NFL Pre-Season Week 2 predictions, odds, schedule, how to watch and betting tips

Every NFL team has now played at least one pre-season game as the fine-tuning for the new campaign approaches its final stages.

With the change from four weeks of pre-season football (excluding the Hall of Fame Game) to three in 2021, teams have adapted how they approach the exhibition schedule.

But typically the second and third games are the ones coaches use to get their starters some extended playing time ahead of the start of the road to the Super Bowl.

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It is a difficult balance for coaches to strike. They want to get their best players as game ready as possible for when the real action begins, but they also do not want to put their stars at undue risk of injury.

And with some teams already seeing the injuries pile up, don't be surprised if several coaches are especially cautious over the course of the final two weeks of pre-season.

That is part of what can make pre-season football so difficult to judge when it comes to placing your bets. 

But if you keep abreast of who is likely to play and study the lower reaches of the depth charts in each matchup, there is profit to be made betting on pre-season.

Here The Sporting News runs you through the full slate of the second week of pre-season and picks the best bet from each game.

NFL pre-season week 2 predictions and betting tips

Odds correct at time of publish.

Tennessee Titans @ Atlanta Falcons (15/8 moneyline, Paddy Power)

All eyes will once again be on number one overall pick Cam Ward for the Titans after a respectable showing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his pre-season debut.

The Titans will play Ward and the first-string from the start in Atlanta, but there's a clear gap in terms of talent and strength in depth in this matchup. The Falcons are the much better football team and, even in pre-season, they should be able to show it.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Seattle Seahawks (1/1 Over 40.5 total points, Betway)

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has suggested Patrick Mahomes won't be involved in their second pre-season game.

Seattle, meanwhile, could give debuts to quarterback Sam Darnold and wide receiver Cooper Kupp. There's enough firepower on both depth charts to make the Over on a points total of 40.5 enticing.

Miami Dolphins @ Detroit Lions (13/8 moneyline, Spreadex)

The Lions have one of the best constructed rosters in the NFL, a masterclass in team building. Miami's roster is a superb example of how not to build a team. That difference will show in this exhibition.

Carolina Panthers @ Houston Texans (5/4 winning margin 1-13 points, Paddy Power)

The Texans are understandably heavy favourites given the disparity in fortunes between these two teams in recent times.

Having sat out against the Minnesota Vikings, Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud should play at least some snaps here, with Houston a smart bet even with the Panthers showing signs of upward momentum.

Green Bay Packers @ Indianapolis Colts (14/5 winning margin 1-6 points, Bet365)

The Packers will be without quarterback Jordan Love and a host of wide receivers, stacking the deck in favour of the Colts. Still, it's tough to trust Indianapolis too much, so backing a tight victory makes sense here.

New England Patriots @ Minnesota Vikings (6/5 moneyline, VirginBet)

Having made his return from injury in the Vikings' pre-season opener, Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is likely to ramp up his preparations for his first season as the starter with more snaps here.

With Justin Jefferson still dealing with a hamstring injury, McCarthy won't get to work with his top target. However, we're backing more positive strides from the former first-round pick and the overall superiority of the Minnesota roster compared to that of New England. 

Cleveland Browns @ Philadelphia Eagles (1/1 alternative Handicap -5.5, Bet365)

The Eagles are 4.5-point favourites against a Browns team dealing with several injuries at quarterback.

Juicing that spread by an extra point gets you even money, making the defending champions a very good value bet.

San Francisco 49ers @ Las Vegas Raiders (1/1 Handicap -6, Paddy Power)

Starting quarterback Brock Purdy may play some snaps for the 49ers, who are dealing with a lot of injury issues, especially at the wide receiver position.

Mac Jones is a capable backup, but the 49ers' quarterback play beyond that is very subpar. Expect the Niners to be cautious with their stars and the Raiders to take advantage.

Baltimore Ravens (9/5, Double result, Bet365) @ Dallas Cowboys 

The Ravens are the kings of pre-season football, having previously reeled off an NFL-record 24 successive exhibition wins, a streak that was snapped in 2023.

Baltimore's roster is markedly better than that of the Cowboys, and the Ravens are rightly favoured to make it two pre-season wins from two for 2025. Back them to be ahead at the half and when the clock hits zeros at the end of the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles Chargers (11/10 winning margin 1-13 points, Sky Bet) @ Los Angeles Rams

The Rams were still able to see off the Cowboys in their pre-season opener even amid the ongoing injury drama concerning Matthew Stafford.

Their tenants at SoFi Stadium promise to offer more resistance with a defense that was among the best in the NFL last season.

New York Jets (31/20 moneyline, VirginBet) @ New York Giants

Neither New York team is expected to pull up any trees in 2025, but the Jets were sharp in their pre-season opener with the Packers. With Justin Fields perhaps set for more snaps as the starting quarterback, there's reason to like them as a moneyline underdog here.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (21/20 alternative Handicap -3.5, Bet365) @ Pittsburgh Steelers)

Aaron Rodgers could make his Steelers pre-season debut in this one, but don't expect it to be much more than a brief cameo.

Pittsburgh's backups are Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson, an enticing proposition for a Tampa Bay defense that throttled Tennessee in the Buccaneers pre-season opener.

Arizona Cardinals @ Denver Broncos (1/1 Handicap -6, Spreadex)

The Broncos' defense was in mid-season form against the 49ers in their first exhibition, and there's little to suggest that will change at home against the Cardinals.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ New Orleans Saints (21/20 alternative points total under 39.5, bet365)

Travis Hunter will once again attract the majority of the attention as he continues his quest to make a success of playing both offense and defense at the highest level.

Don't rule out him getting an interception in this contest with a Saints team likely to find points hard to come by all season.

Buffalo Bills (5/4 moneyline, Betway) @ Chicago Bears

There's a chance Josh Allen may see some snaps against Chicago and, until they prove worthy of trust, it's tough to have too much belief in the Bears in any game. Take the value with Buffalo on the road.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Washington Commanders (37/20 moneyline, Betway)

Another upset play here. The Bengals have one of the best quarterbacks in the game in Joe Burrow, but the defense remains a question-mark, and it's an area of weakness the Commanders are relatively well-equipped to exploit. 

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NFL Pre-season week 2 schedule

How to watch NFL in the UK: TV details and live stream

The 2025 NFL season can be watched in the UK on Sky Sports and on NFL Gamepass via DAZN. Sky Sports broadcasts all primetime games and also selects two games for broadcast on a Sunday. The NFL Red Zone channel is broadcast on Sky Sports Mix.

DAZN subscribers can watch all games live online and via the DAZN app, except for those selected for Sunday broadcast on Sky Sports.

All pre-season games are also available on DAZN, while Sky shows selected pre-season games each week.

The games between the 49ers and Raiders and Jets and Giants will be broadcast on Sky Sports Action this week.

SUBSCRIBE to all the NFL action in 2025 with DAZN here!

When does NFL 2025 season start?

The 2025 NFL season begins on Thursday September 4, with the Eagles starting their title defence against the Cowboys.

The Chiefs face the Chargers a day later in Sao Paulo. Thirteen games will be played on the opening Sunday of the season, before a Monday night clash between the Bears and Vikings in Chicago.