NFL picks and score predictions for Week 2 as the 2020 season is off and running!
We’ve officially got football back as the 2020 NFL campaign is underway. The first week of the season offered plenty of big performances and a few surprises, and I expect more of the same in Week 2. On top of that, we’re also ready to deliver our weekly NFL picks!
As always, we’ve got you covered with the Week 2 edition of NFL picks and score predictions. Now I’ll never claim that these are going to be 100 percent correct. In fact, there’s a very good chance at least a few of my picks will go completely awry. I will, however, make my selections based on research, experience and careful consideration.
Despite all of the uncertainty, I got the 2020 season off on the right foot. My Week 1 picks resulted in a 10-5 finish, which I’m happy with considering how little visibility we had going into the weekend (i.e. limited training camp, no preseason). Now let’s just hope the good times continue in Week 2, when I’ll be looking to put together another strong prediction performance.
Just remember that making picks is not a science. As much research goes into it, anything can happen on any given Sunday. That’s the beauty of sports, isn’t it?
Now that we’ve gotten all of that out of the way, here are my NFL picks and score predictions for Week 2. Just keep in mind that I assume no responsibility if you choose to place wagers based on my picks — that’s your decision, not mine.
Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Cleveland Browns (0-1)
Thursday, September 17, 8:20PM ET
Based on what we’ve seen so far, the Cincinnati Bengals have their quarterback of the future. It may a bit early, but Joe Burrow is already looking like a star in the making. He kept the Bengals within striking distance throughout Week 1 and figures to do so again in Week 2.
But will it be enough to secure his first win against the Cleveland Browns? I think so.
Don’t get me wrong — this Cincinnati team isn’t going anywhere in 2020. I wouldn’t be surprised if they failed to break the 6-win mark. With that said, we’ll see some steady progress from this club, fueled by the presence of Burrow under center and a defense that has some quality pieces in place.
As for the Browns, I’m starting to think it may be time to scrap the plan and start over. After getting mauled by the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, they desperately need to get things going against the Bengals. However, considering how underwhelming they were in 2019, I don’t have much faith in this franchise figuring things out this season.
The Bengals notch a hard-fought win and Burrow gets his first W.
Prediction: Bengals win 20-18
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-0) at Tennessee Titans (1-0)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
Was that Minshew Magic a fluke? I love Gardner Minshew and enjoy rooting for him as an underdog, but I’m not confident in his ability to keep the wins coming for a Jacksonville Jaguars squad that appeared ready to tank prior to Week 1.
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Now, in terms of the Tennessee Titans, I’m loving what they bring to the table in 2020. I know they fumbled their way to a win in Week 1, but there’s plenty to like about this club. Ryan Tannehill is still playing like a reliable starter, Derrick Henry is more than capable of wearing defenses down, and a Mike Vrabel-led defense is always capable of putting the clamps on.
Do the Jaguars really have the talent to keep up with that? I’m not buying it. The defense lacks elite talent, and the options available to Minshew are average at best. Heck, their top running back is an undrafted rookie I’ve never even heard of. It’s just not an ideal situation for this franchise.
This week, we see the Jaguars team we expected to see last weekend. Minshew makes some plays, but can’t find the end zone often while the Jacksonville defense gets rolled over by Henry. The Titans move to 2-0 as they enjoy a hot start to the season.
Prediction: Titans win 21-7
Carolina Panthers (0-1) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-1)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
See. I told you the Tampa Bay Buccaneers weren’t going to take the league by storm the way so many believed. They have the look of a “Dream Team” rather than the beginning of a new dynasty. Don’t get your hopes too high for their Super Bowl chances.
Still, that doesn’t mean they aren’t going to win games in 2020.
Their first win should come in Week 2 against the Carolina Panthers, who suffered their own close loss in the season opener. Teddy Bridgewater and Co. looked strong against the Las Vegas Raiders, but couldn’t come up with enough defensive stops to get the W. That should continue to be the case against Tampa Bay in Week 2.
Look for Brady to get going early, shaking off the rust that was all too apparent against the New Orleans Saints. As he gets more familiar with his teammates and the defense starts clicking better, don’t be surprised to see this team assert itself as a contender in the NFC.
As for the Panthers, it could be a long season. They’ve made a lot of changes and lost too much talent in the last year or so. It’s tough, but that’s what they get for letting Ron Rivera go.
Prediction: Buccaneers win 34-14
Denver Broncos (0-1) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
As I expected, the Denver Broncos looked better than many had in mind in Week 1. Although they eventually lost (due in part to awful clock management), Drew Lock played well, the defense was a brick wall at times, and the ground game got going.
Unfortunately, they head into Week 2 set for a showdown with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And based on what I saw in Week 1, they’re one of my early favorites to emerge atop the AFC by season’s end. Right now, they just have so much going for them.
Ben Roethlisberger is back, and he looks great. He’s got an exciting group of young receivers, and an impressive offensive line to keep him protected. What may be the most important for their future success, though, is their stout defense, which may be one of the best we’ve seen from Pittsburgh in recent years.
The Steelers D will swarm Lock all day long, forcing the young gunslinger into too many mistakes to overcome. Roethlisberger comes up with a couple of key drives to seal the deal, moving Pittsburgh to 2-0 on the season as their stock begins to skyrocket.
Prediction: Steelers win 26-13
Los Angeles Rams (1-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
I’m sorry — I was wrong. Last week, I predicted that the Los Angeles Rams would disappoint and prove their averageness against the Dallas Cowboys. That wasn’t the case, as their defense answered the call and kept Dak Prescott in check all game long.
Look for more of the same in Week 2.
As we saw in Week 1, the Philadelphia Eagles have some serious issues to address moving forward. The offensive line was a mess, and the offense completely collapsed in the second half. What’s worse is they’re now going up against a Rams defense that offers some exceptional pass-rushing ability. More accurately, they’ve got Aaron Donald.
Donald figures to be a human wrecking ball on Sunday, keeping the Eagles from getting much going offensively. Although I’m still uncertain how the Los Angeles offense will fair throughout the season, I believe they offer enough talent and upside to outside Philly in this one.
Jared Goff makes a few quality throws, and the Rams find some success on the ground. They don’t score touchdowns at ease, but they move it more than enough to secure the win and start a winning streak to start 2020.
Prediction: Rams win 23-21
San Francisco 49ers (0-1) at New York Jets (0-1)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
Yes, the San Francisco 49ers lost in Week 1. Keep in mind they lost to an underrated Cardinals team that could very well push for a playoff spot in 2020. They’re certainly no slouch, even after taking a step backward this offseason following a Super Bowl defeat.
Yes, the New York Jets also lost in Week 1. They lost to another contender in the Buffalo Bills. Unfortunately for them, they’re not nearly as talented as the 49ers. On both sides of the ball, they lack the playmaking ability to hope for anything more than a 6-10 finish. It’s unfortunate for fans, but that’s the way things go sometimes in the NFL.
So what happens on Sunday? The 49ers get the win, that’s what.
Despite taking the L against the Cardinals, San Francisco put up quite the fight. The offense played well for much of the game, and the defense was victimized by the elite talents of DeAndre Hopkins. The Jets don’t have a Hopkins, which should make life much easier for the 49ers.
San Francisco gets its season back on track, while we see the second of many losses to come for Gang Green.
Prediction: 49ers win 26-10
Buffalo Bills (1-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-1)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
Right now, it’s looking like the Buffalo Bills may be the team to beat in the AFC East. They already handled the Jets in Week 1, and now have an opportunity to secure another early-season divisional win with a showdown against the Miami Dolphins.
If anything, it could be an even more dominant effort than the New England Patriots managed against Miami this past weekend. The Patriots made life miserable for the Dolphins offense, and I expect more of the same with the Bills defense coming to town.
On top of that, the Buffalo offense is looking like one worth taking seriously in 2020. Josh Allen was great in Week 1, using his arm as well as his feet to consistently move the ball. As long as he can keep from falling apart and his receivers continue to deliver, the Bills should have little trouble putting up plenty of points against the Dolphins.
Ryan Fitzpatrick could soon find himself on the hot seat if the subpar showings continue to pile up. Based on what we now right now, I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s exactly what we see from the veteran gunslinger in Week 2.
Prediction: Bills win 34-13
Minnesota Vikings (0-1) at Indianapolis Colts (0-1)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
I’m not going to sugarcoat it — the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 1 loss was ugly. I was confident they’d pull off the win, and instead the Green Bay Packers put a whooping on them while dominating time of possession and making life tough for Kirk Cousins.
It’s not the Minnesota offense that needs to get his act together, though. Instead, it’s the defense that simply cannot allow itself to be shredded against the Indianapolis Colts. Luckily for them, they’re facing a Philip Rivers-led offense that historically have a tendency to create untimely turnovers and fall apart in the clutch.
The Vikings can pick up points when they need to. Cousins has plenty of weapons to work with, and the duo of Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison is one of the best in the NFL. The pass blocking must improve, but Cousins is experienced at adapting. Plus, I’m sure Adam Thielen will love the opportunity to burn Xavier Rhodes a few times.
Indianapolis has the makings of a playoff team this season, but we saw something different in Week 1. They could easily bounce back in Week 2, but I’m putting my money on the Vikings to sneak away with the win and get themselves back on track.
Prediction: Vikings win 27-18
Detroit Lions (0-1) at Green Bay Packers (1-0)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
The rest of the league has been put on notice — Aaron Rodgers isn’t backing down this year. After putting the Minnesota defense through the wringer in Week 1, the All-Pro quarterback is ready to do similar damage to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
And based on how the opening game went, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a repeat performance from Rodgers. Heck, the Detroit secondary couldn’t even avoid a huge comeback at the hands of Mitchell Trubisky. Do they really think they can avoid a meltdown against one of the best arms in the game?
The most disappointing part, though, was Matthew Stafford’s performance. I had high hopes that the often-overlooked veteran would start the 2020 campaign with an MVP-esque outing. However, that didn’t happen. It wasn’t a complete mess, but I expected more from the Lions’ star signal-caller. Can he get back on track against the Packers?
It’s possible, but it may not be enough even if he does. The Packers offense looks scary right now, with Aaron Jones running well and Rodgers’ various receivers stepping up. Even if Stafford can start a fire, Green Bay will put it out before the final whistle blows.
Prediction: Packers win 36-24
Atlanta Falcons (0-1) at Dallas Cowboys (0-1)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
I was a bit baffled at how little explosiveness the Dallas Cowboys possessed in Week 1. Yes, they had to deal with Donald blowing up their front five on a regular basis, but I still expected more from one of the league’s most talented passing games (on paper).
So can we expect more from the Cowboys’ air assault in Week 2? I’m fairly confident we will.
The Atlanta Falcons don’t offer nearly as much talent along the defensive line, and the secondary is a work in progress as well. They couldn’t contain Russell Wilson and the Seattle Seahawks during the opening weekend, and they should suffer a similar fate against Dak Prescott, Ezekiel Elliott and Amari Cooper.
That doesn’t mean the Falcons will make it easy for them, though. Matt Ryan is still one of the NFL’s better passers, and he’ still got one of the game’s top receivers to throw to. They’ll keep things interesting on the scoreboard, similar to the way they did against Seattle.
Ultimately, the lack of pass-rushing prowess costs the Falcons in this one. Prescott has too much time to throw and picks the Atlanta secondary apart on his way to win No. 1.
Prediction: Cowboys win 27-23
New York Giants (0-1) at Chicago Bears (1-0)
Sunday, September 20, 1PM ET
I’m sorry, but I’m not buying it. The Bears may have pulled off the surprise win in Week 1, but we simply can’t rely on Trubisky to put on that type of performance on a weekly basis. Trust me when I say that it was a fluke that won’t repeat itself often this season.
Yes, the Bears defense is still a stout one. They will certainly make life difficult for the New York Giants and their young quarterback Daniel Jones. With that said, I can’t imagine Saquon Barkley being bottled up for two weeks in a row. Be ready for the dynamic runner to deliver some paint to the Chicago defense in Week 2.
Now about Trubisky… the Giants are going to do everything they can to make him uncomfortable. They’ll bring the pressure early and often, forcing him into mistakes the Bears simply cannot overcome. Even if the New York offense fails to light it up, they’ll have enough opportunities to stay ahead on the scoreboard with the Bears’ gunslinger stumbling.
I’m not confident in either of these teams’ ability to make the postseason in 2020. However, someone’s gotta win this one so I’m going with the G-Men to get the job done, notching their first win of the season along the way.
Prediction: Giants win 19-14
Washington Football Team (1-0) at Arizona Cardinals (1-0)
Sunday, September 20, 4:05PM ET
Good job Washington Football Team. You pulled off a surprising Week 1 upset of the Philadelphia Eagles, due in large part to the latter’s complete meltdown on offense. Unfortunately, you won’t enjoy the same amount of success in Week 2.
This Arizona Cardinals team cannot be ignored this season. Despite being in arguably the NFL’s toughest division, they’re still a team worth taking seriously. Kyler Murray could break out as a sophomore with the help of one of the league’s most loaded receiving groups. The defense has gotten better, and the run game offers upside with Kenyan Drake and Chase Edmonds.
I don’t feel nearly as confident when it comes to Washington. Sure they’ve got an exceptional defense, and Terry McLaurin is a star in the making. Beyond that, though, there’s little to write home about. I don’t trust Dwayne Haskins as the quarterback who can lead this team to the playoffs, and the running game doesn’t offer much in terms of exciting talent.
We’ll see examples of this on Sunday when the Cardinals put the brakes on the sudden hype surrounding Washington. Murray has another outstanding game as Larry Fitzgerald and Hopkins put a hurting on D.C.’s young cornerbacks.
Prediction: Cardinals win 28-16
Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)
Sunday, September 20, 4:25PM ET
Honestly, I didn’t think the Los Angeles Chargers could come away from Week 1 with a win. Despite them eventually securing the W in a defensive struggle, there’s no way they manage to topple the reigning champions in Week 2.
The Chiefs looked just as dominant as everyone expected in their season opener. They took charge against the Houston Texans, overcoming an early deficit and never looking back. Patrick Mahomes was a star as per usual, and Kansas City got a big boost for rookie runner Clyde Edwards-Helaire. That offense may be even more dynamic, which makes them early favorites in the AFC.
As for the Chargers, they’ll need to continue hoping their defense can make up for an underwhelming offense. They produced solid yardage, but failed to capitalize on opportunities to get in the end zone. Los Angeles will need all of the points it can get against the Chiefs in Week 2.
Even if we see more from the Chargers offense on Sunday, it won’t be enough. Mahomes does his thing, Edwards-Helaire puts on a commendable encore and the Chiefs walk away from Week 2 with a 2-0 record.
Prediction: Chiefs win 30-21
Baltimore Ravens (1-0) at Houston Texans (0-1)
Sunday, September 20, 4:25PM ET
Oh man, were the Houston Texans underwhelming in Week 1. Yes, they played the understandably dominant Chiefs, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that they nearly looked lost out there. The offense wasn’t clicking, and the defense couldn’t do anything to keep Kansas City in check.
As it turns out, their Week 2 matchup doesn’t get any easier. Which means the odds are high we’ll see another notch in the Texans’ loss column before Week 2 is in the books.
There’s just no way the Houston defense is going to slow down Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore offense. The reigning MVP is going to run up the score, with the Ravens defense making life miserable for Deshaun Watson. The Texans won’t completely fall apart, but it’s not even going to be a contest by the fourth quarter.
Through the air and on the ground, the Ravens will steamroll the Texans for 60 minutes. Maybe the last couple of drives will see Robert Griffin take the field, giving Houston’s defense a brief break before the game mercifully comes to an end.
How long does this go on before the Texans pull the plug on the Bill O’Brien era?
Prediction: Ravens win 45-17
New England Patriots (1-0) at Seattle Seahawks (1-0)
Sunday, September 20, 8:20PM ET
The Seattle Seahawks finally did it. They unleashed Russell Wilson, and it resulted in a big Week 1 win against a respectable foe in which their superstar quarterback lit it up through the air. Let’s hope for the Seahawks’ sake they’ve got more of the same queued up in Week 2.
Because, frankly, they’re going to need all of those points against a rebuilt-but-ready New England Patriots team. Although they were far from dominant in Week 1, the Patriots came to play, riding the efforts of Cam Newton and the defense to get the win against an improving Dolphins team.
What I’m saying is this won’t be a cakewalk for the Seahawks. And yet, all things considered, I’m leaning towards them walking away with the victory.
Wilson will keep the offense firing on all cylinders, especially as he becomes more comfortable with his various targets. On top of that, the Seattle defense could turn out to be one of the best in the league in 2020 if they play up to their potential. The Seahawks force a late turnover to seal the deal and move to 2-0.
Prediction: Seahawks win 26-23
New Orleans Saints (1-0) at Las Vegas Raiders (1-0)
Monday, September 21, 8:15PM ET
The Saints looked like the team they were billed as heading into the 2020 campaign — a true contender. They knocked off Brady and the Bucs in Week 1, and will look to keep the ball rolling in Week 2 against a Raiders team that’s fresh off its own opening-week win.
Unfortunately for Las Vegas, the celebration isn’t going to last beyond Monday night.
While the Raiders’ first win since their move to Sin City was solid, I’m still not at all convinced they can take down the Saints. They barely held off a Panthers team with far less talent on both sides of the ball. Slowing down Brees, Kamara and the New Orleans offense isn’t going to be as easy. Nor is Derek Carr going to be able to pick apart the Saints secondary like he did the Panthers’.
If anything, look for the Saints to focus on slowing the Josh Jacobs and the Las Vegas run game, daring Carr to air it out. When that happens, they’ll bring the pressure and force Jon Gruden’s guy into a costly mistake or two.
The Saints are one of the top teams to beat in 2020. Meanwhile, the Raiders will likely emerge as a middle-of-the-pack club, at best. We’ll see evidence of both those assertions in Week 2.
Prediction: Saints win 42-25