Bengals at Browns

The Bengals looked better than expected last week but they will still be coming in with a rookie quarterback. The Browns looked absolutely horrible but they were playing the Ravens, arguably the best team in the league. The Browns have more experienced players coming into this game, and though Baker Mayfield has looked horrible, he should be more reliable than Joe Burrow for the time being since Burrow is a rookie. The Browns also have a more talented roster, so they seem likely to get a win this Thursday.

Expert Prediction: Browns 27, Bengals 21

Analytics-Based Prediction: Browns 36, Bengals 20

Giants at Bears

The Giants and Bears both looked better than expected last week so this could be a good game. In the first half the Giants appeared to have a good chance of beating the Steelers before falling off in the second half. Their biggest problem was easily their offensive line, which was completely incapable of blocking for Saquon Barkley. When a back as talented as Barkley averages an absolutely horrendous 0.4 yards per carry, you in all likelihood have the worst run-blocking offensive line in the league, and if the Giants keep this up it could go down as the worst of all time. The Bears got a good game out of Mitchell Trubisky but there is no way of knowing if that is sustainable. The Bears seem likely to get the win here because they are going to destroy this Giants offensive line, but if the Giants’ o-line can pull it together they have a very good chance of winning.

Expert Prediction: Bears 21, Giants 17

Analytics-Based Prediction: Bears 30, Giants 21

Rams at Eagles

The Eagles looked horrible last week, blowing a 17 point lead to the Washington Football Team, a group many considered to be amongst the worst in the league. They can’t block for Carson Wentz whatsoever and are now going up against Aaron Donald. Wentz is going to be running for his life all game. The Rams looked great last week, and though they probably shouldn’t have won off that highly scrutinized offensive pass interference, they looked much more like the team that went to the Super Bowl two years ago than the one that stunk it up for most of last season. The Rams should win this game pretty easily because the Eagles simply won’t be able to move the ball due to the fact that they can’t block for Carson Wentz.

Expert Prediction: Rams 26, Eagles 10

Analytics-Based Prediction: Rams 17, Eagles 9

Falcons at Cowboys

The Cowboys looked good last week when they played the Rams and probably should have won the game. The Falcons, on the other hand, got destroyed by the Seahawks. Seattle is a good team, but so is Dallas, so the result could be the same. The Falcons will have absolutely no way of stopping the pass just like last week with Dak Prescott having one of the best receiving cores in the NFL. On the other side of the ball the Falcons should be able to move a little but not nearly enough to get the job done.

Expert Prediction: Cowboys 35, Falcons 27

Analytics-Based Prediction: Cowboys 44, Falcons 21

Panthers at Buccaneers

The Buccaneers looked like a disappointment last week, and though they very well could end up like the Browns of last year, they should still be a solid team. And there is of course still a chance that the Buccaneers turn it around. Either way, they are better than the Panthers, who will probably once again be one of the worse teams in the league. Even if the Buccaneers have a hard time stopping Christian McCaffrey (which happens to everyone), they should still win this game.

Expert Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Panthers 20

Analytics-Based Prediction: Buccaneers 39, Panthers 21

49ers at Jets

The 49ers are coming off a tough loss and could end up taking a step back this year, but that probably won’t matter for this week because the Jets are going to be awful once again. They traded their best player and just lost their starting running back for at least a few weeks. There doesn’t seem to be any hope for this team doing well this year, so they should be destroyed by the defending NFC Champions.

Expert Prediction: 49ers 28, Jets 10

Analytics-Based Prediction: 49ers 31, Jets 20

Broncos at Steelers

The Steelers looked great last week and seem as if they could be legitimate contenders to rival the Ravens in the AFC North. The Broncos also looked impressive, almost beating the Titans last week. The Broncos offense seems to be loaded with talent and the defense was able to stop Derrick Henry. Drew Lock isn’t the most reliable quarterback and the Steelers have a great defense, so Denver might have a hard time moving the ball despite their offensive talent. The Steelers, on the other hand, should take advantage of a Broncos defense that had difficulty defending the Titans’ receivers. This could be a good game, but the Steelers have too much going for them to pick the Broncos.

Expert Prediction: Steelers 24, Broncos 14

Analytics-Based Prediction: Steelers 23, Broncos 3

Jaguars at Titans

It was very surprising to see the Jaguars get a win last week, but the Titans are much better than the Colts, so it is very hard to see the Jaguars having any sort of chance at winning. The Titans can take an early lead and then rely on a good defense and Derrick Henry to drain the clock and finish the game with relative ease. The Jaguars don’t have nearly enough talent for this to be a close game.

Expert Prediction: Titans 24, Jaguars 7

Analytics-Based Prediction: Jaguars 24, Titans 21

Lions at Packers

The Lions did what they always do last week and choked at the end of the game after having a lead for most of it. The Packers looked great, on the other hand, as Aaron Rodgers looked like a legitimate MVP candidate. If he keeps this up and the Packers are able to combine an already high-quality run game with a high-end passing offense and defense, they will be very dangerous. They should be able to take care of the Lions with relative ease.

Expert Prediction: Packers 30, Lions 17

Analytics-Based Prediction: Packers 20, Lions 7

Bills at Dolphins

The Bills looked good last week, but it was the Jets. The Dolphins might be bad, but they are much better than the Jets. Miami got a lot better this offseason and many were picking them as dark horse playoff contenders. The Dolphins offense showed flashes of potential last week, but they were very inconsistent. They will probably have similar problems against the Bills and their great defense. On the other side of the ball, the Dolphins seemed bad at stopping the run so Josh Allen could have a big day on the ground. There is always the chance for an upset in a divisional matchup in which both teams are at least okay, but the Bills should be able to get the win.

Expert Prediction: Bills 24, Dolphins 14

Analytics-Based Prediction: Dolphins 22, Bills 19

Vikings at Colts

The Vikings and the Colts both looked horrible last week, with the Vikings being destroyed by the Packers and the Colts somehow losing to a team that many believed were tanking. The difference is that the Vikings were at least going up against a good team when they lost. They should be able to move the ball well and hold the Colts to few points, so expect the Vikings to win this game with ease.

Expert Prediction: Vikings 27, Colts 17

Analytics-Based Prediction: Vikings 26, Colts 20

Washington at Cardinals

The Cardinals looked great last week and confirmed many’s expectations that they would take a massive step forward this year. Kyler Murray could be an MVP candidate now that he is in his second year and had DeAndre Hopkins to throw the ball to. The Cardinals defense also looked a lot better than it did last year. Washington was able to beat the Eagles last week, but that in all likelihood said more about the Eagles than the Washington Football Team. They should be better than expected with a good pass rush, but they won’t be good enough to take on a team like the Cardinals.

Expert Prediction: Cardinals 34, Washington 20

Analytics-Based Prediction: Cardinals 38, Washington 17

Ravens at Texans

The Ravens looked like they picked up right where they left off last regular season when they destroyed the Browns. Lamar Jackson looked dynamic as ever and even better as a passer. The defense was able to completely shut down the Browns offense as well. The Ravens look like they will once again be one of the best teams in the league. The Texans, on the other hand, looked lost on offense with DeAndre Hopkins gone and will likely no longer be the high-quality team they have always been. Because of that, expect Baltimore to come away with a win pretty easily.

Expert Prediction: Ravens 33, Texans 21

Analytics-Based Prediction: Ravens 24, Texans 19

Chiefs at Chargers

The Chiefs should be one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl again this year and the Chargers looked horrible last week. They are starting Tyrod Taylor and will have a hard time stopping this Chiefs offense with Derwin James out for the season. The Chiefs should be able to move the ball through the air and on the ground and keep this Chargers offense in check. Expect a blowout in the favor of the Chiefs.

Expert Prediction: Chiefs 34, Chargers 14

Analytics-Based Prediction: Chiefs 20, Chargers 9

Patriots at Seahawks

This should be a great game. The Patriots were very underrated coming into the year and seemed to prove the doubters wrong for the time being, even if it was against the Dolphins. The Patriots held Miami to 11 points and had 3 interceptions despite the fact that many considered them to be significantly worse than last year. Last year’s defense got torched by a much worse Dolphins team, so the defense probably won’t drop as much as people said, if at all. Cam Newton looked great, and just to think, he doesn’t even have the entire playbook down. In time, Cam could be an MVP threat. The Seahawks also looked great, and Russell Wilson seems to have a very good chance at finally winning MVP. The Patriots secondary should be able to keep this Seahawks passing game in check, but this game will really test the New England run defense. On the other side of the ball, the Patriots should be able to move the ball against the Seahawks. Seattle had a bad run defense last year, and that was with one of the best run defenders in the NFL in Jadeveon Clowney. They played well last week but that was against a washed Todd Gurley. This should be a close game, but the Patriots seem to match up better with the Seahawks because they can handle Russell Wilson and control the clock on the ground.

Expert Prediction: Patriots 24, Seahawks 21

Analytics-Based Prediction: Patriots 20, Seahawks 13

Saints at Raiders

The Saints looked great last week, but that was with Michael Thomas. Even though he barely contributed, he drew a lot of coverage. Now they will need to rely on other pieces of their offense, which shouldn’t be a major problem against the Raiders. Oakland looked good but they aren’t likely to be successful against a Saints defense that looked elite last week. On the other side of the ball, the Saints will rely on Alvin Kamara in the pass and run games, and that coupled with their great defense should be enough to get the job done.

Expert Prediction: Saints 27, Raiders 13

Analytics-Based Prediction: Raiders 30, Saints 24