NFL Picks Week 2: Updated Outlook on Sunday's Odds and Spreads

Week 2 of the 2014 NFL season already kicked off with CBS' debut of Thursday Night Football, but a packed slate of Sunday games will go much further to decide which teams get off to the start they desired this season.

Getting off to a strong start on opening weekend is key, but of no less importance is teams' execution on Week 2. The most impressive of season-opening wins can be pushed to the wayside with a poor performance the week after.

Let's get right to it and break down the latest odds and predictions for Week 2.

Matchup	Time (ET)	Prediction
Dallas Cowboys at Tennessee Titans (-3)	1 p.m.	TEN 24-23
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (Even)	1 p.m.	BUF 20-16
Jacksonville Jaguars at Washington Redskins (-7)	1 p.m.	JAX 13-10
Arizona Cardinals (-2.5) at New York Giants	1 p.m.	ARI 20-17
New England Patriots (-3) at Minnesota Vikings	1 p.m	NE 24-21
New Orleans Saints (-7) at Cleveland Browns	1 p.m.	NO 38-27
Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals (-5.5)	1 p.m.	ATL 24-21
Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers (-1)	1 p.m.	CAR 20-17
St. Louis Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7)	4:05 p.m.	TB 28-14
Seattle Seahawks (-7) at San Diego Chargers	4:05 p.m.	SEA 28-20
Houston Texans (-2.5) at Oakland Raiders	4:25 p.m.	HOU 17-14
New York Jets at Green Bay Packers (-9.5)	4:25 p.m.	NYJ 23-20
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (-13.5)	4:25 p.m.	DEN 34-17
Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers (-7.5)	8:30 p.m.	SF 23-14
Philadelphia Eagles (-3) at Indianapolis Colts	8:30 p.m. (Mon.)	PHI 30-27

Note: All odds courtesy of Odds Shark, last updated Sept. 12

Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos (-13.5)

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

They may have notched a Week 1 win, but the Broncos have plenty to work on heading into Week 2 as they look to get back to the Super Bowl.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that the team they're about to face—the Kansas City Chiefs—are struggling tenfold. 

The Chiefs were favored to take care of business at home in a season-opener against the Titans, but they instead lost 26-10 in a game that really wasn't as close as the final score indicated. Alex Smith threw three interceptions, and an early lead forced the Chiefs to abandon the run game and Jamaal Charles. 

Denver's defense expects Charles to be the focus again in Kansas City's offense after a poor Week 1, per the team's official Twitter:

The Broncos defense struggled at times in a 31-24 win over Indianapolis in letting Andrew Luck lead the Colts back but stiffened up at the right time and looked much-improved from a year ago. 

And as far as Peyton Manning goes, three first-half touchdowns to Julius Thomas and a few big plays to Emmanuel Sanders indicate his 2014 season could go much like 2013 did. That's about the last thing anyone in the AFC wanted to hear.

Jake Locker torched the Chiefs' secondary last week. Are you really expecting Manning not to do the same?

Prediction: Broncos 34, Chiefs 17

Dallas Cowboys at Tennessee Titans (-3)

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Two teams whose Week 1 openers sent them in very different directions will face off in Music City on Sunday. The head-turning Tennessee Titans host the Dallas Cowboys, who at the disappointment of their fans have become more of a punch line than a contender this season.

The struggles were anticipated for the Cowboys entering 2014, and they started just about immediately. In a home opener against the 49ers that felt more like a road game, Jerry Jones' squad was beaten 28-3 in the first half before making it a respectable 28-17 final score.

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

What was especially concerning for "Big D" was Tony Romo's big-time struggles, throwing three interceptions. Also, DeMarco Murray fumbled on the opening possession, which resulted in a fumble return for a touchdown by San Francisco.

ESPNDallas.com's Tim MacMahon summed up what it means when the offense gives up points:

Although not given much respect entering the season, ESPN's Paul Kusharsky noted the Titans' overall ranks through one week:

Jake Locker led the way for a turnover-free Titans offense that got 71 yards on 15 carries from Shonn Greene and big-time contributions from receivers Justin Hunter and Nate Washington. With a dangerous Dexter McCluster getting nine carries in Week 1, it's apparent that his speed will be a factor in Ken Whisenhunt's offense as well.

The Cowboys' defense stiffened up late against the 49ers, but they will get into another early hole and the Titans will continue forcing turnovers against a quarterback that was a few dropped balls away from five picks in Week 1.

Prediction: Titans 24, Cowboys 23

Chicago Bears vs. San Francisco 49ers (-7.5)

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

One team is coming off a painful early loss and the other started the season with an easy victory, but the Bears and 49ers will hope for improvements entering an enticing Sunday Night Football matchup.

The Bears were taken by surprise in their home opener on Sunday, falling 23-20 in overtime to the Buffalo Bills. Despite a 29-15 advantage in first downs and 341 yards through the air, Chicago couldn't overcome nearly 200 rushing yards from the Bills.

As for the 49ers, they started in dominating fashion against the Cowboys. But after going into the locker room up 28-3, being outscored 14-0 in the second half against a hapless Dallas defense won't make anyone on Colin Kaepernick's offense feel all that great.

The defense wasn't all too pleased with their performance, either, as Grant Cohn of Santa Rosa Press Democrat noted:

The big story entering this game revolves around the the opening of the new Levi's Stadium, and it's a hot ticket. As San Jose Mercury News' Mike Rosenberg noted, the average price of tickets online as of Friday is $309. 

The 49ers opened up with a balanced backfield that saw Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde combine for 116 yards, and that should scare a Bears team that was just gashed by a loaded Bills backfield. San Francisco's defense will get them another early lead, and the Niners will pound their way to victory.

Chicago showed in Week 1 that it won't just roll over and die, but comebacks are much tougher against the 49ers than the Bills.

Prediction: 49ers 23, Bears 14

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted

Follow Steven Cook on Twitter for more breaking news, analysis and musings from the sports world.