The 2025 NFL season presents exciting matchups in its Week 2. Sunday kicks off with two notable returns. The Lions will “host” Ben Johnson, former offensive coordinator and now NFC North rival, at Ford Field. In addition, quarterback Joe Flacco will return to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Later, the Chiefs will face the Eagles in a rematch of Super Bowl LIX. Other featured matchups include rematches of College Football Playoff national championships between quarterbacks: Joe Burrow (LSU) against Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), and J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) against Michael Penix Jr. (Washington). Here’s everything you need to know. Our NFL reporters provide you with information from the locker rooms, highlighting the most relevant news of the week. In addition, we provide you with key statistics and betting data for each game. Seth Walder, data analyst, shares his bold predictions, while Eric Moody, fantasy analyst, reveals valuable information for your teams. We also include the quality ratings of the Football Power Index (FPI) matchups and game projections, along with final score predictions from Pamela Maldonado, Moody, and Walder. The Week 2 concludes with two “Monday Night Football” games: Buccaneers vs. Texans, and Chargers vs. Raiders on ESPN (the games are on Sunday, unless otherwise noted).
Contents
Match Summary
- CHI-DET
- BUF-NYJ
- CLE-BAL
- JAX-CIN
- SEA-PIT
- SF-NO
- NYG-DAL
- LAR-TEN
- NE-MIA
- DEN-IND
- CAR-ARI
- PHI-KC
- ATL-MIN
- TB-HOU
- LAC-LV
Match Analysis
Bears (0-1) at Lions (0-1)
1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup Rating: 59.4/100 ESPN BET: DET -6.5 (40.5 O/U)What’s being said about the Bears: The Bears are looking to establish offensive consistency throughout the game, which implies greater precision from QB Caleb Williams and fewer penalties. Given the intensity at Ford Field, Chicago will need to use a silent count to avoid false start penalties. Establishing a better running game is another priority, and Johnson wants to involve rookie Kyle Monangai. “I need to call more plays to get Monangai involved a little more,” Johnson said.What is said about the Lions: Johnson’s return to Detroit has been the topic of discussion this week. The Lions are also looking to avoid an 0-2 start for the first time since 2021. In Johnson’s three years as the Lions’ offensive coordinator, he developed close ties with many of the current players, but those friendships will be set aside. “I think we’re on equal footing. He knows what it’s about, we know what it’s about, and, therefore, you’ll play that game a little differently,” Campbell said about Johnson.Key Statistic: Lions quarterback Jared Goff is looking to become the first starter to win 11 straight games after a loss since Aaron Rodgers did it for the Packers (between the 2018-22 seasons).Bold Prediction: The Bears will record at least three offensive plays of 30+ yards. The Lions blitzed 57% of the time in Week 1, and while this can be effective, it also increases the possibility of explosive plays from the opposing offense.Injuries: Bears | LionsFantasy Information: Williams scored 24.2 fantasy points against the Vikings in Week 1, but the stats don’t tell the whole story. After starting 13 of 16 in the first half, he finished with a 29.4% incompletion rate, the worst in the NFL. Last season, he ranked 35th out of 36 qualified quarterbacks with a 21.0%. Minnesota stepped up the blitz to 44% in the second half, something fantasy managers should watch closely.Betting Information: Campbell has a 51-30 record against the betting line as a coach, the best record since the AFL/NFL merger (1970).Predictions:
Maldonado: Lions 26, Bears 23FPI Prediction: DET, 61.4% (by an average of 4.6 points)Must-read readings of the confrontation:5 ways the Bears collapsed and why it’s vital to recover on Sunday… We booed him!: Hungry Lions are ready for Johnson’s return, Bears… Lions falter in first game; Campbell says issues are “fixable”Bills (1-0) at Jets (0-1)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup Rating: 57.6/100 ESPN BET: BUF -6.5 (46.5 O/U)What’s being said about the Bills: A problem for Buffalo in Week 1 was limiting the running game after giving up the most rushing yards in the league (238 yards). The Jets recorded the fourth-most rushing yards in Week 1 (182 yards), and stopping them will be more difficult without DT Ed Oliver, who had a great game in Week 1, due to an ankle injury. “We need to correct those things, and we will,” said defensive coordinator Bobby Babich when asked about the run defense. “We will be very intentional this week to correct those things.”What’s being said about the Jets: The Jets always struggle to score against the Bills – they’ve been held under 23 points in the last 12 matchups – but there’s renewed confidence in the offense after a 32-point performance in Week 1. The running game is a big part of “our DNA,” said offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand. Result: 11 explosive plays against the Steelers, three more than their weekly target.Key Statistic: Josh Allen has 18 turnovers in his career against the Jets, the most of any quarterback against a single opponent since he entered the league in 2018.Bold Prediction: Jets CB Brandon Stephens will be targeted at least nine times as the nearest defender, matching the highest mark for any defender in Week 1. Stephens is coming off a difficult first game as a Jet in which he gave up 75 yards on seven targets and is also coming off an unstable final season in Baltimore. With Sauce Gardner playing in front of him, Buffalo is expected to target Stephens.Injuries: Bills | Jets
Fantasy Information: Breece Hall faces a Bills defense that gave up 29.2 fantasy points to Derrick Henry last week and has struggled against running backs since last season. Hall is coming off a performance where he accumulated 21 touches and 16.5 fantasy points. He has averaged 15.5 fantasy points per game against the Bills in his career.Betting Information: The Bills have covered three consecutive matchups against the Jets.Predictions:
Maldonado: Bills 22, Jets 21FPI Prediction: BUF, 65.5% (by an average of 6.3 points)Must-read articles about the confrontation:The Bills continue to adjust to the specialist after the game-winning field goal… Jets’ Gardner “outstanding” in covering Metcalf, says Glenn…Browns (0-1) at Ravens (0-1)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup Rating: 57.4/100 ESPN BET: BAL -11.5 (44.5 O/U)What’s being said about the Browns: The Browns’ defense did almost everything it could last week to stop the Bengals’ offense, but it will have a much more difficult and different task with the Ravens’ RB, Derrick Henry. But Cleveland has had some success limiting Henry since Jim Schwartz became the coordinator in 2022. In two of the three matchups, the Browns held Henry under 75 yards. When asked how difficult it is to tackle Henry, safety Grant Delpit dryly replied: “It’s not difficult.”What is said about the Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson seeks to reverse his fortune against the Browns, who have defeated him twice in the last three matchups. In those games, Jackson has completed 55.9% of his passes for five touchdowns and two interceptions. Coach John Harbaugh said that the Browns’ defense “uses a suffocating type of mentality. You have to find a way to break that suffocation.”Key Stat: The Ravens are 12-2 (.857) after a loss since 2022, the second-best record in the league in that span, behind the Chiefs (9-1, .900). They also have the highest point differential per game (plus 8.6) in those games during that time.Bold Prediction: Ravens TE Mark Andrews bounces back with five receptions and a touchdown after a Week 1 in which he only managed 5 yards. Cleveland conceded targets to tight ends 21% of the time last season (the sixth-most) and 32% of the time (the second-most) last week.Injuries: Browns | RavensFantasy Information: Dylan Sampson had 20 touches against the Bengals, finishing with 17.3 fantasy points and leading the Browns’ backfield in both categories. Quinshon Judkins’ expected debut could change the work on early downs, but Sampson’s receiving role should remain safe.Betting Information: This is the first double-digit difference of the season, and the first time there has been a double-digit difference in the first two weeks of the season since 2022.Predictions:
Maldonado: Ravens 27, Browns 14FPI Prediction: BAL, 79.3% (by an average of 12.8 points)Must-read articles about the match:How Browns QB Flacco became Baltimore’s ‘Joe Cool’… ‘It’s not over until it’s 0:00 on the clock’: The Ravens’ historic collapse goes beyond the struggles of the last quarter… Why there’s still hope for Cleveland’s offense as it heads to Baltimore in Week 2Jaguars (1-0) at Bengals (1-0)
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup Rating: 53.0/100 ESPN BET: CIN -3.5 (48.5 O/U)What’s being said about the Jaguars: Travis Hunter’s defensive snaps will increase this week, said Jacksonville coach Liam Coen. But he added that it was part of his plan to gradually integrate him into the defensive side of the ball and was not related to the fact that the Jaguars are facing possibly the best receiving duo in the NFL in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Still, it can’t hurt that Hunter is on the field more, especially since he’s more of a natural cornerback than a receiver. Hunter played 42 snaps on offense and only six on defense in the season opener.What’s being said about the Bengals: How does a perfect offensive day look? For coordinator Dan Pitcher, there are a few items on the checklist: efficiency on early downs, sustained drives, and third-down conversions. Cincinnati didn’t have first downs on 60% of their drives against the Browns, the worst rate in Week 1. The Bengals know they’re facing a stout defensive line led by linebacker Josh Hines-Allen and LB Foyesade Oluokun, the AFC Defensive Player of the Week.Key stat: The Bengals had 7 yards in the second half against the Browns, making them the first team to win a game with fewer than 10 yards in a second half since 1995 (Colts, 3 yards).Bold Prediction: Hines-Allen will record at least 1.5 sacks. Although he didn’t record any sacks in Week 1, he got off to a good start with a 29% pass rush win rate against the Panthers. In Week 2, he will get home a couple of times, as Burrow is known to take a sack or two.Injuries: Jaguars | Bengals
Fantasy Information: Travis Etienne Jr. led the Jaguars’ backfield in snaps, touches, routes, and fantasy points (18.6) in Week 1, running behind a Jacksonville offensive line ranked ninth in run-blocking win rate. He tied his career high with four runs of 10+ yards and averaged 8.9 yards per carry, his best mark since Week 17 of 2023. This week, he faces a Bengals defense that just gave up 25.1 fantasy points to the Browns’ backfield, including the third-most receptions and receiving yards for running backs.Betting Information: Unders are 16-7 in Bengals games in September under coach Zac Taylor.Predictions:
- Maldonado: Bengals 20, Jaguars 17
- Moody: Bengals 25, Jaguars 24
- Walder: Bengals 21, Jaguars 17
Seahawks (0-1) at Steelers (1-0)
1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup Rating: 46.5/100 ESPN BET: PIT -3.5 (39.5 O/U)What’s being said about the Seahawks: Mike Macdonald’s two-word answer threw even more uncertainty on the short and long-term future of CB Riq Woolen with the Seahawks. “We’ll see,” the coach responded when asked if Woolen would start on Sunday against the Steelers. The former Pro Bowl player is fighting for his spot after his latest costly mistakes, a couple of misread throws in the decisive series of Seattle’s season-opening loss, along with the emergence of No. 3 cornerback Josh Jobe. Even if Jobe starts, Woolen will play. His combination of size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and speed could make him Seattle’s best option to face former Seahawk DK Metcalf.What’s being said about the Steelers: Reinforcing the run defense was an emphasis this offseason, but the Steelers struggled against the Jets. But coordinator Teryl Austin said Thursday that the problems that plagued them in the wild-card loss to the Ravens are different from the problems against the Jets. “I don’t think we got beat up,” Austin said. “I just think we missed some opportunities… I know how I felt coming off that field in Baltimore last year, and I didn’t feel the same way this year. I feel good about our group.” The defense will be tested differently against Seattle’s zone scheme without first-round rookie defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (knee). But Austin said to expect rookie Yahya Black to play more this week.Key statistic: The Steelers are looking to start 2-0 for the second consecutive season. In 2024, they started 3-0, finished 10-7, and made the playoffs. This would be the first time Pittsburgh has started 2-0 in consecutive seasons since 2016-17.Bold prediction: These two teams will combine for double-digit screen passes. It’s a staple of Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, as we know. And we saw it in Week 1, with a league-leading 9% screen rate. But the Seahawks weren’t far behind, with an 8% rate that ranked third in the league that first week.Injuries: Seahawks | Steelers
Fantasy Information: RB Kenneth Walker III finished with only 5.4 fantasy points on 13 touches, while Zach Charbonnet led the Seahawks with 12 carries for 47 rushing yards, totaling 10.7 points. Walker didn’t look 100 percent on film, lacking the burst that fantasy managers are accustomed to, making Seattle’s backfield one to monitor going forward.Betting Information: Seahawks QB Sam Darnold has a career ATS record of 14-22 on the road and 8-17 ATS as a road underdog.Predictions:
- Maldonado: Steelers 23, Seahawks 17
- Moody: Steelers 27, Seahawks 24
- Walder: Seahawks 20, Steelers 17
