NFL underdogs came through yet again in Week 1, covering the spread in seven games. That’s 19 straight years where at least half a dozen underdogs paid off! But if you happened to follow *my* underdog picks last week? Oof. We’re talking 126 total points allowed, nine combined turnovers, and a minus-52 point differential across those picks. Yeah, that was a total disaster. So, we’re doing the cliche thing: “It’s a marathon, not a sprint!” and “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger!” Now let’s move on to Week 2.
Jets Look Strong, Packers in Freefall
First up, the New York Jets are getting 4 points against the Green Bay Packers, and I’m saying take the Jets. Look, I know New York’s 23-10 win in Week 1 was against a Titans team that’s basically forgotten how to win, losing 47 of their last 59 games. But winning on the road is never easy, especially for the Jets. And man, their whole operation last Sunday was solid! Geno Smith was almost perfect, going 19-for-24 for 215 yards with zero turnovers and no sacks. Breece Hall ran for 102 of the team’s 152 rushing yards. Plus, their defense locked down, giving up just 11 first downs and 195 total yards while snagging three sacks. The Packers are definitely a tougher opponent, but “tough” doesn’t mean unbeatable. Quite the opposite, actually. Since kicking off last season 9-3-1, Green Bay has completely melted down, dropping six consecutive games, including a wild-card defeat at Chicago back in January. Their most recent loss in Week 1 was a total embarrassment: they went to Minnesota, built a 22-10 lead, and then just *gave up* 29 unanswered points to backup quarterback Carson Wentz in the final 20 minutes! And guess what? During that six-game skid, they’ve been without stud pass rusher Micah Parsons, giving up a whopping 30.5 points per contest. News flash: Parsons is still out this Sunday.
Bears’ Offensive Firepower Meets Defensive Flaws
Yeah, I’m still eating crow for betting against the Chicago Bears in Week 1, but is that stopping me from fading them again? Nope! Caleb Williams and that offense were nothing short of spectacular in their 59-37 beatdown of the Panthers, churning out 552 yards, including 291 on the ground, and eight touchdowns. That’s a huge stat line! But let’s be real, their performance wasn’t flawless. They racked up 12 penalties, which is just sloppy. And the defense allowed Panthers QB Bryce Young to throw for 361 yards, the second-most in his career. Carolina also picked up 24 first downs and went a perfect 4-for-4 in the red zone. The Bears did win the turnover battle at plus-2, which definitely helped them pull away in the second half, just like their NFL-best plus-22 turnover margin last season. But history shows that kind of luck runs out eventually, and I’m still convinced it will for Chicago. I’m betting the Minnesota Vikings to cover against the Bears in Week 3.
It’s all about these next matchups. Can the Jets keep that momentum rolling, or will the Packers somehow snap their six-game skid and prove they’re not totally done for? And for the Bears, that Week 3 clash against the Vikings is a real test to see if their turnover luck holds out or if those defensive cracks start to show. You gotta tune in!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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