Sep 10, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reacts with wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) after scoring his first career touchdown pass from quarterback Kirk Cousins (not pictured) against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Alright, folks, Week 1 did not go very well for us from a picks standpoint. We lost more than we won by a pretty good margin, but the NFL train stops for no one.
Ahead of Thursday night’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles, we are once again making picks for each and every game in the Week 2 slate.
Before we get into this week’s schedule, a reminder that all point spreads and over/unders are via ESPN. Here is a look back at the debacle of a scoreboard from last week, and then, we will get into the Week 2 NFL picks:
Season Record: 5-11
Frey’s Pick: Vikings +7
The Minnesota Vikings are coming off an extremely disappointing loss to open their season, and they will look to get that bad taste out of their mouths. Meanwhile, the Eagles find themselves a bit shorthanded on the defensive side of the ball. Minnesota can keep this game close.
Frey’s Pick: Packers -1
Green Bay absolutely dominated the Chicago Bears throughout their Week 1 matchup, and it happened on both sides of the ball. Jordan Love was capable of moving the ball against their defense, and I expect the Packers to continue their winning ways against a young Falcons squad.
Frey’s Pick: Bills -9.5
The Bills absolutely should not have lost on Monday night against the Jets. Josh Allen was responsible for four turnovers in that game, and he should have a fire in his belly going into this game against a defense that is not on the tier of the Jets. Buffalo will roll to a victory, righting the wrong of Week 1.
Frey’s Pick: Bengals -3.5
Cincinnati’s offense couldn’t have looked much worse against the Browns in Week 1, but torrential downpours made it very difficult to move the ball through the air. Baltimore had four DNPs in Wednesday’s practice, including two starting offensive linemen as well as both CB Marlon Humphrey and S Marcus Williams. Cincinnati gets back on track against the Ravens.
Frey’s Pick: Lions -5
The general rule in the NFL is that we shouldn’t overreact to Week 1. Well, we might be doing exactly that with this pick. The Detroit Lions went into Arrowhead last Thursday and upset the Kansas City Chiefs while the Seattle Seahawks laid an egg at home against the Rams. With some extra rest for Detroit, I expect them to be ready against the team that stole a playoff spot from them last season.
Frey’s Pick: Chargers -3
Los Angeles’ offense sputtered down the stretch against Miami, but it was their defense allowing 36 points to the Dolphins that lost them that game. The Titans are at least two tiers lower than Miami on that side of the ball, so I expect the Chargers to cruise to a win.
Frey’s Pick: Bears +2.5
Tampa Bay stole a win against the Vikings on the road last week, but it felt about as fluky a win as possible. Perhaps they are good enough to win games, or perhaps this was the NFL gods inflicting bad karma on the Vikings for their 2022 season. Regardless, I expect the Bears to look much better on offense this weekend, so I’ll ride with Chicago to pull off the road win.
Frey’s Pick: Chiefs -3.5
Both Chris Jones and Travis Kelce are set to return for the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend, providing much-needed boosts to both sides of the ball. The Chiefs couldn’t have looked much worse during the closing stretches of last week’s game, and I expect a bounce-back from the defending champs in Week 2.
Frey’s Pick: Colts -1
This is a battle of two rookie QBs who showed some nice flashes in Week 1, but ultimately, they couldn’t get the job done against superior competition. I’m riding with the Colts on the road this week largely because they have a touch more offensive firepower than Houston. Anthony Richardson was not listed on Indy’s first injury report, suggesting he will be good to go.
Frey’s Pick: 49ers -8
Ladies and gentlemen, this is the “don’t think, just shoot” pick of the week. If you’ll recall, this was one of our few wins in Week 1 with the Cardinals covering the 7-point spread against the Commanders. The Rams offense came out flying last week.
That being said, outside of the NFC Championship Game last year, the Brock Purdy-led 49ers have now covered the spread in eight of their last nine games after their Week 1 win against the Steelers. We’re riding the Purdy train this week.
Frey’s Pick: Giants -5.5
The New York Giants were embarrased in Week 1 against their division-rival Cowboys. They now get a chance to beat up on a Cardinals team that seems destined for a top-five pick next spring as long as Joshua Dobbs is their QB.
Frey’s Pick: Jets +9
Here is another “don’t think, just shoot” pick. The Cowboys steamrolled the Giants to the tune of 40-0 on Sunday night, but they won’t be able to do that against this Jets defense. Say what you will about Zach Wilson at QB, but RB Breece Hall is the centerpoint of this offense. The Jets are now 6-2 in the eight games he’s played over his career. Behind Hall and their terrific defense, they will keep this game close.
Frey’s Pick: Broncos -3.5
Despite a disappointing loss to the Las Vegas Raiders last weekend, I still believe this is a far-improved Broncos offense in 2023, and they have a chance to get off the snide against Washington and get back into the AFC West race. With this opportunity in front of them, I expect Denver to come into this game with a renewed sense of urgency.
Frey’s Pick: Dolphins -3
During Tua Tagovailoa’s career, the Miami Dolphins have absolutely owned this matchup against the New England Patriots. In games that Tua has started, the Dolphins are 4-0 against their division rivals. As long as everyone on the offensive side can stay healthy, this is a juggernaut of an offense that should be able to move the ball with ease.
Frey’s Pick: Panthers +3
The Saints got a Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans, but their hyped-up offense under Derek Carr struggled mightily throughout the day. Meanwhile, Carolina looked awful in Week 1, but now they get a chance for Bryce Young to perform in front of the home crowd. The rookie made some nice throws against Atlanta, but the result just wasn’t there for the Panthers. New Orleans has lost three of its last five games in Carolina, and the trend continues in Week 2.
Frey’s Pick: Browns +2.5
Obviously, things did not go well for the Steelers in their home opener against the San Francisco 49ers. They could not move the ball against a stout defensive front, and they may run into similar troubles offensively again versus the Browns. Furthermore, the loss of Cam Heyward hurts them defensively.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.