OFF The Cover: Sunday Picks

The early weeks of the NFL season are always about as volatile as gasoline in a fireworks factory. With that said, most of the expected contenders have come out hot so far in 2026, while some of the expected basement dwellers are showing strong signs of life. In terms of Off the Cover, we're not exactly rolling out of the gate, but we have been pretty accurate, relatively speaking. Now, after going 1-0 on Thursday night with Buffalo, taking their home opener in a high-scoring affair, the Week 2 Sunday card is here, with some awesome matchups. Here are the sides I’m taking against the number. 

NFL SPREADS – WEEK 02

• Carolina Panthers +2½: I’m taking the Panthers to keep this one tight in Atlanta and make the Falcons sweat all the way to the finish.
• New Orleans Saints +8½: Eight-and-a-half points is a lot to give a Saints team that should be able to hang around against Baltimore.
• Chicago Bears -5½: I’ll lay the points with Chicago at home, expecting the Bears to make life difficult for Minnesota from the opening whistle.
• Cincinnati Bengals +2½: Give me Cincinnati with the points, as Joe Burrow and the Bengals have enough firepower to make this a one-score game at worst.
• New England Patriots -4½: The Patriots get the nod at home, where I expect their defense to create enough problems for Pittsburgh to pull away.
• New York Jets +3½: I’m grabbing the Jets and the points in what looks like a classic divisional game that could come down to the final possession.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers -8½: Tampa Bay is giving up a big number, but I’m trusting the Bucs to handle business against Cleveland at home.
• Tennessee Titans +7: I’ll take the touchdown with Tennessee, betting that the Titans can do enough offensively to keep Philadelphia from turning this into a rout.
• Jacksonville Jaguars +2½: Jacksonville gets the points against Denver, and I like the Jaguars’ chances of making this a fourth-quarter fight.
• Las Vegas Raiders +6½: I’m taking the Raiders and the points, because nearly a touchdown feels like too much to give in what should be a competitive AFC West battle.
• Seattle Seahawks +4½: Seattle gets the points on the road, and even with Drew Lock stepping in at quarterback, the defending champs have enough defensive muscle to stay within a field goal. 
• Washington Commanders +3½: I’m taking Washington with the points in Dallas, expecting this rivalry game to be considerably closer than the number suggests.
• Miami Dolphins +13½: Thirteen-and-a-half is simply too many points for me to lay against Miami, even with San Francisco heavily favored at home.
• Kansas City Chiefs -6½: I’m laying the points with Kansas City under the Sunday night lights, expecting the Chiefs to eventually separate from Indianapolis.

That’s the Sunday card...14 picks, no hedging, no apologies!