A lot of survivor pools took a major hit in Week 1, and the Los Angeles Chargers were the reason. Their loss wiped out more than 30 percent of the entries in Circa’s contest, and the damage was likely similar elsewhere. They were the week’s biggest betting favorite, which made the fallout sting even more.
I’m still standing after using the Jacksonville Jaguars, though I’ll admit I may have been smarter to trust my own advice. I had the Las Vegas Raiders pegged as the most strategic play last week, but I didn’t have the nerve to actually click them. Nobody wants to open the season with an immediate loss, and that hesitation may come back around as the year goes on.
For Week 2, the cleanest play on the board is the San Francisco 49ers against the Miami Dolphins. The spread sits at 13.5 points, the largest number of the week, and on pure matchup value this is the most one-sided game available.
There is one wrinkle: San Francisco is back from Australia, so travel could leave a little residue. That’s enough to make this a spot worth circling, but not enough to change the expectation for this game.
If the goal is strategy, though, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers stand out against the Cleveland Browns. Tampa Bay’s schedule does not exactly offer a pile of obvious future layups, and the division games against the Saints, Panthers and Falcons are the kind of matchups that can go either way. All four of those teams can beat each other at home or on the road, which is exactly why this feels like the right time to spend the Bucs.
My own Week 2 pick is the Philadelphia Eagles at the Tennessee Titans. I’ve already used the Jaguars, and this is another case of me choosing the safer route even if it doesn’t line up perfectly with my broader strategy.
The Eagles are on the road, so there’s always some added danger, but this is still Tennessee. Tampa Bay hasn’t fully convinced me yet, even against Cleveland, so I’d rather use Philadelphia now and keep Jalen Hurts and that offense out of my future worry list.
In Other News...
Eagles Fans May Not Like Whats Coming To Tailgating
Changes to tailgating at the Eagles sports complex are expected to start on October 4, with hand parking set to become part of the routine. Under that system, attendants will direct vehicles into specific spaces, a shift aimed at curbing the oversized tailgate setups that have been spreading across multiple parking spots and creating traffic and parking headaches around the lots.
For fans, the bigger question now is how much those familiar game-day gatherings will change once the new setup is in place. An official explanation from the Eagles or the Sports Complex Parking Venture is still expected, but until that arrives, tailgaters are left reading the tea leaves on a move that looks designed to tighten control of one of the most visible parts of the pregame scene. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Carter Sounds Ready But Two Eagles Injury Questions Still Linger
Jalen Carter was back on the practice field with a cast on his right wrist and still sounded like a player expecting to suit up in the next game, a reassuring sign for an Eagles defense that leans on his presence in the middle. His availability matters because Carter changes how opposing offenses have to block up front, and Philadelphia has spent enough time this season dealing with health questions to appreciate any encouraging update, even if it comes with a little extra equipment.
The more unsettled part of the injury picture sits elsewhere, with safety Drew Mukuba out of practice and wearing a compression sleeve on his left leg, while edge rusher Jonathan Greenard continues working his way back from a pec strain. Greenard still has not made his Eagles debut, but the rehabilitation reports have been positive, leaving the team with at least some optimism as it waits to see how quickly the defensive pieces around Carter can come together. [Read more 🡒]
Eagles Are Hiding A Line Decision Tennessee Could Expose
Landon Dickersons move to injured reserve has left the Eagles with a real early-season puzzle on the offensive line, and they have been noticeably tight-lipped about how they plan to solve it. With Dickerson sidelined by a bone bruise in his knee until at least Week 6, the discussion has shifted to who gets the next turn inside, with Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin and Fred Johnson all in the mix as the team tries to protect its interior and keep the offense on schedule.
The timing makes the secrecy a little more interesting, because Tennessee offers exactly the kind of front that can test an unsettled line. The Titans bring a tough interior rush led by All-Pro Jeffery Simmons and John Franklin-Myers, which means the Eagles may not get much time to keep this decision under wraps once the game starts. If there is a wrinkle here, Tennessee has the personnel to expose it. [Read more 🡒]