NFL Week 2 Upset Picks: Raiders, Bengals Eyeing Repeat Performances

Throughout each week of the NFL season, our team here at BetSided is going through each matchup on the NFL slate to identify trends and teams that we like to help you find the best picks to make each week. 

There are going to be times that were wrong, but when it came to NFL Week 1 upset picks, we were very, very right. It’s good to be lucky, huh? 

The Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Arizona Cardinals and Houston Texans all came through to deliver on our straight up upset picks, and we’re aiming for similar success this week.

Underdogs dominated in Week 1 of the NFL season, going 12-4 against the spread and 9-7 straight up, but can they have the same success in Week 2?

Here’s who our editors are taking this week with all odds via WynnBET Sportsbook:

Cincinnati Bengals (+120) at Chicago Bears

The Bengals are going to go on the road to Chicago this week and beat the Bears. 

Cincinnati looked balanced in its win against Minnesota, with Joe Burrow throwing for 261 yards and two touchdowns and Joe Mixon rushing for over 100 yards. The one thing that concerns me is that the Bengals’ offensive line is still in shambles. Burrow was sacked five times and that does worry me a little bit. 

Yet, the Bengals are +120 underdogs and if it comes down to a battle of the offenses, I’m trusting Burrow and his myriad of receivers over Andy Dalton and company. Give me the Bengals to be a surprise 2-0 team. -- Donnavan Smoot

Las Vegas Raiders (+195) at Pittsburgh Steelers

The Raiders pulled off a major overtime upset against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1, rallying from a few deficits to ultimately win on Derek Carr’s touchdown pass to Zay Jones in overtime.

This week, I’m, channeling my inner Chris Berman and backing “The Raaaiiiders” on the road against the Steelers.

Derek Carr, Darren Waller and Bryan Edwards led a strong passing game in Week 1, and Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake were a solid duo in the backfield as well. The Raiders’ revamped offensive line has me concerned against a tough Steelers pass rush, but the same can be said for Pittsburgh, as Las Vegas totaled three sacks and forced a pair of Lamar Jackson fumbles in Week 1. 

The Steelers pulled off a major upset in Week 1 over Buffalo, but this feels like a letdown spot for a team that really struggled on offense in Week 1. -- Peter Dewey

The Raiders proved my theory that they aren't as bad as everyone thinks in Week 1 when they upset the Ravens on Monday Night Football. Not only did they get the win, but they gained the most offensive yards of all teams in the opening week with 491 yards.

Meanwhile the Steelers needed a blocked punt touchdown to get the win over the Buffalo Bills. Pittsburgh only gained 252 total yards of offense, and Ben Roethlisberger's play was uninspired. I still don't believe in the Steelers, and I think the Raiders win outright as underdogs for the second straight week. -- Iain MacMillan

Indianapolis Colts (+165) vs. Los Angeles Rams

The Rams played about as perfectly as a team could in their Sunday Night Football thumping over the Chicago Bears. Matthew Stafford put up a historic performance in his Rams debut, but don’t forget that two of the touchdowns came from communication breakdowns in the Bears secondary, including not one, but TWO Chicago players not even putting a hand on Van Jefferson after getting burned deep, leading to an easy six points. Indy didn’t play well vs. Seattle, but they’re not “Bears-level” bad.

Wins can be incredibly fleeting in the NFL, and the Colts didn’t exactly lose to a slouch in the Seattle Seahawks in Week 1 either. I expect a much more balanced performance from Indianapolis against Los Angeles this week, who should be able to contain their defense much more effectively than the Bears did. Look for a big game out of second-year running back Jonathan Taylor to lead the way in the upset. -- Ben Heisler

NFL Upset Picks to Date:

LAST WEEK: 4-0

SEASON RECORD: 4-0

What upset do you see brewing in Week 2 of the NFL?

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