With Week 1 far in the rearview, let’s focus on Week 2 when several teams (New York Giants, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons) are aiming to avoid disastrous starts.
Could the Falcons make a QB switch? Will Saquon Barkley roll again? Does Jordan Mason have another 100-yard-plus rushing game in him?
Yardbarker NFL writers offer a Week 2 prediction for every team in the NFC.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS | No touchdowns for the Saints | Against the lowly Panthers in Week 1, Saints quarterback Derek Carr went 19-of-23 for 200 yards and three TDs, but he won’t have it as easy on the road against a Dallas defense that delivered six sacks and two interceptions against the Browns in the opener. Expect kicker Blake Grupe, who had four FG attempts against Carolina, to be New Orleans’ lone scorer.
NEW YORK GIANTS | Malik Nabers scores first NFL touchdown | Nabers had 21 TD catches for LSU but couldn’t find the end zone against the Vikings in Week 1. He should have no problem scoring on the road against a Washington defense that gave up a league-high 262.2 yards per game passing in 2023 and allowed Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield to throw for four touchdowns in Week 1.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | Saquon Barkley scores three more touchdowns on American soil | Philadelphia’s new lead back accounted for 132 yards overall and three touchdowns against the Packers on a sloppy field in Brazil in Week 1. He’ll find South Philadelphia even more agreeable on “Monday Night Football” against a Falcons team coming off an 18-10 loss to Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS | WR Terry McLaurin goes over 100 yards | In a Week 1 loss to Tampa Bay, Washington’s No. 1 pass-catcher had two catches on four targets for 17 yards. As the team’s leading receiver since 2019, McLaurin has his eyes set on a fifth straight 1,000-yard receiving season and should do well at home against a Giants secondary that allowed ex-Jets QB Sam Darnold to pass for 208 yards against them at home in Week 1. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS | Marvin Harrison Jr. scores his first NFL touchdown | After being targeted on just three passes in his NFL debut (and catching just one of them), Harrison Jr. figures to be a central part of the offense in Week 2 at home against the Rams. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said the rookie is prominent in the team’s game plan.
LOS ANGELES RAMS | Cooper Kupp has at least 10 catches | Kupp is always a big part of the offense, but with second-year standout Puka Nacua sidelined with a knee injury, he must take on an even bigger role Sunday at the Cardinals. He’ll go against an unproven secondary that should result in him reaching double-digit receptions for the second week in a row.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS | Jordan Mason has 100 yards again | With star running back Christian McCaffrey still limited by an injury, Mason figures to get another healthy dose of playing time in Week 2 on the road against the Vikings. He has the luxury of playing behind a strong line in one of the league’s more innovative offenses. Mason looked spectacular (28 carries, 147 yards) in a Week 1 win against the Jets.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS | Geno Smith and the offense will struggle | The offense had problems in a Week 1 win over the Broncos, and it is not going to get any easier in New England. The Patriots defense is the strength of the team and will cause problems for Seattle’s questionable offensive line. Expect second-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez to shut down half of the field for Smith and his receivers. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS | WR D.J. Moore has a 100-yard game | In a Week 1 win against the Indianapolis Colts, the Houston Texans allowed three pass plays of 50 or more yards, two by WR Alec Pierce. Moore is a big-play threat on every down, so if rookie QB Caleb Williams has any success passing, it’ll be because Moore has a big day on the road.
DETROIT LIONS | TE Sam LaPorta scores two touchdowns | In a 26-20 Week 1 win over the Rams, the offense put up 363 yards, but the unit seemed a little off. Amon-Ra St. Brown (13 yards receiving) and LaPorta (45 yards) had quiet games, but look for LaPorta to go off for multiple scores at home against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary that was the fourth worst against the pass last season.
GREEN BAY PACKERS | The Packers will rush for 200+ yards | With quarterback Malik Willis in for the injured Jordan Love in Week 2’s home matchup with the Indianapolis Colts, expect Green Bay’s coaching staff to play to their backup QB’s strengths, which includes his mobility. The Packers will lean heavily on their run game to make life easier on Willis, which means running backs Josh Jacobs and Emanuel Wilson (and Willis) should have no issue piling up rushing yards.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS | QB Sam Darnold throws multiple interceptions | Darnold spent last season with the San Francisco 49ers, so if there’s a team that knows how to read him, it’s Minnesota’s home opponent on Sunday. DBs Charvarius Ward, Deommodore Lenoir, Talanoa Hufanga and Ji’Ayir Brown went up against Darnold in practice plenty last season, so if San Francisco rushes the passer like it typically does, Darnold could be forced into boneheaded throws that result in interceptions. — Michael Gallagher
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS | Michael Penix Jr. plays | The Falcons’ first-round pick won’t be waiting behind starter Kirk Cousins for long. Whether due to another turnover-filled performance or the team admitting Cousins isn’t 100 percent healthy after last season’s Achilles injury, Penix will be forced into action as Atlanta’s season goes from bad to worse on Monday night against the Eagles.
CAROLINA PANTHERS | Country singer Luke Combs tweets another disapproving message | Following Carolina’s dispiriting 47-10 loss to the Saints, country music superstar and Panthers fan Luke Combs tweeted, “New year, same old Panthers. Absolutely gruesome watch.” A humiliating home loss to the Chargers in Week 2 might have Combs calling for owner David Tepper to sell the team.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS | Team rushes for 120+ yards | First-year offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak passed his debut with the Saints with flying colors. New Orleans gained 180 yards rushing, and its newfound emphasis on that facet will be evident against a Cowboys defense that was susceptible to the run last season.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS | Baker Mayfield throws multiple interceptions | Despite an easy 37-20 Week 1 win over the Commanders, the offensive line wasn’t very good, ranking 31st in pass-block win rate, per ESPN. The Lions were 10th in pass-rush win rate in Week 1, and Detroit will keep Mayfield under duress, causing him to make multiple bad decisions. — Eric Smithling
