NFL Predictions Week 2: Upset Picks and Projections

Following a predictably unpredictable start to the NFL season, Week 2 features several evenly matched bouts devoid of upset potential.

According to Odds Shark, three matchups enter the week with even odds, while five games contain spreads of three or fewer points. In these bouts, neither outcome will stun anyone. On the other hand, it'd take a naively optimistic fan to think the Oakland Raiders will ransack the Baltimore Ravens this weekend.

With so much confusion around the league, what truly qualifies as an upset? In a division showdown, the defending champion enters as a road underdog despite scooping up a Week 1 win, with a major injury putting it on the wrong side of a surprisingly steep spread.

The following technical upsets aren't bold predictions, but it beats lying and saying the Jacksonville Jaguars will best the Miami Dolphins. 

Date	Away	Prediction	Home	Spread
Thursday, Sept. 17	Denver Broncos	23-20	Kansas City Chiefs	KC -3
Sunday, Sept. 20	Houston Texans	17-13	Carolina Panthers	CAR -3
Sunday, Sept. 20	San Francisco 49ers	16-21	Pittsburgh Steelers	PIT -5.5
Sunday, Sept. 20	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	27-34	New Orleans Saints	NO -11.5
Sunday, Sept. 20	Detroit Lions	24-27	Minnesota Vikings	MIN -2.5
Sunday, Sept. 20	Arizona Cardinals	30-23	Chicago Bears	Even
Sunday, Sept. 20	New England Patriots	24-20	Buffalo Bills	Even
Sunday, Sept. 20	San Diego Chargers	23-24	Cincinnati Bengals	CIN -3
Sunday, Sept. 20	Tennessee Titans	19-14	Cleveland Browns	Even
Sunday, Sept. 20	Atlanta Falcons	27-30	New York Giants	NYG -1
Sunday, Sept. 20	St. Louis Rams	17-6	Washington Redskins	STL -3.5
Sunday, Sept. 20	Miami Dolphins	27-10	Jacksonville Jaguars	MIA -7
Sunday, Sept. 20	Baltimore Ravens	24-9	Oakland Raiders	Unavailable
Sunday, Sept. 20	Dallas Cowboys	28-24	Philadelphia Eagles	PHI -5.5
Sunday, Sept. 20	Seattle Seahawks	20-23	Green Bay Packers	GB -4
Monday, Sept. 21	New York Jets	16-34	Indianapolis Colts	IND -7.5

Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles

The Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Jets are the only underdogs facing a larger spread discrepancy than the Dallas Cowboys. Even though Tony Romo led yet another narrative-squashing comeback, everyone was too busy criticizing the New York Giants' baffling clock management to credit the winning party.

Saying Eli Manning handed Dallas a victory is lazy storytelling. Tallying 436 yards while allowing 289, the Cowboys would have demolished Big Blue if not for some untimely turnovers. If the score better reflected the action, Vegas would be much kinder in light of the Philadelphia Eagles' Monday night loss.

The Cowboys' outlook would also be much rosier had Dez Bryant not undergone surgery on a broken foot suffered Sunday. 

“That’s a tough loss. You can’t replace Dez Bryant,” Romo told DallasCowboys.com's Rob Phillips. “I hurt for him right now because I know how much he loves to play this game. We’ll have to reassess that and figure out where to put guys and try and help.”

Even without Bryant, Romo and Co. can move the ball on Philadelphia's weak defense. Against the Giants, four players (Lance Dunbar, Jason Witten, Terrance Williams, Cole Beasley) compiled more receiving yards than Bryant's 48. Last year's No. 31 passing defense didn't look much sharper against the Atlanta Falcons.

One week into the season, the Eagles haven't hurt their NFC East rivals by poaching DeMarco Murray. While the expensive new rusher compiled 20 total yards on a dozen touches, Dallas' backs combined for 212 total yards. Behind an offensive line that afforded Romo enough time to nap before every throw last week, the ground game will make a major statement at Philadelphia, who needs to change the tires on the Sam Bradford bandwagon.  

Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers

If the Houston Texans and Carolina Panthers played in Week 1, the Panthers would maybe get a point advantage as the home team. Instead, they're given three points after defeating the mighty Jaguars.

Carolina didn't quell any concerns about its offense sans Kelvin Benjamin, mustering a meager 263 total yards of offense. Now Cam Newton will take a rickety offensive line and uninspiring batch of receivers to face J.J. Watt and last year's 10th-rated defense on Pro Football Focus.

To beat Houston, the back-to-back NFC South champions will need another game-changing play on defense, which isn't out of the question, regardless of whether Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett starts under center. Per Around The NFL, head coach Bill O'Brien has not yet committed to his Week 2 starter:

Either way, the starter will have to play with Alfred Blue at running back. While CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora opened the door for an Arian Foster return, John McClain of the Houston Chronicle offered a conflicting report Tuesday:

Alex Smith embarrassed the Texans, but an underrated Kansas City Chiefs offense deserves credit. Newton doesn't have Jamaal Charles, Jeremy Maclin and Travis Kelce at his disposal, so count on a low-scoring grind swayed by Watt's crew pressuring Newton into a couple of errors.

A Foster sighting would have tipped the scales further in Houston's favor, but the squad can string together enough points with DeAndre Hopkins bailing out a shaky passing game.