Following a wild slate to open the 2022 NFL season, NFL Week 2 promises to be another banger. With another packed 16-game slate on the horizon, NFL Week 2 is chock-full of favorable betting opportunities.
And now, with Week 1 behind us, teams are a little bit easier to read since they have begun to show their respective hands, which makes for an easier slate to handicap.
Last week, my NFL Best Bets went 4-3, but I broke even on units.
New York Jets vs Cleveland Browns Best Bet
Under 40.5 Total Points (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
The Jacoby Brissett-led Browns dominated the Panthers in Week 1 for the first three quarters but nearly lost the game in the fourth.
With arguably the NFL’s best running back tandem gashing the Panthers, look for the Browns to continue leaning on their pulverizing ground game on Sunday against the Jets.
Speaking of the Jets, they looked awful in their loss to the Ravens. In fact, the Ravens looked rusty and likely left points on the table.
The Jets are also in yet another quarterback conundrum. Joe Flacco was terrible in the season opener, which could trigger the Jets to deploy Mike White under center, assuming Zach Wilson is not ready.
With a pair of subpar quarterbacks set to square off, expect a heavy dose of the running game on both sides, which will not only bleed the clock but will also likely equate to a low total.
While the Under is 5-0 in the past five games the Jets have played in September, it is also 6-0 in the past six games the Browns have played facing teams with a losing record.
The Under is also 4-0 in the past four meetings between the Jets and Browns.
Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions
Lions -1.5 (-115) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
I backed the Lions to cover against the Eagles in Week 1, which was the right call. Now, I will push the chips in on the Lions to cover once again at home in Week 2 against an NFC East foe.
The Lions are 12-6 ATS in their last 18 games dating back to Week 1 of 2021. They also play well at home.
Last week against the Eagles, the Lions had to prove that they could hang with an explosive Philadelphia offense, which they did. Led by D’Andre Swift, Jamaal Williams, and one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, the Lions dropped 35 points against a talented Eagles defense.
Now, they get a Commanders’s defense that held their own against the Jaguars, but will also be without stud defensive lineman Chase Young.
Young’s absence leaves vulnerability to run up the middle, which plays right into Detroit’s strength.
While Carson Wentz has posted terrific stats against the Lions – 497/4/1 quarterback stat line – he has yet to defeat them in two career games.
Though appearing exploitative against the Jags last week, I don’t see the Wentz-led Commanders keeping up with the new-look Lions in a shootout.
The Lions are 5-0 ATS in their past five games at home, and the home team is also 5-1 ATS in the past six meetings between the Lions and Commanders.
Atlanta Falcons vs Los Angeles Rams
Rams -10.5 (-106) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Units
A 10.5-point is a lot to cover in the NFL. However, the Rams are angry, coming off of an embarrassing loss to the Bills in the season opener, and they are out for revenge. What better opponent to take out frustrations on than the Falcons?
Sure, the Falcons scored points early and controlled the game in the first half against the Saints, but the Saints ultimately pulled off the comeback victory showing the world that the Falcons are still the Falcons.
Although the Falcons’ offense managed to put up points, the Rams’ defense is much better than what they put on the field against the Bills. Also, note that the Bills seemed primed to steamroll anyone at any time, even the defending Super Bowl champs.
Moreover, the Los Angeles offense looked rusty and flustered, especially along their offensive front with two new starters. Those deficiencies should look fixed facing a far-less menacing Atlanta pass rush.
Once the Rams blow the game open, they will not look back.
The favorite is 10-2 ATS in the past 12 meetings between the Rams and the Falcons.
Seattle Seahawks vs San Francisco 49ers
Seahawks +8.5 (-112) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Units
This is a tough game to project. While the 49ers are coming off a loss to the Bears in a rainy season opener, the Seahawks shocked the world and spoiled Russell Wilson’s coming home party and revenge game narrative on Monday night.
While the Seahawks have won five of the past six matchups against the 49ers, including each of the past four, those were Wilson’s Seahawks. While Geno Smith garners a slight uptick in respect, he is still Geno Smith. Let’s pump the brakes on his coronation.
On the other side, we don’t know who Trey Lance is in terms of an NFL quarterback. We do know that so far, the negative offseason rumors run in line with what we have seen on the field. However, there was rain, which is his out … for now.
Notably, the 49ers will be without starting running back Elijah Mitchell with a knee injury for the unforeseen future. While Lance, Jeff Wilson, and Deebo Samuel will fill in the gap, Mitchell was the tone-setting workhorse, a significant loss for San Francisco.
Although both sides have the firepower to score points, this projects as a slower-paced, lower-scoring game controlled by the ground game on both sides.
The 49ers should pull out the victory, but it won’t be by a wide margin.
The underdog is 5-2 ATS in the past seven meetings between these two clubs, while the Seahawks are 7-2 in their past nine at the 49ers.
Also, note that the Seahawks are 6-4 ATS in the past 10 matchups against the 49ers while covering in three of the past four.
Cincinnati Bengals vs Dallas Cowboys
Bengals -7.5 (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Units
Considering the Sunday night Dak Prescott injury, the Bengals should dominate this football game.
Even when Prescott was in the game, the Cowboys’ offense was anemic. Granted, the Buccaneers’ defense is a top-end unit, but Dallas couldn’t get anything going.
This is because the Cowboys were lackadaisical this offseason when it came to replacing voids left by Amari Cooper, Cedrick Wilson, La’el Collins, and Connor Williams. Tyron Smith’s void doesn’t help, either. Those holes are glaring and will continue to haunt the Cowboys moving forward.
Meanwhile, as sloppy as the Bengals looked in last week’s 23-20 overtime loss to the Steelers, Cincinnati had plenty of chances to win despite two missed kicks by Evan McPherson and five Joe Burrow giveaways.
This Bengals team is the superior unit and looking for revenge, and it will take it out on Cooper Rush and the Cowboys.
Dan Quinn’s sensational defense will keep the game close early but expect the Bengals to blow it open in the second half for the cover.
Chicago Bears vs Green Bay Packers
Packers -9.5 (-114) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Units
You’d have to go back to Dec. 16, 2018, to find the last game the Bears not only beat the Packers but to also find the last time that the Bears covered the spread against their NFC North foes.
On paper, Virginia Halas McCaskey owns the Bears, but in reality, Aaron Rodgers is Chicago’s rightful owner.
Even without Davante Adams, the Packers are the superior team top-to-bottom next to the Bears. And although the Packers only scored seven points, let’s not overreact.
In the 2021 season opener, the Packers were blown out by the Saints, only to follow it up with a 35-17 win over the Lions in Week 2 en route to a 13-win season for another trip to the NFC title game.
Coming off three straight losses dating back to the 2021 regular-season finale, the Packers need to right the ship. What better way to do so than against the rebuilding Bears coming off an emotional Week 1 win in the rain?
The Bears are 1-5 ATS in their past six meetings at Green Bay and 0-5 ATS in their past five games against NFC North foes.
