NFL preseason Week 2 delivers a heaping helping with 10 games Saturday and one more Sunday night. Below is a breakdown of each matchup. Find out who is playing, the odds and picks for the spread, over/under and moneyline.
MORE: NFL preseason Week 2 betting guide for Thursday and Friday games
Washington Commanders vs. Detroit Lions(DET -4.5, o/u 37.5, +160/-192)Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) speaks with NFL head coach Dan Campbell at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell does not typically play his starters in the preseason, and that trend continues here. Jared Goff will watch from the sideline again. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs should get a heavier workload than last week. Luke Altmyer handled 22 of the team’s 30 pass attempts. Dobbs joined the roster recently and needs the game reps after Teddy Bridgewater’s retirement left a hole on the depth chart. Campbell has stressed the roster cutdown deadline is approaching fast. “We don’t have time to waste, and we can’t wait for anybody,” Campbell said.
Washington will be without Marcus Mariota. Jayden Daniels is not expected to see the field. That leaves the bulk of the workload on Sam Hartman and Athan Kaliakmanis. Hartman was on the field for all three Commanders scoring drives in the first half of the opener. Commanders coach Dan Quinn has not revealed a full plan for who plays. “It remains to be seen who all plays in the game,” Quinn said.
Picks: DET -4.5, u37.5, DET -192
Buffalo Bills vs. Cleveland Browns(CLE -1.5, o/u 36.5, +136/-162)Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) passes the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second half at Soldier Field.
Cleveland Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders gets the start after working in relief of Deshaun Watson during the Week 1 loss to Chicago. Browns coach Todd Monken lined up this plan in advance. He said the competition remains tight between his two young quarterbacks. “It would be unfair to not go to the next game and allow Shedeur that opportunity, albeit a different team, certainly at home,” Monken said. Sanders said he is not putting extra weight on this start. “I’ll say every day of my life’s important,” Sanders said. “So that’s just another day going out there doing what I got to do, honestly.”
Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen is not expected to play this week after seeing extended action in the opener against Carolina. Kyle Allen and Shane Buechele will handle the bulk of the snaps behind center for Buffalo. The two teams held a joint practice in Berea, Ohio, on Thursday.
Picks: CLE -1.5, o36.5, CLE -162
Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts(IND -3.5, o/u 40.5, +154/-185)Indianapolis Colts quarterback Riley Leonard (15) throws during a preseason game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium.
Atlanta Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski is sitting his starters for a second straight week, choosing instead to load up on joint practice reps against the Colts. “The majority of the reps in the practices with the Colts will go to our starters,” Stefanski said. “So, those guys will not play in that second game.” That means no Tua Tagovailoa. Michael Penix Jr. remains limited to individual drills and 7-on-7 work. He continues working back from a torn ACL, so he will not play either. Jack Strand has been taking first-team reps over Cooper Rush and is set to get the start.
Indianapolis Colts coach Shane Steichen is following a similar script and will not play his starters. Riley Leonard gets the start with Anthony Richardson backing him up, a reversal of the Week 1 plan. Daniel Jones will not play at all in the preseason as the Colts protect their starting quarterback.
Picks: IND -3.5, u40.5, IND -185
MORE: NFL offensive line rankings ahead of the 2026 season
Baltimore Ravens vs. Minnesota Vikings(MIN -2.5, o/u 36.5, +145/-175)Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) warms up before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is set for another extended look after losing the starting job to Kyler Murray. McCarthy said he is trying to make the most of his reps regardless of his spot on the depth chart. “It’s awesome,” McCarthy said. “Anytime you’re going against someone else and, obviously, doing that for the first time, it was just a lot of fun with the guys. A lot of things to clean up, but that’s what preseason football is all about.” Kevin O’Connell has prioritized this week’s two days of joint practice with Baltimore over the game itself, and Murray is not expected to play.
Baltimore Ravens coach Jesse Minter is expected to lean on a similar group to Week 1. QB Joe Fagnano took the bulk of the offensive snaps. Ravens rookie first-round guard Vega Ioane has been working with the starting offensive line and is starting at right guard.
Picks: MIN -2.5, u36.5, MIN -175
New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams(LAR +3, o/u 37.5, -155/+130)L.A. Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on in the first half against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay is again sitting quarterback Matthew Stafford. This continues his long-standing approach of avoiding meaningful preseason snaps for his starters. The Rams and Saints met in the regular season last year, with Stafford throwing for 281 yards and four touchdowns in a 34-10 Los Angeles win at SoFi Stadium.
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough sat out the opener. That left Spencer Rattler, Zach Wilson and Hunter Dekkers to split the workload. Shough is in line for more work this week. Rattler and Wilson are competing for QB2, and it’s still unresolved. New Orleans is also without rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who is dealing with a hamstring injury. He is expected to sideline him for roughly two months.
Picks: LAR +3, o37.5, LAR +130
New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins(MIA +3.5, o/u 36.5, +150/-180)New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart (6) high-fives his teammates during a preseason opening game between the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.
New York Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart started the opener and threw a touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Malachi Fields, but his workload for this game is uncertain with the Giants dealing with issues along the offensive line. New York signed veteran Jake Haener this week, and he could see significant snaps even with limited time in the playbook. Backup quarterback Brandon Allen has struggled this preseason, and Joe Webb has since retired, further thinning the position behind Dart.
Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers missed practice earlier in the week, while Malik Willis has turned in a strong camp. That opens the door for Cam Miller and Mark Gronowski to handle a significant share of the snaps at Hard Rock Stadium. Miami’s regular starting quarterback situation remains a storyline of its own, with Tua Tagovailoa now with Atlanta and set to return to Hard Rock Stadium as a visitor in the preseason finale on Aug. 28.
Picks: MIA +3.5, u36.5, MIA -180
Chicago Bears vs. Cincinnati Bengals(CIN -1.5, o/u 40.5, -122/+102)Bengals head coach Zac Taylor calls for a timeout against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Paycor Stadium.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow played 13 snaps in the preseason opener, completing 5 of 6 passes for 39 yards while also absorbing a couple of hits and a sack. Coach Zac Taylor did not rule out more work for his franchise quarterback this time around, and Burrow was noncommittal when asked if he wants additional snaps. Taylor pulled his starters after two drives in the opener, and a similarly limited workload appears likely again given how banged up Burrow got behind a leaky offensive line.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams may get a small taste of playing time after sitting out the opener entirely. The bigger question is around backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, who suffered a hamstring injury during the Week 1 win over Cleveland and did not practice Tuesday. His Saturday status is considered questionable. If Bagent cannot go, Case Keenum and undrafted rookie Miller Moss are next in line behind Williams.
Picks: CIN -1.5, o40.5, CIN -122
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New England Patriots(NE +3.5, o/u 36.5, -135/+114)Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel reacts against the Seattle Seahawks during Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.
Neither Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts nor New England Patriots quarterback Drake Maye played in the Week 1 preseason opener, and both are considered long shots to play in this one as well. Tanner McKee and Andy Dalton give Philadelphia a solid quarterback pairing even after combining for just 55 yards on 16 attempts in the opener, while rookie Cole Payton led the Eagles with 37 passing yards against Baltimore.
New England used Tommy DeVito and Behren Morton exclusively in the team’s Week 1 tie with Indianapolis. Maye has been getting quality practice reps as he continues to develop, but the expectation is he will see very little run in this game, if any.
Picks: NE +3.5, u36.5, NE +114
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers(TB -5.5, o/u 36.5, +190/-230)Head coach Todd Bowles of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on prior to the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on October 20, 2025 in Detroit, Michigan.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield is set to play in a preseason game for the first time under coach Todd Bowles, a notable change after Mayfield sat out every exhibition contest last year. “Bucs coach Todd Bowles said quarterback Baker Mayfield will play this week against the Chiefs,” ESPN’s Jenna Laine reported. “That’s a deviation from last year, when he did not see any preseason action.” Wide receiver Emeka Egbuka will not play, so Mayfield will be working to build chemistry with other targets. Rookie quarterback Jalon Daniels impressed in the opener, directing two second-half scoring drives, and should see another opportunity behind Mayfield.
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid continues to build up backup quarterback Justin Fields and rookie Garrett Nussmeier as the primary options at the position while Patrick Mahomes works his way back from a torn ACL and LCL. Reid has indicated Mahomes will not play at all in the preseason, keeping Fields and Nussmeier as the featured arms.
Picks: TB -5.5, u36.5, TB -230
Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals(ARI -1.5, o/u 37.5, +110/-130)Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur reacts during the game against the Carolina Panthers at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is sitting out again, leaving the backup battle between Joe Milton and Sam Howell as the featured storyline. Howell started the Week 1 opener, and based on how the two have rotated through practice reps, Milton appears in line to open this one under center.
Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur is already working through his third preseason outing of the summer counting the Hall of Fame Game, so a cautious approach for his top players remains likely. Running back Jeremiyah Love will not play. Jacoby Brissett, Gardner Minshew and Kedon Slovis all saw time at quarterback in the opener in that order, and a similar rotation figures to follow here.
Picks: ARI -1.5, o37.5, ARI -130
SUN: Seattle Seahawks vs. Tennessee Titans(TEN -4.5, o/u 38.5, +185/-225)Titans quarterback Cam Ward (1) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Cam Ward struggled in his preseason debut and gets another opportunity to sharpen his game at home. Backup Will Levis is expected to see heavy work behind him, with Mitch Trubisky banged up after getting hurt earlier in the week. Trubisky returned to practice Wednesday, which could mean a limited role if he is deemed ready to go.
Seattle Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald is expected to lean on a younger group at quarterback, with Drew Lock and Jalen Milroe set to see extended snaps. Sam Darnold could see a series or two if he plays at all, continuing a cautious approach to Seattle’s veteran signal caller this preseason.
Picks: TEN -4.5, u38.5, TEN -225
MORE: AFC power rankings for all 16 teams as the 2026 preseason rolls on
— Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Leave a Comment