The NFL 2024 season’s second week served as a reminder that in a sport with as much parity as pro football, unexpected outcomes are always possible. During the last week, two underdogs beat the spread and seven underdogs won straight up. It indicates that there are a few surprising 2-0 teams, like the Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints, as well as a few equally surprising 0-2 clubs that see themselves as contenders, like the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.
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The season’s third week may offer further clarification, more surprises, or perhaps a combination of the two. As of Monday, seven of the 16 games on the Week 3 schedule have a spread of a field goal or less, and nine of the games have a team favored by at least 4.5 points. Three teams that may be wise picks against the spread are shown below, using NFL odds from BetMGM:
Texans (-2.5) at Vikings
This cross-conference matchup between 2-0 teams is characterized by an intriguing dynamic. The Texans, led by quarterback C.J. Stroud, were the surprise of the previous season. After making a big trade for wide receiver Stefon Diggs this offseason, they entered 2024 as an AFC contender and currently lead the rest of the AFC South by two games. However, Houston’s 19-13 victory over Chicago on Sunday wasn’t very commanding.
The Texans managed just three points after the break while Stroud was under constant pressure. Additionally, Joe Mixon, their starting running back, suffered an ankle injury. After defeating the NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in Week 2, the Vikings could be the biggest surprise of the season aside from maybe New Orleans. They won 23-17. The offense, directed by coordinator Brian Flores, looked formidable, and quarterback Sam Darnold, who is on the rise again, found Justin Jefferson for a 98-yard touchdown pass to spark the fans.
In Week 3, what stops the Vikings from replicating their Week 2 performance at home? If not a further upset by Minnesota, there’s a decent possibility this game will be close. The Houston Texans, founded in 2002, are a new franchise in the NFL, a member of the AFC South division. Despite initial struggles, they assembled a competitive lineup and made their first postseason participation in 2011. However, they have yet to win a Super Bowl. Given that the Houston Texans entered the NFL in 2002.
Their history with the Minnesota Vikings is relatively recent. Since then, because they play in different conferences, the two teams have not played often. As of 2023, the Vikings had won every meeting in this series, continuing their historical dominance. One of the most memorable games was in 2016, when the Vikings overcame the Texans 31–13 thanks to a potent defense. Even though the teams only play each other sometimes, their games usually pit the more established Vikings club vs the younger Texans team, who haven’t won in this series yet.
Chargers at Steelers (-2.5)
Both of these teams have started 2-0 and play physical football; after two games, Pittsburgh leads the NFL in rushing attempts, while the Chargers are in the top five. The only other time Jim Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin have coached against each other was in 2011, Harbaugh’s rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers. That game was won by Harbaugh. At 3-0, whoever prevails in round two will come as a welcome surprise. Following a leg injury sustained at the conclusion of the Chargers’ comfortable 26-3 victory over Carolina in Week 2, Justin Herbert.
The quarterback for Los Angeles, is a question mark. That’s not the best thing to do while facing T.J. Watt and the fierce Steelers defense. Additionally, Harbaugh’s squad will travel across the nation in the eastern time zone for its second straight road game. With Justin Fields serving at quarterback, Pittsburgh has only scored one touchdown in two games, and its two victories have come against the Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons.
This is a step up in competition, particularly with Chargers running back J.K. Dobbins playing like the dynamic player the Baltimore Ravens were expected to have him before he got hurt. Los Angeles has a stronger team if Herbert plays against the Steelers. Throughout NFL history, the Los Angeles Chargers and Pittsburgh Steelers have faced off in a number of famous games. You may also read: NFL 2024 season: What The 2nd Week Games Taught Us
The AFL and NFL merged in 1970, and since then, the two teams have been bitter rivals, frequently facing off in crucial games. In the 1994 AFC Championship Game, the Chargers shocked the much fancied Steelers to make their first Super Bowl appearance. It was one of the most memorable meetings. The Steelers have historically had the advantage in this heated series because of their powerful defenses and championship history. Over the years, this AFC rivalry has been more fascinating as the Chargers have pulled off some exciting triumphs.
Lions (-3) at Cardinals
In Week 2, Kyler Murray was superior to everyone else. Following an encouraging 34-28 loss against Buffalo in Week 1, the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals defeated the Los Angeles Rams 41-10, finishing with a perfect passer rating. Leading a strong attack that included rookie wide out Marvin Harrison Jr.’s first NFL outburst on Sunday, Murray once again appears to be one of the top dual-threat players in the game.
In Week 2, Detroit lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with just 16 points, having required overtime to defeat the Rams, a team Arizona had just thrashed. The Lions have had trouble making an impact in the red zone, despite Jared Goff having passed for the fourth most yards in the league after two games. Amon-Ra St. Brown, their premier wide receiver, hobbled late against the Bucs, so perhaps it’s time for them to go back to their usual offensive scheme. In the highly competitive NFC, the Cardinals could emerge as a surprising opponent if Murray stays healthy.
The Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals share a long history of matchups, dating back to the early days of the NFL when the Cardinals were based in Chicago and later St. Louis before moving to Arizona. Their meetings have seen shifts in dominance, with the Lions traditionally having the upper hand in the earlier decades. However, in more recent years, the Cardinals have often outperformed the Lions, especially since their resurgence in the 2000s. One notable game occurred in 2015 when the Cardinals routed the Lions 42-17. Despite both teams’ historical struggles to reach consistent success.
Their matchups have featured competitive and often unpredictable results. Looking for the best way to secure your spot at the highly anticipated NFL London 2024 games? Purchase your tickets from eticketing.co! Enjoy seamless transactions, competitive prices, and top-notch customer service. Don’t miss out on the excitement grab your NFL London Tickets from eticketing.co today and be part of the action.