NFL Preseason Week 2 Odds, Lines, Spreads and Picks

• Week 2 of the NFL preseason schedule gets underway on Thursday, August 18
• The Baltimore Ravens are putting their 21-game preseason win streak on the line as they travel to Arizona to face the Cardinals
• Joe Flacco is taking over at QB for the injured Zach Wilson in NFL Preseason Week 2 as the New York Jets play host to the Atlanta Falcons in the Monday Night Football game

What were bettors learning from the first week of the NFL preseason? Well, for starters, the over is surprisingly a thing. Logic would suggest that offense would be lagging behind defense on the preparation scale at this stage of the year. That wasn’t the case during Week 1 action.

Of 17 games played thus far during the NFL preseason, 14 have gone over the total. That’s quite the lopsided trend in NFL betting strategies. Will this be the week that defenses catch up to the offenses?

Perhaps not in New York, where the Jets suddenly find themselves minus quarterback Zach Wilson. He’s scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on his injured right knee on Tuesday in Los Angeles. The minimum assessment is that he’ll be out 2-4 weeks.

There’s no such concern with the juggernaut that is the Baltimore Ravens during NFL preseason play. Baltimore beat the Tennessee Titans in Week 1 to extend the club’s NFL-record preseason unbeaten slate to 21 straight games. Over that stretch, the Ravens are 19-2 against the spread.

Let’s take a look at the NFL betting lines on all of the Week 2 games and check out all the NFL odds for the upcoming games.

NFL Week 2 Preseason Odds

Odds as of August 15th at Caesars Sportsbook. See this current Caesars Sportsbook promo code before wagering.

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Cowboys vs Chargers Pick

Dallas rated out as the sloppiest and most undisciplined team in the NFL last season. Week 1 of the NFL preseason did nothing to alter that perception.

Last season, the Cowboys led the NFL with 127 penalties assessed against them. In the preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, Dallas was assessed 17 penalties for 129 yards. That was the most infractions flagged against any team in Week 1.

Lest you seek to place the blame for these indiscretions on third and fourth-stringers unlikely to see the field in a real NFL game, please note the following: Dallas was flagged nine times for 165 yards in the first quarter, when the real guys were playing.

Mike McCarthy’s reaction to the Cowboys’ 11th penalty early in the third quarter pic.twitter.com/VKBSRA5BNF

— Jon Machota (@jonmachota) August 14, 2022

The Chargers are following the lead of the other LA team in the NFL. Like Sean McVay of the Rams, Chargers head coach Brandon Staley doesn’t believe in playing his starters during the preseason. The only exceptions to this rule are younger players still in need of seasoning and players in battles for starting roles.

Regardless, if Dallas continues its undisciplined ways, you don’t need All-Pros to keep the ball moving downfield against the Cowboys. Make your Cowboys vs Chargers picks on Saturday, August 20 at 10:00 pm ET and watch on the NFL Network.

Best Bet: Los Angeles Chargers PICK (-110)

Panthers vs Patriots Pick

A year ago, it was the New England Patriots who were embroiled in a quarterback battle. Eventually, rookie Mac Jones won the starting job from veteran Cam Newton.

This season, there’s no doubt that Jones is in charge of the show. He led New England to the playoffs last season, after all.

Gotta get used to seeing Baker Mayfield in a Panthers jersey pic.twitter.com/Ek3KD6Tbww

— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) August 13, 2022

It’s their Week 2 opponent, the Carolina Panthers, who don’t know which QB will be QB1 for them. Last season, the Panthers dealt to get Sam Darnold, the #3 player chosen in the 2018 NFL Draft, from the New York Jets. This year, Carolina dealt with the Cleveland Browns to acquire Baker Mayfield, the first player chosen in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Mayfield was slightly ahead of Darnold in their draft year and that’s where he appears to be again. A solid performance in this game should seal the deal and make Baker Carolina’s starting quarterback.

The Panthers vs Patriots game is being broadcast by the NFL Network at 7:00 pm ET on Friday, August 19.

Best Bet: Carolina Panthers +2.5 (+100)

Falcons vs Jets Pick

Wilson’s injury leaves the Jets again uncertain at the most important position on the field. While they are trying to remain optimistic heading into his surgery, the fact of the matter is it’s the same knee Wilson hurt last season. Veteran Joe Flacco, 37, is QB1 with the Jets for the time being, with Mike White in reserve.

Me all day tomorrow waiting to hear post surgery Zach Wilson news pic.twitter.com/XieXRcleOS

— Jake (@JakeRepNY) August 15, 2022

The Falcons are also encountering change under center. Marcus Mariota is replacing the departed Matt Ryan as QB1. However, rookie Desmond Ridder was turning a lot of heads with his Week 1 performance in a 27-23 win over the Detroit Lions.

Make your Falcons vs Jets pick on Monday, August 22 at 8:00 pm ET and watch it on ESPN.

Best Bet: Atlanta Falcons -1 (-110)