NFL Week 2 Look-Ahead Lines: Chiefs Host Bengals In Early AFC Showdown

NFL Week 2 look-ahead lines are out. A pair of landmark early AFC showdowns will take place. The Chiefs host the Bengals in a battle of recent playoff rivals. Meanwhile, the Dolphins head to Buffalo for a pivotal AFC East game that figures to shape a close three-way divisional race.

Every week, TheLines.com will post look-ahead lines for the following week’s games, pulled from NFL betting sites. These look aheads give an early snapshot of the current market opinions of teams absent the week-to-week bias that can take hold following weekend results. Scroll to the bottom of the page for info on how to use them.

NFL Week 2 Look-Ahead Lines

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Week 2 NFL NFL Primetime Games

Thursday Night Football Odds

These teams closed the 2023 regular season in Miami with the Bills emerging on top, 21-14, to take the division. The Bills enter 2024 with some question marks on the defensive side after replacing both starting safeties and losing starting LB Matt Milano to injury. If they struggle to contain a potentially high-powered Arizona offense, look for a shift here as the Dolphins are the last team a defense with holes wants to face. Mike McDaniel will find and exploit those holes, and the players attacking them are threats to rip off big plays. Dolphins odds could creep closer to -3, although it seems unlikely they’d hit the key number.

Miami has its own defensive question marks up front, but the massive total here could scarcely go any higher.

Sunday Night Football Odds

Odds on games involving rookie quarterbacks are perhaps more liable to change than any others. However, Caleb Williams should bring a higher floor than most, landing in a stable situation with a strong receiving corps and offensive line. He’s fully expected to walk away with a debut victory in Tennessee in Week 1.

The hype on both of these teams is at a high level, but the market isn’t pricing Texans odds as if they’re a top-tier contender. If the Bears stumble in Williams’ debut, look for Texans odds to move up around -5 or -5.5.

Monday Night Football Odds

This is perhaps one of the most fluid lines heading into NFL Week 2. Much intrigue shrouds the Falcons. But it’s anyone’s guess what Kirk Cousins looks like at age 36 coming off a major injury. An entirely new coaching staff also takes over in Atlanta, and they have a rather difficult opening assignment against the Steelers defense.

Much is expected of the Eagles as they hope their own coaching changes will shore up the issues that caused a defensive collapse in 2023. Bettors have moved their NFC East odds out to the point they’re sizable favorites over the other three teams.

However, people are also hot for Atlanta, doing the same for them in NFC South odds. With the line hovering just over the key number, a drop to Eagles odds -3 wouldn’t be crazy if they fall to a talented Packers team in Brazil. Bettors may find an opportunity to buy low if so.

MORE POTENTIAL WEEK 1 IMPACT ON WEEK 2 LOOK-AHEAD LINES

Bengals At Chiefs

These teams will hope this is simply the first meeting of two, and another awaits deep in the AFC playoffs. The rivalry has heated up with recent playoff meetings, although the Bengals took a step back last year due mainly to Joe Burrow’s injury.

It’s hard to see a scenario where Chiefs odds dip past the key number of -3 here, given they’re playing at home and enter the season as the clear favorite in the conference. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid just bring such a high floor, and any slippage in Week 1 will likely be quickly forgiven.

If anything, bettors may see this total rise to around 50. Both defenses have major pieces to replace. The Chiefs lost star CB L’Jarius Sneed, and the Bengals saw D.J. Reader head to Detroit. Cincy also looks to work in two new starting safeties after seeing the play at that position erode in 2023.

Giants At Commanders

One of the major stories of the preseason was the shockingly poor play of Giants QB Daniel Jones. Sure, nobody had superstar expectations for the signal-caller returning from injury, but he had a couple of embarrassing viral lowlights. Directing a team that already has plenty of cause for concern on offense, the market may be quick to react to poor Week 1 performance by moving Commanders odds to -3. That’s especially true since nobody is expecting much from Week 1 opponent Minnesota.

Jayden Daniels looking ready and productive behind a shaky offensive line would be the final piece of that puzzle.

Steelers At Broncos

Both of these teams are expected to finish the season as also-rans in the AFC, so it’s a bit surprising to see Steelers odds as fairly significant road favorites as high as -3. Surely, the Denver defense will be up for this one, as word from reporters was that Russell Wilson did not exactly have widespread support in the locker room.

Each also has a major question mark at QB, but Denver has one who has at least looked good in the preseason, which is more than can be said for Pittsburgh’s pair of signal-callers. If Bo Nix continues to look competent even in a road loss in Seattle, expect Broncos odds to shrink.

HOW TO USE NFL LOOK-AHEAD LINES

The look-ahead lines allow you a sneak peek at the projected lines for the following week’s games. This information from leading online betting apps will help provide lessons in understanding lines and projections before the current week’s games are played.

Many bettors tend to overreact to the previous week’s scores and results. The NFL Week 2 look-ahead lines provide a sense of stability from the oddsmaker. They sometimes offer a clear, unbiased snapshot of perceived team strength.

Bettors can also gain an edge or find value in the lines once the weekend results take hold. See if you can find any over- or under-reactions by the market.

Of course, always take note of key injuries, travel, NFL byes/rest advantages, and NFL power rankings. Making adjustments is part of the process, along with accounting for teams’ strengths and weaknesses, against-the-spread angles, and personnel matchups.

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