ESPN Analytics sees a few clear favorites on the NFL Week 2 slate, and one matchup in particular stands out above the rest.
The Matchup Predictor numbers for all 16 games are out, beginning with Thursday Night Football and running through Monday night. The site’s projections don’t always line up with NFL Week 2 odds or other picks, but they do give a detailed look at where the numbers lean. Ties are part of the formula, so the percentages add up to just under 100%.
The biggest favorite on the board is San Francisco, which gets a 90.8% chance to beat Miami. Tampa Bay is next at 77.6% over Cleveland, followed by Baltimore at 76.2% against New Orleans. Philadelphia also comes in strongly at 70.1% over Tennessee, while Kansas City is given a 69.7% shot against Indianapolis.
Thursday night opens the week with Detroit at Buffalo, and the Bills are projected to win that one 66.9% of the time. The Lions are given a 32.9% chance, with the rest left for a tie.
Sunday’s early window features several games with narrower gaps. Atlanta is at 55.4% against Carolina, while Pittsburgh’s trip to New England tilts toward the Patriots at 65.9%.
Green Bay is a 61.7% favorite at the Jets. Houston gets a 55.5% edge over Cincinnati, and Chicago is at 59.9% against Minnesota.
Baltimore’s 76.2% number over New Orleans is one of the week’s stronger calls.
There are also a couple of matchups where the predictor keeps things close. Jacksonville is at 53.5% over Denver, while Arizona is only at 52.9% against Seattle.
In Washington at Dallas, the Cowboys are listed at 63% to beat the Commanders. The Chargers are at 68.7% against the Raiders.
Later on Sunday, the Chiefs host the Colts in prime time, with Kansas City holding that 69.7% advantage. Then Monday night closes with the Rams at 66.3% to beat the Giants.
In Other News...
Cardinals Enter Seahawks Test With One Lineup Concern Still Hanging Over Them
The Cardinals head into their NFC West matchup with Seattle carrying at least one familiar question on the offensive line, even as both teams worked through the usual Week 2 injury-report churn. Arizonas attention has been on right guard Isaiah Adams, while the broader picture around the roster also shifted this week with safety Kitan Crawford landing on injured reserve.
Seattles report brought its own adjustments, with quarterback Sam Darnold ruled out and Drew Lock expected to take over. Both sides had players listed as limited or sitting out for rest and injury reasons, but for Arizona the real issue is whether the Cardinals can settle that line spot in time for a divisional game that rarely leaves much room for uncertainty. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Already Face A Carson Beck Question They Cant Ignore
Carson Becks first season in Arizona already comes with a familiar quarterback debate attached to it. The third-round pick is being kept ready as the Cardinals third-string option, while Gardner Minshews experience gives the staff a steadier hand behind the starter. For a team that knows how quickly the position can turn, the plan is less about rushing Beck and more about making sure he is never caught flat-footed if his number is called.
Mike LaFleur has made it clear the Cardinals want Beck developed with intention, not just tucked away on the depth chart and forgotten. Minshews presence matters because it gives Arizona a proven backup, but it also raises the larger question the team cannot really avoid: how soon does Beck force the conversation to move beyond preparation and into actual competition for a bigger role? [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Dealing With Another Kei'Trel Clark Issue Before Hes Needed Again
KeiTrel Clark has already found himself on the NFLs radar once this season, and now the Cardinals cornerback is dealing with another equipment-related issue after Week 1 against the Chargers. The league fined Clark $6,651 for displaying a personal message, Glory Be 2 God, on his eyeblack, a violation of the NFL Uniform and Equipment Rules that bar unapproved personal messages from being visible on game day.
For Arizona, the timing matters because Clark is the kind of depth defender the team may need again before long, which makes any sideline distraction more noticeable than it might be on a deeper roster. It is also not his first run-in with the league over uniform compliance, as he was previously fined for wearing an unapproved black towel, leaving the Cardinals with another small but familiar issue to monitor as the season moves on. [Read more 🡒]