Here’s everything you need to know for Week 2 NFL games. Which teams will win, who are the X factors, and which storylines matter most?
The Week 2 NFL schedule for the 2025 season brings some exciting matchups.
Sunday kicks off with two notable homecomings. The Lions will „welcome“ former offensive coordinator turned NFC North foe Ben Johnson back to Ford Field, and quarterback Joe Flacco will return to Baltimore to face the Ravens. Later on Sunday, the Chiefs will host the Eagles in a Super Bowl LIX rematch. Elsewhere, there will be two College Football Playoff national championship rematches between quarterbacks, with 2020 winner Joe Burrow (LSU) facing runner-up Trevor Lawrence (Clemson) and 2024 winner J.J. McCarthy (Michigan) playing runner-up Michael Penix Jr. (Washington).
We have you covered with everything you need to know. Our NFL Nation reporters take you inside the locker room with the best thing they heard this week, and ESPN Research provides a key stat to know and a betting nugget for each contest. Plus, analytics writer Seth Walder makes a bold prediction for each matchup, and fantasy analyst Eric Moody shares fantasy football intel. We also have Football Power Index (FPI) matchup quality ratings (out of 100) and game projections, and three analysts — Pamela Maldonado, Moody and Walder — give us final score picks for every game.
Let’s get into the full Week 2 slate, which culminates with two „Monday Night Football“ matchups — one between the Buccaneers and Texans, and one between the Chargers and Raiders on ESPN. (Games are Sunday unless otherwise noted.)
Jump to a matchup:
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
Thursday: WSH-GB 27-18
1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 59.4/100
ESPN BET: DET -6.5 (40.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Bears: The Bears want to establish consistency on offense for full game, which means better accuracy from QB Caleb Williams and fewer penalties. Given the noise level inside Ford Field (with a little extra juice expected from fans who aren’t thrilled with Detroit’s offense after Ben Johnson’s departure), Chicago will have to use a silent cadence to avoid racking up false-start penalties. Establishing a better rushing attack is also a priority, and Johnson wants to get rookie Kyle Monangai involved. „We probably were at — what — under 20 for called runs in the game? I need to call more so that we get [Monangai] in the game a little bit more“, Johnson said. — Courtney Cronin
What we’re hearing on the Lions: The return of Johnson to Detroit has been the topic of discussion all week. But Detroit is also looking to avoid going 0-2 for the first time since 2021 — Dan Campbell’s first season. In Johnson’s three years as Lions OC, he developed close ties to many of the current players, but those friendships will be put aside. „I think we’re on equal playing ground really. I think it’s the same thing“, Campbell said of Johnson. „He knows what we’re about, we know what he’s about and because of that you’re going to play that game a little bit.“ — Eric Woodyard
Stat to know: Lions quarterback Jared Goff is seeking to become the first starting signal-caller to win 11 straight games when coming off a loss since Aaron Rodgers did it for the Packers (spanning the 2018-22 seasons). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: The Bears will record at least three 30-plus-yard plays on offense. The Lions blitzed 57% of the time in Week 1, and while that can be effective, it also increases the chance of explosive plays from the opposing offense. — Walder
Injuries: Bears | Lions
Fantasy nugget: Williams scored 24.2 fantasy points against the Vikings in Week 1, but the box score doesn’t tell the full story. After starting 13-of-16 in the first half, he finished with an NFL-worst 29.4% off-target rate. Last season, he ranked 35th of 36 qualified QBs at 21.0%. Minnesota cranked up the blitz to 44% in the second half, something fantasy managers should watch closely. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Campbell is 51-30 against the spread (ATS) as a coach, which is the best record since the AFL/NFL merger (1970). Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Lions 26, Bears 23
Moody’s pick: Lions 31, Bears 23
Walder’s pick: Bears 24, Lions 20
FPI prediction: DET, 61.4% (by an average of 4.6 points)
Matchup must-reads: 5 ways the Bears collapsed, and why it’s vital to rebound Sunday . ‚We all booing him‘: Hungry Lions ready for Johnson’s return, Bears . Lions falter in opener; Campbell calls issues ‚correctable‘
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 57.6/100
ESPN BET: BUF -6.5 (46.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Bills: An issue for Buffalo in Week 1 was limiting the running game after giving up a league-high 238 rushing yards. The Jets put up the fourth-most rushing yards in Week 1 (182 yards), and slowing them down will be more difficult with DT Ed Oliver, who had a big game in Week 1, out with an ankle injury. „We need to get those things corrected, and we will“, defensive coordinator Bobby Babich said when asked about the run defense. „We’ll be very intentional this week about getting those things.“ — Alaina Getzenberg
What we’re hearing on the Jets: The Jets always have scoring problems against the Bills — they’ve been held under 23 points in the past 12 meetings — but there’s a renewed confidence on offense after a 32-point showing in Week 1. The running game is a big part of „our DNA“, offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand said. Result: 11 explosive plays against the Steelers, three more than their weekly goal. — Rich Cimini
Stat to know: Josh Allen has 18 career turnovers against the Jets, the most by any quarterback against a single opponent since he entered the league in 2018. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Jets CB Brandon Stephens will be targeted at least nine times as the nearest defender, tying the high-water mark for any defender in Week 1. Stephens is coming off a rough first game as a Jet in which he gave up 75 yards on seven targets and is also coming off a shaky final season in Baltimore. With Sauce Gardner playing opposite him, expect Buffalo to target Stephens. — Walder
Injuries: Bills | Jets
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Fantasy nugget: Breece Hall faces a Bills defense that gave up 29.2 fantasy points to Derrick Henry last week and has struggled against RBs dating to last season. Hall is coming off a performance in which he stockpiled 21 touches and 16.5 fantasy points. He has averaged 15.5 fantasy points per game against the Bills in his career. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: The Bills have covered three straight meetings against the Jets. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Bills 22, Jets 21
Moody’s pick: Bills 36, Jets 27
Walder’s pick: Bills 27, Jets 16
FPI prediction: BUF, 65.5% (by an average of 6.3 points)
Matchup must-reads: Bills continue to adjust at specialist after game-winning kick . Jets‘ Gardner ‚outstanding‘ in shadowing Metcalf, Glenn says
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 57.4/100
ESPN BET: BAL -11.5 (44.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Browns: The Browns‘ defense did just about everything it could last week to stop the Bengals‘ offense, but it will have a much different, tougher task with Ravens RB Derrick Henry. But Cleveland has had some success limiting Henry since Jim Schwartz became the coordinator in 2022. In two out of the three matchups, the Browns held Henry to under 75 yards. When asked how hard it is to tackle Henry, safety Grant Delpit tersely responded, „Not hard.“ — Daniel Oyefusi
What we’re hearing on the Ravens: QB Lamar Jackson is looking to reverse his fortune against the Browns, who have defeated him twice in the past three meetings. In those games, Jackson has completed 55.9% of his passes for five touchdowns and two interceptions. Coach John Harbaugh said the Browns‘ defense „uses a smothering type of mindset. You have to find a way to crack the smother open.“ — Jamison Hensley
Stat to know: The Ravens are 12-2 (.857) following a loss since 2022, the second-best record in the league in that span behind the Chiefs (9-1, .900). They also have the largest PPG differential (plus-8.6) in such games over that time. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Ravens TE Mark Andrews bounces back with five receptions and a touchdown after a fallow Week 1 in which he managed only 5 yards. Cleveland gave up targets to tight ends 21% of the time last season (sixth most) and 32% of the time (second most) last week. — Walder
Injuries: Browns | Ravens
Fantasy nugget: RB 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 shift early-down work, but Sampson’s receiving role should remain secure. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: This is the first double-digit spread of the season, and the first time there has been a double-digit spread within the first two weeks of the season since 2022. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Ravens 27, Browns 14
Moody’s pick: Ravens 38, Browns 17
Walder’s pick: Ravens 30, Browns 13
FPI prediction: BAL, 79.3% (by an average of 12.8 points)
Matchup must-reads: How Browns QB Flacco became Baltimore’s ‚Joe Cool‘ . ‚It’s never over until it’s 0:00 on the clock‘: Ravens‘ historic meltdown goes beyond past fourth-quarter struggles . Why there’s still hope for Cleveland’s offense as it heads into Baltimore in Week 2
1 p.m. ET | CBS | Matchup rating: 53.0/100
ESPN BET: CIN -3.5 (48.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Jaguars: Travis Hunter’s defensive snaps will increase this week, Jacksonville coach Liam Coen said. But he added that it was a part of their plan to ease him into the defensive side of the ball and not related to the fact that the Jaguars are facing arguably the NFL’s best receiver duo 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 receiver. Hunter played 42 snaps on offense and only six on defense in the season opener. — Michael DiRocco
What we’re hearing on the Bengals: What does a perfect offensive day look like? For coordinator Dan Pitcher, there are a few items on the checklist: early-down efficiency, sustained drives and third-down conversions. Cincinnati had no first downs on 60% of its drives against the Browns, the worst rate in Week 1. The Bengals know they’re going up against a strong front seven led by edge rusher Josh Hines-Allen and LB Foyesade Oluokun, the AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week. — Ben Baby
Stat to know: The Bengals had 7 yards in the second half against the Browns, making them the first team to win a game with less than 10 yards in a second half since 1995 (Colts, 3 yards). — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: Hines-Allen will record at least 1.5 sacks. Though he didn’t record any sacks in Week 1, he got off to a fast start with a 29% pass rush win rate against the Panthers. In Week 2, he’ll get home a couple of times, as Burrow has been known to take a sack or two. — Walder
Andrew Hawkins discusses why it may be better for Travis Hunter to focus on playing on just one side of the ball to start his NFL career.
Injuries: Jaguars | Bengals
Fantasy nugget: 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 block win rate. He tied his career high with four runs of 10-plus 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 to running backs. See Week 2 rankings. — Moody
Betting nugget: Unders are 16-7 in Bengals games in September under coach Zac Taylor. Read more. — ESPN Research
Maldonado’s pick: Bengals 20, Jaguars 17
Moody’s pick: Bengals 25, Jaguars 24
Walder’s pick: Bengals 21, Jaguars 17
FPI prediction: CIN, 59.4% (by an average of 3.7 points)
Matchup must-reads: Jaguars‘ Hunter to get more defensive snaps vs. Bengals . Safety Battle leads improved Bengals secondary
1 p.m. ET | Fox | Matchup rating: 46.5/100
ESPN BET: PIT -3.5 (39.5 O/U)
What we’re hearing on the Seahawks: Mike Macdonald’s two-word response cast even more uncertainty on CB Riq Woolen’s short- and long-term future with the Seahawks. „We’ll see“, the coach answered when asked if Woolen would start Sunday against the Steelers. The former Pro Bowl player is fighting for his job after his latest costly miscues — a pair of throws he misplayed on the decisive drive of Seattle’s season-opening loss — coupled with the emergence of No. 3 corner Josh Jobe. Even if Jobe starts, Woolen figures to play. His combination of size (6-foot-4, 210 pounds) and speed might make him Seattle’s best option to match up with former Seahawk DK Metcalf. — Brady Henderson
What we’re hearing on the Steelers: Shoring up the run defense was an emphasis this offseason, yet the Steelers struggled against the Jets. But coordinator Teryl Austin said Thursday the issues that plagued them in the wild-card loss to the Ravens are different from the issues against the Jets. „I didn’t think we got knocked around“, Austin said. „I just thought we missed some opportunities. . I know how I felt coming off that field at Baltimore last year, and I didn’t feel the same way this year. I feel good with our group.“ The defense will be tested in a different way 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. — Brooke Pryor
Stat to know: The Steelers are looking to start 2-0 for the second straight season. In 2024, they started 3-0, finished 10-7 and made the playoffs. This would be Pittsburgh’s first time starting 2-0 in consecutive seasons since 2016-17. — ESPN Research
Bold prediction: These two teams will combine for double-digit screen passes. It’s a Steelers OC Arthur Smith staple, as we know. And we saw that in Week 1, with a league-leading 9% screen rate. But the Seahawks weren’t too far behind, with an 8% rate that ranked third in the league that first week.
