Week 2 gives survivor pool players a chance to keep moving without wasting one of the strongest teams too early, and the board has a clear top tier. The 49ers look like the safest win on the slate by the betting line, the Eagles bring a strong home favorite profile against Tennessee, and the Chargers get a favorable setup against the Raiders.
San Francisco stands out first. FanDuel Sportsbook has the 49ers as 13.5-point favorites, and that number could climb by kickoff.
My projection has them winning 31.5-16.3. The case starts with the home-field edge, which is the second-highest of the week, but the bigger boost is rest.
Even after traveling more than 15 hours back east following an Australia game last Thursday, the 49ers still own a four-day rest advantage. They also avoid the grind of a three-time-zone trip and more than 2,500 miles, unlike Miami.
Philadelphia is another strong option, and the numbers point in the same direction. The Eagles opened as 7-point favorites against the Titans at FanDuel Sportsbook, and I have them projected to win 24.2-17.1.
Week 1 did what it needed to do for Philadelphia, a 24-22 win over the Commanders that looked like the kind of result you’d expect against a solid team. Tennessee, meanwhile, comes in with a wide range of possible outcomes, but Week 1 pushed them toward the lower end.
The Titans lost 23-10 at home to the Jets, and the latest FPI update has Tennessee as the NFL’s 29th-best team while the Eagles sit 12th.
If you want a different path, the Chargers deserve a look after their ugly 26-14 Week 1 loss. Public confidence may be shaky, but the matchup lines up well.
The Raiders are just as volatile as the Cardinals, and FPI has Las Vegas a full point worse than last week’s Arizona team. The Cardinals were rated minus-2.9, while the Raiders are minus-3.9.
The Chargers also get the game at SoFi Stadium, and FanDuel still has Jim Harbaugh’s team favored by 6.5 points. I project a 23.0-18.2 Chargers win.
Harbaugh’s history adds another layer. In his seventh year as an NFL head coach, he has never started a season 0-2.
Across the first two games of his coached seasons, he is 9-3. The question now is whether the Chargers are frauds or AFC contenders.
I would say contenders, but that is for the person to decide, I suppose.
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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 🡒]