Week 2 Predictions of the 2026-2027 NFL Season

Week one in the NFL 2026 season is in the books, and the results reflected some surprises and a few teams that may be feeling their season is already over before it’s actually begun in earnest. Let’s begin with the Cleveland Browns. A friend of mine was at the game in Jacksonville, and he is a Browns fan. He remarked that his team should not even be able to play in the NFL. He said they are that bad. I predicted a blowout for the Jaguars and they smoked Cleveland.

The Titans are not much better off than are the Browns and the Malik Willis experiment in Miami got off to a horrible start. It looks like Kirk Cousins is going to keep the NFL’s top draft pick Fernando Mendoza on the bench for a long time. Who were the scariest teams at the onset of the season after one week of play? The Baltimore Ravens lit up the Colts and look out, the Chiefs are back. Only this time they have Super Bowl M.V.P. Kenneth Walker in their backfield, and he ran circles around the Denver Broncos last Monday night to the tune of 173 yards rushing.

As for my results on opening day, 11 correct picks and five misses. I’ll take that as a start. Before I make new picks, a quick rundown of the season openers that featured the debut of a handful of new head coaches.

Seahawks 13 Patriots 10. No Kenneth Walker for Seattle? No problem. A defensive battle but Drake Maye threw a dreadful interception at the end of the game where New England could have tied the game with a field goal and sent this one into overtime. But he made a rookie decision and cost his team a victory.

49ers 27 Rams 7. Can you believe there were folks talking about a Rams undefeated season? You can throw that idea in the garbage. Myles Garrett moved from the east coast to the west leaving his pathetic Browns behind and thought he was going to be playing for a Super Bowl team. Once Aaron Donald comes back the word is this d-line for L.A. would be formidable. But with Donald not playing in the season opener, Garrett was a non-factor, and he tried to make excuses for his poor play by saying he had a bum leg. Yea right. San Francisco has been a solid team for years and it appears they are track for yet another great season. 

Bengals 33 Bucs 27. I think here that Baker Mayfield just ran out of time on the game clock. He had his team charging back but it was too little too late. I think he outplayed Joe Burrow but I’m sure Bengals fans are believing they are back as a contender. That remains to be seen although Burrow only got sacked once. He did throw a pick, and his rating was just 89.5. Cincinnati’s offensive line must also keep their star quarterback healthy. 

Lions 31 Saints 30. Detroit is a much better team than are the Saints. The score doesn’t reflect it, but the Lions will be much better than they were on this day. A long season ahead for the Saints. 

Jets 23 Titans 10. Have the Jets found some stability at quarterback? Geno Smith made his return to the Green and White a solid one while Cam Ward showed no signs of improvement over his rookie season in 2025. The bottom of the barrel in the NFL this season will include the Browns and Titans and probably the Saints. 

Ravens 41 Colts 23. Lamar Jackson is healthy and happy without John Harbaugh as his coach. Now look at what he can do. If he stays healthy, the Ravens should be the favorites to reach the Super Bowl. The Colts? Good team but overwhelmed on this day.

Bears 59 Panthers 37. Wow. Just wow. Who would have thought Chicago would score 59 on opening day? The Bears proved they were for real last season now they look even better. The Panthers are a team on the cusp. 

Jaguars 34 Browns 10. Easiest pick of the day. I’m going on record to say it is very possible that Cleveland may not win a game this season. They are awful. I don’t believe Deshaun Watson lasts as a starter past the Browns’ next game. We already knew Jacksonville was good, but this is hardly a game to gauge their ranking in the league.

Bills 36 Texans 31. The Bills had a new head coach, and he comes out on top in a squeaker. Joe Brady is under immense pressure to get Buffalo to the big dance this season, but he may have Baltimore and Kansas City standing in the way. C.J. Stroud is in a crossroads season and his first game in 2026 was not too shabby. 
Raiders 27 Dolphins 13. Malik Willis signed a big contract, but you have to have some talent around you on a team to become a winner. Miami just doesn’t have it. For those wanting to see Fernando Mendoza make his debut, you may be waiting a long time. That is unless Kirk Cousins gets sidelined.

Vikings 39 Packers 22. Green Bay is an NFC favorite, and Kyle Murray made his Vikings debut only to be knocked out of the game very early with a concussion. So, in steps Carson Wentz and leads Minnesota to 22 unanswered points in the fourth quarter for the win. Quarterback controversy? J.J. McCarthy with Wentz’s performance got pushed further down on the depth chart. Not the start the Packers had hoped for. 

Eagles 24 Commanders 22. The return of Jayden Daniels almost earned Washington a victory at home. I get the feeling the NFC is going to be a dogfight down to the wire this season among multiple teams. 

Cardinals 26 Chargers 14. The Los Angeles Chargers have been underachievers for years. Typically, they get off to a fast start and then fade. Perhaps in 2026 it will be the opposite. Arizona with Jacoby Brissett calling the signals has made Kyler Murray a distant memory. 

Giants 28 Cowboys 20. Here we go again. Another Dallas season full of promise only to disappoint their fan base. If there is any case of a head coach making a difference, it was glaringly obvious here with the Giants. John Harbaugh is that good. Giants will be dangerous all season for any team they play. 

Chiefs 31 Broncos 10. Kenneth Walker proved the Super Bowl was no fluke. Patrick Mahomes is back.

Denver may show this season that in 2025 they were just pretenders. With Kansas City’s experience, they are going to be a threat all the way to the end.

Now we have week two ahead, beginning with a Thursday night game that’s a doozy.