Week 2 NFL Parlay Picks

Neither one of my parlays hit in Week 1, but I should have hit on my Underdog Parlay of the Week. Pittsburgh stifled Kirk Cousins and Atlanta with its stingy defense, leading to am upset win as a +156 underdog on the football betting line. Tennessee looked set to cash a parlay that paid out almost 6-1, but the Titans blew a 17-0 lead against the Chicago Bears. Chicago failed to score an offense touchdown, but Jonathan Owens returned a blocked punt for a touchdown on special teams and Tyrique Stevenson tallied a pick six to give the Bears the win. They could only muster 148 total yards yet turnovers and special teams kept the Titans from getting the win.

YTD 0-2 -$200

Week 2 NFL Parlay Picks

Total Parlay of the Week

U36.5 in Denver vs. Pittsburgh U41.5 in Jacksonville vs. Cleveland 

$100 to win $263.03

Bo Nix looked absolutely overwhelmed in his first NFL start last week. The rookie quarterback who spent time at Auburn and Oregon completed just 26 of 42 passes for 138 yards with two interceptions. Denver’s offense floundered and finished with just 231 total yards (3.3 YPP). 

Almost all of Denver’s 20 points in Week 1 can be written off. Of their three field goals, two were the direct result of turnovers giving the Broncos the ball in the red zone, while the third field goal was a short drive just before halftime that started at midfield. The Broncos added two safeties and a garbage time touchdown to that tally, and it’s hard to see them matching that point total against a Pittsburgh defense that excels against rookie quarterbacks under Mike Tomlin.

On the other side of the ball, Denver’s defense is solid with a true shutdown cornerback in Pat Surtain II. Meanwhile, the Steelers might not have the left side of their offensive line for this game, while Russell Wilson is questionable after missing Week 1 with a calf injury. The offense stumbled often last week against Atlanta, so don’t expect a high-scoring game in the Mile High City.

As for the other part of this parlay, the calculus is simple. Cleveland might have the best defense in the NFL, but Deshaun Watson is an absolute liability under center. To make matters worse, three of the Browns’ offensive linemen currently have an injury designation. That will make it even more difficult for Watson to move the ball, and it will limit the efficacy of the ground game.

Underdog Parlay of the Week

Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7.5 Cincinnati Bengals ML +204

$100 to win $482.90

Although I’m tempted to take Tampa Bay on the moneyline in Detroit, that’s just too big of a swing at this point. I feel much more confident in the Buccaneers getting seven and a hook on the road in the Motor City, as Baker Mayfield should be able to keep the game within the number. Mayfield was excellent in Tampa Bay’s Week 1 win against Washington, and he is likely to have some success against a Detroit defense that still has questions. The biggest concern is the Bucs’ defense as five starters are currently carrying an injury designation.

Cincinnati has had more success against Kansas City than almost any other team in the NFL over the last five years. The Bengals beat the Chiefs at the end of the 2021 season, knocked them off again in the AFC Championship Game and defeated them late in the 2022 season. Kansas City got its revenge in the playoffs and again in the regular season last year, but both victories were within a single score.

The Bengals had the most disappointing performance of any team in Week 1. They were the most popular pick in Survivor pools, but they could only muster 224 total yards at home in a 16-10 loss to New England. Joe Burrow checked down way too much as the offense lacked explosiveness, and that’s something Cincinnati will look to address on Sunday. I expect Burrow to fare much better against Kansas City’s secondary with Cincinnati’s offensive line giving him ample time to find Ja’Marr Chase and other targets down the field.