Week 2 arrives tonight. Which means itâÂÂs time for the second wave of PFT picks.
This year, IâÂÂm flying solo with the selections. No spreads. No gambling references. Nothing but a truly for-amusement-only effort to peer into the murkiness of a defective crystal ball and make a wild-ass guess as to who will win each game.
DonâÂÂt bet, unless youâÂÂre able to create a defined budget and stick to it. You wonâÂÂt get rich. You could get poor.
Last week, I went 10-6. (Best pick: Giants over Cowboys. Worst pick: Dolphins over Raiders. Flew-too-close-to-the-sun-on-wings-of-pastrami pick: Patriots over Seahawks.)
Here are the various selections for Week 2. Again, please do not rely on my input when making your own selections, if you are sufficiently disciplined to treat your betting allowance as an extension of your entertainment budget.
Lions at Bills (Thursday night)
ItâÂÂs one of only three games pitting teams that won in Week 1. And it features a couple of the best players in the entire league in Josh Allen and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Buffalo escaped Houston with a victory, and Detroit managed to hold off the Saints after blowing a 21-0 lead.
Expect plenty of points for the first game to be played in BuffaloâÂÂs new stadium. As long as the grass cooperates.
Bills 34, Lions 26.
Saints at Ravens
The Saints are dangerous, as they showed once they settled things down against the Lions. Tyler Shough looks to be the long-term answer, and theyâÂÂd surely love to steal one of their first two tough tests on the road to start the season. The Ravens look like the Ravens, with an offense that can move the ball â and with a defense that can do enough to slam the door on the opposition.
Even if receiver Zay Flowers (hamstring) canâÂÂt go, Baltimore has what it needs in quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry, who seems to have lost nothing as he gets deeper into his thirties.
Ravens 30, Saints 24.
Vikings at Bears
This one could be a barnburner. Between them, the two teams scored 98 points in Week 1. It all may come down to who can make a stop in a big spot. The home team gets the edge, as the Bears try to break a six-game losing streak to the Vikings at Soldier Field.
Bears 34, Vikings 31.
Bengals at Texans
Joe Burrow has back tightness. It wonâÂÂt feel any looser after three hours of being chased, and hit, by Will Anderson, Danielle Hunter, and/or Jadeveon Clowney.
C.J. Stroud was better than expected in Week 1, but he failed to deliver with the game on the line. Can he do it this week?
Texans 23, Bengals 20.
Steelers at Patriots
Last year, the Patriots outplayed the Steelers but lost. This year, the Patriots (thanks to extra rest) should be ready to keep a handful of bad plays from preventing a win. An 0-2 start would be a problem for the Pats, especially if the Bills win on Thursday night.
No A.J. Brown complicates the New England offense. More importantly, Drake Maye needs to play within his abilities and not try the kinds of throws that only the likes of Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen can consistently complete.
And hereâÂÂs one more wrinkle to consider â Aaron Rodgers has been chirping about Mike Vrabel and Dianna Russini. Vrabel and his players have undoubtedly heard it.
Patriots 16, Steelers 13.
Packers at Jets
Green Bay carries a six-game losing streak into the battle of former Aaron Rodgers employers. The Jets are already operating on house money; theyâÂÂll be loose and relaxed and ready. The Packers could be tight. The key question is whether, come the fourth quarter, the cheese will melt â again.
Packers 24, Jets 13.
Browns at Buccaneers
The Browns have a broad gap between what they think they are and what they actually are. Absent a win fueled by a strong performance from Deshaun Watson, itâÂÂll be Shedeur Sanders time for the Week 3 home opener.
Beyond the fact that Baker Mayfield holds a grudge forever, the Bucs know they canâÂÂt afford to fall to 0-2, if they hope to get back to the playoffs and avoid a potential overhaul of the coaching staff.
Buccaneers 41, Browns 14.
Eagles at Titans
The Eagles may not be as good as theyâÂÂve been. The Titans seem to be as bad as theyâÂÂve been, possibly worse.
Eagles 27, Titans 17.
Jaguars at Broncos
Last year, the Jaguars stunned the Broncos in Denver, fueled by the Sean PaytonâÂÂs comment about Jacksonville being a âÂÂsmall market.â This year, the Jaguars are feeling generally overlooked and disrespected; the TV schedule for what is a big early-season game (4:05 p.m. ET regional broadcast) fuels that perception/reality.
Throw in the fact that the Broncos are operating on a short week after getting manhandled in Kansas City and the Jags got to rest starters in the second half of their tuneup game against the Browns, and it could be a repeat of last DecemberâÂÂs get-together.
Jaguars 27, Broncos 20.
Raiders at Chargers
If there was ever a must-win game in Week 2, the Chargers are staring at it. After being humbled by the Cardinals at home to start the season, the Chargers have to fend off a Raiders team that remains far more popular in L.A. than the Chargers perhaps will ever be.
Chargers 20, Raiders 16.
Seahawks at Cardinals
The extra time to prepare will make a difference for Seattle, especially with Drew Lock replacing Sam Darnold. Last year, the Cardinals gave the Seahawks all they could handle on a Thursday night in Arizona. Could the home team do it again?
Seahawks 23, Cardinals 20.
Commanders at Cowboys
Against the Giants, the Dallas defense couldnâÂÂt get off the field. TheyâÂÂll have a better chance to do that at home, against a team that probably isnâÂÂt as good as the Giants.
Cowboys 30, Commanders 17.
Dolphins at 49ers
There wonâÂÂt be nearly as much hype as when these two teams met in Super Bowl XIX, but the outcome should be similar. If not identical.
49ers 38, Dolphins 16.
Colts at Chiefs (Sunday night)
The Chiefs are back. The Colts already have their backs to the wall, after an ugly performance to start the season.
Chiefs 27, Colts 10.
Giants at Rams (Monday night)
It could be a 2-0 Harbaugh weekend at SoFi Stadium. The Rams will have to show that theyâÂÂve recovered from their travel to and from Australia, and theyâÂÂll need to adjust to the absence of Myles Garrett for at least four games. Aaron Donald unretired for this?
Giants 24, Rams 21.