Week 2 NFL Picks: Can J.J. McCarthy Bring More Magic to the Vikings’ Home Opener?
Well, Week 1 was a mixed bag to start the season with picks.
We had some solid choices like the Chargers and Raiders winning outright as underdogs, and well, there were some bad ones like the Dolphins, Giants, and Panthers. Hopefully, things turn around with our Week 2 NFL picks.
Before we get into this week’s slate, here is a look at how things went in Week 1:
- Eagles -8.5 (L)
- Chargers +3.5 (W)
- Buccaneers -2.5 (W)
- Bengals -5.5 (L)
- Dolphins +1.5 (L)
- Raiders +2.5 (W)
- Cardinals -6.5 (W)
- Steelers -2.5 (L)
- Giants +6.5 (L)
- Panthers +3.5 (L)
- Titans +8.5 (W)
- Packers -2.5 (W)
- Texans +3.5 (L)
- Bills -1.5 (L)
- Vikings -1.5 (W)
Season Record: 7-9
Week 2 NFL Picks
Washington Commanders at Green Bay Packers
- Spread: Packers -3.5
- O/U: 48.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Packers -3.5
The Green Bay Packers showed on Sunday why they should be considered serious contenders this year. The defense was already solid, but the addition of Micah Parsons could turn it into one of the best units in the entire league when everything is said and done. A challenge awaits with a mobile Jayden Daniels on the other side, and if he does pull off this win, the MVP chatter should begin. However, I’ll still pick Green Bay to get the job done at home.
Los Angeles Rams at Tennessee Titans
- Spread: Rams -5.5
- O/U: 41.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Titans +5.5
The Rams offense did not give any reasons for supreme confidence in Week 1, and Cam Ward, at the very least, looked very solid in his NFL debut. The Titans defensive front should cause some problems for Matthew Stafford, so Tennessee at the very least can keep this game close.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals
- Spread: Bengals -3.5
- O/U: 48.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Bengals -3.5
The Jacksonville Jaguars looked far more impressive in Week 1 than the Cincinnati Bengals, but a lot of Cincinnati’s struggles offensively can be attributed to a strong Browns defensive line. They historically have been bad in Week 1 since Joe Burrow came in as their starting QB, but that typically turns itself around in Week 2., at least on the offensive side of the ball.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
- Spread: Ravens -11.5
- O/U: 44.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Ravens -11.5
11.5 points is an absurd spread in the NFL, but it is warranted in this case. Nothing that happened in Week 1 suggests that the Browns will have any luck stopping this ridiculous Ravens offense, and Baltimore will be ready to prove a point after collapsing against Buffalo on Sunday night.
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
- Spread: Bills -6.5
- O/U: 46.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Jets +6.5
Josh Allen has had his fair share of struggles playing at MetLife Stadium in recent years with the Bills losing two of their last three games there. New York’s offense also looked very solid in Week 1, and if last weekend is any indicator, Buffalo’s defense could be vulnerable. At the risk of falling victim to Week 1 overreactions, I’m taking the Jets to keep this game close.
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins
- Spread: Dolphins -1.5
- O/U: 42.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Dolphins -1.5
I despise this matchup. The New England Patriots look like they are at least another year of Drake Maye development away from being taken seriously, and the vibes around the Miami Dolphins could not be worse. That being said, the Dolphins have shown that they can look like a completely different team when playing at home, so I’ll give them the nod here.
San Francisco 49ers at New Orleans Saints
- Spread: 49ers -4.5
- O/U: 42.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Saints +4.5
The Saints might be just good enough that they can make teams work to win games. Spencer Rattler made some really impressive throws in Week 1 despite the loss, and the 49ers will be without George Kittle and possibly Brock Purdy. New Orleans keeps this game close.
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
- Spread: Cowboys -5.5
- O/U: 44.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Cowboys -5.5
This is a really tough spot for the New York Giants. They are back on the road for the second week in a row, and it comes against a division rival who is playing their home opener on a mini bye week after the Cowboys opened their season on Thursday Night Football. Dallas also made things very tough on Philadelphia in that loss. Cowboys win big this week.
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions
- Spread: Lions -5.5
- O/U: 47.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Lions -5.5
The Lions looked half asleep in Week 1, but this is the perfect get right game for them. The Bears just suffered an ugly loss to the Vikings on Monday Night Football, and the warning lights that Caleb Williams may not be the guy in Chicago are firmly on. Detroit bounces back with a big win.
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers
- Spread: Steelers -2.5
- O/U: 39.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Steelers -2.5
Aaron Rodgers went back into his vintage for on Sunday during his Steelers debut while Sam Darnold seemed to revert to his pre-Vikings era against the 49ers. DK Metcalf gets revenge on his former team.
Denver Broncos at Indianapolis Colts
- Spread: Broncos -1.5
- O/U: 43.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Broncos -1.5
Daniel Jones absolutely lit up the Miami Dolphins defense in Week 1, but is he going to be able to replicate it against a very talented Denver team? I have my doubts, and the Broncos offense shouldn’t be as bad as it looked last weekend, either.
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals
- Spread: Cardinals -6.5
- O/U: 44.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Cardinals -6.5
Oof, that was a rough season opener for Bryce Young, and it seemed to reverse any momentum that the Panthers had gained down the stretch of the 2024 season. If there is one thing Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals are great at, it’s dominating teams that are very clearly inferior to them, and they will do that this Sunday.
Philadelphia Eagles at Kansas City Chiefs
- Spread: Eagles -1.5
- O/U: 46.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Chiefs +1.5
It’s a rematch of February’s Super Bowl, and it just feels like this is a moment for Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to show that they still need to be taken very seriously. The Chiefs haven’t lost at Arrowhead since Christmas Day of 2023, and they get a win in their home opener.
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
- Spread: Vikings -3.5
- O/U: 44.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Falcons +3.5
The Atlanta Falcons have a real offense with Michael Penix at quarterback, and the Vikings defense could run into trouble with Blake Cashman sidelined and the statuses of Andrew Van Ginkel and Harrison Smith in question. J.J. McCarthy magic could certainly strike again to pull out a late win, but the Falcons will keep this game close.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans
- Spread: Texans -2.5
- O/U: 42.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Buccaneers +2.5
The Houston Texans are going another game without Joe Mixon in the lineup, and it was evident that their offense struggled without him in Week 1. Tampa Bay seems to have found another stud receiver in Emeka Egbuka, and the Bucs win on the road.
Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders
- Spread: Chargers -3.5
- O/U: 46.5 points
Frey’s Pick: Chargers -3.5
The Chargers essentially get a mini bye week after opening their season on Friday night in Brazil, and they made a big statement with that win over the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders have a strong offense in their own right, but this could be too big of a test for this team early in the season.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via ESPN and Pro Football Reference.
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