NFL Week 2: Who’s For Real, Who’s Fraudulent, MVP Sleeper

But first let’s recap week 2 best bets:

✅ "Can't lose" MONEYLINE PARLAY (+146):

Baltimore Ravens ML

Detroit Lions ML

LA Chargers ML

✅ Seattle Seahawks +3 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Sniped this one early. Steelers fooled everyone with that inflated Week 1 scoreboard vs. the Jets — we saw through it. Seattle was the right side from the jump.

✅ New England Patriots +1.5 vs. Miami Dolphins

As predicted: better coach, better prep, better result. Vrabel outclassed a Miami team that’s already teetering on collapse. (Although the Dolphins did show fight which was a good sign for McDaniel)

✅ Baltimore Ravens -11.5 vs. Cleveland Browns

Started slow, finished exactly how we drew it up. Total mismatch — and it showed once Baltimore settled in.

❌ Tennessee Titans +5.5 vs. Los Angeles Rams

Jumped the gun on Cam Ward. He has the ability to play in this league, but he’s not ready to string it together across four quarters yet. Talent is there — reps and rhythm still coming.

Week 2 is in the books, so it's only right to overreact. Some teams showed they’re for real. Others? Total smoke and mirrors. It's time to separate the contenders from the pretenders — and figure out who’s got momentum early in the season.

📈 Colts & Daniel Jones Are For Real

The Colts are lighting people up, and Daniel Jones is playing the best ball of his career — but the public still hasn’t caught on. And that’s exactly where we want them.

Everyone keeps clinging to the “Giants bust” version of Jones. Fine by me. I’ve been a believer from the start — he was set up to fail in New York with no line, no weapons, and no structure. Now? He’s got protection, a beast RB, real wideouts, and a defense that’s playing better than anyone expected.

People called Week 1 a fluke. Then Jones drops 300+ yards and 2 TDs on a top defense and nearly 30 points on the board. That’s not a fluke — that’s a guy who finally has the system he needed.

🔥 Baker Mayfield for MVP? He Should Be in the Conversation.

Baker Mayfield is a dog.

He rallied the Bucs to a Monday night win over Houston with his second straight late-game comeback, throwing 2 touchdowns, running for a clutch 4th-and-10 conversion on a bum knee, and flashing the kind of fire you only get from a guy who’s been left for dead by half the league.

Through two weeks, Baker’s rocking a 98.6 passer rating with zero interceptions, and Tampa Bay is 2-0 with a division-best offense. Oh, and he’s doing this without All-Pro tackle Tristan Wirfs and WR Chris Godwin, who’s still working back from injury.

It’s not just a hot streak — the numbers are clean, the wins are real, and the narrative is cooking.

Takeaway: Baker’s MVP odds sit at around +3000 right now. If he keeps stacking wins — especially in comeback fashion — and starts getting weapons back healthy, he’ll be in the conversation by midseason.

🧨 Chiefs Dynasty Is NOT Dead — Relax

The Chiefs are 0–2 for the first time since 2014 and people are already yelling “dynasty over” like Mahomes forgot how to throw. Relax. That’s a clown take.

This team is banged up, playing without any offensive weapons. No Xavier Worthy. No Rashee Rice. No real depth. And they still nearly pulled it off against two elite teams — the Chargers and Eagles — who might both be playing in January.

The bright side? Help is on the way. Worthy and Rice are expected back in a few weeks, and when they are, this offense gets dangerous again. Until then, they just need to weather the storm — and they can, because this defense is legit. Top 5 in the league and still carrying them while the offense reloads.

Let’s not forget: we’ve seen teams make deep playoff runs with far worse QBs than Patrick Mahomes and elite defenses. And the Chiefs still nearly won both games. They’re going to be just fine.

🦁 Lions Look Like Killers… But Pump the Brakes

As the great Lee Corso once said: “Not so fast, my friend.” Yes, the Lions absolutely dismantled the Bears in Week 2. But let’s be honest — the Bears are terrible.

Caleb Williams is a bottom-5 QB. Two more picks, four sacks, and a passer rating under 75 through two weeks. Chicago’s offense looks like it’s running a preseason install, and the defense? Don’t even start.

The Bears just blew a lead to JJ McCarthy, who, let’s be real, didn’t look like an NFL starter on Sunday night either. So now ask yourself: how bad is Chicago’s defense if they blew a lead to McCarthy, who might stink?

Detroit did what a good team is supposed to do — took a bad opponent behind the woodshed. Goff was sharp, the run game clicked, and Ben Johnson’s offense was humming. But this isn’t about punishing them for blowing out a bad team. It’s about not overreacting to something they should have done

⚡ Chargers Are Legit

The Chargers are officially for real. Week 1, they dethroned the Chiefs in Brazil. Week 2, they bullied the Raiders in primetime. That’s two straight division wins to open the season — and it’s not a fluke.

Everyone wanted to fade them after last year’s collapse. That’s fine. Now they’ve got Jim Harbaugh at the wheel, Justin Herbert looking sharp, and a roster that’s playing mean on both sides of the ball.

Herbert threw for 240+ and 2 TDs vs. Vegas. Keenan Allen looks like he's 27 again, Quentin Johnston is catching passes?, and Ladd is all over the field. And the defense? Picked off Geno three times and held the Raiders under 10. That’s a statement.

This team looks different. Confident. Physical. Focused. Even without Khalil Mack, they’re flying around on defense and making plays when it matters.

Bottom line: The Chargers are 2–0 in the division, the Chiefs are winless, the Raiders got exposed, and the Broncos look like they’re sliding backward fast.

LA isn’t just hanging around — they’re setting the tone in the AFC West. Right now, they’ve got the edge, the swagger, and the momentum.

✅ Who’s For Real

Green Bay Packers

This might be the most dangerous team in football. The Packers have arguably the best defense in the league, plus elite talent on both lines. They’re big, fast, and nasty — and they’re only getting more confident by the week.

Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Herbert is locked in. He’s slinging it all over the field, Ladd McConkey is a menace in motion, and Keenan Allen looks like a man on a mission. They haven’t even scratched the surface with rookie RB Omarion Hampton yet — expect some regression with Khalil Mack missing time, but once he’s back, this defense levels up again.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This team is banged up — and still 2-0. No Tristan Wirfs. No fully healthy Chris Godwin. And Baker Mayfield is dealing. The Bucs are executing at a high level on both sides of the ball and still haven’t hit their ceiling. When they get healthy? Watch out.

Indianapolis Colts

Elite skill talent, strong coaching, and Daniel Jones is proving he can play QB in the league at a high level. Jonathan Taylor, Michael Pittman, Tyler Warren, and Josh Downs form a top-tier offensive group, and this defense has bite. No fluke here.

Philadelphia Eagles

I don’t fully buy Jalen Hurts — but I have to respect the results. The Eagles have one of the nastiest defenses in the league and start every drive with 1st & 9. They’re not pretty… they’re just effective. And they keep finding ways to beat real teams even with their best WR stuck under 40 yards on the year

Buffalo Bills & Baltimore Ravens

Do i really need to explain? These two will be super bowl contenders until Josh and Lamar are no longer in the league

❌ Who’s Getting Exposed

Houston Texans

The O-line is a disaster, CJ Stroud is running for his life, and without Tank Dell stretching the field, this offense is stuck. Nico Collins is struggling to separate, and the run game (RIP Nick Chubb) is non-existent. Long year incoming..

Detroit Lions

The Packers exposed them, and they feasted on a trash Bears team. Jared Goff still can’t play in cold weather, and unless Detroit somehow snags home field (they won’t), this team’s season ends early..

Arizona Cardinals

They beat Spencer Rattler and Bryce Young — barely. Let’s see them string together a win against a real team before anyone throws around the word “contender.”

Chicago Bears

Yes, they’re 0-2, so not very "fraudulent". But, they’re not turning it around. The defense is a real problem — 79 points allowed to the Lions and Vikings. And Caleb Williams? He still hasn’t figured it out. If Chicago’s going to be in shootouts every week… they’re going to lose most (all) of them..

🟡 Not Hitting the Panic Button (Yet)

Kansas City Chiefs

0-2? Yes. But they’ve faced two Super Bowl-level teams while missing multiple weapons. Once Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice return, this offense unlocks again. The only red flag: off-field distractions and whether this team wants it bad enough.

Denver Broncos

This doesn’t look like last year’s late-season squad… but they’re still well-coached, still physical, and still have one of the best offensive lines in the league. They’ll hang around if they can stay healthy.

Dallas Cowboys

Built like the Bears — except they win shootouts. Should’ve beaten the Eagles in Week 1 if Lamb didn’t drop three passes. Their identity is clear: speed, big plays, air raid offense, and let Brandon Aubrey break your heart at the buzzer. Javonte’s finally looking like North Carolina Javonte, and the skill group is nasty — CeeDee all over the field, Pickens on the sideline, Ferguson up the seam… pick your poison.

Check in on Friday for our Week 3 Best Bets and SUBSCRIBE to our free weekly newsletter below