After a wild first week of the 2019 season and injuries shaking things up, we again make NFL picks against the spread for every game in Week 2.
For the most part, it can be hard to truly know what will transpire in Week 1 of a new NFL season. Thus, as 2019 kicked off last week, it was a tall task making NFL picks against the spread. Even if you can look at the rosters, offseason moves and everything that we think we know, there are still variables that we can’t totally know. But as we enter Week 2, perhaps we know a little more — or maybe we’ve just been fooled.
The takeaways from the first week of action were plentiful. It seems the Miami Dolphins are a dumpster fire, the Cleveland Browns were overhyped beyond belief, the New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens can’t be stopped and so much more. The question now becomes if that was just a one-week outlier or the norm to expect throughout the 2019 season.
We started out strong with our season-long run of NFL picks against the spread. Now we look to build off of that heading into Week 2, ready to make more picks. And for full disclosure, remember that I will not be picking the Thursday games throughout the year.
Note: All odds are via Bovada.
Week 1 Record: 9-6-0
2019 NFL Picks ATS Record: 9-6-0
Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers (-3)
While the Vikings showed a lot of impressive things, so too did the Green Bay Packers defense. Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau gets the nod for me here.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans (-8.5)
No Nick Foles and a defense that’s supposed to be good but got torched by 40 points last week playing on the road. Forgive me for not believing the Jags have a chance here.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (-3)
If Marcus Mariota and the Titans can repeat what they did in Week 1, the Jacoby Brissett led Colts won’t stand a chance on the road come Sunday afternoon.
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Arizona Cardinals at Baltimore Ravens (-13)
This was the most difficult line for me to pick in Week 2 as the Ravens and Lamar Jackson should win but the line is quite high. Kyler Murray makes the Red Birds frisky but I’m banking on the Baltimore defense at home carrying them to the victory and the cover.
San Francisco 49ers (EVEN) at Cincinnati Bengals
What both the Bengals and 49ers did in Week 1 feels a lot like fool’s gold. The question as they face off is which is more so that? Give me Jimmy Garoppolo and the overall roster talent of San Francisco in this matchup.
Los Angeles Chargers (-2) at Detroit Lions
There is a zero percent chance that I trust Matt Patricia in the 2019 NFL season.
New England Patriots (-19.5) at Miami Dolphins
Yes, the Patriots are favored by almost three touchdowns. Yes, that line is absolutely absurd. And yes, I am taking New England to cover it still. Teams as bad as the Dolphins don’t come around all that often.
Buffalo Bills (-2) at New York Giants
Even on the road, the talent of the Bills just feels vastly superior in this matchup. With Sterling Shepard out for the Giants, their offense is now even more limited against a good Buffalo defense.
Seattle Seahawks (+3.5) at Pittsburgh Steelers
Put me in the category of people who want to see what the Steelers do moving forward before trusting them again after how bad they were against New England in Week 1 — even if Seattle wasn’t all that impressive.
Dallas Cowboys (-6.5) at Washington Redskins
Injuries are already catching up the Redskins while Dak Prescott and the Cowboys looked downright unstoppable with Kellen Moore in charge of the offense. Dallas might be on track for big, big things in 2019.
Kansas City Chiefs (-7) at Oakland Raiders
While I favor this game being a shootout, the Chiefs have more offensive firepower and consistency than the Raiders, even if Tyreek Hill isn’t on the field.
New Orleans Saints (+2) at Los Angeles Rams
Both the Saints and Rams had narrow victories in their season-openers. Having said that, the Saints looked far more impressive in their winning effort, which leads me to take them on the road here.
Chicago Bears (-3) at Denver Broncos
Matt Nagy and the Bears have the talent to right the ship and get back on track. And going up against their former defensive coordinator in Denver, they’ll have a bit more motivation.
Philadelphia Eagles (-2) at Atlanta Falcons
Man, the Falcons looked wholly uninspiring in Week 1 as they were run over continuously by the Vikings. That doesn’t make me feel confident about their chances in primetime against Carson Wentz and the Eagles, even if they are in Atlanta.
Cleveland Browns (-7) at New York jets
There’s literally no chance things can go as badly for Baker Mayfield and the Browns as they did in Week 1 — especially with Trevor Siemian starting for the Jets on Monday night.
There are your NFL picks against the spread for Week 2. After having a bit of success last week, let’s hope that we can repeat that. Of course, as things start to normalize, perhaps more surprises are coming in the second weekend of action in the league. Only time will tell.