Week 1 immediately challenged the preseason picture. Chicago scored 59 points in the highest-scoring season opener in NFL history, while San Francisco, Arizona, Buffalo, and the New York Giants all won as underdogs. The Rams and Chargers suffered damaging losses, and several supposed defensive strengths disappeared once the real games began.
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The opening week also created new uncertainty. Quarterback Kyler Murray entered the concussion protocol, wideout A.J. Brown landed on injured reserve, and defensive end Myles Garrett underwent knee surgery. Meanwhile, Detroit and Buffalo escaped high-scoring games, and Minnesota turned an early QB change into 29 unanswered points.
NFL Week 2 odds now ask whether those performances revealed lasting strengths or opening-day volatility. Here are the games to watch, key players, and the NFL Week 2 betting trends to help you make your NFL week 2 picks against the spread.
NFL Week 2 Games to Watch
Week 2 runs from Thursday, September 17, through Monday, September 21. All listed spreads, moneylines, and totals are early market snapshots and are subject to change.
Thursday, Sept. 17: Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills – 8:15 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
- Spread: BUF -3.5
- Moneyline: BUF -195, DET +165
- Total: 53.5
The week’s highest total brings together two 1-0 teams on four days’ rest. Josh Allen threw for 334 yards and four touchdowns in Buffalo’s 36-31 comeback at Houston. Detroit needed overtime to beat New Orleans 31-30, despite Jahmyr Gibbs rushing for 156 yards. The Lions’ defense allowed Tyler Shough to pass for 410 yards and Chris Olave to gain 182 receiving yards. The door should be open for Allen to attack Detroit behind a home crowd.
Sunday, Sept. 20: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – 1:00 p.m. ET (FOX)
- Spread: CHI -5.5
- Moneyline: CHI -250, MIN +205
- Total: 49.5
Chicago opens as a solid home favorite after beating Carolina 59-37 with 552 total yards. Bears head coach Ben Johnson said he wanted the highest-scoring offense ever, and so far they delivered: QB Caleb Williams threw four touchdowns, while D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai ran for 300 rushing yards.
But Minnesota are surprisingly no slouch. QB Kyler Murray went down with a concussion on the third series, but veteran backup Carson Wentz rallied the Vikings and led them to 29 unanswered and a 39-22 win.
Sunday, Sept. 20: Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Spread: NE -5.5
- Moneyline: NE -245, PIT +205
- Total: 42.5
New England had a horrible start to their 2026 season, scoring just 10 points and committing three turnovers; however, they held the defending champions to just 13 points. That strong defense has made them -5.5 favorites at home against Pittsburgh.
The spread also reflects Pittsburgh’s shaky Week 1 win. They beat Atlanta 20-13 but once again looked stagnant behind the fading arm of Aaron Rodgers. Defensive end T.J. Watt had two sacks and returned an interception for a TD; it might take another superhuman performance to cover as underdogs.
Sunday, Sept. 20: Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Spread: HOU -3
- Moneyline: HOU -165, CIN +140
- Total: 47
Cincinnati beat Tampa Bay 33-27, but not in the way you would expect: its rebuilt defense turned three first-half fumbles into TDs. Joe Burrow was efficient rather than explosive, finishing with 254 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Meanwhile, Houston squandered their chance for a big win at home after C.J. Stroud fumbled inside the Bills’ 20-yard line in the final seconds. The Texans allowed Allen, Kincaid, and DJ Moore to combine for enormous passing production, so their favored status depends on the defense responding against Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
Sunday, Sept. 20: Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos – 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Spread: DEN -2.5
- Moneyline: DEN -140, JAX +120
- Total: 44.5
Jacksonville delivered one of Week 1’s most complete performances, building a 31-0 lead before beating Cleveland 34-10. Trevor Lawrence completed 18 of 23 passes for 245 yards and four touchdowns, while the defense recorded five sacks. Denver’s performance? The opposite. They got manhandled by running back Kenneth Walker III for 173 rushing yards, the most for a Chief since Jamaal Charles ran for 226 in 2012. That, plus posting 10 points on offense, has made them just 2.5-point favorites at Mile High Stadium.
Sunday, Sept. 20: Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs – 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)
- Spread: KC -6.5
- Moneyline: KC -290, IND +235
- Total: 47.5
Indianapolis had a shaky start to what is be a pivotal 2026 season. They allowed 41 points, 324 passing yards from Lamar Jackson, and 144 rushing yards with three touchdowns from Derrick Henry. Jonathan Taylor supplied 98 yards and two scores, but Daniel Jones managed only 166 passing yards in his return from a torn Achilles. As for Kansas City, all their offseason plans came together despite facing a tough Denver defense. Patrick Mahomes looked sharp in his return from injury, but he didn’t have to do any heavy lifting with RB Kenneth Walker III carrying the offense. Meanwhile, the defense gave up just 10 points.
Monday, Sept. 21: New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams – 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)
- Spread: LAR -7.5
- Moneyline: LAR -375, NYG +300
- Total: 48.5
The Rams return from Australia after a 27-7 loss in which they failed on fourth-and-goal, committed two turnovers, and didn’t score after the first quarter. Not only did they have a long flight back, but they’ve also lost star defensive acquisition Myles Garrett for at least four games following knee surgery. The Giants arrive after Jaxson Dart passed for 230 yards and three touchdowns in a 28-20 win over Dallas. New York also ran for 165 yards and converted nine of its first 10 third downs, making this a more demanding rebound spot for Los Angeles than the spread initially suggests.
Key Players to Watch in NFL Week 2
These players are positioned to perform better or worse than normal expectations because of their Week 2 matchup.
- Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions – Better: Houston newcomer David Montgomery scored three touchdowns against Buffalo, including one as a receiver. Gibbs now brings greater open-field speed after rushing for 156 yards in Week 1, and Detroit can use him to slow Buffalo’s pass rush and attack its linebackers in space.
- Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings – Better: Chicago allowed Bryce Young to pass for 361 yards and wideout Jalen Coker to produce 138 receiving yards. Jefferson had 92 yards and two touchdowns against Green Bay, and Wentz showed enough immediate command of the offense to keep feeding its best matchup.
- Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars – Worse: Lawrence’s four-touchdown opener came against a Cleveland defense that repeatedly gave Jacksonville short fields and allowed five sacks on the other side of the ball. Denver’s pressure, secondary, altitude, and home-field advantage should make comparable efficiency hard to repeat.
- Drake Maye, QB, New England Patriots – Worse: Maye faces Watt one week after throwing three interceptions under Seattle’s fourth-quarter pressure. A.J. Brown’s move to injured reserve removes the Patriots’ No. 1 WR, increasing the risk of another conservative, low-scoring performance.
- Malik Nabers, WR, New York Giants – Better: Nabers caught six passes for 69 yards in his first game since tearing his ACL and meniscus. With Garrett out, Dart should have more time to extend plays, letting Nabers challenge a Rams defense that just returned from Australia.
NFL Week 2 Betting Trends
Week 1 creates the first real evidence of the season, but last year demonstrated how quickly the betting picture can change. To help make smart choices for NFL Week 2 against the spread, we offer the latest betting trends from 2025 and 2026.
- In 2025, favorites went 11-5 straight up and 9-7 against the spread in Week 2 last season. They remained profitable on the moneyline, although five underdogs still won outright.
- Last season, road teams won nine of the 16 games in Week 2.
- In 2025, overs finished 10-6 in Week 2 after unders went 12-4 in Week 1. The dramatic reversal showed why opening-week scoring patterns shouldn’t automatically carry over to the following week.
- Ten teams scored at least 30 points in Week 1 before the Monday night finale, tied for the third-most in an opening week in NFL history.
- The Bears-Panthers game produced 96 points, the highest combined total ever recorded in an NFL season opener.
- Arizona produced the largest upset, winning 26-14 as approximately a 10-point underdog against the Chargers.
- Detroit-Buffalo has the highest early total among the featured games at 53.5; Pittsburgh-New England has the lowest at 42.5.
- The Rams receive 11 days between games but must recover from the Australia trip.
NFL Week 2 FAQs
When Does NFL Week 2 Begin?
Week 2 begins Thursday, September 17, when Detroit visits Buffalo. It finishes Monday, September 21, with the Giants visiting the Rams.
What Are the Biggest NFL Week 2 Games?
Lions-Bills, Vikings-Bears, Bengals-Texans, Jaguars-Broncos, Colts-Chiefs, and Giants-Rams lead the schedule covered here.
Which NFL Week 2 Game Has the Highest Total?
Detroit-Buffalo carries the highest early total among these matchups at approximately 53.5 points.
Where Can You Bet on NFL Week 2?
Bovada’s NFL betting page offers spreads, moneylines, totals, futures, and available player props for the Week 2 schedule.
Where Can You Watch NFL Week 2?
The featured games are available across Prime Video, FOX, CBS, NBC, ESPN, and ABC.
All Week 2 NFL Games
| Date | Time (ET) | Team A | Team B | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thursday, September 11, 2025 | 8:15 PM | Washington Commanders | Green Bay Packers | Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | Chicago Bears | Detroit Lions | Ford Field, Detroit, MI |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | New York Giants | Dallas Cowboys | AT&T Stadium, Arlington, TX |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | Cleveland Browns | Baltimore Ravens | M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, MD |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | San Francisco 49ers | New Orleans Saints | Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, LA |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | New England Patriots | Miami Dolphins | Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | Jacksonville Jaguars | Cincinnati Bengals | Paycor Stadium, Cincinnati, OH |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | Los Angeles Rams | Tennessee Titans | Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | Buffalo Bills | New York Jets | MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 1:00 PM | Seattle Seahawks | Pittsburgh Steelers | Acrisure Stadium, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 4:05 PM | Denver Broncos | Indianapolis Colts | Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 4:05 PM | Carolina Panthers | Arizona Cardinals | State Farm Stadium, Glendale, AZ |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 4:25 PM | Philadelphia Eagles | Kansas City Chiefs | GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, MO |
| Sunday, September 14, 2025 | 8:20 PM | Atlanta Falcons | Minnesota Vikings | U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN |
| Monday, September 15, 2025 | 7:00 PM | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Houston Texans | NRG Stadium, Houston, TX |
| Monday, September 15, 2025 | 10:00 PM | Los Angeles Chargers | Las Vegas Raiders | Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, NV |