NFL Week 2 odds, picks: Jets continue to stay…

We are off and running in the 2026 regular season and are coming off an opening weekend where we escaped Week 1 with a stellar record on the whole. For the slate, I went 13-3 on straight-up picks and 9-7 ATS. That was good for the best among CBS Sports experts straight up and tied for second against the spread. 

The only unfortunate aspect of my weekend was that some of the locks within my five Locks of the Week were faulty. I was 2-3 ATS on my five best bets, with the Jets‘ upset win in Nashville and Jacksonville’s throttling of the Browns as the lone covers. The Houston Texans nearly swung the day for us as they had the Buffalo Bills on the ropes, but Josh Allen was simply too much to slay, so we’ll look to keep the overall momentum rolling in Week 2 while cleaning things up with my locks. 

As we turn our attention to the upcoming slate, we’re somewhat going back to the well with a couple of teams, attacking the Browns and buying the Jets with the points. 

2026 record

• Locks of the Week ATS: 2-3-0
• ATS: 9-7-0
• ML: 13-3

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons

• Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox, Stream: Fubo, try for free)

It seems like Cooper Rush is going to get another start for Atlanta, so we’ll gladly fade him after a rough debut with the Falcons in Week 1. Out of every starting quarterback that took the field in Week 1, no one has a worse passer rating than Rush (54.9). There was essentially no vertical passing game as Rush averaged just 3.5 air yards per attempt (31st among QBs). Despite that, he still had an off-target rate of 13.6% (22nd). So, while the Panthers‘ defense was pantsed by the Bears in Week 1 to the tune of 59 points allowed, they won’t face nearly the firepower under center as they did when squaring up against Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. Meanwhile, lost in the Bears lighting it up, Bryce Young put together a strong effort, with his .29 EPA per dropback ranking sixth-highest among all quarterbacks in Week 1. The Panthers QB also owns a 4-1 SU and ATS record when he starts against Atlanta. 

Projected score: Panthers 24, Falcons 20
The pick: Panthers -1

Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Listen, this might be the last time in our lives that we’ll be able to bet against Deshaun Watson, so we HAVE to take this opportunity while it’s still there. The Browns QB looked about as you’d expect him to look in the opening loss to Jacksonville. He didn’t seem comfortable in the pocket at all, tossed an interception on his opening possession, and nearly had two more turnovers. Dating to before his Achilles injuries, Watson is 0-6 SU and 1-5 ATS over his last six starts. Meanwhile, the Browns are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 road games when they are a dog of 6-plus points. 

While Watson won’t provide much resistance for the Bucs defense, old friend Baker Mayfield is likely chomping at the bit to square off against his former team. This will be just the second game against Cleveland since he was traded in the summer of 2022. Mayfield lost his first matchup against the Browns while a member of the Panthers, but has since revitalized his career in Tampa and will likely be looking to run it up with his college of skill-position players. The Bucs are 3-0 SU in home openers with Mayfield. 

Projected score: Buccaneers 30, Browns 13
The pick: Buccaneers -8.5

Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots

It’s hard to call a Week 2 matchup a kitchen-sink game or any team, but I sort of feel that way with the Patriots. They completely collapsed in the fourth quarter and lost a winnable game against the Seahawks in the season opener. After this game on Sunday, they’ll begin a two-week road trip where they’ll head to Jacksonville and Buffalo. The Patriots shouldn’t expect to be favored in either of those matchups, so if they drop this home opener to Pittsburgh, they’re looking down the barrel of a potential 0-4 start. 

While they did lose A.J. Brown (ankle) to injury, I think New England should be able to outpace the Steelers‘ offense. Aaron Rodgers was tied for the fourth-worst EPA per dropback in the NFL in Week 1 as the Pittsburgh offense averaged just 4.1 yards per play against Atlanta. The Patriots boast a far better defense than the Falcons, with All-Pro corner Christian Gonzalez and a pass rush that was surprisingly disruptive in Week 1. 

Remember, the Steelers went into Foxborough in Week 3 last year and pulled out a 21-14 win. In that loss, the Patriots turned the ball over five (!) times. Mike Vrabel will almost certainly remind them of that game and push them to right the wrong here. 

Drake Maye is also 6-0 SU and 5-1 ATS as a 3-plus point favorite at home in his career. 

Projected score: Patriots 24, Steelers 17
The pick: Patriots -5.5

Green Bay Packers at New York Jets

• Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox, Stream: Fubo, try for free)

Can you believe it? We’re backing the Jets in back-to-back weeks! Did we slip into the Twilight Zone or something? Unlike last week, however, we’re not taking them to pull off the outright win (although I was tempted). Instead, we’re looking for them to merely cover as they host the Packers in the home opener. While it was against Tennessee, New York looked far improved from last year’s squad. Specifically, they got stable quarterback play from Geno Smith, who was the only quarterback in the entire Week 1 slate to not have an off-target throw. Meanwhile, the defense showed signs of life, specifically with No. 2 overall pick David Bailey tallying a sack in his debut. 

As we look at Green Bay, I just don’t have a lot of faith in the Packers right now as a road favorite. They collapsed against the Vikings, and Jordan Love did not look good in the process. In stark contrast to Smith, Love’s off-target rate was the highest among every quarterback in Week 1 (23.8%). On top of throwing an interception against Minnesota, the Vikings dropped two others, so it was nearly an even more disastrous day for the Packers’ quarterback. 

They may win because they have a smidge more talent, but it’ll be within the number. 

Projected score: Packers 24, Jets 21
The pick: Jets +3.5

Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans

• Sunday, 1 p.m. (Fox, Stream: Fubo, try for free)

Maybe it’s a trap, but I don’t care. I’ll fade Cam Ward and the Titans until they give me a reason not to. Ward ranked 26th in the league in Week 1 in EPA per dropback as well as off-target rate in a loss to New York at home. He was sacked three times in the opener, and will now face an Eagles front that will continue to apply pressure. Tennessee scored just 10 points in Week 1, which was the fewest point total in a season opener at home in franchise history. It’s hard to imagine this unit suddenly finding success against a superior defense that took it to them on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Breece Hall averaged 4.6 yards per carry while piling up 102 yards and a touchdown on the ground against Robert Saleh’s defense in Week 1, and I expect Saquon Barkley to carry the baton with a similar showing in Week 2. This should be a double-digit win by Philadelphia. 

Projected score: Eagles 27, Titans 17
The pick: Eagles -7

Rest of the bunch

Lions at Bills (Thursday)
Projected score: Bills 31, Lions 27
The pick: Lions +4.5

Bengals at Texans
Projected score: Bengals 28, Texans 24
The pick: Bengals +3

Vikings at Bears
Projected score: Bears 27, Vikings 20
The pick: Bears -5.5

Saints at Ravens
Projected score: Ravens 30, Saints 20
The pick: Ravens -8.5

Jaguars at Broncos
Projected score: Jaguars 23, Broncos 21
The pick: Jaguars +2.5

Raiders at Chargers
Projected score: Chargers 33, Raiders 20
The pick: Chargers -7

Dolphins at 49ers
Projected score: 49ers 30, Dolphins 16
The pick: 49ers -13.5

Seahawks at Cardinals
Projected score: Seahawks 27, Cardinals 17
The pick: Seahawks -4

Commanders at Cowboys
Projected score: Cowboys 33, Commanders 30
The pick: Commanders +3.5

Colts at Chiefs
Projected score: Chiefs 28, Colts 20
The pick: Chiefs -6.5

Giants at Rams (Monday)
Projected score: Rams 30, Giants 21
The pick: Rams -7