It is often said that the opening week of the season is deceptive, so which teams gave us a false impression in their first game? Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos appeared to be among the league’s weakest franchises, we witnessed Drake Maye and Jordan Love fall to reserve signal-callers, and the Los Angeles Rams didn’t look like the powerhouse many expected them to be. Who is poised to bounce back in Week 2?
Over the coming days, the revamped Cincinnati Bengals defensive unit will test their mettle against C.J. Stroud, the Broncos will attempt to recover against a fellow AFC hopeful, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Kansas City Chiefs will clash with the Indianapolis Colts during the Sunday night showcase. Which franchises deserve your backing this week, and which ones should you avoid? CBS Sports columnists Jordan Dajani and Jared Dubin join forces to analyze the weekend’s marquee matchups. Please note that the betting lines used for these picks were sourced from DraftKings Sportsbook on September 15.
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (-4.5)
Dajani (Steelers +4.5): I might be the sole individual on earth who recalls last season’s matchup between the Steelers and Patriots. It was a thoroughly unmemorable affair, resulting in a 21-14 victory for Pittsburgh. Indeed, Aaron Rodgers managed to defeat Drake Maye and the squad that would go on to win the AFC right in Foxborough. New England has enjoyed some additional days to reflect on their humiliating season-opening defeat to Drew Lock, but given a 4.5-point spread in a contest where I anticipate barely 30 combined points, I am inclined to back the underdog. This is particularly true with A.J. Brown out due to a high ankle sprain. Remarkably, Pittsburgh has secured victory in THREE CONSECUTIVE MATCHUPS when entering as underdogs of four or more points! I expect the Steelers to stay within striking distance. … Prediction: Patriots 16, Steelers 13
Dubin (Patriots -4.5): The Patriots put up a highly disappointing performance in their last outing. Seattle’s defensive scheme completely neutralized Drake Maye and company, leading to a particularly rough fourth quarter. Conversely, the Steelers completely stifled the Falcons’ offensive efforts on Sunday. However, Maye is a far cry from Cooper Rush, and New England presents a different challenge than Atlanta. While we should expect a defensive battle with minimal scoring, I place significantly more faith in the Patriots’ offensive unit than the Steelers’, which should prove decisive in securing the victory. … Prediction: Patriots 21, Steelers 13
New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens (-7.5)
Dajani (Saints +7.5): The Baltimore Ravens stood out as one of the most dominant teams in the opening week. They dismantled the Colts in a 41-23 blowout, accumulating a whopping 500 yards of offense. Derrick Henry dominated on the ground with 144 rushing yards and three scores, while Zay Flowers set a personal record with 150 receiving yards and a touchdown—all before halftime. On the flip side, I view the Saints as one of the premier “victorious defeated” teams of the first week. I find that descriptor quite fitting. “Victorious defeated.”
I was thoroughly amazed by Tyler Shough’s performance, as he racked up 410 passing yards and three touchdowns, despite turning the ball over three times against Detroit. Though he seemed to struggle early in the third quarter with consecutive giveaways, the sophomore quarterback showed great resilience, connecting with primary targets like Chris Olave to rally New Orleans back from a 21-point road deficit and force extra time. It was a spectacular effort. The young quarterback possesses incredible mental and physical fortitude.
I am backing New Orleans to beat this large spread, especially since Baltimore might have to play without crucial receiving options like Flowers (hamstring) and Ja’Kobi Lane (wrist). Additionally, Shough boasts an impressive 8-2 record against the spread when starting. This places him in a tie for the top spot among starting quarterbacks since 1970. He is truly a bettor’s favorite! … Prediction: Ravens 28, Saints 24
Dubin (Saints +7.5): The Ravens’ offensive display in their crushing win over Indianapolis was rivaled perhaps only by Chicago in the opening week. Prior to Zay Flowers exiting with a hamstring flare-up, Declan Doyle’s offensive scheme appeared completely invincible, featuring Lamar Jackson’s aerial connection to Flowers and Derrick Henry steamrolling through massive lanes up front. Defensively, they held Indianapolis to a mere 4.7 yards per snap. It was an exceptional showing. My sole reason for taking New Orleans and the points is the uncertainty surrounding Flowers’ status, combined with the Saints’ proven ability to mount late scoring drives to cover late, much like their performance against Detroit. … Prediction: Ravens 27, Saints 20
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans (-2.5)
Dajani (Texans -2.5): This is easily one of the marquee matchups of the slate. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the Cincinnati defense force three turnovers via fumbles during Tampa Bay’s opening four drives. The home crowd must have been absolutely ecstatic. Even so, it turned out to be a highly contested battle that was decided in the final moments. Regarding Houston, virtually no one anticipated their defense surrendering 36 points, or allowing Josh Allen to become the first signal-caller to throw for over 300 yards against them since 2024. If those defensive struggles persist, Cincinnati should walk away with a win. However, I expect DeMeco Ryans to have his squad much better prepared to bounce back in this second consecutive home matchup. … Prediction: Texans 27, Bengals 23
Dubin (Texans -2.5): After suffering a devastating home defeat to Buffalo, Houston must now contend with another high-powered offense in Cincinnati, a team that put up points but still has room to improve after their season debut. Ja’Marr Chase is bound to bounce back after being limited to a mere two receptions for 12 yards, despite facing tough coverage from Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter. Meanwhile, Houston’s offense exceeded expectations in their opener, and without a few costly fumbles, the Buccaneers likely would have scored far more than 27 points against the Bengals. I anticipate both offenses finding their rhythm in this game, which leads me to favor the Texans to get the win in front of their home crowd. … Prediction: Texans 26, Bengals 24
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos (-3)
- Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET on CBS (Available to stream via Paramount+)
Dajani (Jaguars +3): Honestly, how can anyone comfortably back a squad that looked like the league’s absolute worst team just a week ago? They appeared even more disorganized than Cleveland or Tennessee. Denver’s performance in Kansas City on Monday night was an absolute disaster. Davis Webb struggled to establish any kind of flow for Bo Nix, Jaylen Waddle was held to a single 2-yard catch, and a defense that is usually highly regarded missed an astonishing 29.8% of their tackles. It was a shocking display.
While the opening week often yields misleading results and I assume Denver will show improvement from Monday’s debacle, this Jacksonville squad is a legitimate threat. The Broncos are well aware of this, recalling how Trevor Lawrence invaded Mile High Stadium last season in Week 16, putting up 34 points and snapping Denver’s 11-game winning streak. … Prediction: Jaguars 24, Broncos 23
Dubin (Push): The Jaguars put on a masterclass in their dominant win over Cleveland to start the season, whereas the Broncos struggled in every phase of the game during their lopsided defeat against Kansas City. While forecasting a complete turnaround for both sides seems risky, I had high expectations for Denver before the season began and I am not ready to abandon that stance. I anticipate the Broncos’ offense executing much more effectively than they did against the Chiefs, while Jacksonville cools off slightly following their explosive debut. … Prediction: Broncos 24, Jaguars 21
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5)
- Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC (Streaming on Fubo — start your free trial)
Dajani (Chiefs -6.5): Indianapolis belongs to a select group of just four franchises that hold a winning regular-season record against Patrick Mahomes, with their most recent clash stretching into overtime. That said, this current Kansas City offense leans heavily on their ground game, led by Kenneth Walker, who put on a show with 173 rushing yards and a score on Monday night. This spells trouble for a Colts defense that just surrendered 202 yards on the ground and 506 total yards to Baltimore. In that game, Derrick Henry broke loose for 144 yards and three touchdowns, while Lamar Jackson also ran one in. It marked Indianapolis’s worst yardage differential (-255) in a single game since 2017. Though historical trends favor the visitors—such as the Colts covering in their last three meetings with Kansas City—I expect the Chiefs to secure a seven-point victory on their home turf. … Prediction: Chiefs 24, Colts 17
Dubin (Colts +6.5): The Colts were gashed on the ground by Baltimore last week, and they might face a similar onslaught from Kansas City’s rushing attack spearheaded by Kenneth Walker, who displayed both explosive power and efficiency against Denver. However, if the Chiefs’ passing attack remains as stagnant as it was against the Broncos, they will struggle to secure lopsided victories. Consequently, I expect the Colts to stay within striking distance in this matchup, even as Kansas City ultimately relies on their running game to pull out a victory. … Prediction: Chiefs 21, Colts 17
New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams (-7)
- Monday at 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN/ABC (Available to stream on Fubo — start your free trial)
Dajani (Rams -7): I anticipate the New York Giants will be a highly popular choice this week following their thrilling upset of Dallas, which naturally tempts me to lean the opposite way. Los Angeles has benefited from an extended layoff to recover from their disastrous trip to Australia, and they are anticipating the return of Aaron Donald to the lineup! While he may not immediately overwhelm Jaxson Dart with sacks, his presence on the field will be a major storyline.
I predict the Rams will recover and manage to cover the spread thanks to a late field goal. This won’t be one of my top plays, however, as I foresee the cover happening in the final moments of the contest. … Prediction: Rams 30, Giants 21
Dubin (Rams -7): Among the most shocking developments of the first week were the Rams putting up a completely flat performance against San Francisco in Australia, contrasted with the Giants thoroughly dominating the Cowboys for a full four quarters. I do not expect either of these trends to be indicative of how the rest of their seasons will unfold. While it is tempting to make a snap judgment based on those initial games and back the Giants due to their strong showing, I prefer to stick with my preseason expectations for a bit longer, choosing Los Angeles to secure a decisive victory. … Prediction: Rams 27, Giants 17
Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills (-4.5) (TNF)
- Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET on Amazon Prime Video
Dajani (Bills -4.5): This matchup has all the makings of the season’s best contest. These are two of the NFL’s premier franchises, currently tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for the league’s top record since 2023 at 37-15, and this also marks the inaugural regular-season game hosted at the brand-new Highmark Stadium! The atmosphere in Buffalo will be legendary. Because of this, tickets are commanding prices upwards of $400 on Ticketmaster just to get inside.
A major streak will be broken in this clash. The Bills hold a five-game winning streak over Detroit and boast a stellar 10-2 record in their last dozen home primetime appearances. On the other hand, Detroit has gone 14-3 in night games over the past five seasons, representing the premier mark across the entire NFL! Jared Goff has historically thrown for an average of 351.7 yards per game against Buffalo, yet he remains winless at 0-3 in those matchups. In his last encounter with the Bills, Goff set a tragic historical milestone by becoming the sole quarterback in league history to lose a game while throwing for over 400 yards, five touchdowns, and no picks, according to CBS Sports Research. Incredible. I foresee a high-scoring track meet this Thursday, and while a 4.5-point spread feels slightly high, Detroit’s health issues tilt my favor toward Buffalo. Goff will be missing his primary right tackle Blake Miller, alongside starting left guard Christian Mahogany. Having observed Buffalo’s defensive line disrupt Houston’s protection and secure a victory by stripping C.J. Stroud, I expect the Bills to triumph in a thrilling home debut. … Prediction: Bills 36, Lions 30
Dubin (Lions +4.5): We should prepare ourselves for an absolute offensive display in this one. (The total is currently set at 54.5, which easily paces the league this week by four full points.) Both Buffalo and Detroit possess incredibly potent offenses matched with defensive units that are highly vulnerable, as demonstrated in their respective openers. Each team holds distinct strategic advantages across the board. It is entirely possible to see big days from Josh Allen, James Cook, DJ Moore, Dalton Kincaid, Jared Goff, Amon-Ra St. Brown, and Jameson Williams in what should be an explosive back-and-forth affair. While I favor the Bills to emerge victorious in their stadium’s grand opening, I expect the Lions to keep the margin close enough to cover the spread. … Prediction: Bills 35, Lions 31
