WEEK 2 BOUNCE-BACK GAMES ARE HERE! 🏈🤑

Week 1 of the NFL season is a guessing game. You can do all the research in the world but you just never know how teams will perform. The dynamics vary - some teams take time to find their rhythm (Bengals), while others hit the ground running only to taper off (Cowboys).

Forecasting how teams and players will perform without observing them in real games is extremely challenging. We have predictions, but they can only take us so far. Accounting for factors like coaching changes, roster alterations, injuries, and rookie showings is essential.

For both bettors and fantasy enthusiasts, Week 1 in the NFL serves as a revealing moment. It's a juncture where we adjust our strategies and gain insights into what the f*ck is actually happening, how teams are executing their strategies with new players and coaches, and which players have a vital role on the team.

The preseason is just a smokescreen, inundating us with news about depth charts and star players during training camps. However, this information loses its relevance when the rubber meets the road. The true yardstick is the on-field action, and we finally had the chance to witness it last week.

Here are my KEY takeaways from Week 1:

• Dolphins have the best offense in the league

• The Cowboys’ defense looks terrifying

• The Chiefs need Travis Kelce

• The Jets will always Jet

• The 49ers QB is Purdy good

• The Packers have a secret QB sauce

Some of the featured Week 2 matchups include a playoff rematch between the Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars and an early-season AFC North showdown between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. Kansas City and Cincinnati have daunting draws as both teams try to put forgettable Week 1 performances behind them.

The New York Jets also take on the Dallas Cowboys in a game that has become an apparent mismatch because of the Aaron Rodgers injury. Here are the odds and lines for Week 2 of the 2023 NFL season.

Baltimore Ravens @ Cincinnati Bengals

Sept. 17, 1 p.m. ET | Ravens +3 (-102) @ Bengals -3 (-118)

The Ravens, our current Super Bowl 58 best bet, are looking to start the season at 2-0 here. Lamar Jackson didn’t perform as well as expected in the opener, but Baltimore still won handily.

The visitors will be without J.K. Dobbins, who suffered a devastating Achilles injury. Joe Burrow struggled through an awful performance in a wet loss at Cleveland and should be ready to rebound.

A win would be sweet revenge for Baltimore, which lost in the playoffs at Cincinnati last season. Cincinnati has won four of the last five games between the teams, though — including the playoffs — so my pick here is the Bengals at -3 as Burrow gets right.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Sept. 17, 1 p.m. ET | Chiefs -3 (-115) @ Jaguars +3 (-105)

The Chiefs are starting at the prospect of an 0-2 start, and the Jacksonville offense looks poised to elevate to another level this season. But getting Chris Jones back puts Kansas City in a position to hang in defensively.

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This will be the most compelling game of the early matchups on Sunday. I am expecting a heroic Patrick Mahomes performance, as he is one of our top bets going by the NFL MVP odds, to save his team from another loss and will opt for Kansas City at -2.5.

New York Jets @ Dallas Cowboys

Sept. 17, 4:25 p.m. ET | Jets +7.5 (+103) @ Cowboys -7.5 (-133)

The spread here moved a lot after the Rodgers injury, and the matchup has now totally lost its luster. Expect another dominant Dallas performance on defense against a New York team, and easily ride with the Cowboys at -7.5.

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@thegamedayaction

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