
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Opening Line: Bucs -5.5
Grimes: Browns +8.5
I don't know. Something is off about Tampa. Granted, these are the Browns. But this is a lot of points.
Curtis: Buccaneers -8.5
The Deshaun Watson experience continues!
Zeglinski: Buccaneers -8.5
I basically have zero trust in the Buccaneers. Well, unless they're playing the Browns. Easy money.
D'Andrea: Bucs -8.5
I have little faith in Tampa Bay but so, so much less in Cleveland.
Nettuno: Bucs -8.5
Feels like way too many points, but the Browns may be that bad.
Green Bay Packers at New York Jets
Opening Line: Packers -5.5
Grimes: Packers -3.5
The Packers are desperate. I think they respond after last week's loss.
Curtis: Packers -3.5
The Jets beating up on a bad Titans team won't fool me.
Zeglinski: Packers -3.5
The Packers won't have to worry about choking away another win in crunch time because they should be able to smack the Jets around enough for that to not matter.
D'Andrea: Packers -3.5
New York is competent, but let's not overstate the value of a win against the Tennessee Titans.
Nettuno: Packers -3.5
I refuse to believe Green Bay starts 0-2 with a loss to the Jets.
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons
Opening Line: Falcons -1.5
Grimes: Panthers -2.5
The Falcons stink.
Curtis: Panthers -2.5
The Falcons' QB woes continue to be a problem.
Zeglinski: Panthers -2.5
Has Bryce Young taken a leap, or was he just playing the Bears' defense? Uh, yes. Whatever the case, the Falcons are in the #MarchForArch and they don't even know it.
D'Andrea: Panthers -2.5
I regret to inform you I will be starting at quarterback for the Falcons Sunday.
Nettuno: Panthers -2.5
Atlanta probably won't score quite as many points as Caleb Williams and the Bears did last week.
Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans
Opening Line: Eagles -4.5
Grimes: Eagles -7
Cam Ward and that Titans offense have shown me nothing.
Curtis: Eagles -7
Need to see a lot more out of the Titans' offense before I back them.
Zeglinski: Eagles -7
What an ugly debut to 2026 for Cam Ward. It's a good thing for him that the Eagles don't have one of the best pass-rushes in the sport. Oh, wait, right.
D'Andrea: Eagles -7
The Jets beat Tennessee by 13.
Nettuno: Eagles -7
It's going to be another long year in Music City.
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans
Opening Line: Texans -2.5
Grimes: Texans -2.5
I just have to trust Houston's defense isn't as bad as Josh Allen made it look.
Curtis: Bengals +2.5
The Texans win but Joe Burrow keeps it close.
Zeglinski: Bengals +2.5
I don't trust C.J. Stroud and I'm buying stock in the remade Bengals defense. It's early, but Cincy might have its most complete team of the Joe Burrow era.
D'Andrea: Texans -2.5
Two quarterbacks with something to prove. Two defenses with something to prove. Houston is getting value here, even if this game is a coin flip.
Nettuno: Texans -2.5
They may have lost Week 1, but if that's how the offense is going to play this year, the Texans are going to make some noise.
New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens
Opening Line: Ravens -7.5
Grimes: Ravens -8.5
This might be too many points, but Baltimore showed me enough to believe in what Jesse Minter is doing.
Curtis: Saints +8.5
Tyler Shough and the Saints offense can at least cover here, right?
Zeglinski: Ravens -8.5
Look, I like what the Saints could become this year. But they are getting boat-raced off the field in Baltimore. They are simply not ready for prime Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry, I'm sorry to say.
D'Andrea: Saints +8.5
It's gonna be a fun backdoor cover. Unless you bet Baltimore.
Nettuno: Ravens -8.5
Could be too many points here, but I'm very bullish on Baltimore after its Week 1 dismantling of the Colts.
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears
Opening Line: Bears -3.5
Grimes: Vikings +5.5
Chicago's defense looked vulnerable enough for Carson Wentz to make some plays.
Curtis: Bears -5.5
Divisional game, but also, Carson Wentz.
Zeglinski: Bears -5.5
Amid the trouble Brian Flores usually presents offenses, something tells me Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams want to make another eye-opening statement. Also, Carson Wentz is the exact kind of quarterback the middling Bears defense can make some plays against.
D'Andrea: Vikings +5.5
The Chicago offense vs. the Minnesota defense is the kind of chaos that could power cities if there were only a way to harness it.
Nettuno: Bears -5.5
I'm not sure Minnesota can score enough to keep up here, regardless of who is under center.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots
Opening Line: Patriots -4.5
Grimes: Patriots -5
I'm still a believer, even if AJ Brown is out a few weeks.
Curtis: Patriots -5
A little uneasy with this but Patriots will want to make a statement after that Week 1 dud.
Zeglinski: Steelers +5
That Patriots offensive line and skill group without A.J. Brown really worries me. Pittsburgh isn't good, but I think it should be able to hang around here.
D'Andrea: Patriots -5
I still don't know what the Steelers are, because playing Cooper Rush doesn't count.
Nettuno: Patriots -5.5
A matchup against Aaron Rodgers is just what the doctor ordered after New England's heartbreaking Week 1 loss.
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers
Opening Line: Chargers -8.5
Grimes: Raiders +6.5
The Chargers were exposed by the Cardinals. The CARDINALS.
Curtis: Raiders +6.5
I came this close to taking the Chargers, but last week was BAD.
Zeglinski: Raiders +6.5
We are not ready for the "Jim Harbaugh has already failed the Chargers" news cycle, lemme tell ya.
D'Andrea: Raiders +6.5
A divisional game and a Las Vegas team that looked competent and efficient, if unexplosive.
Nettuno: Raiders +6.5
What, exactly, did the Chargers do in Week 1 to warrant a spread like this?
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos
Opening Line: Broncos -2.5
Grimes: Jaguars +2.5
I don't think Denver's defense is as bad as it looked in KC, but the offense might be.
Curtis: Jaguars +2.5
The Jacksonville hype is real.
Zeglinski: Jaguars +2.5
Denver is going to look a lot better at home after getting pantsed by its biggest rival. But there's no way I can give the Broncos the edge after seeing the red-hot Jaguars pick up where they left off.
D'Andrea: Jaguars +2.5
I don't know what's going on with the Denver defense, but stopping the Jags right now is exactly what it doesn't need.
Nettuno: Jaguars +2.5
This long-suffering Jags fan is certainly scared to see my colleagues this confident in them. I don't think Denver will deliver a stinker like it did in Week 1, but Jacksonville could be the real deal.
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys
Opening Line: Cowboys -4.5
Grimes: Cowboys -4
Big bounceback spot for Dallas.
Curtis: Cowboys -4
This spread should be... two points higher?
Zeglinski: Cowboys -4
Look, the Cowboys' defense remains terrible. That much is true. But the Commanders still can't block and their offensive firepower surrounding Jayden Daniels also might be worse than we thought.
D'Andrea: Cowboys -4
I don't trust either team and especially either defense. Give me the home team, and give me the over.
Nettuno: Cowboys -4
I don't know, man. I'll take the home team in a matchup I don't have a good read on. Why not?
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers
Opening Line: 49ers -10.5
Grimes: 49ers -13.5
Niners in their first game from Australia makes me nervous, but the Dolphins might be the worst team in the NFL.
Curtis: Dolphins +13.5
A late Malik Willis scramble for a touchdown in garbage time clinches a cover.
Zeglinski: 49ers -13.5
If the 49ers stay healthy, they are a Super Bowl contender. A big if, considering their recent history, but still. This game reeks of an obvious blowout that is over by the halfway point of the third quarter.
D'Andrea: 49ers -13.5
I hate this line.
Nettuno: 49ers -13.5
Ridiculous line. I never pick these. But Miami may just be that bad.
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals
Opening Line: Seahawks -10
Grimes: Seahawks -4
Drew Lock is good enough to hold down the fort.
Curtis: Seahawks -4
The Cardinals aren't facing the Chargers this time, and it's gonna hurt.
Zeglinski: Seahawks -4
The Cardinals aren't going to catch the reigning champs off guard. Seattle is on a mission and should be just fine while Sam Darnold recovers from his hip injury.
D'Andrea: Seahawks -4
Arizona shocked everyone in Week 1, but Seattle won't be taken be surprise, even with Drew Lock in the lineup.
Nettuno: Seahawks -4
This line movement is what we in the biz call an overcorrection.
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday Night Football)
Opening Line: Chiefs -6.5
Grimes: Chiefs -6.5
Ahh, that's the Daniel Jones I'm used to.
Curtis: Chiefs -6.5
Buying into what I saw on Monday, although running KWIII like 50 times seems like a bad long-term idea.
Zeglinski: Chiefs -6.5
I still have major, major questions about Kansas City's weapons because the opposing defense isn't going to miss 28 tackles (!) every week. But the Colts are not the team to raise these concerns.
D'Andrea: Chiefs -6.5
Not touching the Colts until Daniel Jones is mobile again (or playing the Titans).
Nettuno: Chiefs -6.5
Kansas City did not look great on offense, but I have very little faith in the Colts right now.
New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams (Monday Night Football)
Opening Line: Rams -8.5
Grimes: Giants +7
Sold. Don't let me down Giants!
Curtis: Giants +7
No Myles Garrett and maybe no Aaron Donald? Hmm.
Zeglinski: Rams -7
The Rams are desperate to prove that Week 1 was a fluke because of jet lag. I think they'll put on a Monday night show.
D'Andrea: Giants +7
New York's sudden competence and heavy pass rush are a problem for a 38-year-old quarterback.
Nettuno: Giants +7
Are we just pretending Week 1 didn't happen? I expect a Rams bounce-back, but this is just too many points.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: NFL picks against the spread for Week 2 from our expert staff
Advertiser disclosure: USA TODAY may earn a commission when you sign up through links on this page. Commissions never influence our editorial coverage or rankings. Offers and odds were accurate at publication and are subject to change; terms apply — see the operator’s site. This is general information, not betting, legal or financial advice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, USA TODAY is not liable for losses arising from your use of it.
Must be 21+ (18+ where permitted). Sports betting and casino gaming are not legal everywhere; complying with the laws where you are located is your responsibility. Gamble only with funds you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Help is available 24/7 — call or text 1-800-GAMBLER, or call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-MY-RESET. State helplines and responsible gaming resources.
