2024 NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds and Predictions 

Folks, it is officially football season. The NFL preseason got underway in earnest a couple of weeks ago with the Hall of Fame Game, while all 32 teams were in action this past weekend for the preseason’s official first week.

While some may view it as something of a fool’s errand, you can actually bet on NFL preseason games. NFL betting sites already have preseason Week 2 odds posted ahead of next weekend’s slate of games.

We’ve got just 2 more weeks of preseason action before Week 1 of the regular season kicks off on Thursday, September 5th. While most teams used Week 1 to get a brief look at starters before playing backups for the majority of the snaps, we should see a few more stars in action in Week 2.

NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds

As of this writing, the Denver Broncos are the heaviest favorites on the board at -325 to beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night. Green Bay is a more veteran-heavy roster that could rest some starters in advance of the regular season. Denver, meanwhile, is a younger team with a QB battle to sort out before Week 1.

If you’re a veteran of the NFL odds game, you’ll notice that over/unders for these preseason games are significantly lower than they are for most regular-season clashes. In fact, we don’t have an over/under of 40 points anywhere on the Week 2 preseason schedule. The highest total is Giants-Texans at o/u 39.5 points.

Stay up-to-date on the latest NFL odds, courtesy of Scores & Stats, and monitor any line movement that can sweeten the payouts for your Preseason Week 2 NFL bets.

NFL Preseason Week 2 Schedule 

NFL Preseason Week 2 Predictions

Let’s take a deeper dive into the full preseason Week 2 schedule. In this space, we’ll make our favorite spread, total, and moneyline NFL picks for each game. Don’t put too much money on the line for preseason games, as these results are generally less predictable than regular-season or playoff outcomes.

Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots Odds

The new-look New England Patriots got their preseason off to a good start with a 17-3 win over the Carolina Panthers in Week 1. Jerod Mayo is unofficially 1-0 in his head coaching career. New England got its first look at No. 3 overall pick Drake Maye, who completed 2 of his 3 passes for 19 yards. The QB who really stole the show was fellow rookie Joe Milton III, who accounted for the Patriots’ only TD pass with a strike to JaQuae Jackson in the fourth quarter.

This week, the Pats will host the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of Super Bowls 39 and 52. The Eagles snuck past the Ravens, 16-13, in their preseason opener. Regulars like Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith didn’t see the field as Philly relied fully on its backups to pick up the victory. Ex-Steeler Kenny Pickett completed 14 of his 22 throws for 89 yards with a TD, while Tanner McKee played mop-up duty.

Philadelphia Eagles New England Patriots Predictions

The Patriots are fairly heavy favorites, as I’d expect this young team to get Maye more involved than he was in the opener. If we do see Philly’s starters, I’d be surprised if they played more than a series. The Eagles have no need to risk injury to players like Hurts, of course.

Of course, it’s hard to expect either team to put a ton of points on the board. This New England offense is largely bereft of talent. Even if they play their starters, we’re highly unlikely to see an offensive explosion. This game’s 36-point total is low to begin with, but I still think the under is my favorite wager here. I don’t hate a flier on the Eagles to win the game outright at plus-money odds, either.

Bet: Philadelphia Eagles (+124), Eagles +2.5 (-105), Under 36 (-110)

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens Odds

The Ravens fell to the Eagles last week, but they’ll look to bounce back in another Bird Battle with the Falcons in town in Week 2. Both teams enter the season with lofty expectations, but for different reasons. Atlanta is the early favorite to win the lackluster NFC South, while Baltimore will again look to dethrone the mighty Chiefs in the AFC title race.

The Falcons took a loss in Miami to the Dolphins in Week 1. Kirk Cousins didn’t play as he continues to recover from his Achilles injury, though we did get our first look at rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. The Washington product completed 9 of his 16 throws for 104 yards, though he didn’t account for a score.

The Ravens, as expected, sat their regulars at home against Philly last weekend. Veteran Josh Johnson struggled after getting the start at QB, while Devin Leary and Emory Jones filled in for the rest of the game. Baltimore’s lone TD was a Leary rushing score in the game’s final quarter.

Atlanta Falcons vs. Baltimore Ravens Predictions

The Ravens being favored in this one is interesting considering we’re highly unlikely to see Lamar Jackson at any point. The 2-time NFL MVP hasn’t played a preseason game since 2021, and I can’t imagine John Harbaugh and co. will risk him in a meaningless game here, either. Harbaugh has been reluctant to risk starters in the preseason since JK Dobbins suffered a season-ending knee injury in the finale of the ’21 preseason, so we’re likely looking at a heavy dosage of backups and future cuts again this weekend.

The Falcons are much more of a work in progress, especially with a new head coach in Raheem Morris patrolling the sidelines. Cousins isn’t likely to suit up, but we could see even more of Penix here. That alone is enough to tip the scales in favor of Atlanta. The Ravens’ 24-game preseason winning streak was snapped last year, so we don’t have to deal with that weird, flukey storyline anymore, either.

Bet: Atlanta Falcons (-102), Falcons +1 (-110), Under 37 (-112)

New York Giants at Houston Texans Odds

The Texans already have a pair of preseason games under their belt after playing in the Hall of Fame Game and then in Pittsburgh last weekend. We got our first look of the preseason at CJ Stroud and the rest of Houston’s starters, though they only played a series. They made the most of it, however, as Stroud found Tank Dell for a touchdown before they were all removed from the game.

The Giants, meanwhile, picked up a 14-3 win at home over the Lions to kick off their preseason schedule. New York was another team that rested several regulars, including QB Daniel Jones. Drew Lock drew the start last week before getting knocked out by an injury. He was replaced by Tommy DeVito. The most impressive performer was running back Eric Gray, who racked up 52 rushing yards on just 4 attempts. He also caught another 4 passes for 46 yards and found the end zone twice.

New York Giants at Houston Texans Predictions

Oddsmakers like the Texans quite a bit in this one, and I tend to agree. Brian Daboll told reporters that Jones is expected to return to the field to start in this game, but you can bet he’ll be severely limited coming off of an ACL injury. I’m skeptical that the Texans will give Stroud and the starters much more than a quarter of action, but one quarter for this high-powered offense could be enough to do some serious damage.

Bet: Houston Texans (-185), Texans -3 (-112), Over 39.5 (-112)

Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears Odds

The Bengals and Bears are both facing high expectations entering the 2024 campaign. Cincinnati is looking to bounce back after injuries derailed their hopes last season, while the Bears‘ influx of talent has Chicagoans dreaming big about Da Bears for the first time in years.

The Bengals fell, 17-14, in their preseason debut to the Bucs, but Zach Taylor had to be pleased with what he saw from the starters. Joe Burrow completed 5 of his 7 passes for 51 yards and culminated the team’s opening drive with a touchdown pass to Tee Higgins. Something tells me we’ll be seeing that a lot this season, provided both players are able to stay healthy. Burrow and the starters could see even more action this week in the Windy City.

We also got our first glimpse at Caleb Williams on an NFL field last week in Chicago’s easy 33-6 drubbing of the Bills. The former Heisman Trophy winner looked the part, as he connected on 4 of his 7 pass attempts for 95 yards. Williams and the rest of the Chicago starters played a couple of series before they were replaced by backups.

Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears Predictions

Considering both teams played their starters last week, I’m assuming we’ll see more of the same in Week 2. Chicago’s 27-point margin of victory in Week 1 was the largest of any team, but I’m still surprised to see them favored by nearly a TD in this clash. Oddsmakers are taking an unusually confident stance for a preseason game.

I think the line is a little fishy, but I’m inclined to trust it. I’ll be surprised if the Bengals are willing to risk the more injury-prone Burrow for more than a couple of drives, while I think we could see Chicago’s starters for upwards of a quarter in this one. I think there’s slightly more value on the under on 37.5 points than the over, however.

Bet: Chicago Bears (-285), Bears -6.5 (-112), Under 37.5 (-108)

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs Odds

This game would be a primetime affair if it happened during the regular season. The Lions and Chiefs both enter the 2024 campaign with Super Bowl aspirations, and we came close to seeing them square off in the big game last year. The Lions just couldn’t hold up their end of the bargain, unfortunately.

As mentioned, Detroit’s preseason got off to a rough start with a 14-3 setback in the Meadowlands to the Giants in Week 1. Nate Sudfeld and Hendon Hooker accounted for Detroit’s QB reps, while we didn’t see any of Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jahmyr Gibbs, or David Montgomery. Dan Campbell and Detroit’s coaching staff are reportedly still deciding whether to give their starters some reps this week in Kansas City.

Andy Reid, however, gave Patrick Mahomes and friends one drive of work in their 26-13 loss to the Jags last week. Mahomes looked like Mahomes, completing 3 of his 4 passes for 27 yards before exiting the game. Reid isn’t a fan of conducting joint practices with other teams, which is why he instead opted to give his starters a taste of game action.

Detroit Lions at Kansas City Chiefs Predictions

This game has a relatively tight spread, yet the Chiefs are sizable -205 home favorites on the moneyline. While I generally think Kansas City is the most likely team to win every single game they play – regardless of whether it actually counts – I can’t advise anybody to actually put money on a team with -205 preseason odds. I’m a bit dubious of our chances to see Goff and the rest of Detroit’s regulars in this one, though I don’t hate the value in the Lions’ +170 moneyline odds.

Bet: Detroit Lions (+170), Lions +4 (-110), Under 39 (-112)

Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns Odds

The Browns and Vikings are 2 franchises headed in divergent directions. Minnesota appears to be headed for a little rebuilding effort, while Cleveland is hoping to contend as a dark horse AFC Super Bowl hopeful.

The Vikings picked up a narrow 1-point victory over the Raiders to kick off their preseason schedule last week. We got our first looks at Sam Darnold and JJ McCarthy, as well. Darnold – the presumptive regular-season QB1 – failed to cap his lone drive with a score. McCarthy, however, accounted for a pair of TDs with an interception while completing 11 of his 17 throws after coming on in relief.

The Browns fell, 23-10, at home to the Packers. Deshaun Watson was cleared for full contact on Monday, but the Browns don’t plan to put him on the field until Week 3 of the preseason. Jameis Winston, Tyler Huntley, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson will again account for Cleveland’s QB snaps in this one.

Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns Predictions

The Browns are favored at home by a field goal in this one, and I’d imagine Winston will play a few more snaps than he did against the Packers. Whether more Jameis is actually a good thing for the Browns is debatable, of course.

I’d expect to see more of Darnold in this game after he played just one series last week, while ethere’s a chance Justin Jefferson could suit up for his preseason debut. I don’t mind taking a flier on the Vikings’ +140 moneyline odds to come out on top here.

Bet: Minnesota Vikings (+140), Vikings +3 (-112), Under 38.5 (-110)

New York Jets at Carolina Panthers Odds

The Jets and Panthers have been 2 of the league’s most downtrodden franchises in recent years. The Jets‘ Super Bowl hopes prior to last season were dashed after Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles on the first drive of the first game. The Panthers, on the other hand, finished with the worst record in the NFL after a disastrous rookie campaign from QB Bryce Young.

Rodgers is still recovering from that injury, and there’s no way the Jets will risk the 40-year-old for a meaningless preseason affair. New York picked up a 20-17 home win over the Commanders in Week 1 with Tyrod Taylor, Adrian Martinez, and Andrew Peasley handling the QB reps. The standout performer was rookie running back Braelon Allen, who totaled 54 yards on just 6 carries. Allen is expected to be the backup to Breece Hall this season.

Carolina mustered just a field goal in their 17-3 setback to the Patriots in their opener. Young didn’t play in that game, and there’s a chance the Panthers hold him out of the entire preseason. That’s a bit surprising given his weak performance as a rookie, but an injury to the face of the franchise is something Carolina simply can’t afford to risk.

New York Jets at Carolina Panthers Predictions

I know preseason games don’t matter and aren’t exactly a harbinger of success, but I’m still having a hard time backing Carolina to win this game. They’re home underdogs for a reason. You can argue the Jets’ backups have more talent than the Panthers’ starting unit, which is problematic considering we’re unlikely to see Carolina’s starters for very long, if at all, in this one.

Back the Jets on the road. The under looks like a good bet here, too, even in spite of the tiny 34.5-point total.

Bet: New York Jets (-170), Jets -3.5 (-105), Under 34.5 (-112)

Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts Odds

The Cardinals and Colts both finished on the outside looking in on the playoff picture a season ago. Both teams are still in something of a rebuilding phase, with Indianapolis perhaps a little further along in their process.

Both teams are also welcoming their starting QBs back after both players dealt with injuries last season. Kyler Murray played just 10 games after returning from a torn ACL, while Anthony Richardson was held to just 4 games as a rookie after suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in October of 2023.

Indy lost a high-scoring affair, 34-30, at home to Denver in their preseason opener. Richardson returned and completed half of his 4 passes on his lone drive, while Sam Ehlinger, Kedon Slovis, Joe Flacco (!), and Jason Bean all logged snaps at QB.

The Cardinals lost, 16-14, at home to the Saints in their preseason debut. Clayton Tune played the vast majority of the snaps at QB while Kyler Murray and the rest of the starters had the night off.

Arizona Cardinals at Indianapolis Colts Predictions

Kyler won’t be suiting up at all for Jonathan Gannon’s squad this preseason. I’m skeptical that the Colts will give Richarsdon a ton of work considering he’s also an injury risk, but I do think they’re justifiable favorites at home. I’m not putting money on a team that’ll be relying on Clayton Tune to run the offense all night.

Bet: Indianapolis Colts (-192), Colts -3.5 (-110), Under 38 (-112)

Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers Odds

The Bills and Steelers are a couple of traditional AFC powerhouses, though only one of these teams is facing high hopes this year. Buffalo is still trying to break through after repeatedly falling short of reaching the Super Bowl, and this team endured a host of changes on offense this offseason. The Steelers, on the other hand, have completely reshaped their QB room after jettisoning Kenny Pickett after a couple of underwhelming seasons.

The Bills were thrashed by the Bears at home in their preseason opener. The Steelers fell at home to the Houston Texans, though there were some promising signs from one of the new quarterbacks, Justin Fields, even in defeat.

Buffalo Bills at Pittsburgh Steelers Predictions

Josh Allen and the Bills’ starters played a couple of series in the first quarter last week against Chicago, and there’s a chance we see the regulars for upwards of a half in this one. With Keon Coleman and a host of new faces in the mix offensively, it makes sense for the team to get Allen some reps with his new targets following the departures of Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis this offseason.

The Steelers’ offense is quite a work in progress with Fields and Russell Wilson vying for the starting QB job. Fields seems to have the early edge, though Wilson is expected to make his team debut in this game. He was sidelined last week with a minor calf injury. I understand why the Steelers are favored at home, but I like the value on a better Buffalo team as a road ‘dog.

Bet: Buffalo Bills (+124), Bills +4 (-112), Over 37 (-110)

Washington Commanders at Miami Dolphins Odds

Hopes are high again in the nation’s capital. The Commanders haven’t had a franchise QB in what feels like decades, but the team is optimistic that Jayden Daniels will finally fill the void. Daniels is the team’s most-ballyhooed QB prospect since Robert Griffin III, and he showed flashes of brilliance in his NFL debut last week against the Jets. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner completed 2 of his 3 throws for 45 yards before capping his first-ever NFL drive with a rushing touchdown.

The Dolphins toppled the Falcons at home while relying entirely on backups in preseason Week 1. Tua Tagovailoa played in each of Miami’s last 2 preseason clashes last year after sitting out the opener, so there’s a chance he’ll get a few plays under his belt when the Commanders come to town this weekend.

Washington Commanders at Miami Dolphins Predictions

Even if we see Tua, Tyreek Hill, and some of the Fins’ other starters in this one, the close odds suggest there’s at least a chance Mike McDaniel will roll with a lineup heavy on backups this week. While I do expect Washington to treat Daniels with kid gloves for most of the preseason, I still think there’s a solid chance he’ll play upwards of a quarter, if not more, down in South Florida. Take the extra value that comes with Washington’s moneyline at near even-money.

Bet: Washington Commanders (+102), Commanders +1 (-115), Over 37.5 (-105)

Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans Odds

The Titans will play their 2nd straight home game this week, while the Seahawks will hit the road once again. This game features a tight 2.5-point spread with the home team favored alongside another low 37-point total.

Both of these franchises hired new head coaches this offseason, so these preseason games matter for them. The Mike Macdonald era in Seattle got off to an unofficial 1-0 start with a 16-3 win over Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers in LA over the weekend. The Titans toppled the 49ers, 17-13, to win in Brian Callahan’s first game on the job.

Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans Predictions

Can the Titans get to 2-0 this preseason against NFC West foes? We can safely expect to see more Will Levis in this one after he was held to just 5 pass attempts in the opener, while it’ll be interesting to see how the Tony Pollard/Tyjae Spears split in the backfield goes. Tennessee will once again be without DeAndre Hopkins, who’ll be sidelined for the next several weeks.

Seattle’s Sam Howell played a starring role in Week 1, completing 16 of his 27 passes for 130 yards with a score against the Bolts. Seattle’s defense looked downright ferocious in its first game under Macdonald last week, and I’d expect them to continue to build an identity through the defense moving forward. I love the value here in Seattle as a moneyline underdog on the road against a very unproven Titans roster.

Bet: Seattle Seahawks (+124), Seahawks +2.5 (-110), Under 37 (-110)

Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers Odds

The lowest over/under of the week comes in the battle of LA between the Rams and Chargers. The Bolts are the official “home team” in this one, but it’s essentially a neutral-site considering they share SoFi Stadium. The Chargers were held to just a field goal in Jim Harbaugh’s debut by the aforementioned Seahawks last week, while the Rams picked up a narrow home win over the visiting Cowboys on Sunday.

Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers Predictions

Neither team’s veteran QB saw the field in Week 1, though that could change this week. Rams 2nd-year QB Stetson Bennett played 100% of the team’s snaps against Dallas with very shaky results. The former Georgia standout threw 4 interceptions, though it wasn’t enough to cost the Rams the victory in the end.

We’re likely in for another battle of the backups here. Justin Herbert is dealing with a plantar fascia injury, which isn’t to be trifled with. The Chargers’ franchise QB is still in a walking boot, so it’s safe to assume he’ll be sidelined again this weekend. Matthew Stafford has battled a variety of injuries over the years, so he’s not expected to play this week. Don’t be surprised if Jimmy Garoppolo, Stafford’s new backup, gets some snaps in this one, though.

Bet: Los Angeles Rams (-120), Rams -1 (-108), Under 33.5 (-110)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars Odds

On the heels of the battle of LA, let’s head east to talk about the battle of Florida between the Buccaneers and Jaguars. Both teams are hoping to punch playoff tickets out of their respective conferences this season, though they could face uphill climbs within their respective divisions.

Tampa Bay is fresh off of a close road victory in Cincinnati last week. John Wolford and Kyle Trask shared the quarterbacking duties with Baker Mayfield and the rest of the Bucs’ starters getting the day off. The Jags, following a very disappointing 2023 campaign, doubled up the Chiefs with a 26-13 triumph in their preseason opener.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars Predictions

As is the case with most preseason affairs, we’ve got a tight spread here with the Jaguars listed as 3.5-point home favorites. Tampa Bay really can’t afford to lose Mayfield given the sketchy backups on the roster, so I’m not expecting to see much of the former Heisman winner even if he does see the field in Week 2.

I’m not too keen on the Jaguars’ -185 moneyline odds, but they are good value to cover the spread.

Bet: Jacksonville Jaguars (-185), Jaguars -3.5 (-110), Over 38 (-110)

Dallas Cowboys at Las Vegas Raiders Odds

The Cowboys managed to lose in LA last week despite forcing a number of turnovers by the Rams. The Raiders went on the road and fell by a point in Minnesota as they get set to make their 2024 home debut. This is one of the games with a fairly large spread, as Vegas is favored by nearly a touchdown on home soil.

Dallas Cowboys at Las Vegas Raiders Predictions

The Cowboys are dealing with a couple of things. Dak Prescott missed Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, though he returned to practice on Monday. The team is also without star wideout CeeDee Lamb, who’s away from the team amid a contract holdout. Even if Dallas and Lamb miraculously come to terms this week, there’s no way he’ll be in game shape for this week’s clash in the desert.

The preseason is actually meaningful to the Raiders, who have a QB competition on their hands between Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell. Minshew, the veteran, seems to have the upper hand, and he impressed by throwing for 117 yards and a TD in his debut last week. Antonio Pierce wants to see what he has in this team, so we’re likely to see the starters play pretty heavily in this one.

Even with a weirdly wide spread, I like the Raiders to get the job done here against a Cowboys team comprised primarily of reserves. Bet on Vegas to cover the spread rather than plunging any money on that -298 moneyline, though.

Bet: Las Vegas Raiders (-298), Raiders -6.5 (-115), Over 37 (-110)

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers Odds

Could the Saints be the worst team in the NFL this season? It’s certainly possible. The Niners, meanwhile, have a case to finish with the best record after losing to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 58. Given the gulf in talent between the teams, is it a surprise to see the Saints listed as road favorites to beat the 49ers in their Week 2 preseason matchup?

Not exactly. The Niners have a roster laden with veterans that’s played together for the last handful of years. They have very little to gain from playing their starters in the preseason, so it’s fair to assume they’ll see very limited action – if any – before Week 1 of the regular season. The Saints are a younger team in transition as they prepare for a third season under head coach Dennis Allen.

New Orleans Saints at San Francisco 49ers Predictions

San Francisco put just 13 points on the board last week in Tennessee with Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen sharing the QB duties. We’re not going to see Christian McCaffrey or any of the Niners’ other regulars this week, either. Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara should start for the Saints after playing a couple of series in last week’s win in Arizona. If they play close to a half this week in Santa Clara, they should put some points on the board.

Bet: New Orleans Saints (-148), Saints -2.5 (-112), Over 36 (-110)

Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos Odds

As mentioned in the open, this game has the widest spread and biggest moneyline favorite of the weekend with the Broncos listed at -7 against the visiting Packers. We only saw Jordan Love for a series in their preseason-opening win over the Browns, but he made the most of it. The Packers’ new franchise QB delivered a 65-yard touchdown strike to Dontayvion Wicks to open the scoring.

The Broncos have been in a tailspin ever since Peyton Manning retired, but Sean Payton is hoping for progress in his second season on the sidelines. Payton had to be a fan of what he saw from the offense in Denver’s 34-30 win in Indianapolis last week. Bo Nix, the team’s rookie QB, completed 15 of his 21 throws for 125 yards with a touchdown. He outplayed Jarrett Stidham and Zach Wilson in that one, though I’d imagine all 3 QBs will again get a shot to play this weekend.

Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos Predictions

Green Bay knows what it has in its offense, so don’t expect Love to play much more than a quarter, at the very most, in this game. Stidham drew the start for the Broncos last week, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Nix got the chance to play with the first-teamers this time around. While a spread this big in a preseason game gives me some pause, there must be a reason for it. Denver has a better group of QBs in line to play, which may tip the scales in their favor. I’d still side with Green Bay to cover that spread, though.

Bet: Denver Broncos (-325), Packers +7 (-110), Over 39 (-110)

NFL Preseason Week 2 Best Bets

After looking over the entire week, the following wagers are our NFL Preseason Week 2 best bets:

• Green Bay Packers +7 (-110)
• Los Angeles Rams -1 (-108)
• New York Giants at Houston Texans Over 39 points (-112)

It’s hard to have too much conviction in preseason NFL picks, but those 3 look like decent enough wagers. If you want to combine all three bets into a three-leg parlay, then a $100 wager will win you $595.96 and a total payout