Here are my Week 2 NFL Game Predictions, both straight-up and against the spread and my results from last week and the season.
You’ll also find an array of fantastic notes down below for Week 2 and the 2025 season courtesy of NFL Communications press releases.
Vince’s Picks Results
Week 1 & Season 11-5 straight-up & 8-8 spread
There are 26 VFLs on 53-player rosters in the NFL. There are 6 more on practice squads. See how each did in Week 1 here. Look for a VFL in the NFL, ex-Vol and local player update blog soon on this feed and website, 991TheSportsAnimal.com.
Winners are in bold. Pick against the spread selection is listed to the side.
Week 2
Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025
8:20pm
Washington at Green Bay (-3.5) – Green Bay -3.5
Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025
1pm
Jacksonville at Cincinnati (-3.5) – Cincinnati -3.5
NY Giants at Dallas (-5.5) – Dallas -5.5
Chicago at Detroit (-6) – Detroit -6
LA Rams (-5.5) at Tennessee – LA Rams -5.5
New England at Miami (-1.5) – New England +1.5
San Francisco (-3) at New Orleans – San Francisco -3
Buffalo (-6.5) at NY Jets – Buffalo -6.5
Seattle at Pittsburgh (-3) – Seattle +3
Cleveland at Baltimore (-11.5) – Cleveland +11.5
4:05/4:25pm
Denver (-1.5) at Indianapolis – Denver -1.5
Carolina at Arizona (-6.5) – Arizona -6.5
Philadelphia (-1.5) at Kansas City – Philadelphia -1.5
8:20pm
Atlanta at Minnesota (-3.5) – Minnesota -3.5
Monday, Sept. 15, 2025
7pm
Tampa Bay at Houston (-2.5) – Tampa Bay +2.5
10pm
LA Chargers (-3.5) at Las Vegas – LA Chargers -3.5
NEW YORK — September 9, 2025 — Close games, dramatic comebacks and memorable performances highlighted an exciting Kickoff Weekend. Four teams – Buffalo, Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Tampa Bay – recorded game-winning scores in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter, with the Bills becoming the first team in NFL history to overcome a 15-point deficit in the final four minutes to win in regulation.
For Week 2 capsules, click here.
Here’s a look at a few interesting storylines entering Week 2:
- All-Time Aaron: Making his Pittsburgh debut in Week 1, Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers recorded his 28th career game with at least four touchdown passes and no interceptions, tied with Tom Brady for the most in NFL history. Rodgers has 507 career regular-season touchdown passes and against Seattle (1 p.m. ET, FOX), can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (508 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most regular-season touchdown passes all-time. Additionally, Rodgers has 63,196 career regular-season passing yards and can surpass Philip Rivers (63,440 passing yards) for the sixth-most regular-season passing yards in NFL history.
- Super Bowl LIX Rematch: The Kansas City Chiefs host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX) in a rematch of Super Bowl LIX. To end the 2024 season, the Eagles defeated the Chiefs, 40-22, as quarterback Jalen Hurts totaled 293 yards (221 passing, 72 rushing) and three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing) to earn Super Bowl MVP honors.
- Hurts rushed for two touchdowns in the Eagles’ Week 1 victory over Dallas, his 16th career regular-season game with multiple rushing touchdowns, the most among quarterbacks in NFL history.
- Kansas City was one of two teams, along with Buffalo, to go undefeated at home last season. Since Patrick Mahomes became the starting quarterback in 2018, Kansas City has the most home wins (45) and the highest home winning percentage (.776) in the NFL.
- Mahomes enters Week 2 with 292 career touchdown passes, including the playoffs, and can surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (293 touchdown passes) for the most touchdown passes by a player in his first nine seasons, including the postseason, in NFL history.
- Chiefs-Eagles will mark the 11th rematch of a Super Bowl in the following season all-time and the fourth to occur within the first two weeks of that season. The Super Bowl winning team has won seven of the 10 previous rematches.
| Super Bowl | SB Result | Rematch Date (Week) | Rematch Result |
| SB LIX | PHI 40, KC 22 | Sept. 14, 2025 (Week 2) | KC at PHI |
| SB LVIII | KC 25, SF 22 (OT) | Oct. 20, 2024 (Week 7) | KC 28 at SF 18 |
| SB LVII | KC 38, PHI 35 | Nov. 20, 2023 (Week 11) | PHI 21 at KC 17 |
| SB LI | NE 34, ATL 28 (OT) | Oct. 22, 2017 (Week 7) | ATL 7 at NE 23 |
| SB 50 | DEN 24, CAR 10 | Sept. 8, 2016 (Week 1) | CAR 20 at DEN 21 |
| SB XLVIII | SEA 43, DEN 8 | Sept. 21, 2014 (Week 3) | DEN 20 at SEA 26 (OT) |
| SB XXXI | GB 35, NE 21 | Oct. 27, 1997 (Week 9) | GB 28 at NE 10 |
| SB XXVII | DAL 52, BUF 17 | Sept. 12, 1993 (Week 2) | BUF 13 at DAL 10 |
| SB XIII | PIT 35, DAL 31 | Oct. 28, 1979 (Week 9) | DAL 3 at PIT 14 |
| SB XI | OAK 32, MIN 14 | Dec. 11, 1977 (Week 13) | MIN 13 at OAK 35 |
| SB IV | KC 23, MIN 7 | Sept. 20, 1970 (Week 1) | KC 10 at MIN 27 |
- Close games: The average margin of victory in Week 1 was 7.56 points, the third-lowest margin of victory in Week 1 since 1970, trailing only 1979 (6.79 points) and 1983 (7.00 points). On Kickoff Weekend, 12 games were decided by one score (eight points), tied with 2013 for the most such games in Week 1 all-time.
- Importance of Week 1 Results: Since 1990, history has shown that teams that are victorious in their season openers are more than twice as likely to advance to the playoffs as teams that lose their opener. During that span, 54.2 percent of teams (294 of 542) to win their opener have advanced to the playoffs, including both of last year’s Super Bowl participants – the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles. However, an 0-1 start is not impossible to overcome, as 25 percent of teams (136 of 541) since 1990 that lost a season opener advance to the playoffs, including five teams in 2024 – the Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, the Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders
- Special Teams: In Week 1, 75.6 percent of kickoffs were returned (118 of 156), up from 33.1 percent in Week 1 in 2024 (57 of 172). Last week, there were 3,074 kickoff return yards, the most in a Week 1 all-time and the most in any week in 15 years (3,233 kickoff return yards in Week 15, 2010).
- 1-0 matchups: Four matchups this week showcase two teams that each earned wins to open the season.
- Washington (1-0) at Green Bay (1-0) on Thursday (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video): Set to meet for the first time since the 2022 season, both Washington and Green Bay earned home victories in Week 1 after qualifying for the postseason last year. The Commanders can begin 2-0 for the third time in the past 15 seasons (2011 and 2023) while the Packers look to begin 2-0 for the first time since 2020.
- Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels, in 11 career road starts (including the postseason), has 20 touchdowns (15 passing, five rushing) and a 104.6 passer rating, including at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100-or-higher in six of those road starts.
- Green Bay defensive lineman Micah Parsons registered a sack in his Packers debut in Week 1. In eight career games against Washington, he has 10.5 sacks – including at least a half sack in seven of eight contests. Last season with Dallas, Parsons had two sacks in Week 12 and 2.5 sacks in Week 18 against the Commanders.
- Jacksonville (1-0) at Cincinnati (1-0) on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Both Jacksonville and Cincinnati look to begin 2-0 for the first time since 2018.
- Jacksonville running back Travis Etienne ranked second in the NFL with 156 scrimmage yards (143 rushing, 13 receiving) in Week 1, his third-career game with at least 150 scrimmage yards.
- Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow passed for 2,338 yards (292.3 per game) and 23 touchdowns with a 116.9 rating in 8 home starts last season, including at least three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 110-or-higher in each of his final four home starts. In NFL history, only two players have had at least three touchdown passes and a passer rating of 110-or-higher in five consecutive home starts: Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (six consecutive games in 2014) and Aaron Rodgers (five in 2011).
- Denver (1-0) at Indianapolis (1-0) on Sunday (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Denver looks to begin 2-0 for the first time since 2021 while Indianapolis can start 2-0 for the first time since 2009. Last season in Week 15, the Broncos defeated the Colts, 31-13, in Denver.
- After leading the NFL with 63 sacks last season, the Broncos defense recorded a league-high six sacks and allowed a league-low 133 total yards of offense in Week 1. It has been 26 seasons since a team recorded at least six sacks in each of its first two games of a season (Carolina and Seattle in 1998).
- The Colts defeated Miami, 33-8, in Week 1, marking their first season-opening win since 2013. They scored on all seven of their offensive possessions, becoming the first team in at least 47 years (1978 season) to score on every offensive possession of a game.
- Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) at Las Vegas (1-0) on Monday (10 p.m. ET, ESPN): The Los Angeles Chargers look to begin 2-0 in consecutive seasons for the third time since 1970 (2001-02, 1979-81) while Las Vegas can start 2-0 for the first time since 2021. The Chargers won both matchups against the Raiders last season (Weeks 1 and 18).
- Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert passed for 318 yards and three touchdowns with a 131.7 rating in the team’s Week 1 win over Kansas City in Brazil, the only quarterback with at least 300 passing yards and three touchdown passes on Kickoff Weekend
- Las Vegas tight end Brock Bowers recorded five receptions for 103 yards in the Raiders’ 20-13 victory over New England last week, his third career 100-yard game. Bowers has 1,297 receiving yards in 18 career games, the second-most by a tight end in his first 20 career games in NFL history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka (1,411 receiving yards).
- Washington (1-0) at Green Bay (1-0) on Thursday (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video): Set to meet for the first time since the 2022 season, both Washington and Green Bay earned home victories in Week 1 after qualifying for the postseason last year. The Commanders can begin 2-0 for the third time in the past 15 seasons (2011 and 2023) while the Packers look to begin 2-0 for the first time since 2020.
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QUARTERBACK TRENDS
Quarterback efficiency was a trend across the NFL on Kickoff Weekend, as there were 16 interceptions thrown in Week 1, the fewest in a season-opening week since the 1970 merger.
If 24 or fewer interceptions are thrown in Week 2, it would mark the lowest total through two weeks since 1970, surpassing the 2008 season (41 interceptions).
The seasons with the fewest interceptions thrown through the first two weeks of the season since 1970:
| SEASON | INTERCEPTIONS | |
| 2008 | 41 | |
| 2020 | 45 | |
| 2017 | 45 | |
| 2025 | 16* | |
| *in Week 1 | ||
Also in Week 1, dual threat quarterbacks made their mark. There were 13 rushing touchdowns by quarterbacks on Kickoff Weekend, the second-most in a single week all-time, trailing only Week 15 of the 2020 season (14 rushing touchdowns).
With four rushing touchdowns by quarterbacks in Week 2, it would mark the most through two weeks of a season in NFL history, surpassing the 2021 and 2020 seasons (16 rushing touchdowns).
The seasons with the most rushing touchdowns by quarterbacks through the first two weeks of the season in NFL history:
| SEASON | RUSHING TDs | |
| 2021 | 16 | |
| 2020 | 16 | |
| 2023 | 14 | |
| 2025 | 13* | |
| *in Week 1 | ||
Four quarterbacks – Buffalo’s Josh Allen, Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, the New York Jets’ Justin Fields and Indianapolis’ Daniel Jones – recorded two rushing touchdowns in Week 1, the most in a single week in NFL history.
If either player repeats their performance in Week 2, they will join Cam Newton (2020) as the only quarterbacks all-time to record multiple rushing touchdowns in each of their team’s first two games of a season.
Hurts (16 games) and Allen (13) are already first and second on the all-time list for games with at least two rushing touchdowns among quarterbacks.
With both a passing and rushing touchdown at the New York Jets on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Allen will tie Cam Newton (45 games) for the most games with a passing and rushing touchdown in NFL history.
COLTS, BRONCOS LOOK TO FOLLOW BIG WEEK 1 PERFORMANCES
Last week in their Week 1 victory, the Indianapolis Colts became the first team in at least 47 years (1978 season) to score on every offensive possession of a game.
If the Colts score on each of their first three offensive possessions on Sunday against Denver (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS), they will become the first team in NFL history to score on each of the first 10 offensive possessions of a season.
The teams to score on the most consecutive offensive possessions to begin a season in NFL history:
| TEAM | OFF. POSSESSIONS | |
| 2024 New Orleans Saints | 9 | |
| 2012 Atlanta Falcons | 8 | |
| 2025 Indianapolis Colts | 7* | |
| 2019 Kansas City Chiefs | 7 | |
| 2000 Atlanta Falcons | 7 | |
| *active streak | ||
The Denver Broncos led the NFL with six sacks in Week 1, after leading the league with 63 sacks during the 2024 season.
With six sacks on Sunday against Indianapolis, they will become the sixth team all-time to record at least six sacks in each of their first two games of a season, joining the 1998 Carolina Panthers, 1998 Seattle Seahawks, 1982 Houston Oilers, 1976 Chicago Bears and 1967 Oakland Raiders.
RODGERS & STAFFORD MOVING UP ALL-TIME PASSING TD LIST
Last week in his Pittsburgh debut, quarterback Aaron Rodgers recorded his 28th career game with at least four touchdown passes and no interceptions, tied with Tom Brady for the most in NFL history.
Rodgers enters Week 2 with 507 career touchdown passes and with two touchdown passes against Buffalo on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), will surpass Pro Football Hall of Famer Brett Favre (508 touchdown passes) for the fourth-most in NFL history.
The players with the most touchdown passes in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAMS | TD PASSES |
| Tom Brady | New England, Tampa Bay | 649 |
| Drew Brees | San Diego, New Orleans | 571 |
| Peyton Manning HOF | Indianapolis, Denver | 539 |
| Brett Favre HOF | Green Bay, N.Y. Jets, Minnesota | 508 |
| Aaron Rodgers | Green Bay, N.Y. Jets, Pittsburgh | 507 |
Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford recorded 245 passing yards and a touchdown pass in the Rams’ Week 1 victory and now has 378 career touchdown passes.
With three touchdown passes at Tennessee on Sunday (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Stafford will tie Matt Ryan (381 touchdown passes) for ninth place on the all-time list.
JAYDEN & JACOBS ON TNF
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels followed up his 2024 AP Rookie of the Year campaign with 301 total yards (233 passing, 68 rushing) in Washington’s Week 1 victory. In his first 18 career games. Daniels has 3,801 passing yards and 959 rushing yards.
With 199 passing yards and 41 rushing yards at Green Bay on Thursday Night Football (8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video), Daniels will become the first player in NFL history to record 4,000 passing yards and 1,000 rushing yards in his first 20 career games.
Daniels can also become the fastest quarterback ever (19 games) to reach 1,000 career rushing yards.
Since Week 11 of last season, Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs has recorded a rushing touchdown in 10 consecutive games, including the playoffs.
With a rushing touchdown on Thursday night, Jacobs will become the fourth player since 2000 with a rushing touchdown in 11 consecutive games, including the playoffs, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (12 straight in 2004), Jonathan Taylor (11 in 2021) and Priest Holmes (11 in 2002).
The players with a rushing touchdown in the most consecutive games, including postseason, since 2000:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | GAMES |
| LaDainian Tomlinson HOF | San Diego Chargers | 2004 | 12 |
| Jonathan Taylor | Indianapolis | 2021 | 11 |
| Priest Holmes | Kansas City | 2002 | 11 |
| Josh Jacobs | Green Bay | 2024-25 | 10* |
| *active streak |
LAMAR JACKSON, DERRICK HENRY & RUSHING RAVENS
Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson totaled 279 yards (209 passing, 70 rushing) and two touchdown passes with a 144.4 passer rating in Week 1. It marked his ninth consecutive game with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 90-or-high, including the playoffs, going back to Week 12 of the 2024 season.
This Sunday against Cleveland (1 p.m. ET, CBS), Jackson can become the seventh quarterback in NFL history to record at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 90-or-higher in 10 consecutive games, including the postseason, joining Tom Brady (12 games from 2014-15 and 10 games in 2007), Drew Brees (10 games in 2011), Patrick Mahomes (11 games in 2018 and 10 games from 2021-22), Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (13 games in 2004), Philip Rivers (13 games from 2017-18) and Aaron Rodgers (14 games from 2010-11).
Running back Derrick Henry led the NFL with 169 rushing yards and added two rushing touchdowns in Week 1. It marked his 13th career game with at least 150 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns, tied with Pro Football Hall of Famer Jim Brown for the most in NFL history.
With at least two rushing touchdowns on Sunday, Henry will surpass Adrian Peterson (28 games) for the third-most such games in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers LaDainian Tomlinson (38 games) and Emmitt Smith (36) have more.
The players with the most games with at least two rushing touchdowns in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| LaDainian Tomlinson HOF | San Diego, N.Y. Jets | 38 |
| Emmitt Smith HOF | Dallas, Arizona | 36 |
| Derrick Henry | Tennessee, Baltimore | 28 |
| Adrian Peterson | Minnesota, Arizona, Washington, Detroit | 28 |
| Jim Brown HOF | Cleveland | 27 |
With 150 rushing yards on Sunday, Henry will tie Adrian Peterson (19 games) for the fourth-most such games in NFL history. Only Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders (25 games), Jim Brown (22) and Walter Payton (20) have more.
The players with the most games with at least 150 rushing yards in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM(S) | GAMES |
| Barry Sanders HOF | Detroit | 25 |
| Jim Brown HOF | Cleveland | 22 |
| Walter Payton HOF | Chicago | 20 |
| Adrian Peterson | Minnesota, Arizona | 19 |
| Eric Dickerson HOF | L.A. Rams, Indianapolis | 18 |
| Derrick Henry | Tennessee, Baltimore | 18 |
| Emmitt Smith HOF | Dallas, Arizona | 18 |
Henry can also become the fourth player ever to record at least 150 rushing yards in each of his team’s first two games of a season, joining Alan Ameche (with the Baltimore Colts in 1955) and Pro Football Hall of Famers Jim Brown (with Cleveland in 1963) and O.J. Simpson (with Buffalo in 1975).
Since Week 12 of the 2024 season, including the playoffs, Baltimore has recorded at least 150 rushing yards in nine consecutive games. If they reach the mark again on Sunday, they will become the third team in the Super Bowl era to record at least 150 rushing yards in 10 consecutive games, including the postseason, joining the 1972-73 Dolphins (15 games) and 1975 Steelers (11 games).
REMARKABLE ROOKIES
Rookies accounted for 76 receptions across the NFL in Week 1, the second-highest total among rookies in Week 1 all-time, trailing only the 2023 season (87 receptions).
With at least 58 receptions by rookies in Week 2, the 2025 rookie class will have among the top-three most catches through the first two weeks of a season all-time.
The seasons with the most receptions by rookies through the first two weeks of the season in NFL history:
| SEASON | RECEPTIONS | |
| 2023 | 191 | |
| 2017 | 139 | |
| 2020 | 133 | |
| 2025 | 76* | |
| *in Week 1 | ||
Cleveland tight end Harold Fannin and Indianapolis tight end Tyler Warren each totaled seven receptions in Week 1, joining Keith McKeller (nine receptions with Buffalo on Oct. 18, 1987) and Monty Stickles (eight with San Francisco on Sept. 25, 1960) as the only tight ends in league history with at least seven receptions in their NFL debut.
With similar performances on Sunday in Week 2, both Fannin (at Baltimore, 1 p.m. ET, CBS) and Warren (vs. Denver, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS) can have among the most receptions ever by a tight end in his first two career games.
The tight ends with the most receptions in their first two career games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | SEASON | RECEPTIONS | |
| Brock Bowers | Las Vegas | 2024 | 15 | |
| Keith Jackson | Philadelphia | 1988 | 12 | |
| Monty Stickles | San Francisco | 1960 | 11 | |
| Sam LaPorta | Detroit | 2023 | 10 | |
| John Carlson | Seattle | 2008 | 10 | |
| Oscar Roan | Cleveland | 1975 | 10 | |
| Harold Fannin | Cleveland | 2025 | 7* | |
| Tyler Warren | Indianapolis | 2025 | 7* | |
| *in first game | ||||
Tampa Bay wide receiver Emeka Egbuka recorded two touchdown receptions on Kickoff Weekend, including the game-winning touchdown with 59 seconds remaining. He became the second player since the 1970 merger to record a game-winning touchdown reception in the final minute of regulation or overtime in his first career game, joining Ernest Wilford (with Jacksonville on Sept. 12, 2004).
On Monday Night Football at Houston (7 p.m. ET, ABC), Egbuka can become the first player in NFL history with two touchdown receptions in each of his first two career games.
Tennessee quarterback Cam Ward is slated to make his first career home start on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
He can become the seventh No. 1 overall pick quarterback all-time to win his first career home start, joining David Carr (2002 with Houston), Andrew Luck (2012 with Indianapolis), Baker Mayfield (2018 with Cleveland), Jim Plunkett (1971 with New England), Michael Vick (2001 with Atlanta) and Caleb Williams (2024 with Chicago)
JUSTIN JEFFERSON
Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson enters Week 2 with 499 career receptions.
With his first reception against Atlanta on Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC), Jefferson – who will be 26 years and 90 days old – will tie Larry Fitzgerald as the youngest player in NFL history to reach 500 career receptions.
The youngest players to reach 500 career receptions in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | AGE |
| Justin Jefferson^ | Minnesota | 26 years, 90 days* |
| Larry Fitzgerald | Arizona | 26 years, 90 days |
| CeeDee Lamb | Dallas | 26 years, 149 days# |
| ^has 499 career receptions; #reached the mark in Week 1 | ||
| *age as of this Sunday | ||
PUKA NACUA
Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua tied for the lead in the NFL with 10 receptions last week and ranked second with 130 receiving yards. Entering Week 2, Nacua has 194 receptions and 2,606 receiving yards in 29 career games.
With six receptions at Tennessee on Sunday (4 p.m. ET, CBS), Nacua will become the second player in NFL history with 200 receptions in his first 30 games, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (206 receptions).
With 131 receiving yards, Nacua will tie Justin Jefferson (2,735 receiving yards) for the second-most receiving yards by a player in his first 30 career games in NFL history, trailing only Odell Beckham Jr. (3,035 receiving yards).
The players with the most receiving yards in their first 30 career games in NFL history:
| PLAYER | TEAM | REC. YARDS |
| Odell Beckham Jr. | N.Y. Giants | 3,035 |
| Justin Jefferson | Minnesota | 2,735 |
| Lance Alworth HOF | San Diego | 2,666 |
| Bill Groman HOF | Houston Oilers | 2,648 |
| Puka Nacua | L.A. Rams | 2,606* |
| *in 29 games |
