NFL
Week 2 is always tougher than Week 1 when making NFL game picks against the spread. When the first set of scores arrive, the small sample size makes it difficult to determine just how good or bad a team is.
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After a smashing debut for the 2026 regular season, there was the natural coming down to the earth with the next slate of 16 games. The good news, there’s more evidence with which to evaluate teams and matchups going forward.
The only thing to do is boldly dive into Week 3, which provides the extra challenge of notable quarterback injuries.
Here’s Sporting News’ latest fearless forecast of professional pigskin prognostications:
All spreads and odds are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook
MORE: NFL Week 3 picks straight up
NFL picks against the spread for Week 3
Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Game of Midweek: Falcons at Packers (-6.5, 44.5 o/u)
Thursday 8:15 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video
The Falcons’ quarterback situation is bad with Cooper Rush and can only get better with the potential of a Michael Penix Jr. return. Regardless of that position, the offense has been sloppy early for Kevin Stefanski, save for Bijan Robinson. The Packers have been on a roller coaster with Jordan Love but should carry some momentum from that rally and overtime win over the Jets.
Pick: Packers win 27-20 and cover the spread.
NFL POWER RANKINGS: Seahawks, Eagles, Bengals claw up; Bears, Ravens drop
Game of the Week: Rams at (-2.5, 44.5 o/u) Broncos
Sunday 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC and Peacock
The Rams have lost Myles Garrett for a while and now Puka Nacua is on the shelf, too. Those are significant game-changing pieces who set the critical tone for the defense and offense. Without those stars, Los Angeles has more holes with the pass rush and passing game. The Broncos are 15-3 in Bo Nix regular-season starts at home and Sean McVay being shorthanded vs. Sean Payton doesn’t bode well.
Pick: Broncos win 23-20.
NFC Game of the Week: Eagles (-3.5, 43.5 o/u) at Bears
Monday 8.15 p.m. ET, ESPN and ABC
The Eagles catch an important break after working hard to avoid their Titans upset in Week 2. Caleb Williams (hamstring) will be at least be missing this game, pushing the QB matchup highly in the favor of Jalen Hurts vs. rusty backup Tyson Bagent. Philadelphia can contain the run and bring discomfort to Bagent. The Bears’ defense has enough issues for Hurts to exploit through air and ground, no matter who’s healthy to support him.
Pick: Eagles win 24-21 but fail to cover the spread.
MORE: Bears get good news on Caleb Williams injury
Lock of the Week: Bills (-7, 50.5 o/u) over Chargers
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Bills look like the team to beat in the AFC with their offensive destruction of Houston and Detroit. Los Angeles won’t suddenly bury its dysfunction against a more aggressive Buffalo team. Josh Allen stays in MVP form to remind his separation between him and struggling Justin Herbert. While Allen, James Cook and the rest of the Bills light up the scoreboard, Herbert will be forced into some more giveaways.
Pick: Bills win 34-17 and cover the spread.
Upset of the Week: Buccaneers (+2.5, 43.5 o/u) over Vikings
Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Buccaneers aren’t 0-2 bad. The Vikings aren’t 2-0 good. Something will give here with Baker Mayfield dueling a disruptive defense and Carson Wentz just playing to get by the first two weeks. Tampa Bay revs up its attack with Mayfield hitting on some big passes vs. the blitz while Kyler Murray gets roughed up again in his return from concussion.
Pick: Buccaneers win 20-17.
Panthers (-2.5, 41.5 o/u) at Browns
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The Panthers must be thrilled with the sizzling early quarterback play of Bryce Young. Young is locked into his receivers as Dave Canales has found the sweet spot of balance and explosiveness. They also are getting dividends from a more active defense. Deshaun Watson sparked the Browns to victory at Tampa but returning for the home opener can actually more hostile.
Pick: Panthers win 24-20 and cover the spread.
Jets at Lions (-6.5, 47.5 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
Dan Campbell’s offense has been cooking with some key adjustments and he will have the advantage this week playing against former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Glenn and Brian Duker have so far coached a dominant group vs. pass and run, but the Lions’ attack with Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown is a different type of challenge. Coming off a mini-bye at Ford Field, Detroit flexes on an opponent that can’t keep up with it.
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Pick: Lions win 30-20 and cover the spread.
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Texans (-2.5, 44.5 o/u) at Colts
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Something has to give in the battle of desperate 0-2 AFC South teams. The Texans are giving up some big pass plays but are still stopping the run well. The Colts have been compressed in their passing game and are very reliant on Jonathan Taylor to move the ball. Houston dominated division play last season and leans on that to get a win, while Indy further fades.
Pick: Texans win 24-20 and cover the spread.
Danny Medley-Imagn Images
Chiefs (-10.5, 45.5 o/u) at Dolphins
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Chiefs return to where Patrick Mahomes once enjoyed his first Super Bowl winning glory seven years ago. They look a lot more complete as he’s expanded his weapons and looks sharp coming off knee surgery. Kansas City will also run all over Miami with Kenneth Walker III. Miami doesn’t have much to challenge at home.
Pick: Chiefs win 34-14 and cover the spread.
Titans at Giants (-6.5, 42.5 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Titans’ offense is coordinated by Brian Daboll, former Giants head coach. The results haven’t been there with Cam Ward in Year 2. Having no Jaxson Dart hurts to take away a duel between two first-round QBs from 2025. But there’s still an advantage with John Harbaugh getting more out of his players than Robert Saleh can. Daboll’s other former Giants, including a more prepared Jameis Winston, deny him a happy return.
Pick: Giants win 24-17 and cover the spread.
Bengals (-3, 42.5 o/u) at Steelers
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase get the headlines for the Bengals’ 2-0 start after impressive wins over the Buccaneers and Texans. As long as they can keep Burrow healthy, the Bengals have a high ceiling in the AFC playoff race. What’s also been seen is that Dexter Lawrence has been a huge defensive pickup and that side will stay hot vs. Aaron Rodgers and a sputtering Steelers’ offense.
Pick: Bengals win 27-20 and cover the spread.
Seahawks (-6.5, 40.5 o/u) at Commanders
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, Fox
The battle of Washington state vs. Washington D.C. won’t faze the visitors from almost 2,800 miles away, The Seahawks were 8-1 in road games under Mike Macdonald last season and just thrashed the Cardinals in the desert. The Commanders are on the ropes early at 0-2 and Marcus Mariota starting at QB. Seahawks backup QB Drew Lock is in the superior system with more versatility and depth. Washington won’t be able to slow down Jaxon Smith-Njigba, either.
Pick: Seahawks win 31-14 and cover the spread.
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Patriots at Jaguars (-2.5, 44.5 o/u)
Sunday 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Patriots turned to their running game and defense as expected to rout the Steelers in Week 2. Now they step into what should be a lower-scoring battle of attrition between Drake Maye and Trevor Lawrence.
Pick: Jaguars win 20-17 and cover the spread.
Cardinals at 49ers (-6.5, 47.5 o/u)
Sunday 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
The Cardinals had trouble stopping the Seahawks’ running game and gave up a lot of big plays to Smith-Njigba. That’s bad news going on the road to face red-hot Arizona native Brock Purdy with Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle back in form as his top two weapons.
Pick: 49ers win 31-20 and cover the spread.
Ravens (-3, 52.5 o/u) at Cowboys (in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
The Ravens were relentless against the Colts but reined themselves in against the Saints as they still are finding the way in Jesse Minter’s defense and the new offense for Lamar Jackson. Jackson was hurt by the wide receiver injuries, but Baltimore can go back to run-heavy basics with him and Derrick Henry vs. a transitional Dallas defense. The Cowboys will be game with Dak Prescott but will fall short in a shootout made to entertain the raucous Rio crowd.
Pick: Ravens win 31-27 and cover the spread.
Raiders at Saints (-3, 43.5 o/u)
Sunday 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS
The Raiders have coach Klint Kubiak returning to New Orleans, where he coordinated the offense for one season in 2024 before the Kellen Moore era. Moore has inspired his young offense to big things early with Tyler Shough proving to be a natural captain comeback. Captain Kirk (Cousins) has boldly pushed Las Vegas to 2-0, but the Saints are a lot more functional than either the Dolphins or Chargers.
Pick: Saints win 24-20 and cover the spread.
Stats of the Week
- Week 2 straight up record: 8-7
- Week 2 against the spread record: 6-9
- Season-to-date straight up record: 21-10
- Season-to-date against the spread record: 16-15
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