One of the things about football is that everyone has an opinion, and typically it is a very loud and vocal opinion. Week 2 is one of the times when you’ll hear more of these opinions than ever because people have to react to everything they’ve seen after just one game. Try to keep in perspective what you watched for one week and not get too crazy.
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Briefly, I’ll share who I’d buy some betting stock in, and who I’ll fade or be cautious about. The Bears offense looked good, but their defense looked rough; I’m not sold that they are going to be doing a new Super Bowl shuffle. The Ravens offense looked dominant, and I think they could remain that way. The Browns looked awful, and should remain terrible. I’d buy more options in the 49ers, and even the Rams, considering how bad they look. One team that I think is worth buying while they’re down is the Chargers, who take on the Raiders.
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Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty participates during NFL football practice Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)
The Las Vegas Raiders did exactly what they were expected to do in the first week of the season. They were able to take out the Dolphins, and they showcased their best player, Ashton Jeanty, while doing it. The team looked much calmer on offense given that they have Kirk Cousins under center. I know that the Raiders don’t get to play a team of the Dolphins’ caliber every week, but this was a good start for the squad and one to build off.
Let’s also not pretend that this offense looked like a well-oiled machine. Cousins was efficient, completing 21-of-30 passes and three touchdowns, but he also threw two interceptions. Jeanty, as mentioned, was heavily involved. He had 23 carries and six catches in the first game. The best strategy for them is to hand him the ball and see what he can do. Brock Bowers is likely out of this game still, so the passing game gets knocked down a bit.
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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh reacts from the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)
The Los Angeles Chargers had potentially the worst Week 1 of anyone in the sport. They hosted the Arizona Cardinals and lost to them 26-14. The Chargers were the biggest favorite of the week, and they eliminated 30% of the Circa Survivor Contest. The Cardinals are expected to be one of the worst teams in football, and the Chargers made Arizona look like they are Super Bowl contenders. I’m sure there will be some adjustments for the Chargers, but what can they do?
Week 1 saw the Chargers give up 393 total yards of offense, including 277 through the air. Simply put, the secondary needs to be better. They also need to control the ball better. They threw an interception and lost a fumble in the game. Really, the only area they were better in was penalties. I have to expect their defense will be better in this one. With Jim Harbaugh leading the way, you can expect a defense to excel. I’m willing to give them another chance and say that Week 1 was a fluke.
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Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh congratulates running back Hassan Haskins (28) after a touchdown in the second half against the Denver Broncos at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood. California, on December 19, 2024. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images)
I’m not 100% sure that the Chargers will be able to cover the big spread on the game of -6.5. I do expect them to load the box and dare Cousins to be the one to win the game. Justin Herbert should feast on the Raiders’ secondary, so this doesn’t seem like a terrible bet. However, I think expecting the Chargers defense to improve and the Raiders offense to not be quite as strong is the best angle. I’m taking the Raiders to score under 18.5 points in this one.
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