Making NFL picks against the spread for Week 2 as we look at the Packers, Buccaneers and Browns as huge favorites and try to beat the odds.
After a completely normal, totally expected, everything-went-according-to-plan Week 1 of the 2021 NFL season, we move on to Week 2. Of course, none of that was true as we saw absolute madness throughout the week. From the Cowboys-Buccaneers on Thursday to Aaron Rodgers and the Packers laying an egg to the wild Raiders-Ravens Monday Night Football game, it was a wild start to the season.
Despite that, my NFL picks against the spread started out pretty well. Despite a pretty rough start to the Sunday slate for the 1:00 p.m. ET games, I rallied late to finish the week with a 9-6-1 record (thankfully, these NFL picks come out on Wednesday before the 49ers-Lions line moved and would’ve let Detroit hit the backdoor cover).
So can we continue that success as we look at the odds for Week 2? There are some heavy, heavy favorites in big spots this week, which always makes things tough. But we’ll try to stay hot to start the season as we make our NFL picks against the spread for every game on the Week 2 slate. (Note: All odds are courtesy of WynnBet.)
2021 NFL picks against the spread: Week 2
New York Giants at Washington Football Team (-3.0) – Thursday Night Football
Even with Taylor Heinicke getting the start for Washington, I’m not concerned. The Washington defense should make life exceptionally difficult for Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley on Thursday night. And if the Giants defense looks like it did against Denver, the Football Team should put up enough points to cover comfortably.
San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) at Philadelphia Eagles
For as good as the Eagles looked and even with the Niners trying to give the game away to the Lions last week, I’m not overreacting to either of those. My money still says the 49ers defensive front is better than the Eagles offensive front and the San Francisco offense can move on anyone. They’re the better team and I’m banking on that, even as a road favorite.
Denver Broncos (-6.0) at Jacksonville Jaguars
Even while trying not to overreact, I’m beginning to think the Jaguars might be the NFL’s worst team. Urban Meyer might be out of his depth and they don’t have enough veteran talent to make up for that. Throw in the Broncos looking awesome in Week 1 and you have an easy pick here.
New Orleans Saints (-3.5) at Carolina Panthers
Jameis Winston probably isn’t going to submit the second game in NFL history with under 150 yards passing and five touchdowns. But even still, the Saints looked incredible in all facets. While Carolina got the win over the Jets, they weren’t near perfect and New Orleans should have clear advantages across the board.
Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5) at Chicago Bears
Our first upset pick of Week 2 is the Bengals as road underdogs. I was impressed by Joe Burrow and this offense and the opposite of that with the Bears secondary. Cincinnati’s offensive line worries me, as does their defense. But nothing Chicago showed makes me think they’re a better team than the Bengals, as crazy as that may sound.
New England Patriots (-6.0) at New York Jets
Let’s see — the Jets offensive line got worked by the Panthers in Week 1 and Zach Wilson was running for his life. Now they have to face a Bill Belichick defense and have a defense of their own primed to get picked apart by a Mac Jones-led offense. This is going to be a blowout.
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers (-5.5)
For as impressive as the Raiders were on Monday night, the Ravens defense wasn’t where it needed to be. That’s not true for the Steelers, who made Josh Allen look awful in the opener. While 5.5 points has me worried because I lack faith in the Pittsburgh offense, I’m still willing to take those points on the basis of the defense.
Los Angeles Rams (-4.0) at Indianapolis Colts
The Matthew Stafford-Sean McVay marriage started off swimmingly and, frankly, I don’t see that doing anything but get better moving forward. Indianapolis was uninspiring with the dink-and-dunk offense and a good-not-great defense. LA should control both sides of the ball and get a nice win, even on the road.
Make your picks for NFL Week 2 on WynnBet
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (+3.5)
Understanding the Josh Allen has owned the Dolphins recently, I took Miami as an underdog last week and am ready to do it again. Buffalo’s defense doesn’t worry me in this matchup and the Dolphins defense is good enough to also cause Allen — who is prime to regress — problems. Throw in playing at home and you can give me the Fins all day.
Houston Texans (+12.5) at Cleveland Browns
Make no mistake, the Browns are going to win and are likely going to dominate. But even at home, this is a huge line against a Texans team that looked competent with all the veterans they have and a solidly designed offense with Tyrod Taylor. Most importantly, I can see Cleveland getting up big and then just milking the clock with the run game, which puts this large spread in jeopardy.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-12.5)
On the flip side of those big spreads, I just don’t see any chance that the Buccaneers don’t embarrass the Falcons in Tampa Bay. Tom Brady and the Bucs offense looked already in form and Atlanta looked lost in every sense in Week 1. Even with this line, take the champs and don’t worry about it.
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals (-4.0)
A bounce-back game from the Vikings offense and an angry Mike Zimmer worries me here but the Cardinals looked so dominant in Week 1 that I’m not going to overthink it. Chandler Jones and the defense should keep attacking well and Kyler Murray has a good matchup against a questionable-at-best Minnesota secondary.
Tennessee Titans (+5.5) at Seattle Seahawks
This is probably my most surprising pick but I’m in on it. Yes, the Titans looked awful but the Seahawks don’t have nearly the same pass rush as Arizona. Furthermore, the Tennessee offense is more than capable of bouncing back. I see this as a potential shootout and, even if the Titans lose, they’ll keep it within 5.5 points in a back-and-forth contest.
Dallas Cowboys (+3.0) at Los Angeles Chargers
Not having right tackle La’el Collins worries me for the Cowboys but I still have faith in the offense overall. The Chargers weren’t world-beaters on that side of the ball. This is another game that could be a shootout given the Dallas defense vs. Justin Herbert but it feels as if the Cowboys could just as easily win this game as LA could, which is why I’m taking the three points and running.
Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) at Baltimore Ravens – Sunday Night Football
Something felt off about the Ravens offense, particularly on the offensive line. That doesn’t bode well for a team that is thin in the secondary and now facing a loaded Chiefs offense led by Patrick Mahomes. This could be a bit of a mismatch when it’s all said and done and Kansas City should pick up a smooth win.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (-11.0) – Monday Night Football
How can a team that lost by 35 points now be an 11-point favorite? Well, the Packers are not only playing the Lions but no one in their right mind thinks that Week 1 is indicative of what the rest of the season holds. This will be a statement get-right game and Green Bay is going to throw all over a Lions team that just lost it’s best cornerback.