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Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season is here! There are a lot of tough division matchups happening: the Vikings visiting the Bears, the Panthers and Falcons facing off, the Raiders against the Chargers and the Seahawks versus the Cardinals. You can also expect an exciting quarterback duel between Jacksonville's�Trevor Lawrence and Denver's�Bo Nix.�
We're here to get you ready for the action. First, our NFL Nation reporters take you inside the locker room with the best thing they heard this week, and ESPN Research provides a key stat to know. Then, analytics writer Seth Walder makes a bold prediction for each matchup, NFL analyst Ben Solak gives one reason to tune in to each game (and rates the watchability of the matchup), fantasy analyst Eric Moody shares fantasy football intel and betting analyst Pamela Maldonado hits betting insights for each contest. We also have Football Power Index (FPI) game projections, and Maldonado, Moody and Walder give us final score picks for every game.
Let's get into the full Week 2 slate, which culminates with a "Monday Night Football" matchup between the Giants and Rams on ESPN. (Game times are Sunday unless otherwise noted, and all odds are via DraftKings.)
Jump to a matchup:
MIN-CHI | CIN-HOU | NO-BAL
PIT-NE | GB-NYJ | PHI-TEN
CAR-ATL | CLE-TB | JAX-DEN
LV-LAC | WSH-DAL | SEA-ARI
MIA-SF | IND-KC | NYG-LAR
1 p.m. ET | Fox | CHI -4.5 (47.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Vikings: DC Brian Flores posted an 83% blitz rate in the first half against the Packers and -- even after throttling down in the second half -- finished with a 71.7% rate that nearly tripled the NFL average in Week 1. Flores has always favored the blitz, but would he dare repeat that aggression level against the Bears? Flores considers the opening weeks of a season to be about improvement and experimentation. "What are the best groups of players who are out on the field? Who plays well with who?" he said. "That's what we're working through as a staff right now." -- Kevin Seifert
What we're hearing on the Bears: Chicago is preparing for the "King of the Cover-0 blitz," the nickname QB Caleb Williams gave Flores as a rookie. In 2025, Williams was blitzed 37.2% in his first meeting against Minnesota and 66.7% the second time. Trying to anticipate which strategy Flores will deploy is an ineffective plan. "You try to have answers for everything," coach Ben Johnson said. "He's been in this division three years now, and yeah, I mean you'd like to think he's put everything he could possibly do on tape until you play him next and you realize he hasn't yet. ... There always is with him and that's what makes him such a good coordinator." -- Courtney Cronin
Stat to know: The Bears need 37 points to break the NFL record for most points in a team's opening two games, currently held by the 1968 Raiders (95). -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Vikings QB Carson Wentz will throw multiple interceptions. I know he had some impressive moments and didn't throw any picks in Minnesota's Week 1 win. But this is still Wentz, and I assume he's still prone to a mistake or four. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 9.0. There isn't a more fun schematic matchup in the entire league than Johnson versus Flores. This is Round 7 of their showdown. With a bad Bears defense on the other side of the ball, there should be explosive plays everywhere. -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: Bears WR Luther Burden III finished with just five targets and 9.5 fantasy points against Carolina last week. However, he led Chicago's receivers in routes run and now faces a Vikings secondary that allowed the Packers' Christian Watson and Matthew Golden to combine for 48.2 fantasy points last week. Burden is in a good spot to bounce back. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: All five of Wentz's starts went over the total last season for the Vikings. Chicago just scored 59 points but also allowed Carolina to produce 478 yards and 37 points. Minnesota's defense now faces an explosive Bears offense, while Wentz and WR�Justin Jefferson get a vulnerable Chicago defense. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Bears 31, Vikings 24
Moody's pick: Bears 35, Vikings 26
Walder's pick: Bears 34, Vikings 17
FPI prediction: CHI, 65.6% (by an average of 4.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: Mason put on IR after having surgery on thumb ... Bears anticipate 'great challenge' vs. Vikings defense�... No block, no rock' is not just a mantra for Bears' offense
1 p.m. ET | CBS | HOU -2.5 (46.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Bengals:�QB Joe Burrow will be managing back tightness this week. And he'll be doing so against one of the NFL's best defenses. OC Dan Pitcher compared the combination of edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. to Cincinnati's WR tandem of Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Keeping Burrow upright and intact this week will be paramount for Cincinnati's chances against Houston and for the rest of the season. -- Ben Baby
What we're hearing on the Texans: Houston is staring at another potential 0-2 start. If the Texans lose this week, it'll be the third such time under coach DeMeco Ryans since he was hired in 2023. But Hunter said "last year is last year," in response to being asked about their confidence level to dig themselves out of a hole to start the season. Houston may have to play without Pro Bowl wideout Nico Collins (hamstring), who was injured in practice Wednesday. -- DJ Bien-Aime
Stat to know: The Bengals posted a 54% pass rush win rate in Week 1, the team's highest since November 2024. They had the worst pass rush win rate in the NFL last season (28.8%). -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Texans RB David Montgomery will average 5.0 yards per carry. Montgomery scored three touchdowns in his debut but only averaged 3.0 yards per carry. The Bengals' defense, for all its turnover success in Week 1, did allow .09 EPA per opponent carry in Week 1 -- the fifth-worst mark. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 8.8. There are high stakes in this one for the traveling Texans, who are trying to avoid 0-2 (against two AFC contenders!). This is one I'm going to keep a close eye on especially because Burrow and Collins are entering the week banged up. -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: Montgomery finished Week 1 with 23 touches and 28.9 fantasy points, while handling every Houston rushing attempt inside the red zone. He now faces a Bengals defense that ranked 21st in run stop win rate (25.8%) last week and allowed the Bucs' Bucky Irving to score 20.3 fantasy points. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: The Texans are 1-8 ATS (against the spread) in September under Ryans for the past three seasons, and their September struggles could continue against an offense built to attack Houston's Week 1 weakness. The Bills averaged 10.4 yards per pass against the Texans, and they now get Burrow, Chase and Higgins. If Cincinnati protects Burrow, it has enough offense to contend. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Bengals 27, Texans 24
Moody's pick: Bengals 24, Texans 21
Walder's pick: Texans 23, Bengals 20
FPI prediction: HOU, 55.9% (by an average of 1.6 points)
Matchup must-reads: Burrow: 'Ridiculous' that tight back would keep me out ... To'oTo'o to miss some time with shoulder injury ... Cashing in: Bengals rookie Howell impacts pass rush ... Could Montgomery be key to unlock offense?
1 p.m. ET | CBS | BAL -8.5 (46.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Saints: The Saints will be without long-snapper Zach Wood for several weeks because of a calf strain, according to a source. This is a very underrated loss for New Orleans, which hasn't had to deal with this problem for the 10 seasons Wood has been with the team. Wood has been quietly consistent in his time with the Saints, but now they'll have to scramble to find a new long-snapper with only a few days to go before the game. DT John Ridgeway III was the emergency long-snapper in training camp. -- Katherine Terrell
What we're hearing on the Ravens:�Baltimore believes the key to stopping the Saints is slowing down WR Chris Olave, who had a career-high 182 yards in Week 1. Olave is looking to become the first Saints player in seven seasons to record four straight games with 100 yards receiving. The Ravens, who played zone coverage 76% of the time last week, know it will take a team effort. "I think putting a cap on Olave is kind of where it starts," CB Marlon Humphrey said. "If you can kind of hold him to the lower side of receptions and yards, then you have a good chance. But Olave has kind of been the force." -- Jamison Hensley
Stat to know: The Saints played zone defense on 38 of 40 dropbacks (95%) in Week 1, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Since the start of last season, quarterback Lamar Jackson is third in QBR versus man coverage (83.6) and 23rd in QBR versus zone coverage (44.2) among 28 qualified QBs. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Ravens guard Olaivavega Ioane will record a 90% pass block win rate, up from the 82% he recorded last week and above the league's average of 87% for guards. Offensive linemen tend to struggle in their rookie season, but the Saints' interior rushers shouldn't be particularly threatening. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 8.2. The Ravens offense was the can't-miss blockbuster of Week 1, while the Saints covered a 21-point second-half deficit to force overtime in Detroit. Even if the Ravens get another big lead, this one won't be one to turn off early. -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: WR Devaughn Vele led all Saints skill-position players in snaps and routes run last week and finished with 19.9 fantasy points. New Orleans enters Week 2 as a huge underdog in a game with a high projected total. The Saints could be playing from behind again, giving Vele another opportunity to produce. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: The Saints have covered six straight games as underdogs and six straight games on the road. New Orleans has enough offense to keep this within a touchdown, as QB�Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards against Detroit, and Olave is a reliable receiving option. The Ravens should move the ball with Jackson and RB�Derrick Henry. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Ravens 30, Saints 23
Moody's pick: Ravens 30, Saints 20
Walder's pick: Ravens 28, Saints 16
FPI prediction: BAL, 76% (by an average of 7.7 points)
Matchup must-reads: Moore optimistic Saints RB Kamara will be back for Week 2 ... Ravens place promising rookie WR Lane on IR ... Shough expects less jitters vs. Ravens
1 p.m. ET | CBS | NE -5.5 (41.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Steelers:�Pittsburgh was 3-of-13 on third down in Week 1. Four of the missed third downs came as QB Aaron Rodgers targeted WR DK Metcalf. On one play, Metcalf was flagged for pass interference. On another deep shot, it appeared the defender interfered with Metcalf, and a flag wasn't thrown. But on at least one of those third-down attempts, a catchable ball bounced off Metcalf's hands. He finished the game with just four catches for 40 yards on 10 targets, but Rodgers doubled down in his belief in Metcalf. "I'm not worried about DK at all, man," Rodgers said. "I love DK. He's one of my closest friends on the team, and I'm going to keep feeding him." -- Brooke Pryor
What we're hearing on the Patriots: Coach Mike Vrabel came prepared with an eye-popping stat when he met with the media to kick off the week, noting that Steelers defenders T.J. Watt and Cameron Heyward have combined for 64 pass breakups over the past five seasons as pass rushers. Vrabel also noted, "If you don't take care of the edges, it's going to be an issue." So it's a major test for OTs Will Campbell and Morgan Moses and the offensive line. -- Mike Reiss
Stat to know: QB�Drake Maye threw a career-high three interceptions in Week 1. The Steelers have forced multiple turnovers in nine games since the beginning of last season, tied for third most in the NFL. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction:�Metcalf will record 80-plus receiving yards. Though he managed only 40 receiving yards in Week 1, Metcalf received 181 total air yards on his targets. We should expect him to convert those air yards into actual yards at a higher rate going forward. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 7.2. The Steelers got a nice win against the Patriots last season by forcing Maye into tons of uncharacteristic mistakes in the pocket. The Patriots come into this game against Pittsburgh desperate for a win after back-to-back embarrassing losses to Seattle. High stakes! -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: Patriots TE Hunter Henry managed just 26 yards in Week 1, but A.J. Brown's ankle injury should lead to more targets. Henry ranked second on the Patriots slot snaps last week and has averaged 15.5 fantasy points in games for New England with at least six targets. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: New England was 7-4 to the under at home last season, and this trend could continue. Pittsburgh's offense scored just 13 points against Atlanta. The Patriots scored only 10 points in Seattle, while their defense allowed 13. Pittsburgh can pressure Maye, and New England's defense can make Rodgers work for every yard. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Patriots 19, Steelers 17
Moody's pick: Patriots 27, Steelers 20
Walder's pick: Patriots 27, Steelers 17
FPI prediction: NE, 66.1% (by an average of 4.3 points)
Matchup must-reads:�Coach McCarthy noncommittal on Porter's timeline to return ... How will Patriots cope with losing Brown for four weeks? ... Tracking Rodgers' 2026 NFL season
1 p.m. ET | Fox | GB -3.5 (44.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Packers: Whatever the box score from Sunday's season opener said, it was even worse than that when it came to protecting QB Jordan Love. The official stats said the Vikings hit Love 15 times. OC Adam Stenavich said it was 18. Either number is way too high for the Packers' liking. Stenavich said he's "not going to freak out or overreact or anything like that." Love said he's "always going to have confidence in those guys that, hey, we'll clean this stuff up." But if the Packers don't fix their pass protection, Love might not last long. -- Rob Demovsky
What we're hearing on the Jets: QB Geno Smith is 4-0 with six TD passes and only two interceptions against Jonathan Gannon-coached defenses (when he faced the Cardinals as the Seahawks' QB). Smith isn't putting any stock in those numbers, saying, "Nothing in the past really matters." Smith's confidence is high after an efficient opener -- no turnovers, no sacks and the second-lowest off-target rate (4.3%) in the league. -- Rich Cimini
Stat to know: Dating back to Week 15 of last season, the Packers have a minus-69 point differential in the fourth quarter. That's the most in the NFL over that span and led to six straight losses. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: The Jets will record an interception. It's finally going to happen! As well as Week 1 went for the Jets, they failed to record a pick -- as they did in every game last season. The streak (curse?) ends Sunday ... even in a loss. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 7.2. Sneaky watchable game in New York, where the Jets look mighty competent, and the Packers are reeling after their late-game collapse against the Vikings. Something exciting to watch: In a one-week sample, it looks like the Packers have accelerated their pace of play and uncorked Love accordingly. More snaps! More throws! More excitement! -- Solak
Fantasy nugget:�Love threw for 387 yards -- the second-most of his career -- in Week 1 and attempted 42 passes. Green Bay struggled to run the ball without RB Josh Jacobs (commissioner exempt list), and its offensive line ranked 25th in run block win rate (71.5%). The Packers would be wise to continue leaning on the passing game, benefiting Love, Christian Watson and Matthew Golden. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight:�Love is 0-8 ATS in his career as a road favorite of at least three points -- but this matchup gives him a chance to break it. He threw for two touchdowns, and the Jets' secondary faced little resistance from Tennessee. If Green Bay can get more touchdowns, it can cover. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Packers 27, Jets 17
Moody's pick: Packers 27, Jets 23
Walder's pick: Packers 24, Jets 16
FPI prediction: GB, 62.6% (by an average of 3.2 points)
Matchup must-reads: Packers' No. 1 task after loss: Protect Love ... Why the Jets feel their TE room 'is a weapon' for them�...�Jets make moves to address depth with Cooper, Fitzpatrick hurt
1 p.m. ET | Fox | PHI -7 (39.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Eagles: Philadelphia generated 18 pressures in Week 1, the third most in the NFL. That could be a problem if it continues for QB Cam Ward, who was 5-of-11 for 33 yards when pressured by the Jets in the opener. Philadelphia sacked the elusive QB Jayden Daniels�only once last week, however, DT Jalen Carter�came out of that game with a wrist injury. DC Vic Fangio is looking for an even better effort against Tennessee. "I thought our pass rush overall, when our guys that mainly rushed the passer, was inconsistent and really wasn't good enough," he said. -- Tim McManus
What we're hearing on the Titans: The Titans struggled to stop the run last week, allowing the Jets to rush for 152 yards. They were without last season's leading tackler Cedric Gray, but he'll likely pass concussion protocol and return to play against the Eagles. RB Saquon Barkley presents an even bigger challenge. "He's really good," DC Gus Bradley said. "He will run through darkness, and if he can hit it with a full head of steam, he's really difficult. We've got to set the edge, make him stop his feet a little bit." -- Turron Davenport
Stat to know: The Titans had 195 total yards in Week 1, featuring zero offensive plays longer than 14 yards. That marked their first game with no 15-yard plays since Week 17 of 2008. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction:�Ward will throw at least three interceptions. Ward is coming off a rough start to the season, as the Titans ranked third in pass rate over expected, per NFL Next Gen Stats. Tennessee is also likely be to trailing in this game, and the Eagles certainly have the defensive talent to take the ball away. That's a lot of opportunity to make mistakes. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 5.4. The Titans are a brutal watch -- riddled with execution errors -- and the Eagles are still figuring out their new offense under Sean Mannion. I expect a run-heavy approach as Philadelphia leans on its elite defense to win a low-scoring sleeper. -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: Eagles WR DeVonta Smith's six targets and 8.3 fantasy points last week were disappointing, especially with A.J. Brown now in New England. QB Jalen Hurts spread the ball around in Week 1, but Smith now faces a Titans defense that allowed 367 total yards to the Jets. Garrett Wilson scored 13.9 fantasy points against Tennessee, and I expect Smith to top that. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: The Eagles are 12-5 ATS on the road since the start of 2024, and this matchup plays to Philadelphia's strengths. Tennessee managed 195 yards against the Jets, and Ward took three sacks behind a shaky line. The Eagles can pressure him without asking the offense to carry the game, while Barkley and Hurts attack the defense. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Eagles 34, Titans 10
Moody's pick: Eagles 31, Titans 16
Walder's pick: Eagles 34, Titans 13
FPI prediction: PHI, 69.7% (by an average of 5.5 points)
Matchup must-read: Eagles placing LG Dickerson (knee) on injured reserve
1 p.m. ET | Fox | CAR -2.5 (43.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Panthers: Coach Dave Canales admitted Wednesday that opposing defenses know that the Carolina passing game is built around WR Tetairoa McMillan. But that knowledge has some advantages, as it leads to positive draws for other targets to get open. Case in point: Jalen Coker's 138-yard, two-touchdown performance in Week 1. Canales said much-maligned 2024 first-round pick Xavier Legette, who was held without a catch against Chicago, should see "great" matchups throughout the season, perhaps as early as Sunday. -- Mike Kaye
What we're hearing on the Falcons: RB Bijan Robinson isn't just the Falcons' primary playmaker on the ground, he might be the team's main threat in the passing game, as well, as the QB situation remains in flux. Robinson had the NFL's highest target share rate (47.6%) last week, in addition to a career-high 65.9% touch rate. He also had a career-high 114 yards after the catch, the second-highest total by a running back in a game since 2024. -- Marc Raimondi
Stat to know: Panthers QB�Bryce Young is 0-7 in his career in Weeks 1-2. Josh McCown (0-10) is the only QB since 1970 with a longer career losing streak than Young in Weeks 1-2. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard will be held to under 3.5 yards per carry. The Falcons allowed just 0.7 yards before contact per rush in Week 1 (second best). And if the Panthers take the lead, then the Falcons should know that there are plenty of runs coming. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 5.9. The Panthers and Falcons gave us a great overtime game last season. (Young threw for 448 yards!) But that's the sort of contest for which you tune in during the second half as NFL RedZone alerts you that it's a fun one. If QB Jack Strand makes his first career start in Atlanta, it'll get a "morbid curiosity" boost. -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: Opposite of Walder's prediction, I think Hubbard will do well this week. He scored 23.7 fantasy points on 13 touches in Week 1, while Jonathon Brooks managed just 7.2 points on five touches. Carolina appears to be easing Brooks back into action, leaving Hubbard with the larger role. The Panthers led the NFL in run block win rate (82.7%) last week and face a Falcons defense missing defensive tackle Da'Shawn Hand (quadriceps). See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: Unders are 17-8 in the past 25 meetings between the Panthers and Falcons. That can continue because both offenses have reasons to play conservatively. Atlanta can lean heavily on Robinson against a Carolina defense that just allowed 291 rushing yards, shortening the game. Meanwhile, Carolina's turnover concerns on offense are still there. Sustained rushing drives and fewer possessions favor another lower-scoring meeting. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Panthers 20, Falcons 17
Moody's pick: Panthers 23, Falcons 16
Walder's pick: Panthers 26, Falcons 13
FPI prediction: ATL, 57.6% (by an average of 1.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: Young's 4-1 record vs. Falcons a harbinger for Week 2? ... Falcons' Penix 'close' to return, still mum on Week 2�... Canales: Panthers need to 'play way better football' ... Falcons QB unclear with injured Rush, Tagovailoa
1 p.m. ET | CBS | TB -8.5 (41.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Browns: While much of the focus is on the Browns' struggling offense, Cleveland's defense also had a disappointing showing in Week 1, allowing 34 points in its first game under DC Mike Rutenberg. The Browns played more zone coverage than in past seasons -- their fifth-highest rate since 2023 -- but coaches and defenders insist the change isn't the reason for their issues. "It's definitely just playing 11 as 1. The scheme is set perfectly," DE Jared Verse said. -- Daniel Oyefusi
What we're hearing on the Buccaneers: Bucs senior offensive assistant/pass game specialist Ken Zampese, who was the Browns' QBs coach in 2018, told me of QB�Baker Mayfield and the Browns: "They had the guy. They had the guy and they gave him up. ... The script got flipped and the city came alive because they finally drafted a quarterback that worked out for them and they mucked it up." This isn't the first time Mayfield has faced his former team since his departure in July 2022 -- he did so with the Panthers in September 2022 -- but it does mark the first time the guy on the other side of the field is the one who replaced him in Deshaun Watson. -- Jenna Laine
Stat to know: Cleveland generated four pressures in Week 1, the fewest in the NFL, after having the fourth-highest pressure rate last season (36%). Verse, acquired in the Myles Garrett trade, did not have a QB pressure in Jacksonville. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Browns backup QB Shedeur Sanders will throw a touchdown in this game. The Browns will finally come to their senses before the end of this game and will bench Watson. At that point it will be too late for Cleveland to win, but Sanders will at least manage a garbage-time score. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 4.3. I don't really want to watch the Browns, and the Buccaneers aren't enough to move me off my spot. I expect most Cleveland games to play out as the Jaguars game in Week 1 did -- huge first-half lead, largely meaningless second half -- and those games become even more uninteresting when they repeat. -- Solak
Injuries: Browns | Buccaneers
Fantasy nugget:�Cleveland allowed Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence to score 26.1 fantasy points last week. Mayfield has averaged 18.4 fantasy points per game since joining Tampa Bay, and its offensive line should give him time for WRs Emeka Egbuka and Chris Godwin Jr. to get open. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: The Buccaneers are 1-6 ATS as home favorites since the start of last season, which could continue because they haven't shown enough offensive explosiveness. Tampa Bay managed only 282 yards in Week 1, while Cleveland's 34-10 loss was uglier than Watson's actual performance. If the Browns' defense rebounds, Cleveland can keep this game comfortably inside the number. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Buccaneers 17, Browns 10
Moody's pick: Buccaneers 35, Browns 13
Walder's pick: Buccaneers 27, Browns 7
FPI prediction: TB, 78.6% (by an average of 8.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: Watson: Focus on winning, not job security ... Bucs' Zampese says Browns messed up by trading Mayfield ... Browns place RB Sampson on IR with knee injury
4:05 p.m. ET | CBS | DEN -2.5 (45.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Jaguars: The Broncos have someone additional to worry about that they didn't during last season's matchup: Travis Hunter. Hunter didn't play in December's matchup because of his knee injury, but he's now the Jaguars' top corner and gives the offense another playmaker. Hunter played only four offensive snaps in the opener against Cleveland, and coach Liam Coen said Hunter's role could be much bigger this week. "You want to continue to do what we think is going to give us the best chance at winning throughout the course of the week," he said. "And if that's Travis getting more touches, then absolutely will [get him more touches]." -- Mike DiRocco
What we're hearing on the Broncos: It's a question of whether the Broncos stick to their word on offense against the only team that beat them at home in the regular season in 2025. All offseason, the Broncos said they want and need to commit to a better constructed run game. Then they had all of six carries in the first half of their Week 1 matchup. Coach Sean Payton admitted that quarterback Bo Nix's struggles could, in part, be placed on the fact that "our run-pass ratio was skewed and off.'' -- Jeff Legwold
Stat to know: The Jaguars have scored at least 23 points in 12 straight games, including the playoffs. That's the longest active streak in the NFL and their longest in team history. They're averaging 32.2 points per game in that stretch. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction:�Nix will record a QBR of 65 or higher after a brutal Week 1 in which he posted an 8.3. Everything went wrong for Denver, and this is a little blind faith in an offensive rebound -- even if I'm predicting it to come in a narrow loss. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 8.8. The Jaguars and Broncos had a tremendous contest last season, which the Jags won. Denver, embarrassed by Kansas City and on a short week, will come into this rematch with vengeance on its mind. But does OC Davis Webb have what it takes to settle Nix down in Week 2? Lots of narratives! -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: Jaguars WR Parker Washington opened 2026 with a 28.6% target share and 19.3 fantasy points. He runs most of his routes from the slot, which should help him avoid Broncos CB Pat Surtain II on many snaps. Washington also scored a career-high 26.5 fantasy points against Denver last season. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight:�The Broncos are 3-9 ATS as favorites since the start of last season (1-5 ATS in their past six games as favorites), putting the Jags in a good spot. Denver's offense gives me pause, managing 176 yards and 3.7 yards per play in Week 1, while Nix turned it over twice with four sacks. Now Jacksonville brings a pass rush that produced five sacks against Cleveland. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Jaguars 24, Broncos 17
Moody's pick: Broncos 27, Jaguars 24
Walder's pick: Jaguars 27, Broncos 24
FPI prediction: JAX, 63.1% (by an average of 3.6 points)
Matchup must-reads: Is Lawrence's hot start for the Jaguars sustainable? ... Broncos face tough opening stretch, try to avoid slow start�
4:05 p.m. ET | CBS | LAC -6.5 (43.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Raiders: QB Kirk Cousins played well in his debut, but his limitations as a passer were glaring. Against the Dolphins, he completed 1 of 7 pass attempts for 21 yards and two interceptions on throws for 10-plus air yards. The Raiders are not expecting Cousins, 38, to create a ton of explosive plays in the passing game. The blueprint for the Raiders' success offensively will be controlling the time of possession through short and occasional intermediate throws and a strong rushing attack. -- Ryan McFadden
What we're hearing on the Chargers: The Chargers' offense came to a screeching halt in last week's loss after WR Ladd McConkey left with a rib injury. McConkey's status for Sunday remains up in the air, but if Week 1 is any indication, this offense needs him to thrive. "We're hoping for the best for Ladd, and whatever the case may be, the guys behind him will step up and make some plays," QB Justin Herbert said. -- Kris Rhim
Stat to know: RB�Ashton Jeanty could join Marcus Allen (1986) as the only players in Raiders history to start a season with two games of 100-plus rushing yards. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: The Raiders will not sack Herbert. Maxx Crosby is a dangerous pass rusher, certainly, but with Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater at tackle, the Chargers are well equipped to handle him. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 6.7. The Chargers' face-plant against the Cardinals won't be soon forgotten, but the alarm bells can be silenced with a convincing win over the Raiders. Jeanty got usage comparable to Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 1 and is quickly rising up the appointment viewing ranks. -- Solak
Fantasy nugget:�Herbert was pressured on 16 of 39 dropbacks in Week 1, and the Chargers ranked 27th in pass block win rate (39.3%). The Raiders sacked Dolphins QB Malik Willis five times last week. McConkey's status is also critical to Herbert's success. He averaged 10.3 yards per attempt with McConkey on the field, compared with 5.4 after McConkey left. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: The Chargers are 11-1 ATS in division games under coach Jim Harbaugh. The Raiders look better equipped to keep this inside the number because they protected Cousins without allowing a sack and gave Jeanty 29 touches in Week 1. The Chargers allowed Arizona to control possession for 37 minutes. That formula can shorten this game and make 6.5 points valuable. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Chargers 21, Raiders 20
Moody's pick: Chargers 24, Raiders 20
Walder's pick: Chargers 31, Raiders 20
FPI prediction: LAC, 70.2% (by an average of 5.6 points)
Matchup must-reads: Raiders call TE Bowers day-to-day�... Chargers WR McConkey day-to-day with rib injury
4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | DAL -4.5 (50.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Commanders: In the opener, Washington allowed four plays of 30 yards or more, accounting for 180 of Philadelphia's 318 yards. In two games versus Dallas a season ago, Washington allowed four pass plays of 30 yards or longer and two touchdowns -- and Cowboy WRs CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens are big-play targets. Another factor: Lamb is 6-foot-2 and Pickens is 6-3 -- facing two corners listed at 5-10 (Mike Sainristil) and 5-9 (Amik Robertson). But DC Daronte Jones pointed out, "They've dominated DBs in this league regardless of size." -- John Keim
What we're hearing on the Cowboys:�The Cowboys have not started 0-2 since 2010, which eventually led to the first and only in-season coaching change Jerry Jones has ever made. Since 1989, when Jones took over, the Cowboys have opened the season with a loss 13 times and responded with a win in Week 2. Eight of those times they ended up making the playoffs. It might not be must-win, but they can't let the early season get away from them. "I wouldn't say so critical to where people are on their tippy toes, but definitely urgent because division games such as the Giants was too," Pickens said.�-- Todd Archer
Stat to know: Since division realignment in 2002, 11 teams have started 0-2 with both losses in divisional games. The 2025 Bears are the only one of those teams to make the playoffs. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: There will be 60 or more points scored in this game. Even in a loss, Dak Prescott recorded an 89 QBR last week against the Giants -- and the Commanders' pass rush is certainly less menacing than New York's. And while the Cowboys might figure out their defense at some point this season, I doubt that change will happen so soon after a rough opening game. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 7.1. Two 0-1 teams, both with a divisional loss, facing 0-2 ... that's very high stakes. The watchability is hurt here by Dallas' defense, which was riddled with easy errors in Week 1 -- hard to watch. Washington's defense? Surprisingly plucky. This will be a close one. -- Solak
Injuries: Commanders | Cowboys
Fantasy nugget: RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt led Washington's backfield with 16 carries in Week 1, compared with seven for Rachaad White and four for Kaytron Allen. He now faces a Cowboys defense that surrendered 165 rushing yards to the Giants. Croskey-Merritt also scored 22.5 fantasy points against Dallas in Week 17 last season. He has a chance to deliver RB2 production this week. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: The Cowboys are 2-9 ATS as favorites under coach Brian Schottenheimer. The Cowboys just allowed the Giants 394 yards, including 165 on the ground, and touchdowns on all four red zone trips. Washington sustained drives against a much tougher Eagles defense. If QB Jayden Daniels does that again, Dallas will have trouble covering 4.5. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Commanders 27, Cowboys 24
Moody's pick: Cowboys 38, Commanders 24
Walder's pick: Cowboys 34, Commanders 27
FPI prediction: DAL, 64.1% (by an average of 4.1 points)
Matchup must-reads:�Cowboys' TD record: I caught a TD pass from Prescott
4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | SEA -3.5 (41.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Seahawks: Every NFL team says it has faith in its backup QB once he's pressed into action. That's true with Seattle and Drew Lock, who will start Sunday and perhaps beyond as Sam Darnold deals with a glute injury. But the Seahawks have been saying that about their QB2 for a while. Lock's last start for the team was in 2023, when he beat the Eagles in primetime. "We believe that he's the best second-string quarterback in the league," DT Leonard Williams said Wednesday. "... I remember that Eagles game a few years back where he stepped up and won us the game. He's done it and shown it multiple times now. That has instilled a lot of trust in his teammates and his team." -- Brady Henderson
What we're hearing on the Cardinals: The Cardinals are acutely aware of how talented the Seahawks' defense is -- especially coach Mike LaFleur, who played Seattle three times last season with the Rams, including in the NFC Championship Game. He called Seattle's defense last season not just "the best defense in football" but "one of the best defenses probably this league has ever seen last year." This season, LaFleur said Seattle doesn't have any weaknesses on defense. On the flip side, QB Jacoby Brissett said Arizona's offense, which put up 26 points in a Week 1 win, did just enough to win the game. -- Josh Weinfuss
Stat to know: Cardinals TE Trey McBride has averaged 95.4 receiving yards in five games against Mike Macdonald defenses. That's the third most by any player versus Macdonald (minimum of three games, including the playoffs). -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Seahawks rookie RB Jadarian Price will record 100 total yards. I imagine the Seahawks will want to rely on the ground game and defense with Lock starting in place of Darnold. Price looked good in Week 1, so even if he's still sharing the RB workload with George Holani, he could have a big game. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 6.3. This would be a fun primetime watch: What can Lock do? Are the Cardinals legit or was Week 1 a blip? But on a busy NFL Sunday, it just doesn't have enough draw. If the Cardinals' offense can produce against a Macdonald defense, I'll bump them up the ratings next week. -- Solak
Injuries: Seahawks | Cardinals
Fantasy nugget:�Price averaged 5.2 yards per carry in his NFL debut, gaining 52 yards on 10 attempts while adding two receptions. He played fewer than half of Seattle's offensive snaps, leaving room for a bigger workload. With Darnold out and the offensive line ranked seventh in run block win rate (78.5%), Price could see significantly more touches in Week 2. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: Since 2016, teams that won in Week 1 as at least 7-point underdogs are 6-1-1 ATS in Week 2 (Cardinals). Arizona's Week 1 upset looked earned. It outgained the Chargers while Brissett threw for 277 yards without a turnover. Seattle needed three interceptions to defeat New England 13-10 and went 2-for-11 on third down. Arizona can keep this within a field goal. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Seahawks 20, Cardinals 19
Moody's pick: Seahawks 24, Cardinals 23
Walder's pick: Seahawks 23, Cardinals 13
FPI prediction: ARI, 54.8% (by an average of 1.2 points)
Matchup must-reads: Seahawks confident in QB Lock�... Cardinals pull off Week 1's biggest upset
4:25 p.m. ET | Fox | SF -13.5 (44.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Dolphins:�QB Malik Willis registered one of the longest times to throw averages in the NFL last week, but that's a by-product of his style of play. Willis said the concept of an "internal clock" is "made up," and said it's his responsibility each play to feel when the rush is coming. OC Bobby Slowik said it's a work in progress between himself and Willis, finding a balance between getting the ball out quickly in certain situations and allowing Willis to execute his unique ability to keep plays alive. In either scenario, Slowik said he's not looking to take away what Willis does best. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques
What we're hearing on the 49ers: The 49ers are big favorites, but to win it, they'll have to overcome the Dolphins and any remaining fatigue from their weeklong trip to Australia. LB Fred Warner said coach Kyle Shanahan has worked hard to make sure the Niners don't have a letdown after such an emotional win last week, but it's still fair to wonder if there will be any lingering effects. "[Coach Shanahan] paints the picture perfectly for the situation week to week, and he did that exact same thing this week, letting us know the challenge that the Dolphins present and then the challenge that we have as a team to really get better coming off of the Rams game." -- Nick Wagoner
Stat to know: Dolphins RB�De'Von Achane had 36 rushing yards against the Raiders in Week 1. Last season, he didn't have back-to-back games with fewer than 50 rushing yards. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: The Dolphins won't record a single QB hit against Brock Purdy. The 49ers didn't allow the Rams to sack Purdy at all in Week 1. That means the Dolphins' pass rush, which made the Raiders offensive line look great last week, should be a piece of cake. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 4.6. The biggest spread of the week comes without much intrigue save for circadian rhythm watchers, who may expect a flat 49ers game in Week 2 as the team returns from Australia. The Dolphins' offense was not as fun as I hoped it might be with Willis and Achane in the backfield. -- Solak
Fantasy nugget:�Purdy put up 21.1 fantasy points in Week 1 despite a tough matchup. Now he gets a Dolphins defense that allowed Raiders QB Kirk Cousins to throw for 160 yards and three touchdowns last week. With WR Mike Evans, RB Christian McCaffrey and TE George Kittle around him, I expect another big game from Purdy. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: The 49ers have covered four straight games as double-digit favorites, and Miami fits the profile for another. The Dolphins managed just 13 first downs and allowed five sacks in Week 1. San Francisco rushed for 174 yards, converted 7 of 12 third downs and should force Willis into another unfavorable, pass-heavy game script. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: 49ers 34, Dolphins 7
Moody's pick: 49ers 30, Dolphins 10
Walder's pick: 49ers 34, Dolphins 14
FPI prediction: SF, 92.1% (by an average of 14.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: QB Willis takes blame for five-sack debut ... Stribling to miss 10 weeks; Tonges out for season ...�49ers find needed balance in run game with McCaffrey, Black
8:20 p.m. ET | NBC | KC -6.5 (46.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Colts: Indianapolis conceded a mistake and made a critical change in defensive signal-callers this week, moving from safety Cam Bynum to LB Akeem Davis-Gaither. The original plan for Bynum to wear the coach-to-defense helmet transmitter turned disastrous in Week 1 when he was unable to easily navigate between his deep coverage role, huddling the defense and making calls. That led to numerous instances of the defense being out of position before plays if it was even lined up at all. The change was necessary because the Colts were wary that QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs would take advantage. -- Stephen Holder
What we're hearing on the Chiefs: Despite scoring 31 points in their Week 1 win, the Chiefs still lacked consistent production from their receivers. In fact, the Chiefs' top trio of WRs -- Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy and Tyquan Thornton -- combined to generate six receptions on nine targets for just 37 yards. But OC Eric Bieniemy is still confident. "Our guys are working," Bieniemy said. "Yes, I want everybody to come out there and be an All-Pro on every single weekend. ... They know that at some point in time, their numbers will show up. We're not worried about that." -- Nate Taylor
Stat to know:�Kenneth Walker III had two rushes of 20-plus yards in Week 1, which is already more than all of Kansas City's RBs in 2025. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction:�Mahomes will complete 12 passes to players aligned in the slot, something the Chiefs accomplished only once last season. I'm a pretty big believer in Colts CBs Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward. So if they take care of the outside receivers, Mahomes could look inside, be it to Travis Kelce, Rice or someone else. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 7.3. I had the Chiefs ranked quite low in my preseason watchability rankings -- then they had their best day running the football in over five seasons on Monday night. Stock up! The Colts' defense is near-unwatchable levels of bad right now, so this game might end up looking like the 2024 Chiefs: long, slow drives to protect a one-score lead. -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: The Chiefs talked all offseason about running the ball more, and they backed it up in Week 1. Walker finished with 23 carries and 34.1 fantasy points. Now he faces a Colts defense that allowed the Ravens' Derrick Henry to score 35.3 fantasy points last week. Kansas City should continue leaning on Walker, putting him in a great spot for another big game. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight: Chiefs unders are 35-17 in the past four seasons, the NFL's highest under rate. The improved run game could push these games over with Walker, while Indianapolis allowed Baltimore to average 7.9 yards per play and score 41 points. The Colts can contribute with RB Jonathan Taylor, but their defense creates the conditions for a higher-scoring game. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Chiefs 31, Colts 24
Moody's pick: Chiefs 30, Colts 23
Walder's pick: Chiefs 20, Colts 17
FPI prediction: KC, 75.5% (by an average of 7.5 points)
Matchup must-reads: Colts' D looked lost vs. Ravens, and Mahomes is next ... Chiefs expecting rookie CB Delane to play
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET | ESPN | LAR -7 (48.5 O/U)
What we're hearing on the Giants:�New York feels good after Week 1. The Giants were the physical, run-first team they told everyone they wanted to become. Step one, accomplished. The next step is on the road against the Rams. "It's going to be a great test," QB Jaxson Dart said. Coach John Harbaugh said he doesn't think there is any way his team has a letdown. The players know it's just one of 17 games and this group still has plenty to prove. -- Jordan Raanan
What we're hearing on the Rams: If DT�Aaron Donald plays Monday night, it will have been 981 days since his last NFL game. Donald, who came out of retirement in late August, did not travel to Melbourne, Australia, for Week 1. But when Donald does return, coach Sean McVay says he doesn't expect to see a drop-off from how Donald was playing when he initially retired in March 2024. When asked whether he expects to see Donald play at the same level, he said: "I do. That's what my expectations are and my level of confidence in him." -- Sarah Barshop
Stat to know: After scoring a combined 12 points in Week 1 from 2023 to 2025, the Giants scored 28 points against the Cowboys. They averaged an NFL-high 9.7 plays per drive. -- ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Rams TE Colby Parkinson will catch a touchdown. He had only one reception in Week 1, but he ran a route on 52% of Los Angeles' dropbacks -- putting him ahead of second-year TE Terrance Ferguson. -- Walder
Viewers rating (out of 10): 7.8. This game is suddenly high stakes for the 0-1 Rams facing a 1-0 Giants team that has a new identity and tons of momentum. High on my list for Week 2 is evaluating Dart against a better defense than Dallas. Important game! -- Solak
Fantasy nugget: RB Cam Skattebo handled 60% of the Giants' backfield touches in Week 1, including four red zone carries. New York ranked eighth in run block win rate (78.4%), while Los Angeles allowed 174 rushing yards in Week 1. The Rams' Myles Garrett (knee) is sidelined, and Donald hasn't played in over two seasons and could be limited if he returns. Skattebo has a favorable matchup and a substantial workload. See Week 2 rankings. -- Moody
Betting insight:�Dart is 6-2 ATS in his career as an underdog of at least three points. His mobility and the Giants' rushing offense (165 yards in Week 1) give New York a path, while the Rams gave up 5.8 yards per carry. Without Garrett, L.A. gives Dart more freedom to extend plays and stress the defense with his legs. Read more. -- Maldonado
Maldonado's pick: Rams 28, Giants 24
Moody's pick: Rams 33, Giants 24
Walder's pick: Rams 30, Giants 20
FPI prediction: LAR, 67.9% (by an average of 4.6 points)
Matchup must-reads: Giants' Harbaugh admits tackling Nabers to relax WR's injury fears ... Best and worst NFL teams' travel: Rams, 49ers, Steelers divulge it all
