Cincinnati is the last team to beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason.
Now, the Bengals need a victory at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium to avoid a precarious 0-2 start.
This is the best game on the Week 2 NFL schedule because of that new-aged NFL rivalry Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow have brought to the game in the regular season and playoffs.
The Bengals are 3-2 in the past five meetings (including postseason), but the Chiefs have won the past two. All of those games have been decided by eight points or less. The four games where Mahomes and Burrow have gone head to head have been decided by a field goal.
MORE: Week 2 NFL betting odds, point spreads, and over/unders
Burrow was not on the field last season when the Chiefs beat the Bengals 25-17 in Week 17 last season – a game in which Harrison Butker kicked six field goals. That kick-started Kansas City's run to back-to-back Super Bowl championships. Kansas City can knock off two AFC North contenders in two weeks, and the Bengals can re-assert the belief that they are the real threat to end the Chiefs' run at a three-peat.
Each week, we will pick NFL matchups straight up and against the spread. It was an encouraging start in Week 1:
- Straight up: 13-3
- Against the spread: 7-7-2
Here are our picks for Week 2.
NFL picks, predictions for Week 2
(Odds courtesy of Caesars Sportsbook )
- Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins (-2)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m., NBC/Peacock
Both teams needed second-half comebacks in Week 1. Buffalo will have to slow down Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who both cleared 100 yards in the opener. Can Greg Rousseau, who had three sacks in Week 1, disrupt that timing with Tua Tagovailoa? Josh Allen spread the ball out to a new group of receivers, and the Bills have a little more help in the running game with James Cook, who had 103 total yards. Miami is 1-4 S/U against Buffalo under Mike McDaniel, but the TNF stage makes it a true coin flip.
Pick: Bills 27, Dolphins 24
- Dallas Cowboys (-6.5) at New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
The Cowboys and Saints were impressive in their openers, and Dallas is 4-1 ATS as an away favorite dating back to last season. Which quarterback avoids the mistakes under pressure? New Orleans had four sacks, and Chase Young needs to be more of a factor against Dak Prescott. The Cowboys had six sacks, and Micah Parsons is in top form. Dallas won the last meeting at the Caesars Superdome 27-17 in 2021. We see a similar game here.
Pick: Cowboys 27, Saints 17
MORE: NFL Week 1 overreactions | NFL Week 2 Power Rankings
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Detroit Lions (-6.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
An NFC Divisional playoff rematch from last season, and it should be a good one. Baker Mayfield had 289 yards and four TDs in Week 1. He took four sacks and threw two interceptions in that 31-23 playoff loss to Detroit last season. The Lions have a relentless running game that piled up 163 yards in Week 1. That tag team of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs will be the difference in another tight game where Mayfield might have a shot for the game-winner late.
Pick: Lions 31, Buccaneers 26
WEEK 2 FANTASY RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
- Indianapolis Colts (-3.5) at Green Bay Packers
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
This line shifted dramatically because of the Jordan Love injury, and Malik Willis will favor a low-risk passing attack in his first start for the Packers. Anthony Richardson had 212 passing yards on just nine completions last week, so the Packers will have to stop the big plays. Brandon Jacobs and Jonathan Taylor also will have success. Green Bay falls to 0-2, but this one will be close.
Pick: Colts 20, Packers 17
- New York Jets (-4) at Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Titans led a first-half lead slip against the Bills, and Will Levis threw two costly interceptions against the Bears. The Jets are coming off a short week, but Aaron Rodgers will continue to develop around a strong supporting cast with Breece Hall and Garrett Wilson. The Jets are 2-2 S/U and 1-2-1 ATS as a road favorite under Robert Saleh. How does Rodgers influence that trend?
Pick: Jets 26, Titans 20
- San Francisco 49ers (-5.5) at Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Niners hit the road on a short week, and Sam Darnold avoided mistakes in the opener . He hit Justin Jefferson for a TD, and Aaron Jones was a success on the ground. It's a functional offense, but will it be enough against a Super Bowl contender? Brock Purdy is 11-2 S/U with 22 TDs, five interceptions, and a 110.0 passer rating on the road for his career.
Pick: 49ers 28, Vikings 17
- Seattle Seahawks (-3.5) at New England Patriots
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
The Patriots pulled off an upset in Week 1 on the road. Can they improve to 2-0 under new coach Jerod Mayo in his home debut? Seattle coach Mike Macdonald also won his debut. Geno Smith passed for 171 yards and a TD, and Kenneth Walker III rushed for 103 yards. New England won with a defense that limited Cincinnati to 224 yards. Jacoby Brissett didn't throw an interception and took just one sack, and Rhamondre Stevenson rushed for 120 yards and a TD. The Patriots have a real shot at 2-0 here in a defensive struggle.
Pick: Seahawks 19, Patriots 16
- New York Giants at Washington Commanders (-2.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
We tried the Giants in an upset against the Vikings last week, and that backfired. Both teams have offensive issues, but Jayden Daniels offers that threat to run . He had 88 rushing yards and a TD in Week 1. The Giants did not have a running game behind Daniel Jones, who had 42 pass attempts and two interceptions in Week 1. He will have more success against the Commanders' secondary. The Giants have won five of the past six meetings in Washington, but we're going to go for the home team in a nail-biter.
Pick: Commanders 22, Giants 21
- Los Angeles Chargers (-5.5) at Carolina Panthers
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Jim Harbaugh led the Chargers to a win in the opener, and JK Dobbins enjoyed a 135-yard performance . Harbaugh will lean on the running game to open up a few vertical shot plays for Justin Herbert, and the Panthers allowed 180 rushing yards in Week 1. This line could tick up to a touchdown before kickoff, and the lack of a running game behind Bryce Young will continue to be an issue for the Panthers, who were 2-6 S/U at home last season. Los Angeles improves to 2-0.
Pick: Chargers 28, Panthers 14
- Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars (-3)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
A battle of former Clemson quarterbacks trying to avoid 0-2 starts will be telling for AFC playoff hopefuls. Deshaun Watson completed just 53.3 percent of his passes in the opener. Cleveland has an excellent pass rush, and Myles Garrett had one of three sacks in the blowout loss to Dallas. Trevor Lawrence completed 57.1 percent of his passes in a tough loss at Miami. Travon Walker had two sacks for the Jaguars. These teams have similar strengths and weaknesses right now, which makes it a true toss-up. The Browns were 3-6 S/U on the road last season. We will stick with the home team.
Pick: Jaguars 23, Browns 18
- Las Vegas Raiders at Baltimore Ravens (-9.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
This is the highest line of the week. The Ravens piled up 452 yards in a Week 1 loss to the Chiefs. Lamar Jackson will make it work with the combination of Derrick Henry on the ground and tight end Isaiah Likely, who starred in Week 1 with nine catches for 111 yards and a TD. Las Vegas did not run the ball consistently around Gardner Minshew in Week 1. Baltimore was 6-4 ATS as a home favorite last season, but this should be a comfortable victory.
Pick: Ravens 34, Raiders 20
- Los Angeles Rams (-2) at Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. Fox
The Cardinals blew a first-half lead in their opener, and Kyler Murray will need to get rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. more involved in the offense. Harrison had just three targets and one reception in his debut. The Rams are coming off an overtime loss against Detroit, but they passed for 317 yards and took just two sacks. Cooper Kupp had 14 catches for 110 yards and a TD. That works against the Cardinals on the road. The Rams have won the past nine meetings at Arizona.
Pick: Rams 28, Cardinals 23
- Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5) at Denver Broncos
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Pittsburgh has lost its past four trips to Denver, including in the postseason. Yet the Steelers won their opener with a strong defense that forced three turnovers, and Justin Fields was efficient without turning the ball over. Denver rookie quarterback Bo Nix will have to limit the mistakes against that defense in the home opener, and that will be a challenge against J.J. Watt, who had a sack and two tackles for loss in Week 1. Fields also added 57 rushing yards, and that is opening up the running game for Najee Harris. Pittsburgh keeps the lead in the AFC North.
Pick: Steelers 23, Broncos 18
- Cincinnati Bengals at Kansas City Chiefs (-6)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., CBS
Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase are on the spot here after Chase had six catches for 62 yards in the opener. Patrick Mahomes makes the plays in the clutch in a tight game, and Cincinnati drops to 0-2. Mahomes has averaged 245.6 yards per game with nine TDs and two interceptions in those past five games vs. Cincinnati. This will be a heated game with playoff intensity given the past matchups. The Chiefs win a tight one on a late field goal by Harrison Butker.
Pick: Chiefs 27, Bengals 24
- Chicago Bears at Houston Texans (-6.5)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC/Peacock
Caleb Williams will make his Sunday Night Football debut. He had 93 passing yards in his first game , but the Bears delivered on defense and special teams. That formula has worked before, but the Texans are a year ahead with C.J. Stroud, who is 6-2 with a 108.3 QB rating at home. Houston is 5-5 ATS at home since last season. Williams will show improvement and have his moments, but Stroud will throw TDs and Joe Mixon will score another one.
Pick: Texans 26, Bears 22
- Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5)
Monday, 8:20 p.m., ABC
The Falcons are suddenly in danger of falling to 0-2 with Kirk Cousins, who threw two interceptions in Week 1. The Eagles appear to be a more complete offense around Jalen Hurts. Saquon Barkley (132 total yards) and Bijan Robinson (113 total yards) are exciting all-purpose playmakers. Cousins is 3-10 as a starter on Monday Night Football, but he has won three of the past four starts.
Pick : Eagles 31, Falcons 21
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