The 2024 NFL season kicks on into Week 2 and we’ve got five of the best bets from around the league headlined by the New York Jets.
Las Vegas Raiders v Baltimore Ravens
Antonio Pierce is not a good coach.
We knew it before the season started and confirmed it in Week 1.
#Raiders HC Antonio Pierce on the decision to punt on 4th & 1 from the 43 when they were down six a day after making the call:
“I get analytics…our defense at the time has only given up 200 yards of total offense. That's the strength of our team” pic.twitter.com/IeiyWiWJDd
— Jesse Merrick – Silver & Black Sports Network (@JesseSBSN) September 9, 2024
It’s increasingly unlikely that Pierce does get analytics…
Still, everything points towards backing him and the Las Vegas Raiders in here. The +8.5 is big, and numbers that big appeal throughout the early weeks of an NFL season. It has been bet down from earlier in the week already. However, the cat doesn’t seem to be out of the bag about this team yet.
“Raider pride” doesn’t win you football games when the rest of the league is playing for their season. This isn’t the later weeks when some games can come a little bit easier. They face a genuine $13 Super Bowl LIX contender in the Baltimore Ravens here, too.
Baltimore came up short against the Chiefs last week, but only by a toe. Lamar Jackson looked incredible right up until his last drive. He is already in MVP-winning form while the Eagles should incorporate Derrick Henry into the offence a little bit better. The extra rest will help there, too. While Jackson missed an open Zay Flowers to win it in Week 1, he won’t need to in Week 2. The game should already be won, and won by double digits.
Best Bet PHILADELPHIA EAGLES -8.5 @ $1.88*
New York Jets v Tennessee Titans
A bit like Pierce and the Raiders above, waiver-wire fantasy coaches from last season can only keep the Will Levis belief up for so long.
Mason Rudolph will be pressing his case to take over as the Tennessee Titans starting quarterback sooner rather than later if Levis can’t find some form.
Bill Belichick on Will Levis' interception from Sunday: "Tom Brady and I have talked about this a million times: If you complete this pass, what's the upside? You gain one yard, two yards? What's the downside…? You lose the game!"
(🎥 @PatMcAfeeShow) pic.twitter.com/PLXdtSQW9M
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 10, 2024
He goes up against one of the best in NFL history this week, too.
The New York Jets weren’t fantastic last week. However, they played a very good San Francisco 49ers team. Kyle Shanahan put on a clinic – it happens. What’s important is that Aaron Rogers made some nice throws and looked good doing it. There were enough vintage Rogers moments within the game to suggest he still has a lot to give in this league.
New York needs improvements out of the defence. They appeared to have started well in Week 1 before allowing the San Francisco 49ers to score on their next eight possessions. With so much expected of the defence to start the season, anticipate a significant improvement there against a Titans teams struggling for offence.
Best Bet NEW YORK JETS -3.5 @ $1.90*
Cleveland Browns v Jacksonville Jaguars
The Cleveland Browns defence has the potential to be one of the best in the NFL. Does it have enough to make up for the quarterback play of Deshaun Watson?
A Deshaun Watson who was bad enough in Week 1 without the added allegations now hanging over him heading into Week 2.
His 36.9% passing success rate beat out only an awful Daniel Jones last week. It translated into 54 yards and only one first down at halftime. Right now, Watson is arguably the worst starting quaterback in the league.
Baker Mayfield becoming better than Deshaun Watson is only something that would happen to the Cleveland Browns
— Zlatni Topki (@ZlatniTopki) September 8, 2024
The Jacksonville Jaguars disappointed in Week 1. They started well before trying to sit on their 14-point lead. Still, a Travis Etienne fumble proved the turning point as they crumbled in the second half. But we’ve seen enough to be encouraged. Trevor Lawrence made some nice throws. It took a dangerous Miami Dolphins defence to mount the comeback, too. The Browns offence is unlikely to display anywhere near that level with the ball.
Cleveland’s defence will cause problems, but not enough to make up for their own issues offensively.
Best Bet JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS -3.5 @ $1.90*
New Orleans Saints v Dallas Cowboys
The New Orleans Saints thumped the Carolina Panthers 47-10 last week, while the Dallas Mavericks handled the Cleveland Browns 33-17. Both sides made things look easy in Week 1. However, both sides can come into this one overrated after beating up on bad teams.
The lean towards the Cowboys as favourites comes from the fact that the Panthers are awful. There isn’t a team in the NFL that wouldn’t have beaten that group by 30+. The Browns, on the other hand, do have some strengths in their game. We can regard them as a top defensive team, and the Cowboys offensive line performed relatively well, all things considered.
A tumultuous preseason saw the Cowboys head into Week 1 undervalued. As famous flat-track bullies, the markets don’t seem to have caught up yet. Historically, Dak Prescott is a top-tier quarterback against the spread as a favourite. He’s 27-13 as a favourite since 2021 and looks good to cover again in this one.
Best Bet DALLAS COWBOYS -6.5 @ $1.90*
Atlanta Falcons vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles were far from their best throughout the 34-29 win over the Green Bay Packers in Brazil. Things looked unfamiliar in unfamiliar territory – understandably.
Snapping the ball when the quarterback wasn’t ready and Jalen Hurts forcing passes into heavy coverage – translating into two picks – sums up the un-Eagles-like performance from this group. You can never guarantee improvement week-to-week, but it’s difficult to imagine this $13 Super Bowl LIX contender getting any worse.
The Atlanta Falcons, on the other hand, are already of great concern. Sure, they kept the Pittsburgh Steelers under control with the football. When trying to find any offence of their own, though, the Falcons struggled.
After further review, it doesn’t look like Kirk Cousins is physically ready to play football and I don’t think he gives the Falcons the best chance to win under his current circumstances.
He does not look fully healthy or explosive with his Achilles by any means.
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) September 10, 2024
You could premediate a run or pass based on where Cousins stood at the snap. He almost needed to be in shotgun to pass the ball. An Eagles defence that is still expected to be among the best in the NFL will eat that up. We’re expecting the offence to improve, too.