NFL Week 2 Rankings + Projections Update: Jets and Ravens Fly

NFL Week 2 Rankings + Projections Update: Jets and Ravens Fly

September 13, 2018 – by Seth Trachtman

In this post, we’re going to share our biggest NFL Week 2 rankings and predictions updates, after an opening week that featured some huge blowouts and unexpected upsets (looking at you, Saints and Lions).

Editor’s Note: Our NFL survivor picks, NFL pick’em pool picks, and NFL betting picks are all posted for NFL Week 2.

NFL Week 2 Rankings Updates

Here are five biggest increases in team predictive rating heading into Week 2. Our predictive ratings are measured in points, with a 0.0 rating equivalent to a “perfectly average” team:

	Team	Division	Rank	Rating	Rating Change
1	NY Jets	AFC East	24	-1.8	3.1
2	Baltimore	AFC North	8	3.0	2.8
3	Washington	NFC East	12	1.4	1.7
4	Tampa Bay	NFC South	21	-1.4	1.6
5	LA Rams	NFC West	1	5.9	1.5

The Jets lead all gainers after a convincing 48-17 win at Detroit on Monday Night Football. They entered the game as nearly touchdown underdogs, according to our predictive ratings, but ran away with the game in the second half.

While Baltimore was already heavily favored to beat Buffalo, their 47-3 demolition of the Bills was quite convincing. It’s worth noting that the Bills began the season with a -6.4 rating, worst in the league, and have decreased 2.8 more points heading into Week 2.

The Rams have surpassed New England (for now, at least) as our No. 1 team after a 20-point margin of victory over the Raiders on the road. The team faces Arizona in their home opener as the biggest favorite on the board in Vegas (13 points), and 12.3-point favorites according to our ratings.

See where every team currently stands in our NFL rankings.

NFL Week 2 Projected Wins Updates

Here are the top 5 gainers in projected total wins for the 2018 season heading into Week 2:

	Team	Division	Total Wins	Total Wins Change
1	NY Jets	AFC East	8.3	2.0
2	Baltimore	AFC North	9.5	1.4
3	Washington	NFC East	9.0	1.3
4	Tampa Bay	NFC South	7.5	1.3
5	LA Rams	NFC West	11.0	1.2

The Jets are also top the projected wins increase list, with a 2-win upgrade after beating Detroit unexpectedly and increasing 3.1 points in our ratings. It’s also notable that they have a very favorable remaining schedule, currently the second easiest.

Washington had a surprisingly easy time in their visit to Arizona, winning 24-6, and are looking more like contenders in the NFC after being projected to finish below .500 at the start of the year.

See our latest projected season win totals for all teams on our NFL projections.

NFL Week 2 Division Winner Odds Updates

The following 5 teams increased their odds to win their division the most last week:

	Team	Division	Win Division	Win Division Change
1	Kansas City	AFC West	43.4%	20.9%
2	LA Rams	NFC West	70.9%	18.9%
3	Baltimore	AFC North	37.7%	16.3%
4	Jacksonville	AFC South	49.1%	12.7%
5	Carolina	NFC South	31.5%	11.6%

The Chiefs see the biggest increase in the division winner odds after an important road win against the former AFC West-favorite Chargers. We still see the division as having three primary contenders, but Kansas City now has a 43% chance to win, followed by the Broncos (26%), Chargers (21%), and Raiders (10%).

Will the Rams run away with the NFC West? After their convincing Week 1 win, along with losses by the rest of the division, they now have the second best odds of any team in the NFL to win their division at 71%, only trailing the Patriots in the AFC East (72%).

See our latest division winner odds for all teams on our NFL projections.

NFL Week 2 Playoffs Odds Updates

The following 5 teams increased their odds to make the playoffs the most last week:

	Team	Division	Make Playoffs	Make Playoffs Change
1	NY Jets	AFC East	36.8%	21.0%
2	Baltimore	AFC North	58.5%	19.5%
3	Kansas City	AFC West	54.8%	19.1%
4	Washington	NFC East	48.3%	17.5%
5	LA Rams	NFC West	80.4%	16.9%

The Jets last made the playoffs in 2010. While they still have a long way to go at just 37% playoff odds in 2018, there’s reason for Fireman Ed and company to be more optimistic.

Is Washington experiencing the Alex Smith magic already? Smith has now gone 70-31-1 as a starter during the regular season since 2011 with the 49ers, Chiefs, and Redskins. Washington’s 48% odds to make the playoffs are now the fifth best in the NFC.

See our latest odds to make the playoffs for all teams on our NFL projections.

Until Next Week…

Enjoy NFL Week 1, and if you’re in an NFL pool or planning on betting some of the Week 1 games, please check out our premium products: NFL Survivor Picks, Football Pick’em Pool Picks, and NFL Betting Picks.

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