Preseason W2 2026 predictions rationale:
Sources gathered:
- GB-DEN: Bo Nix to make debut ~14 snaps, Sean Payton says starters play; Jordan Love and GB starters also playing per LaFleur. Expect competitive first half then backups. Score 20-23 DEN home.
- WAS-DET: WAS beat MIA 20-7 in W1, DET lost to CIN? Daniels maybe 1 series per reports. DET at home slight bounce 21-17.
- BUF-CLE: BUF beat Panthers 29-14 W1; CLE lost 34-10 to Bears W1. Browns starting Shedeur Sanders, splitting reps with Watson. Bills favored 24-13.
- ATL-IND: Frozen news: Colts vast majority starters will NOT play vs Falcons, Leonard starts first half, Richardson second half. Last week Colts-Pats tied 13-13. Falcons depth shows Tua Tagovailoa as starter now (trade), but SI says Falcons will NOT play starters vs Colts, rookies spotlight. So low scoring 16-17 IND.
- BAL-MIN: Ravens 24-7 win vs Eagles W1, new HC Jesse Minter holding out most starters. Vikings sitting Kyler Murray, McCarthy vs Wentz competing. MIN home 19-16.
- NO-LAR: Rams 20-12 win vs Chiefs W1 with Ty Simpson 190 yds 2 TDs; Saints 24-20 loss to Jags (24-20). LAR home 21-17.
- NYG-MIA: Giants 13-10 loss to Vikings W1, Dolphins 20-7 loss to Commanders. Giants Jaxson Dart, Malik Willis for MIA per Madden simulation description. NYG 20-16.
- CHI-CIN: Bears 34-10 win vs Browns W1 explosive; Bengals starters not playing again per Zac Taylor (Burrow, Chase out). CHI 27-14.
- PHI-NE: Eagles 7-24 loss to Ravens W1; Patriots 13-13 tie vs Colts W1. Eagles starters unlikely per joint practice note. NE home 20-13.
- KC-TB: Chiefs 12-20 loss vs Rams W1, Mahomes ruled out for W2, Fields and Nussmeier each ~1.5 quarters. Bucs beat Jets 24-16 W1, Mayfield expected some play. TB 23-16.
- DAL-ARI: Cowboys 17-7 win vs Seahawks W1, spread Cards -1.5 total 37.5 per YouTube preview. Close DAL 20-17.
- SEA-TEN: Seahawks 7-17 loss to Cowboys W1, Titans home on national FOX Sunday night. Low scoring 20-17 TEN.
All totals 30-43 range typical for preseason W2 with mixed starter usage. Avoid ties except avoid 13-13 already happened W1 but possible but we predict winners to minimize outcome residual (25 pts penalty for wrong winner).
Evidence IDs key: broncoswire Bo Nix, Packers starters, Browns Sanders, Vikings Kyler out, Rams Simpson, Bengals no starters, Chiefs no Mahomes, Falcons depth, Colts no starters.
