Bettors celebrate revived offenses, epic endings, and a special Monday Night double dip to conclude NFL Week 2.
With the Over going a whopping 12-2 and dogs enjoying a 7-6-1 advantage through Sunday, gamblers have two more bites at the Week 2 betting apple.
The New Orleans Saints (-3) against the Carolina Panthers and the Cleveland Browns (-2.5) versus the Pittsburgh Steelers are slight Monday night road chalks at DraftKings.
The projected totals are low, with 39.5 for the New Orleans-Carolina game and 38 for the Cleveland-Pittsburgh tilt.
If the personnel doesn’t appear electrifying, gamblers can employ some razzle-dazzle. A two-game parlay with both games to go over 33.5 points is +103 at DraftKings.
Check out our NFL Week 2 betting results.
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Dramatic NFL Week 2 Finishes Takeaways
NY Giants May Have Saved Season But Lost Key Player
The New York Giants, favored by an overwhelming majority against the Arizona Cardinals, did not cover the -5 betting spread. But their 31-28 road triumph was memorable for many gamblers.
Besides saving moneyline parlays and suicide entries, some bettors hit the in-game DraftKings tote board at +550 when the Giants trailed 28-7 late in the third quarter.
New York matched the biggest comeback in team history and its largest since 1949. Yes, the biggest in 74 years. Or, when gasoline costs 27 cents a gallon.
But there is a sobering development for the Giants. Star running back Saquon Barkley was toted off the field late in the game and slammed his helmet. Early prognosis pointed to a substantial absence of the Giants’ top offensive threat.
Early Monday morning, reports emerged that he only suffered a sprained ankle. That’s better news for the Giants long term, but gamblers will take a hard look at whether he can play against the elite San Francisco 49ers to kick off Week 3 on Thursday night.
Former Niner Matt Breida may now become a highlighted back for them.
Without this miracle comeback, the Giants could have dug a 0-3 hole if they were to lose to San Francisco, as expected.
Niners Outlast Feisty Rams, Bettors Bitten on Final Play
The San Francisco machine continues rolling. Methodical and brutally efficient, the Niners built a 30-20 late lead at -7.5 against the Los Angeles Rams.
But on the final play, the Rams kicked a field goal both of meaningless and titanic importance.
Meaningless in the sense that it didn’t change the outcome. The Niners won 30-23 instead of 30-20.
But for DraftKings bettors backing San Francisco with 60% of the handle and 69% of the tickets, this was titanic. And a brutal, backdoor cover loss.
Across the DraftKings spectrum, millions of dollars change hands when one apparent outcome becomes another.
The Niners, meanwhile, have scored 30 points in two opening road victories. They are one of the elite NFC teams.
Commanders Avoid Meltdown, Broncos in Trouble
The Washington Commanders led the Denver Broncos, 35-24, with a few minutes left. Even at 35-27 with one play left, they looked to be fine.
But Denver quarterback Russell Wilson burned them on a desperation 50-yard touchdown pass on the final play. It was tipped three times and found a Broncos receiver in the end zone.
Only denying the two-point try preserved Washington’s triumph. Gamblers earned +164 (DraftKings) on the moneyline for Washington winning outright and they cashed on the spread at +4.
Denver coach Sean Payton has thus suffered two agonizing season-opening home defeats. And in this one, Denver blew a 21-3 second-quarter lead.
Denver visits the 2-0 Miami Dolphins as road dogs in Week 3 and is staring at a possible 0-3 hole.
Late Money Fizzles in NFL Week 2
This affected three games in particular.
Early-week money favored the Green Bay Packers, who carried a -1.5 favorite spread against the Atlanta Falcons into the weekend at DraftKings.
The Falcons received a torrent of late money, flipping from +1.5 to -3 early Sunday morning. This reduced the overall handle to 54% from 72% on Green Bay and moved the betting line substantially.
The big Sunday money lost, however, while those who waited and bet the Packers late came up with a victory at +3 in their 25-24 setback.
Big sharp money also backed the Las Vegas Raiders and New York Jets, dropping their lines by a full point against the Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys.
But that did not matter. The big chalks prevailed, showing that nobody has a foolproof betting angle on the NFL, week in and week out.
More Teams With Their Backs to the Wall in NFL Week 3
Gamblers will closely assess teams already facing must-win situations. History suggests many 0-2 teams have a huge emotional stake and may play with desperation.
The 0-2 Minnesota Vikings and Los Angeles Chargers fit that mold, and they meet.
Minnesota won the NFC North at 13-4 last year, and the Chargers lost a last-second game to the Miami Dolphins and an overtime scrap against the Tennessee Titans this year.
Whose “O” will go?
These teams badly need this game.
The Cincinnati Bengals were better in Week 2 than Week 1, but still dropped a 27-24 verdict to the visiting Baltimore Ravens. Cincinnati already trails Baltimore by two games in the AFC North.
They host a get-healthy game against the Rams, who have beaten the Seattle Seahawks, covered against the Niners, and are 2-0 against the spread. This is an improved team from last year’s 5-12 campaign.
Week 3 is a desperation gut check for Cincinnati. If the Bengals don’t win, Joe Burrow’s $275 million contract may soon dominate the talk show circuit.
The Bengals are subtly improving, however.
Tee Higgins, who tallied two touchdowns for Cincinnati in Week 2, has been Burrow’s favorite target. But Burrow needs to get Ja’Marr Chase going.
Bears Face Uphill Battle
Chicago is in a tough spot.
After starting 0-2, Da Bears face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, who beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 17-9 with their offense not playing up to full speed.
The Chiefs have an awesome defense, however. Against Jacksonville, they blanketed the middle of the end zone when Trevor Lawrence and Co. threatened to score. Lawrence was forced to throw precision passes to players already pushed to the edge of out-of-bounds.
Kansas City also stuffed Jacksonville three times when the Jags had first-and-goal on the 1, trailing 14-6.
Offensive accolades for the Chiefs are always appropriate. But here’s another tip of the hat to their unsung “D.”
Kansas City-Jacksonville at 50 points was the most popular Over with 78% of the DraftKings handle. But the Under bettors ruled this one.
Will 0-2 Cardinals Rebound Emotionally?
Arizona is 2-0 on the cover for bettors. The question is what’s going to be in the tank when they face the Cowboys after a sure win against the Giants got away?
The 2-0 Cowboys, meanwhile, are a juggernaut and have only allowed 10 points in two games.
Trends Gamblers Will Assess in NFL Week 3
Running into Trouble
Coaches around the league in general and the Indianapolis Colts in particular may re-think aggressive running plays involving prized-possession quarterbacks.
Indianapolis Colts rookie Anthony Richardson absorbed a pounding in his first two NFL games. He had to leave both.
Yes, Richardson notched two running touchdowns in the Colts’ 31-20 triumph over the Houston Texans. And he has three rushing TDs so far.
But he was knocked out of Sunday’s game with a concussion.
Richardson may have too much running ability for his own good. And perhaps new coach Shane Steichen sees Richardson as the next Jalen Hurts, whom he coached in Philadelphia last year.
Both Hurts and Richardson are special. But Richardson can’t help the Colts from the bench.
Gardner Minshew fans, get ready. He relieved Richardson and did a credible job on Sunday.
The Colts now face a tremendous Baltimore Ravens defense.
NFL Week 2 Significant Dice Rolls
“Everybody Loves a Gambler….
Arthur “Winner Seven” Smith made the gutsiest call of the early season. The Falcons trailed the Packers, 24-22, with 2:07. They had 4th-and-1 on the Green Bay 23, already in field-goal range for a potential game-winning kick.
Smith eschewed the field goal and Bijan Robinson, initially trapped in the backfield, squirmed for the first down. Had the play failed, Green Bay may have run out the clock.
Smith later got his field goal and the Falcons held off the Packers.
Smith also gained dice-roll plaudits for a 4th-and-4 call from the Green Bay 6 with Atlanta trailing 24-12 in the fourth quarter. Quarterback Desmond Ridder broke outside and took it to the house, pulling Atlanta within one score.
Elsewhere, Justin Herbert hit a Winner Seven on 4th-and-4 from the Tennessee Titans’ 8 in the second quarter. The Chargers led 3-0 at that time.
The sure field goal was declined. And Herbert tossed a touchdown pass, then a two-point conversion, to put the Chargers up 11-0.
They lost in overtime, but that was a big swing for them.
…Until He Loses”
Lions coach Dan Campbell is revered for being unconventional. But he tossed snake eyes twice in Detroit’s 37-31 upset loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
Campbell went for it on 4th-and-4 from the Seattle 31 in a 7-7 game, ignoring the field goal. The Lions were stopped.
When Detroit led 21-17 in the third quarter, he opted against the punt in his own territory and got stopped. It led to Seattle’s go-ahead touchdown.
Campbell did have one big winner, a 4th-down pass for a conversion that led to a second-half TD to break a 14-14 deadlock.
But the two missed conversions, combined with two fumbles creating a 10-point swing in the second and third quarters, gave Detroit too much to overcome.
Only 20 percent of the DraftKings betting handle supported Seattle at +180 in a big moneyline score.
Now the riverboat gamblers, Smith and Campbell, meet in Week 3 in Detroit. They should put a casino at midfield.
BetMGM NFL Week 2 Highlights
Gamblers enjoyed split results in the most heavily-wagered games.
The Miami Dolphins-New England Patriots contest, positioned as a Sunday Night “Island” game, enticed the most betting action.
The Dolphins at -2.5 were the book’s most heavily supported team, and they delivered in a 24-17 triumph.
They were followed by the Chiefs at -3.5. Kansas City also prevailed for the bettors.
The Lions, the third most heavily bet, did not come through at -4.5.
As for totals, Over bettors went 1-for-3 in their biggest selections.
The Dolphins-Patriots at 46.5 was a loss for the Over.
Seattle’s overtime triumph against Detroit was the second-largest play and a romp for the Over.
The Chiefs-Jaguars, third choice on the Over at 51.5, was a romp for the Under.
Bettors were 0-for-3 in the large Under selections of the Jets-Cowboys at 38.5, the Ravens-Bengals at 45.5, and the Commanders-Broncos at 38.5.
BetMGM NFL Week 2 Most Bet Player Prop Tickets and Results
Winners
- Bijan Robinson Over 2.5 receptions (-155)
- Christian Kirk Over 42.5 receiving yards (-115)
- James Cook Over 17.5 receiving yards (-115)
Losers
- Courtland Sutton Under 49.5 receiving yards (-115)
- James Conner Under 60.5 rushing yards (-115)
FanDuel NFL Week 2 Winners
The prop bettors shuffled on to Buffalo and took back a hefty +900 for the Bills to be the highest-scoring team of the week.
It was a nail-biter too, as their 38-10 triumph over the Las Vegas Raiders was just better than the Seahawks’ 37-31 overtime thriller in Detroit.
The Seahawks-Lions (+700) and Washington Commanders-Denver Broncos (+2000) tied for the highest point total of 68.
Go figure that the high-flying Jaguars would score only nine points and return +3000 as the lowest-scoring team of the week. And it came in a game with the most projected points.
Some interesting props went right down to the wire.
Patrick Mahomes, Herbert, and Josh Allen to throw 7 combined touchdown passes paid +155.
The Lions, Chiefs, and Bills just missed at +260 to deliver 12 combined touchdowns. They had 11.
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