Week 2 NFL underdog report: Broncos and Giants look to avoid 0-2 start

The Bengals were nearly a touchdown favorite against the Patriots but fell short in Week 1. Anything can happen in the NFL, and these underdogs could steal a win in Week 2. (odds via ESPN)

New York Giants at Washington Commanders (-2.5)

The Giants could be booed off the field for the second time in as many weeks if they find a way to beat the Commanders on Sunday.

Unfortunately, they played their last game at home, a 28-6 loss to former Jets quarterback Sam Darnold and the Minnesota Vikings.

New York averaged 3.5 yards per play as Daniel Jones went 22-of-42 for 186 yards and a pair of interceptions (including a pick-six) against a Vikings defense that tied for the NFL’s second-worst turnover differential (-12) in 2023.

Games like that cost head coaches and quarterbacks their jobs, which is why the Giants will pull out all the stops to avoid an 0-2 start.

Washington opened its regular season with a 37-20 loss to Tampa Bay by allowing Baker Mayfield to throw for 289 yards and four touchdowns. The Commanders gave up a league-worst 262.2 yards per game to opposing quarterbacks last season and allowed the fourth-most passing yards (280) to the Buccaneers in Week 1.

Giants rookie Malik Nabers led all receivers with 66 yards against Minnesota but failed to reach the end zone. With last place in the NFC East on the line, expect Nabers to see more than seven targets and score his first touchdown against the Commanders.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Denver Broncos (+3)

Will Russell Wilson be healthy enough to exact revenge on his old Broncos team in Week 2, or will Justin Fields remain as the team’s starting quarterback? Fields went 17-of-23 for 156 yards in relief of Wilson in an 18-10 victory over the Falcons, throwing for 18 more yards than Broncos quarterback Bo Nix did in a 26-20 loss to the Seahawks.

Neither threw a touchdown pass on Sunday, although Nix did rush for a late score. As expected, Denver’s rookie looked shaky in his NFL debut, throwing a pair of interceptions while averaging 3.3 yards per attempt. Only Chicago quarterback Caleb Williams had a lower average (3.2) against the Titans.

Denver lost on the road to Seattle last week but will face the Steelers at home, where Nix should be more comfortable with his first NFL start out of the way, on Sunday. Expect head coach Sean Payton to make his job easier by running the ball, something he failed to do against the Seahawks.

Payton called 42 pass plays for his rookie quarterback in Week 1, while Broncos running backs combined for just 20 carries. Pittsburgh may be favored, but it is one of two teams along with the Giants that failed to score a touchdown last week. If Nix doesn’t turn the ball over, he could get his first win at Empower Field.