As the 2025 NFL season unfolds, things are starting to take an unpredictable turn. The Cincinnati Bengals remain the only undefeated team in the competitive AFC North, despite losing their star quarterback Joe Burrow to a toe injury necessitating surgery. The best-case scenario puts him out for three months; however, ESPN’s Adam Schefter suggests it may very well be season-ending. Nevertheless, backup Jake Browning, who has starting experience (4-3 in seven starts with Cincinnati in 2023), guided the Bengals to a 31-27 win against a surprisingly resilient Jacksonville squad. On the other hand, the Kansas City Chiefs, who have represented the AFC in five of the last six Super Bowls, find themselves at a surprising 0-2 for the first time since 2014—head coach Andy Reid’s second year at the helm. And who would have guessed that the Indianapolis Colts would emerge as the last unbeaten team in the AFC South?
We had another impressive week, going 11-5 and scoring 110 out of 130 possible points. This brings our cumulative record to 21-11 (65.6%) with a total point tally of 208 out of 230, achieving 80% of possible points.
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16 points – Buffalo Bills vs. Miami Dolphins (TNF): Buffalo leverages a well-rounded strategy to dominate Miami’s defense. The Bills assert control in the trenches and efficiently finish drives, pulling away with critical defensive stops in the second half. Miami is simply relieved to be playing in September’s drizzle rather than December’s snow.
15 points – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. New York Jets: This matchup plays perfectly into Tampa Bay’s strengths, as they excel in areas where the Jets struggle. New York holds a -2 turnover ratio, while the Buccaneers have not lost or gained a turnover in their first two games.
14 points – Washington Commanders vs. Las Vegas Raiders: Washington’s aggressive defense, currently 9th in the NFL in blitz percentage at 29.1%, should create significant issues for Las Vegas’s passing game, especially since Raiders’ QB Geno Smith has already faced 7 sacks and 3 interceptions, posting the lowest QB rating in the league at 66.0.
13 points – Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams: Philadelphia takes control in the trenches, generating pressure and creating opportunities. With 19 rushing first downs between Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts, the Eagles convert crucial possessions and tighten their defense to overcome the Rams.
12 points – Seattle Seahawks vs. New Orleans Saints: Seattle leverages physical play to disrupt New Orleans’ offensive flow. The Seahawks achieve offensive balance and provide timely defensive stops to take the lead in the later stages.
11 points – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Denver Broncos: In this clash of emerging AFC West quarterbacks, Los Angeles maintains strong pocket protection and exposes Denver’s weaknesses in open space. The Chargers build momentum with effective scoring and manage the clock to seal the victory.
10 points – Green Bay Packers vs. Cleveland Browns: Cleveland appears to be a chaotic mess as tensions rise, especially after benching QB Joe Flacco in the fourth quarter last week. Green Bay’s defense ranks 3rd in the league, allowing only 30% of opposing drives to result in points.
9 points – Kansas City Chiefs vs. New York Giants (SNF): Kansas City enforces its tempo on the road, mixing plays to keep New York on the defensive and out of rhythm. Patrick Mahomes has never lost three consecutive regular-season games in his eight-plus seasons with the Chiefs.
8 points – Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans: Indianapolis establishes early dominance with effective motion and spacing, targeting Tennessee’s defensive weaknesses with rising star TE Tyler Warren, a rookie candidate for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Colts’ defense limits the NFL’s least productive offense, averaging just 192.5 total yards per game.
7 points – Atlanta Falcons vs. Carolina Panthers: Atlanta excels with aerial plays and bubble screens, turning small gains into significant opportunities against Carolina’s soft coverage. The Falcons’ interior linemen stand firm, repelling defensive rushes and enabling sustained drives that ground the Panthers.
6 points – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans: Jacksonville’s defense capitalizes on Houston’s mistakes, contributing to a season total of six takeaways. The Jaguars implement physical runs and extended plays, battling through a close contest likely to be settled in the final moments.
5 points – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Minnesota Vikings: In this showdown of reserve quarterbacks, Cincinnati holds a slight edge with a more seasoned player in the mix. This advantage turns out to be crucial in a tight matchup, as the Bengals seize critical moments and swing momentum with timely defensive plays. Their secondary anticipates well, making crucial deflections and interceptions to secure a low-scoring victory.
4 points – Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco: Arizona showcases its formidable talent in Santa Clara, maintaining a commendable 7-3 record over the last 10 regular-season meetings. The Cardinals excel at neutralizing San Francisco’s offense, reminding everyone that Mac Jones’ previous game was merely an outlier.
3 points – Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears: Dallas’s evolving ground game allows quarterback Dak Prescott to link up with wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens for deep play-action passes. Furthermore, Dallas has one of the top kickers in the league, towering opportunities for scoring at least three points from beyond the 50-yard line.
2 points – Baltimore Ravens vs. Detroit Lions (MNF): Baltimore unleashes a blitz-heavy attack, overwhelming Detroit’s protection and causing chaos in the backfield. Detroit remains grateful for infrequent visits to Baltimore, having lost their last five straight and failing to cover the spread in four of those contests over the past 40 years.
1 point – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New England Patriots: Steelers’ fans eagerly anticipate each week’s showing from veteran QB Aaron Rodgers, wondering which version will show up. Meanwhile, New England struggles with the league’s worst pass defense, allowing 315 yards per game through the first two matches, providing him a solid chance for a standout performance.
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