San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
BEST GAMES SUNDAY’S GAMES MONDAY’S GAMES
RAVENS AT BENGALS Time, TV: Noon, CBS
Line: Bengals -3.5 | Total: 46 This early AFC North matchup pits two quarterbacks who recently entered the highest-paid bracket in the NFL, Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, who each signed contract extensions this year.
PICK: Ravens +3.5
CHIEFS AT JAGUARS Time, TV: Noon, CBS
Line: Chiefs -3 | Total: 51 Jacksonville threatened, but did not manage, to oust Kansas City in the divisional round of last season’s AFC playoffs. Last week, with tight end Travis Kelce (knee) and defensive lineman Chris Jones (contract holdout) absent, the Chiefs (0-1) weren’t able to fend off an upset loss to the Lions. Both players should be back on the field in Jacksonville.
PICK: Chiefs -3
SEAHAWKS AT LIONS Time, TV: Noon, Fox
Line: Lions -5.5 |Total: 47
After the Lions (1-0) upset Kansas City in the season opener, Detroit safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson donned a blue ski mask in the locker room and screamed, “This ain’t the same Detroit.” He has since called for fans to copy his look for the home opener. The formerly
bottom-dwelling Lions are favorites against the Seahawks (0-1), who made the playoffs last season, but looked inept in Week 1 against the Rams.
PICK: Seahawks +5.5
COMMANDERS AT BRONCOS
Time, TV: 3:25 p.m., CBS
Line: Broncos -3.5 | Total: 38 Although the Broncos (0-1) came away from Week 1 with a close loss to the division-rival Raiders, improvements under coach Sean Payton were obvious. There’s hope that Russell Wilson and Denver could build on that success against the Commanders (1-0), whose defense is expected to be without defensive lineman Chase Young (neck).
PICK: Broncos -3.5
PACKERS AT FALCONS Time, TV: Noon, Fox
Line: Packers -1.5 | Total: 40.5 Aaron Jones had 127 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns — one receiving, one rushing — on just 11 touches against the Bears to help usher in the Jordan Love era for the Packers (1-0). The young quarterback’s poise (he threw three touchdowns without an interception
Sunday) may get tested against the Falcons with Jones’ status potentially in question because of a hamstring injury.
PICK: Packers -1.5
Time, TV: Noon, CBS
Line: Bills -9.5 | Total: 47 Four careless turnovers from Josh Allen doomed the Bills (0-1) against the Jets’ formidable defense. He can rebound against the Raiders (1-0).
PICK: Bills -9.5
CHARGERS AT TITANS Time, TV: Noon, CBS
Line: Chargers -3 | Total: 45
It’s coach Brandon Staley’s third season with the Chargers (0-1), one that has so far been characterized by poor defense and a lack of situational awareness. Last week, the Chargers allowed the Dolphins to amass more than 500 total yards.
PICK: Titans +3
BEARS AT BUCCANEERS Time, TV: Noon, Fox
Line: Buccaneers -2.5 | Total: 41.5
The Bears proved their optimism in Justin Fields’ development in April, trading down in the draft to select offensive lineman Darnell Wright in the first round rather than a quarterback. That optimism was dampened — but not diminished! — as Fields opened his second year as the Week 1 starter by passing for just one touchdown and getting sacked four times in a loss to the Packers.
PICK: Buccaneers -2.5
COLTS AT TEXANS Time, TV: Noon, CBS
Line: Colts -1 | Total: 39.5
Both of these AFC South teams are led by rookie quarterbacks selected within the first five picks of this year’s draft, but the Colts’ Anthony Richardson has more options than Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud.
PICK: Colts -1
49ERS AT RAMS Time, TV: 3:05 p.m., Fox
Line: 49ers -8 | Total: 44.5
Once viewed as one of the best modern rivalries in the NFL, the series between the Rams and the 49ers devolved into a one-sided affair last season as Los Angeles struggled with injuries and the departure of key free agents.
PICK: 49ers -8
GIANTS AT CARDINALS Time, TV:3:05 p.m., Fox
Line: Giants -5.5 | Total: 39.5 The Cardinals (0-1) have one of the least-talented rosters in the league, a relief for a Giants team coming off a 40-point thumping. Daniel Jones, who was sacked seven times against Dallas, and the Giants should fare better in Arizona.
PICK: Giants -5.5
JETS AT COWBOYS Time, TV:3:25 p.m., CBS
Line: Cowboys -9 | Total: 39.5 Oddsmakers shifted this line aggressively in favor of the Cowboys (1-0), movement that considers the Jets’ major absence (Aaron Rodgers) as much as the Jets’ present weakness (the unchanged offensive line).
PICK: Cowboys -9
DOLPHINS AT PATRIOTS
Time, TV:7:20 p.m., NBC
Line: Dolphins -2.5 | Total: 46.5 The Patriots (0-1) played a tight game last week, holding the Eagles to 0 of 3 on third downs in the fourth quarter. Whether that defensive stand owed to improvements to New England, which was awful on third down last season, or to Philadelphia’s sloppiness is a question that Dolphins receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle should answer.
PICK: Dolphins -2.5.
SAINTS AT PANTHERS Time, TV:6:15 p.m., ESPN
Line: Saints -3 | Total: 40 Carolina rookie quarterback Bryce Young threw for only 146 yards against a lesser Falcons defense and should be stymied by the Saints’ toothsome secondary.
PICK: Saints -3
BROWNS AT STEELERS Time, TV:7:15 p.m., ESPN
Line: Browns -2.5 | Total: 39.5 The Steelers (0-1) took a beating at home from the 49ers last week and signs aren’t looking good for a rebound in Week 2 against an improved Browns team.
PICK: Browns -2.5