NFL Week 2 Trends to Know Before Betting

• A key NFL Week 2 betting trend is the danger of starting the season 0-2
• Of 405 NFL teams to begin a season 0-2 since 1970, only 39 rebounded to make the playoffs
• Just three Super Bowl champions launched that championship season with consecutive losses

The NFL Week 2 betting trends display precisely how vital it is for the Week 1 losers to get themselves immediately into the win column. Since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, there have been 405 teams to launch the NFL season 0-2. Of that group, only 39 – 9.73% – were able to recover and make the playoffs.

That’s the harsh reality staring 16 NFL teams square in the face as they prepare to tee it up and kickoff Week 2 of the regular season. Over? Did someone say over? For the vast majority of those 0-1 teams, another loss in this week’s action will almost certainly mean that they’re done like dinner.

Let’s look deeper into the betting trends that you should be aware of prior to placing any Week 2 NFL bets.

NFL Week 2 Betting Trends

While NFL betting trends don’t last forever, they do tend to stick around for at least a few weeks. If we look back at the Week 1 outcomes, it was a big week for road teams, the underdog and the under.

The away teams went 12-4 against the spread. Underdogs were also a solid 12-4 ATS. On the total, the under hit in 10 of the 16 Week 1 games.

Chiefs Among Teams Facing Virtual Must-Win Scenario

If you’re wondering how to bet on NFL games in the second week of the season, playing Kansas City to win at Jacksonville might be the route to go. The Chiefs, 21-20 losers at home to Detroit in Week 1, are the 19th reigning Super Bowl champion to fail to win their season opener (0-18-1 SU).

In Week 2 of those seasons, the defending Super Bowl champions are 14-4 straight up and 9-9 ATS. Seven of the 14 victories were fashioned by double-digit margins.

NFL Teams Starting 0-2 Since 1970

On the other hand, should the defending AFC South champion Jaguars (1-0 SU) beat the Chiefs, things will grow bleak for a Kansas City Super Bowl repeat. Just three teams – the 1993 Dallas Cowboys, the 2001 New England Patriots and the 2007 New York Giants – became Super Bowl champions in a season they began with consecutive setbacks.

The 1993 Cowboys, like the current Chiefs, were reigning Super Bowl winners. The 1987 Giants, 1982 San Francisco 49ers and 1999 Denver Broncos were the only other reigning Super Bowl champs to open the following season 0-2.

#Jaguars head coach Doug Pederson has never beaten #Chiefs HC Andy Reid head-to-head in his career.

"We got to try to work on that." 😆

Will his fate change in Week 2? pic.twitter.com/FXxX5QpDWg

— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 13, 2023

Kansas City is set as a 3.5-point road favorite at Jacksonville. Last season, the Jaguars were 5-0 SU and a ATS as a home underdog.

What Is the Best NFL Betting Strategy?

If you’re wondering how to bet on NFL games on the Week 2 schedule, pay special attention to the Seattle Seahawks visiting the Detroit Lions. Last season, the total on Lions home games went over 50 points in all but one of Detroit’s nine home games.

That’s significant, because the over/under on Sunday’s Seahawks vs Lions contest at Ford Field is a surprisingly low 47 points.  Among those 50+ point home games for Detroit last season, the overall leader was the Week 3 game with Seattle that finished with 93 total points as the Seahawks won 48-45. In their previous meeting in 2001, Seattle won 51-29. No two teams in NFL history have ever hit a total of 80 points in three consecutive games.

No 2 teams in NFL history have ever combined for at least 80 points in 3 consecutive meetings. The #Lions and Seahawks have a chance to do that this Sunday.

Last year Seattle beat Detroit, 48-45, and in 2021, they beat the Lions, 51-29.

— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) September 13, 2023

Another surprising development in that game was the fact that the Lions didn’t cover the spread. In 2+ seasons with Dan Campbell as head coach, Detroit is an NFL-leading 24-11 ATS. By the way, if you’re new to betting on football this season and need some tips on NFL spread betting explained, we have you covered.

Detroit was a 3.5-point home favorite in that loss to Seattle. The Lions are 5-0 ATS in five games since as a betting favorite. However, Seattle has proven to be a Detroit nemesis for years.

The Lions are on 0-5 SU and 0-4 ATS skids when facing the Seahawks. Detroit hasn’t beaten Seattle since 2012. That’s the only win by the Lions over the Seahawks since 2000 (1-8 SU, 3-6 ATS).

Now armed with those NFL Week 2 trends, be sure to claim one of the top football betting promo codes to boost your bankroll for a for full weekend of NFL betting action. And if you’re in the state fo Kentuxky, be sure to check out the top Kentucky sports betting apps that are offering pre-registration bonuses for the Kentucky sports betting launch later this month.