Each Week, Head of Content Michael Schottey makes his picks for the upcoming slate of NFL action. For more on the best picks of the week, check out Pickwatch Pro for only $30 per year and get access to in-depth insights on proven winners.
New York Giants @ Washington Football Team (-3)
Do I expect the Giants to have a great game here? No I don’t...not against that defense with all of their still-unanswered offensive line questions. I just can’t pick quarterback Taylor Heinicke on a short week. Pick: Giants
Cincinnati Bengals @ Chicago Bears (-2.5)
The Bears secondary is a mess and the LSU-forged connection of QB Joe Burrow and rookie wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase just picked apart a better Vikings secondary in Week 1. Pick: Bengals
Houston Texans @ Cleveland Browns (-12.5)
If the Texans win this one, I will take back absolutely everything nasty I’ve said about them over the last offseason. Instead, look for the Browns to play the bully at home to get the bad taste of last week’s Chiefs’ loss out of their mouths. Pick: Browns
Los Angeles Rams (-4) @ Indianapolis Colts
The Colts couldn’t stop the Seattle Seahawks passing attack in Week 1 and struggled to gain any ground against a lesser defense. This one might not be particularly close. Pick: Rams
Buffalo Bills (-3.5) @ Miami Dolphins
I’m not going to overreact to the Bills loss in Week 1. I’m not going to overreact to the Bills loss in Week 1. I’m not going to overre... Pick: Bills
New England Patriots (-6) @ New York Jets
QB Mac Jones lost the battle of the former Alabama quarterbacks in Week 1, but looked good doing it. He’ll have an easier defensive matchup here. Pick: Patriots
San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) @ Philadelphia Eagles
This feels like a bit of a trap game for the 49ers. They’re back-to-back in Eastern time. They’ve got the Packers in primetime next week and they had a bunch of injuries (and a late-game scare) in Week 1. That’s a lot to overcome against the surprisingly gritty Eagles, but they’re still the better team. Pick: 49ers
Las Vegas Raiders @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-5.5)
Here’s the rub with the Raiders, they have enough offensive talent and speed that they can score on any given play. Against the Steelers, though, the offensive line is going to struggle. Look for QB Derek Carr to throw some bad balls the Ravens didn’t force. Pick: Steelers
New Orleans Saints (-4) @ Carolina Panthers
I expect the Panthers to give up a little more fight than the Green Bay Packers did last week, but largely the results should be the same. Pick: Saints
Denver Broncos (-6) @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Are we going to start talking about the Broncos as one of the best teams in football? No...but at 2-0, they’re going to show that they can take care of business, no longer be an embarrassment and be in the conversation all season long. Pick: Broncos
Minnesota Vikings @ Arizona Cardinals (-4.5)
This is a story of two teams with similar talent levels but one got the job done in Week 1 while one laid down. How each team responds will largely determine how their season goes but here I just gotta take the team I believe will take some shots and connect. Pick: Cardinals
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Atlanta Falcons @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-12)
The Falcons looked completely hapless last week, so unless the Buccaneers are entirely looking past them and stumbles, this should be an absolute slaughter. Look for the Buccaneers to focus on establishing their run game which struggled against the Cowboys. Pick: Buccaneers
Dallas Cowboys @ Los Angeles Chargers (-3)
Longterm, I have more confidence in the Chargers putting together a quality season, but this matchup will allow Dallas to be more balanced than they were against the Buccaneers and that plays into a road victory here. Pick: Cowboys
READ MORE: Schottey's Week 2 Power Rankings
Tennessee Titans @ Seattle Seahawks (-5.5)
If the Titans couldn’t stop the Cardinals, they’re not gonna stop the Seahawks...especially in Seattle with the 12th man rocking. Pick: Seahawks
Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) @ Baltimore Ravens
*exhale* I really want to pick the Ravens here, because it’s Sunday Night Football where they typically play well. That said, I can’t pick against Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes in big moments. Pick: Chiefs
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (-10.5)
Packers win, and probably win big. Could the Lions come back again in garbage time and make it close like they did against the 49ers? Sure, but Lambeau is a tough place for those kinds of heroics. Pick: Packers