There are already two games in the books for the 2024-25 NFL season, and while a few franchises have performed above expectations, others have gotten into some trouble already.
Surprises After Two Weeks
The New Orleans Saints are 2-0 and leading the NFC South division. They’ve scored north of 40 points during both games, blowing out the Carolina Panthers and Dallas Cowboys in the process.
Over that two-game span, QB Derek Carr has completed 30 of 39 passes for 443 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. His QB rating is an astounding 142.2 heading into Week 3.
Running back Alvin Kamara has been busy proving that he’s still the top dog in the league, rushing for 198 yards and four touchdowns during Weeks 1 and 2. Kamara has also been active in the receiving game, hauling in seven catches for 95 yards and another TD.
This weekend, the Saints are favored by a point at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Not many had the Minnesota Vikings going 2-0 on their bingo card for 2024-25, especially with a Week 2 matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on the docket. We’ll find out how playoff-ready the Vikings are when they host the Texans in Minneapolis this Sunday.
Houston is favored by a point on the road, which reveals a ton of respect offered toward the Vikings by NFL oddsmakers.
They Are Who We Thought They Were
The Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Houston Texans are performing as expected, winning their first two games and topping the ranks of their respective divisions.
The Denver Broncos, New York Giants, and Carolina Panthers are winless, an outcome that shouldn’t surprise many at this juncture of the season. We haven’t seen any odds posted for NFL Draft betting just yet, but we expect these three franchises to be among the first handful of teams to select players in the first round next April.
Don’t Panic Just Yet
We already mentioned the stunning Vikings loss to the 49ers, but we still expect San Francisco to win the NFC West and contend for a Super Bowl LIX berth. SF has historically had trouble with Minnesota, losing to them in three out of their last five matchups.
The 49ers face the LA Rams this weekend, who, at 0-2, are due for an uprising. Los Angeles is a 7.5-point underdog at home, and we like their chances of covering.
Entering the season, the Baltimore Ravens were expected to repeat as AFC North champions but are 0-2 after two games. The division is pretty soft, so we expect Baltimore to rebound by season’s end.
