Every week, Yardbarker appears at prime-time NFL video games on Thursday, Sunday and Monday nights, predicting the results of every. Listed here are picks for Week 2.
Buffalo performs its first regular-season sport at Highmark Stadium — which price roughly $2.2B to construct — on Thursday night time. Lions head coach Dan Campbell expects Payments quarterback Josh Allen to ship within the grand opening.
“I can not say sufficient about this quarterback,” Campbell said Tuesday (h/t Subject Degree Media). “He is the catalyst for them.”
Allen was the catalyst for Buffalo in a 36-31 win over the Houston Texans in Week 1, totaling 357 yards (334 passing, 23 speeding) and 4 touchdowns (two passing, two speeding). With that performance, he grew to become the sixth QB in NFL historical past with at the very least 4 mixed passing and speeding TDs in at the very least 25 profession video games.
Maybe Allen will make it 26 to kick off Buffalo’s new constructing in fashion. The Lions — who function standout working again Jahmyr Gibbs — ought to preserve it shut in a high-scoring matchup. Detroit’s protection, nonetheless, ought to flounder after struggling to cease New Orleans Saints second-year QB Tyler Shough in Week 1. Within the 31-30 Detroit additional time win, Shough completed 35-of-56 passing for 410 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Prediction: Payments, 31-27
Colts RB Jonathan Taylor known as the workforce’s 41-23 house loss to the Baltimore Ravens “a wake-up call.” Indianapolis could not get up at Arrowhead Stadium on Sunday.
Baltimore RB Derrick Henry ran for 144 yards and three TDs on 24 carries in Week 1. Like “King Henry,” Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III has a catchy nickname: “K9.” He is additionally a game-breaking runner.
After working for a career-high 173 yards in a 31-10 win over the Denver Broncos, Walker ought to proceed rolling towards the Colts. That might take extra strain off QB Patrick Mahomes, who went 15-of-27 passing for 184 yards, two TDs and one interception in his first sport since tearing the ACL/LCL in his left knee in December 2025.
Prediction: Chiefs, 30-20
As of Wednesday morning, ESPN Analytics gives the Rams a 66.1 % probability to win this matchup. We’re nonetheless selecting the upset.
Whereas there is a “realistic chance” that Rams defensive lineman Aaron Donald returns in Week 2, the three-time Defensive Participant of the 12 months should not be practically as impactful after two seasons in retirement. He may face extra double-teams now that defensive finish Myles Garrett (knee) is being positioned on injured reserve.
Exterior of Garrett and Donald, L.A.’s pass-rush seems to lack one other influence participant after logging no sacks in a 27-7 Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne. The Rams could blame the embarrassing Week 1 exhibiting on jet lag. L.A. arrived in Melbourne simply 28 hours earlier than kickoff.
Whereas they will not be feeling drowsy on “MNF,” L.A. will nonetheless battle to corral Giants QB Jaxson Dart, who seems to be taking a 12 months 2 leap below new HC John Harbaugh. In a 28-20 win over the Dallas Cowboys, Dart had 284 yards (230 passing, 54 speeding) and three TDs (all passing).
