NFL 2025 Week 2 Prequel
With everything going on in the world and the specter of 9/11 in the background, Americans really need football right now. Here is the NFL 2025 Week 2 Prequel, with point spreads provided by ESPN and all times Eastern.
Thursday, September 11, 2025, 8pm
Washington Commanders at Green Bay Packers (3 1/2) — Whenever Washington plays on 9/11, there is emotion. Yet this game is in Green Bay, and some of the players were not even born when those attacks took place. This will be about two very good teams with Super Bowl aspirations facing off. The Packers made a big statement in their opening home win over Detroit. Jayden Daniels and Jordan Love have both established themselves as stars. The should be a good game, but go with the home crowd. Packers win but fail to cover
Sunday, September 14, 1pm
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens (-11 1/2) — The Browns lost a winnable game at home. Joe Flacco faces his original team for the first time. The Ravens will be enraged after an epic collapse that saw them blow a 15 point lead at Buffalo with 5 minutes remaining. The Ravens will punish the Browns early and often. This game could be over by halftime. Ravens cover
Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals (-3 1/2) — The Jaguars easily won their home opener against a terrible Carolina team while the Bengals barely escaped at lowly Cleveland. So it is hard to gauge how good either of thee teams are. Trevor Lawrence has not had coaching stability, while Joe Burrow has suffered injuries. Yet Burrow is healthy. Go with the home crowd in a close one. Bengals win but fail to cover
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (-5 1/2) — The Cowboys began the season taking going on the road and taking defending champion Philadelphia to the limit in a close loss. The Giants are awful and showing no signs of life. he Cowboys are not as good as they were in past years and Kellen Moore is a rookie coach, but this is a game the Cowboys should win easily. Giants cover
Chicago Bears at Detroit Lions (-5 1/2) — An epic collapse at home in their opener saw the Bears blow a double digit lead. Now they take on an angry Detroit team that got throttled in its road opener. The Lions looked listless without their offensive coordinator from last year, but they have the same players. The Lions have more talent, especially on offense. Give the Lions the benefit of the doubt at home. Lions cover
New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins (-1 1/2) (-5 1/2) — Both of these teams looked bad in their opener, with the Dolphins in particular looking atrocious. Mike Vrabel will build a tough identity for the Patriots but it will not happen overnight. Mike McDaniel has seen his team regress as Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill fail to get on the same page. Drake Maye has potential, and Miami’s defense is unimpressive. In a battle of bad teams, at least the Patriots showed some life last week. Upset special, Patriots win outright
San Francisco 49ers (-4 1/2) at New Orleans Saints — The 49ers showed toughness and grit in getting a win at Seattle while the Saints looked terrible at home against Arizona. The 49ers have many of the same players that have been elite in recent years until injuries derailed them last year. The Saints are a shell of what they were. Trust Brock Purdy over Spencer Rattler. 49ers cover
Buffalo Bills (-6 1/2) at New York Jets — The Bills showed a ton of heart and character in overcoming a 15 point deficit at home with 5 minutes left to stun Baltimore. The Jets suffered a heartbreaking home loss to Pittsburgh un Aaron Glenn’s debut. The spread is high for a road team playing a division rival, and the Bills may suffer a hangover from last week. This may not b a cakewalk, but the Bills in the end are better from Josh Allen on down. Bills win but fail to cover
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2 1/2) — The Seahawks blew a winnable home game against San Francisco while the Steelers gutted out a tough road win over the Jets. Aaron Rodgers may not be elite anymore, but then again he did throw four touchdowns last week. Go with the home crowd, especially with Chris Boswell kicking at home when it matters. Steelers cover
Los Angeles Rams (-5 1/2) at Tennessee Titans — 26 years ago these teams played an epic Super Bowl. This game is a battle between an experienced Rams team that gutted out a brutally tough defensive home win over Houston and a Tennessee Team with rookie quarterback Cam Ward. The Titans gave Denver a scare but ultimately lost. The Rams offense did not show much last week but Houston does have a very good defense. The home field and Ward’s leadership could be enough for a garbage touchdown to defeat the spread. Rams win but fail to cover
4pm
Carolina Panthers at Arizona Cardinals (-6 1/2) — 10 years ago these teams played in the NFC Title Game. Now they are a pair of bad teams, with Carolina being especially awful. The Cardinals won their opener, but defeating New Orleans does not take much. The Cardinals barely won, albeit on the road. At home, the Cardinals should be able to get a win against a team lacking in much talent. Cardinals cover
Denver Broncos (-1 1/2) at Indianapolis Colts — The Broncos offense struggled as Bo Nix threw interceptions, but their defense suffocated Tennessee in Cam Ward’s very first game. Daniel Jones was a bust with the Giants but he was practically flawless plying his first game with the Colts. The Colts blasted Miami by 25 points. This game will be a measuring stick for both teams. Despite the home field, go with the better defense and quarterback. Broncos cover
Philadelphia Eagles (-1 1/2) at Kansas City Chiefs — TheEagles got their revenge and ended the Chiefs three peat hopes in a lopsided super Bowl. Now the Chiefs try to avoid going 0-2 after losing to the Chargers in Brazil. The Eagles barely survived in their home opener against Dallas. These were the two best teams in football last year. Being a home underdog will be particularly galling to the Chiefs. Go with the home crowd thirsting for revenge. Upset special, Chiefs win outright
8pm
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings (-3 1/2) — The Falcons lost at home to an average Tampa Bay team when Younghoe Koo missed a very makable field goal at the end. The Vikings showed real heart and grit by overcoming a double digit road deficit to stun Chicago. JJ McCarthy got his first NFL win as the Vikings followed up their 14 win season the right way and the hard way. The Vikings are just better, and Kevin O’Connell is the better coach. Vikings cover
Monday, September 15, 7pm
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Houston Texans (-2 1/2) — The Buccaneers escaped with a road opening win over an uninspiring Atlanta squad. The Texans had their offense throttled on the road at the Rams defense in a hard fought loss. Baker Mayfield and CJ Stroud are both superstars. The Texans have the better defense and the home field. Mayfield can’t do it all by himself. Texans cover
10pm
Los Angeles Chargers (-3 1/2) at Las Vegas Raiders — Both teams won their openers, although the Chargers going to Brazil and beating Kansas City is more impressive than the Raiders winning at lowly New England. On paper, the Chargers are the better team. Justin Herbert is a stud, although Geno Smith is competent. Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll were bitter rivals when San Francisco and Seattle faced off a decade ago. When it mattered, Carroll got the ring and Harbaugh didn’t. Ashton Jeanty showed toughness on the ground, while the Raiders defense has improved. The Raiders have not had a home field advantage since Oakland, but if anyone can change that, Carroll can. Give the Raiders one chance to show they are much better under Carroll, and can win a big game at home. Upset special, Raiders win outright