NFL Week 2 Predictions: Projections for the Early Lines, Spreads and Odds

The 2016 NFL season is rolling right along. The bulk of the first week of action is already in the books, and Week 2 is mere days away. When it comes to playing against the lines, however, we’re still in relatively fresh territory.

The good news is that Week 1 gave us a sizable glimpse into the coming season and what we might expect from teams. For instance, we’ve learned that the Minnesota Vikings might just have enough talent to overcome the absence of Teddy Bridgewater and still be a playoff contender. We also learned that the Cleveland Browns defense is bad enough to make a rookie quarterback look like a future Hall of Famer in his NFL debut.

Oh, and we learned that the Denver Broncos are still pretty darn super, even with Trevor Siemian at quarterback.

Of course, while we’ve learned a little bit more about the looming NFL landscape, so, too, have NFL coaches. Though there is still plenty of mystery to be had, teams should be a bit more prepared for their opponents in Week 2. This fact, along with a real semblance of league-wide parity, makes Week 2 nearly as difficult to predict as the year’s opening slate.

We haven’t had a ton of outright upsets so far, but plenty of contests were tighter than one might have expected. Through Sunday, an incredible six games were decided by two points or less.

Will the second week be as competitive? We’re going to take an early look at next week’s games and make our predictions. As always, all point spreads are provided by Odds Shark.

Week 2 begins with the New York Jets and the Buffalo Bills on Thursday night.

Panthers Find Redemption in Home Opener

The Carolina Panthers didn’t find a way to avenge their loss in Super Bowl 50 in Week 1. Instead, the team watched as Graham Gano’s late field-goal attempt sailed wide and the Broncos escaped with a one-point victory.

Now, the Panthers get an opportunity to avenge their latest loss, and they will get to do so at home and against the new-look San Francisco 49ers.

This early pick is a little tricky for a couple of reasons. For one, the 49ers are getting a ridiculous line bump of nearly two touchdowns, and we haven’t even seen them in action yet. With new head coach Chip Kelly bringing his offensive creativity to the party, San Francisco might just prove to be a competitive force.

We’re not buying that the 49ers are going to find their groove in Week 2, though. Blaine Gabbert doesn’t benefit from the same supporting cast Siemian does, and the San Francisco defense is far from championship-caliber.

Though the 49ers may be on …

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