After the starting week of the 2021 NFL season, we got an idea of where some teams stand. Multiple teams with sizable expectations head into a crucial game. It is always important to avoid a disastrous 0-2 record beginning the season. The key parts of every game will be highlighted here. Let’s take a look at what Week 2 of the 2021 NFL season has in store for the football world.
New England Patriots at New York Jets
This AFC East matchup looks to be a fascinating battle. Rookie quarterbacks Mac Jones and Zach Wilson had very impressive starts. They should continue their strong level of play and help their teams in this one. The Patriots lost a tough one to start their season. For the Jets, Wilson and Corey Davis were amazing in the first game. Unfortunately, their offensive line had major problems and will now be without Mekhi Becton. They could struggle with Matt Judon in this one. The Patriots are the more veteran team and they need this game more. They should win a close one.
Denver Broncos at Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars had a disastrous team performance last week against a rebuilding team. They should struggle in this one against a very formidable Broncos roster. Teddy Bridgewater looked great in the first game. He has a great supporting cast all around him and will just have to take good care of the football. The Broncos’ defense is one of the best and should be successful in this one. For the Jaguars, the play of Trevor Lawrence is most important. He should attain some success in this game. To make things easier for him, they will have to feature James Robinson more in the running game. Expect the Broncos to win this one by around 10 points.
Buffalo Bills at Miami Dolphins
The Bills had a shocking Week 1 letdown. They must rebound this week and play better football. The Dolphins are coming off a good win. Tua Tagovailoa got the job done. Their defense is a talented one led by Xavien Howard and Emmanuel Ogbah who they will need to slow the Bills offense down. For the Bills, they need to execute more big plays with Josh Allen and their four wide receivers. The Bills will need to get some big plays from their defense in this one. Anticipate the Bills bouncing back and winning this by one score.
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Each of these teams started their seasons with impressive road wins. For the 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo and Deebo Samuel had a strong connection. With Raheem Mostert‘s injury, expect Elijah Mitchell to continue to get a good workload for the 49ers. Their main concern entering this game is their injuries once again. They will need adequate play from their cornerbacks in this game. For the Eagles, Jalen Hurts had a very impressive start to the season. Their defensive front should make an impact at times in this game. How they will hold up on the second and third level though is a fair concern. This should be a close game, one in which the 49ers win by about a touchdown.
Los Angeles Rams at Indianapolis Colts
The Rams had an awesome first game with Matthew Stafford. Expect him to only continue his great level of play as he and Sean McVay get more time together. The Rams defense should do some good things in this game, especially in the secondary. Expect Jalen Ramsey, Darious Williams, and David Long to have success in coverage against the Colts wide receivers. The Colts have to execute better across the board than they did a week ago. On both sides of the football, this is a tough matchup for them. The Rams should win by at least a touchdown.
Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers
This matchup is an interesting one after both teams won thrilling Week 1 games. The Steelers should be more efficient running the football with Najee Harris this week. Their defense should continue to make impact plays led by their dominant pass rush. For the Raiders, they will need another strong performance from Derek Carr, Hunter Renfrow, and Darren Waller. They have to be physical and win upfront or they could struggle. Defensively, they will need Maxx Crosby to make a lot of plays for them to have any success. Expect the Steelers to win by roughly a touchdown.
Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears
The Bengals had a very exciting Week 1 victory. On the other hand, the Bears did not look good at all. The core of Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd is exceptional. If they keep up their great play the Bengals will remain competitive. For the Bears, the offense lacks much excitement and the defense is old and no longer the same. For them to have a chance, they will need big performances from David Montgomery and Allen Robinson. In the end, the Bengals should win by one score.
Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns
Despite the loss, in the end, the Browns ultimately have to feel good about their Week 1 performance. The Texans had a surprising blowout win. Tyrod Taylor and Brandin Cooks had great games. Their defense will likely regress this week though. The Browns offense had success in all areas last week. Expect winning play from Baker Mayfield in this one. Even without Odell Beckham Jr. again, they have fantastic skill-position talent, and depth. Their improved defense will hopefully bounce back. The Browns will win this game by at least 10 points.
New Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers
These two NFC South teams started their seasons with wins. For the Saints, they had a big win led by an outstanding five-touchdown performance from Jameis Winston. As long as he limits turnovers, the Saints can continue their stellar level of play. Sam Darnold had a good outing in his Panthers debut. Christian McCaffrey was special last week and will remain their most important player. Defensively, Brian Burns was great getting after the quarterback. He will have to keep leading their young defense. In this matchup, the Saints should end up winning by at least a touchdown.
Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals’ incredible Week 1 win headlined the week. Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, and Chandler Jones were unbelievable. Expect these three elite players to keep up their top tier play. For the Vikings, they look to be in a tough spot so early on in the season. They had a crushing loss last week and have a tall task ahead in this one. Simply put, they will need Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen all at their best to even have a chance. Their defense is still an unknown until proven otherwise. The Cardinals should win by around a touchdown.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This matchup could be the biggest blowout of the week. The Buccaneers have extra rest. The Falcons are coming off a disastrous home loss against a team not that great. Expect Tom Brady to keep up his fantastic play with his great skill talent against this horrid defense. The Buccaneers’ dominant defensive front should have a field day in this one as well. The Buccaneers should win by at least two touchdowns.
Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks
It will be interesting to see how this game plays out. The Seahawks had an impressive road win last week. The Titans had an uninspiring home loss. They are a playoff-caliber football team that has to avoid a slow start. However, this matchup does not do them any favors. Expect Russell Wilson, D.K. Metcalf, and Tyler Lockett to continue their exciting playmaking ability. Where the Titans could give themselves a viable chance is against the Seahawks defense that still has some unknowns. The Titans offense is led by top-level talent in Ryan Tannehill, Derrick Henry, A.J. Brown, and Julio Jones. If they play at their best they could make this one a shootout. The Titans’ defense will probably have another awful outing. The Seahawks should win by one score.
Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers
This could be the best matchup of the week. The Chargers had a big road win to start their season. The Cowboys had an impressive performance but ultimately lost. Having the extra time to rest and prepare helps the Cowboys in a big way here. Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper had a special connection that should only continue. Losing Demarcus Lawrence does hurt the Cowboys’ chances. Expect Justin Herbert, Austin Ekeler, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams to have a big day against a weak defense. Ultimately, this is a game the Cowboys need and Prescott will find a way to lead his team to victory by a field goal.
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Each of these teams played in exciting Week 1 games. The Chiefs are coming off a big home win in which Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, and Travis Kelce all played up to their expected level. They should continue their success in this game. For the Ravens, Lamar Jackson did some great things a week ago but had timely turnovers. Their injuries are impacting their level of play. Defensively, outside of Marlon Humphrey, there are major concerns. It will be interesting to see how the Chiefs’ defense executes in this one. The Chiefs should end up winning by a touchdown.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
This week concludes with an NFC North battle. The Packers had a very surprising blowout loss last week. They are in a great position here to get a bounce-back win at home. Expect a much better game from their offensive leaders, Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, and Davante Adams against a Lions defense that struggled a week ago. For the Lions, this matchup is a tough one for them on the road. Expect the Packers to win by around two touchdowns.
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