NFL Confidence Pool Picks Week 2

by Joey House - 9/10/2025

The first week of the 2025 NFL season is in the books. Interestingly enough, the week began with a statistical anomaly, and Sunday night had another one. The season opener began bizarrely, with the Eagles' star defensive tackle Jalen Carter being ejected for spitting on the Cowboys' quarterback Dak Prescott. The score at halftime was Philadelphia 21, Dallas 20. Philly opened the second half with a field goal, making it 24-21. Dallas responded with a 9-play drive, but then lightning struck, both literally and figuratively. The ex-Eagle running back Miles Sanders fumbled on the Philly 11-yard line, and after the Eagles recovered, the game was delayed for 65 minutes for a weather event. Play may have resumed an hour later, but the scoring didn't, as the final score was the same as before the delay, 24-21 Philadelphia. This is only the second time in 174 games over the last 20 years that a first half had 40+ points but failed to cover an O/U that was under 50.

Sunday night brought the second "What in the hell just happened?" game, when Baltimore had a 99% chance of winning, but saw their sure win turn into an agonizing 41-40 loss at Buffalo. It was another fumble, this time by Ravens star running back Derrick Henry, that caused the seemingly impossible to happen. If these games are any indication of the kind of season we're in for, my best bet is to buckle up; it's going to be a wild and crazy ride.

For the second season in a row, we achieved a solid 10-6 record in Week 1, and our 98 points this year represent an improvement of two points. It is always nice to get a good start to a season, rather than play catch-up.

Doc’s Sports offers NFL expert picks for every game on our NFL predictions page.

16 points – Detroit Lions over Chicago Bears: Detroit feeds off home momentum and precise execution to stretch Chicago's defense. The Lions finish drives with consistency, while their defensive front wears down the Bears late for a decisive divisional win.

15 points – Cincinnati Bengals over Jacksonville Jaguars: Cincinnati protects well and distributes efficiently, exposing coverage gaps across Jacksonville's secondary. The Bengals close strong with clock-draining possessions as the Jaguars fail to sustain rhythm.

14 points – Baltimore Ravens over Cleveland Browns: Baltimore sets the tone early with field control and aggressive playcalling. The Ravens' defense tightens, forcing punts and giving their offense room to separate after halftime.

13 points – Buffalo Bills over New York Jets: The Bills trade punches with the Jets before locking in defensively in the final quarter. The Bills capitalize on a key possession, turning crowd energy into a go-ahead score on the road.

12 points – Arizona Cardinals over Carolina Panthers: Arizona's pace and precision stretch Carolina thin, keeping the defense reactive. The Cardinals force takeaways and convert red zone chances to build a comfortable lead at home.

11 points – Minnesota Vikings over Atlanta Falcons (SNF): Under the lights, Minnesota matches Atlanta's urgency and finds defensive footing late. The Vikings ride crowd momentum to a clutch scoring drive and a fourth-quarter stop.

10 points – Dallas Cowboys over New York Giants: Dallas leans on veteran leadership and clean blocking to control tempo. The Cowboys exploit soft coverage, move the chains, and close out with a defensive stand.

9 points – Green Bay Packers over Washington Commanders (TNF): Green Bay sets the tone early with physicality and ball control. The Packers find offensive rhythm and disrupt Washington's drives, building a lead they protect throughout.

8 points – San Francisco 49ers over New Orleans Saints: San Francisco's depth and discipline overwhelm New Orleans at the line. The 49ers force predictable play and capitalize with efficient scoring, pulling away as the Saints fade.

7 points – Pittsburgh Steelers over Seattle Seahawks: Pittsburgh wins the battle up front, stifling Seattle's run and generating pressure. The Steelers build a lead through methodical drives led by future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers, while the Seahawks struggle to respond on the road.

6 points – Indianapolis Colts over Denver Broncos: Indianapolis finds early rhythm through motion and spacing, exploiting Denver's defensive gaps. The Colts maintain control and seal it with key stops and sustained drives.

5 points – Kansas City Chiefs over Philadelphia Eagles: Kansas City leverages home-field edge in the marquee rematch of Super Bowl LIX, dominating the trenches and forcing turnovers. The Eagles compete but can't match the Chiefs' balance and timely stops.

4 points – Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Houston Texans (MNF): Tampa Bay mixes play calls to keep Houston off balance. The Buccaneers manage the clock and finish possessions, while the Texans falter in critical moments on the road.

3 points – Los Angeles Rams over Tennessee Titans: The Rams rely on experience and protection to dictate pace. They strike early against Tennessee's zones and convert key downs. The Titans linger but fail to pressure or finish, and Los Angeles closes with a red zone stop.

2 points – Miami Dolphins over New England Patriots: Miami's speed creates early separation, stretching New England's defense in space. The Dolphins tilt the field position with explosive plays and sustained pressure.

1 point – Las Vegas Raiders over Los Angeles Chargers (MNF): Las Vegas controls tempo at home, exploiting defensive lapses with sharp execution. The Raiders generate short fields and clinch it with a late scoring drive.

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Start:	September 10, 2025 @ 10:00 PM
Expert:	Nick Menken
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NFL Confidence Pool Picks Week 2

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