Vikings at Buccaneers (+1½)
Carson Wentz served as the caretaker last Sunday as the Vikings, for the 10th time in their 66 seasons, won a game in which they failed to score a touchdown. It’s almost as remarkable as the franchise climbing to an estimated value of $8.26 billion over those 66 seasons without ever sniffing the Lombardi Trophy.
Pick: Vikings by 3
Minnesota Vikings kicker Gary Anderson watches what turned out to be his first missed field goal of the season, a 38-yard attempt that missed to the left of the goal post, late in the fourth quarter of the NFC championship game against the Atlanta Falcons at the Metrodome in Minneapolis on Jan. 17, 1999. Anderson’s missed kick sent the game into overtime, where Falcons kicker Morten Andersen kicked a 39-yard field goal to give Atlanta a 30-27 overtime win and their first Super Bowl berth. Defending for Atlanta is Michael Booker (20). (John Doman / Pioneer Press)
Panthers at Browns (+2½)
Massage maven Deshaun Watson led Cleveland to an upset in Tampa Bay after a long delay caused by the usual Florida thunderstorms. The two-hour hiatus, it turned out, was not long enough to allow Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield to pull his head out of his backside.
Pick: Panthers by 7
Baker Mayfield #6 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers congratulates Deshaun Watson #4 of the Cleveland Browns after the game at Raymond James Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)
Eagles at Bears (+2½)
Philadelphia players complained about their cleats melting last Sunday while playing in the brutal heat of Tennessee. Chicago coach Ben Johnson can relate to that feeling as he spent that day watching his World’s Greatest Offense melted down by Brian Flores.
Pick: Eagles by 7
Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson looks at the score board during the second half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Texans at Colts (+2½)
Veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen posted a blood alcohol level of .224 when arrested for drunk driving last month. That’s an unusual event for the Indianapolis franchise as such numbers are usually only posted by ownership.
Pick: Texans by 3
Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Keenan Allen makes a catch during warmups before an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann)
Seahawks at Commanders (+6½)
Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels suffered another dislocated elbow, an injury so graphic that it caused Tom Brady to utter an expletive during the Fox broadcast. It’s actually quite rare for the future hall of fame quarterback to use such profanity unless he’s addressing an ex-wife.
Pick: Seahawks by 11
Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) reacts to an injury during an NFL football game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Commanders in Arlington, Texas, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Ravens vs. Cowboys (+2½)
The NFL’s first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro could be plagued by bad field conditions because of notoriously poor turf at Maracana Stadium. That could be tough for the Cowboys, who haven’t been exposed to bad grass since the last party thrown by Michael Irvin and Nate Newton.
Pick: Ravens by 3
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and Netflix host Michael Irvin celebrates while eating a steak after an NFL football game against the Washington Commanders, Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.)
Bengals at Steelers (+3½)
Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers admitted that he has to do a better job of telling coach Mike McCarthy when his play calls aren’t working. This goes to show that, while the quarterback’s play has withered with age, his passive aggression is still at an All-Pro level.
Pick: Bengals by 7
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers faces reporters following an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Rams at Broncos (+2½)
Aaron Donald came out of retirement Monday night as Los Angeles rolled past the Jaxson Dart-less New York Giants. The future hall of fame tackle said the hardest part of his return was maintaining focus while laughing hysterically at Jameis Winston’s attempts to play quarterback.
Pick: Broncos by 3
Los Angeles Rams defensive end Aaron Donald (99) lines up to defend during the first half of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Inglewood, Calif., Monday, Sept. 21, 2026. (AP Photo/Katie Chin)
Chargers at Bills (-7½)
Justin Herbert and his Los Angeles teammates were embarrassed at home by Las Vegas last Sunday in a stadium overflowing with Raiders fans. That level of cheering will only be matched by Chargers fans later this season when Jim Harbaugh is fired.
Pick: Bills by 11
Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Los Angeles Chargers talks to his team prior to the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at SoFi Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images)
Cardinals at 49ers (-8½)
A con man masquerading as a 49ers player is accused of defrauding two dozen women out of more than one million dollars. Authorities say it’s the most significant fraud connected to the franchise since the Niners moved 45 miles away but kept “San Francisco” in their name.
Pick: 49ers by 11
Kyle Juszczyk #44 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after his receiving touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the third quarter of a game at Levi’s Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OTHER GAMES
Raiders at Saints (-3½)
Pick: Saints by 3
Titans at Giants (-3½)
Pick: Titans by 3
Jets at Lions (-6½)
Pick: Lions by 17
Patriots at Jaguars (-2½)
Pick: Jaguars by 3
Chiefs at Dolphins (+11½)
Pick: Chiefs by 17
A Miami Dolphins looks on in the third quarter of a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium on September 20, 2026 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
RECORD
Week 2
10-6 straight up
7-9 vs. spread
Season
19-13 straight up (.594)
14-18 vs. spread (.438)
All-time (2003-26)
4010-2226-15 straight up (.643)
3061-3046-144 vs spread (.501)
You can hear Kevin Cusick on Thursdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on X– @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.