NFL Week 2 Picks 2026: Predictions and Winners for Every Game
NFL Week 2 picks 2026 cover all 16 games, from Lions at Bills on Thursday night to Giants at Rams on Monday. Each game gets a straight up winner and a short reason why.
Thursday night is done. The Bills beat the Lions 41 to 31, so we are 1 and 0 this week. The rest of the board is below, with injury news current through Thursday practice reports on September 17.
Kickoff times, venues and streaming options are in the NFL Week 2 schedule. Track your own calls on the printable Week 2 pick’em sheet. These are fan predictions for entertainment only.
Thursday, September 17
Detroit Lions at Buffalo Bills, 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video
Buffalo built a 27 point first half and never let Detroit level it. Josh Allen threw for 248 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 69 yards and two more, becoming the first player with five passing and three rushing touchdowns through two games. James Cook III added 101 rushing yards and Dalton Kincaid caught seven passes for 95 yards.
Detroit was not quiet. Jared Goff threw for 327 yards and four touchdowns and Amon-Ra St. Brown had nine catches for 142 yards and two scores, but Greg Rousseau had two sacks inside the first 13 minutes and a Lions line missing Christian Mahogany and Blake Miller could not hold up.
✅ Pick: Bills
Final: Bills 41, Lions 31. Pick correct. Week 2 record: 1 and 0.
Sunday, September 20: Early Games (1:00 p.m. ET)
Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons (FOX)
Carolina gave up 552 yards and 59 points in Chicago. Atlanta lost 20 to 13 at Pittsburgh, but Bijan Robinson still posted 173 scrimmage yards.
The Falcons quarterback room is the question. Michael Penix Jr. is not ready after a third ACL reconstruction and Tua Tagovailoa has an oblique strain, so Cooper Rush may start again. Guard Chris Lindstrom is in the concussion protocol and lineman Da’Shawn Hand is out for the season. Robinson is still the difference against this defense.
Pick: Falcons
New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens (CBS)
Lamar Jackson threw for 324 yards and Derrick Henry ran for 144 yards and three touchdowns in a 41 to 23 rout of the Colts. Rookie receiver Ja’Kobi Lane is on IR after wrist surgery, and Zay Flowers (hamstring) is day to day after an MRI showed no major damage.
Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards in the Saints comeback at Detroit, and Alvin Kamara is set to return from a knee issue, though Chris Olave (hamstring) has been limited. That defense still allowed 21 straight first half points. Henry and Jackson at home is too much.
Pick: Ravens
Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears (FOX)
Caleb Williams had two passing and two rushing touchdowns in a 59 to 37 win, and Chicago piled up 291 rushing yards. Minnesota beat Green Bay 39 to 22 behind a Brian Flores defense that blitzed constantly.
Kyler Murray stayed limited in practice inside the concussion protocol, and Kevin O’Connell called Friday the deciding day. Carson Wentz starts if Murray is not cleared. Jordan Mason (thumb) is on short term IR.
Chicago has its own worry: D’Andre Swift (ankle and knee) and Kyle Monangai (hamstring) were limited again Thursday after combining for 291 rushing yards. The Vikings have won six straight at Soldier Field, so this is tighter than Week 1 scores suggest, but we lean Bears at home.
Pick: Bears
Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans (CBS)
Cincinnati’s new defense forced four turnovers in a 33 to 27 win at Tampa Bay. Joe Burrow has back tightness but expects to play. Houston scored 31 in a loss to Buffalo behind three David Montgomery touchdowns, though linebacker Henry To’oTo’o is on IR.
The bigger issue is Nico Collins, who missed Thursday practice with a hamstring injury. Without him, Burrow with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in a dome is the edge.
Pick: Bengals
Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots (CBS)
T.J. Watt returned an interception for a touchdown, and he and Alex Highsmith each had two sacks in a 20 to 13 win over Atlanta. Drake Maye threw three fourth quarter interceptions in the 13 to 10 loss at Seattle.
New England also lost A.J. Brown to IR with a high ankle sprain. TreVeyon Henderson (ankle) was a full practice participant and should help, but this Steelers front against a turnover prone offense is a bad mix.
Pick: Steelers
Green Bay Packers at New York Jets (FOX)
A Jordan Love fumble and a late interception turned a close game into a 39 to 22 loss in Minnesota. The Jets won 23 to 10 at Tennessee behind 142 rushing yards from Breece Hall and Braelon Allen.
New York is thin in the back end. Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (groin) is expected to miss this game, and receiver Omar Cooper Jr. (ankle) is week to week. Packers bounce back.
Pick: Packers
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (CBS)
Deshaun Watson threw an early interception and took five sacks in a 34 to 10 loss at Jacksonville, and running back Dylan Sampson is on IR with a knee injury. Tampa Bay lost to Cincinnati mainly because of three Baker Mayfield fumbles, and Sean Tucker (hamstring) is day to day. Clean up the ball security and the Buccaneers win at home.
Pick: Buccaneers
Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans (FOX)
Philadelphia held Washington under 300 yards in a 24 to 22 win. Left guard Landon Dickerson is on IR, a real loss for the line. Still, Cam Ward was pressured on 41 percent of his dropbacks by the Jets, and the Eagles front is better. This is a mismatch.
Pick: Eagles
Sunday, September 20: Late Games (4:05 and 4:25 p.m. ET)
Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
Jacksonville beat Cleveland 34 to 10, with Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker combining for three of five sacks. Brian Thomas Jr. is back at practice after a shoulder problem.
Denver looked lost on Monday night. The Broncos missed 28 tackles in the 31 to 10 loss at Kansas City, the most yards allowed after missed tackles by any defense since at least 2018 per Next Gen Stats, and Bo Nix was pressured on 45.5 percent of his dropbacks. Altitude helps, but we are flipping this pick.
Pick: Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers, 4:05 p.m. ET (CBS)
Ashton Jeanty had 147 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns as Las Vegas beat Miami 27 to 13. Tight end Brock Bowers (knee) is uncertain after missing Wednesday practice. The Chargers lost 26 to 14 in Arizona, and Ladd McConkey (rib) is day to day. A full week at home to fix the passing game should be enough.
Pick: Chargers
Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
Sam Darnold is ruled out with a glute injury, and Drew Lock starts. Seattle does not plan to use IR, though ESPN reports Darnold could miss about four weeks. Lock threw a 45 yard touchdown to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in relief in the 13 to 10 win over New England.
Arizona beat the Chargers 26 to 14, and Jacoby Brissett threw for 277 yards. Guard Isaac Seumalo (shoulder) and safety Kitan Crawford (ankle) are concerns. A backup quarterback on the road against a confident Cardinals team is our top upset.
Pick: Cardinals
Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
Both teams are 0 and 1. Washington has linebacker Jordan Magee on IR, Frankie Luvu nursing a groin strain and tight end Chig Okonkwo (hamstring) missing practice. Dallas lost safety Malik Hooker to forearm surgery, and DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring) is expected to miss one to two weeks.
The Cowboys offense sputtered in a 28 to 20 loss to the Giants, with CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens both dropping key passes. Home field tips a close game to Dallas.
Pick: Cowboys
Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers, 4:25 p.m. ET (FOX)
Brock Purdy threw three touchdowns in a 27 to 7 win over the Rams in Melbourne. Receiver De’Zhaun Stribling and tight end Jake Tonges are on IR. Miami is rebuilding: Malik Willis took five sacks against the Raiders, pass rusher Chop Robinson is in the concussion protocol and safety Kyle Louis is out. The talent gap is wide.
Pick: 49ers
Sunday Night Football
Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock
Kansas City looked sharp in its opener. Kenneth Walker III ran for a career high 173 yards, Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdowns and the defense had four sacks in a 31 to 10 win over Denver. Rookie cornerback Mansoor Delane (shoulder) has a good chance to play.
Jonathan Taylor ran for 121 yards and two touchdowns and Alec Pierce is fine after a wrist scare, but the Colts defense gave up 41 in Baltimore. The Chiefs at Arrowhead in prime time is the pick.
Pick: Chiefs
Monday Night Football
New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
Jaxson Dart threw three touchdowns and ran for 54 yards in a 28 to 20 win over Dallas in John Harbaugh’s first game with the Giants. Malik Nabers and Cam Skattebo both returned and produced.
The Rams were flat in Australia and then lost Myles Garrett, who had knee surgery and went on IR for at least four games. Aaron Donald is still easing back into shape and may not help much. Even so, Matthew Stafford at home on a normal week should beat the 155 yard outing in Melbourne. This is closer now, but we stay with Los Angeles.
Pick: Rams
NFL Week 2 Picks 2026: Quick Recap
| Date | Matchup | Time (ET) | TV | Pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu, Sep 17 | Lions at Bills | Final | Prime Video | Bills won 41 to 31 |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Panthers at Falcons | 1:00 PM | FOX | Falcons |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Saints at Ravens | 1:00 PM | CBS | Ravens |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Vikings at Bears | 1:00 PM | FOX | Bears |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Bengals at Texans | 1:00 PM | CBS | Bengals |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Steelers at Patriots | 1:00 PM | CBS | Steelers |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Packers at Jets | 1:00 PM | FOX | Packers |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Browns at Buccaneers | 1:00 PM | CBS | Buccaneers |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Eagles at Titans | 1:00 PM | FOX | Eagles |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Jaguars at Broncos | 4:05 PM | CBS | Jaguars |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Raiders at Chargers | 4:05 PM | CBS | Chargers |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Seahawks at Cardinals | 4:25 PM | FOX | Cardinals |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Commanders at Cowboys | 4:25 PM | FOX | Cowboys |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Dolphins at 49ers | 4:25 PM | FOX | 49ers |
| Sun, Sep 20 | Colts at Chiefs (SNF) | 8:20 PM | NBC | Chiefs |
| Mon, Sep 21 | Giants at Rams (MNF) | 8:15 PM | ESPN | Rams |
Home teams: 10. Road teams: 6. Upset picks: Cardinals over Seahawks and Jaguars over Broncos. Record so far in Week 2: 1 and 0.
Running a pool? Print the free NFL Week 2 pick’em sheet. For venues and streaming see the NFL Week 2 Schedule 2026, and check NFL bye weeks for later in the season. There are no byes in Week 2.
Week 2 Injuries That Shape the Picks
- Out or on IR: Sam Darnold (SEA, glute, Drew Lock starts), Myles Garrett (LAR, knee surgery), A.J. Brown (NE, ankle), Jordan Mason (MIN, thumb), Ja’Kobi Lane (BAL, wrist), Landon Dickerson (PHI, knee), Dylan Sampson (CLE, knee), Henry To’oTo’o (HOU, shoulder), Da’Shawn Hand (ATL, quad), Michael Penix Jr. (ATL, knee), Minkah Fitzpatrick (NYJ, groin).
- Concussion protocol: Kyler Murray (MIN, limited in practice, Friday decision), Chris Lindstrom (ATL), Chop Robinson (MIA).
- In doubt for Sunday: Nico Collins (HOU, hamstring, missed Thursday), D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai (CHI, limited Thursday), Ladd McConkey (LAC, rib), Brock Bowers (LV, knee), Chig Okonkwo (WAS, hamstring), Tua Tagovailoa (ATL, oblique).
- Trending up: Zay Flowers (BAL, hamstring), Alvin Kamara (NO, knee), TreVeyon Henderson (NE, ankle, full practice), Brian Thomas Jr. (JAX, shoulder), Joe Burrow (CIN, back tightness), Alec Pierce (IND, wrist).
Statuses reflect Thursday, September 17 practice reports. Friday brings the official out, doubtful and questionable designations.
Most Watchable Games of Week 2
- Vikings at Bears: Caleb Williams against the most aggressive blitz defense in football, with Murray’s status still open.
- Colts at Chiefs (SNF): Kenneth Walker III and a revived Chiefs offense at Arrowhead.
- Giants at Rams (MNF): Jaxson Dart’s first prime time road start against a Rams team without Garrett.
- Seahawks at Cardinals: Drew Lock against the surprise team of Week 1.
- Jaguars at Broncos: A confident Jacksonville offense against a Denver defense that missed 28 tackles on Monday.
FAQs about NFL Week 2 Picks 2026
What are the NFL Week 2 picks for 2026?
Our winners are the Bills, Falcons, Ravens, Bears, Bengals, Steelers, Packers, Buccaneers, Eagles, Jaguars, Chargers, Cardinals, Cowboys, 49ers, Chiefs and Rams.
When does NFL Week 2 start in 2026?
Week 2 opened Thursday, September 17 with the Bills beating the Lions 41 to 31 and ends Monday, September 21 with Giants at Rams on ESPN.
What are the upset picks for NFL Week 2?
Cardinals over Seahawks, since Seattle starts backup Drew Lock, and Jaguars over Broncos after Denver missed 28 tackles in a 31 to 10 loss at Kansas City.
Is Sam Darnold playing in Week 2?
No. The Seahawks ruled Darnold out with a glute injury, and Drew Lock starts at Arizona. Seattle does not plan to place him on IR.
Is Kyler Murray playing in Week 2?
Not confirmed. Murray stayed limited in practice inside the concussion protocol, and coach Kevin O’Connell said Friday is the deciding day. Carson Wentz starts if Murray is not cleared.
Which Week 2 game is on Sunday Night Football?
Colts at Chiefs, Sunday, September 20 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Who won the Thursday night game in Week 2?
The Bills beat the Lions 41 to 31 in Buffalo. Josh Allen threw three touchdowns and ran for two more. Our Week 1 picks finished 12 and 4.
Can fans stream Week 2 games without cable?
Yes. Prime Video has Thursday night, Peacock carries the NBC game, Paramount+ carries CBS, FOX One carries FOX and ESPN Unlimited carries Monday Night Football. NFL+ streams every game on phones and tablets.
NFL Week 2 picks 2026 started 1 and 0 after Buffalo handled Detroit, and the Ravens, Eagles and 49ers are the calls we feel best about on Sunday, with the Cardinals and Jaguars as upsets. Check Kyler Murray and Nico Collins on the Friday report before locking in your sheet.
Our Week 1 picks finished 12 and 4. We will add each Week 2 result here as the games finish.
