It's been an unpredictable start to the NFL season, with many of the biggest favorites stumbling out of the gate. The first two weeks have been especially brutal, leaving many fans scrambling in their eliminator pools. Astonishingly, several favored teams, including heavyweights like the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens, have suffered unexpected defeats, shaking up the early standings and thinning the ranks of many pools.
Early Season Turmoil
Week 1 set the tone for a chaotic beginning when the Cincinnati Bengals, favored by 8.5 points, were upset by the New England Patriots. Adding to the upheaval, the New Orleans Saints trounced the Carolina Panthers, winning by a massive 37-point margin. Week 2 saw continued shockers, with the Baltimore Ravens losing to the Las Vegas Raiders as 8.5-point favorites and the Houston Texans clinching victory over the Chicago Bears.
As we move into Week 3, the landscape remains uncertain, though four teams have emerged as favorites, each favored by at least 6.5 points. Leading the pack are the Cincinnati Bengals, holding the largest spread as 7.5-point favorites. However, the Bengals’ track record isn’t exactly inspiring confidence. Despite strong showings last season, they've dropped their first two regular-season games this year and lost all three of their preseason matchups. Struggles in their rushing attack, averaging just 3.4 yards per carry, further cast doubt on their ability to cover the spread.
Bucs' Early Promise
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are another team in the spotlight, favored by 6.5 points against Denver. The Buccaneers have shown early-season promise with victories over Washington and Detroit. In contrast, Denver has remained competitive but winless, losing each game by just one score. Their latest loss was a 13-6 defeat against Pittsburgh last week. However, there’s a silver lining for the Broncos as rookie quarterback Bo Nix is beginning to find his footing, providing a glimmer of hope for a turnaround.
Analyst White has been a beacon for navigating these tumultuous first weeks. With a record of 643-543-34 against the spread since 2017 and a 56.7% hit rate on his Vegas contest picks over the last nine seasons, White's insights have proven invaluable. One notable achievement was his 18th place finish out of 2,748 entries in 2017. As a testament to his expertise, White successfully guided followers to avoid two of the biggest NFL upsets of the season, helping them advance to Week 3.
Competitive Commanders
Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders delivered a strong performance against the New York Giants, securing a narrow 21-18 victory. Jayden Daniels was instrumental in the win, throwing for 226 yards and rushing for another 44. This balanced offensive effort has positioned the Commanders as a potential spoiler for any team underestimating them.
As the NFL season progresses, these initial weeks highlight the unpredictability that makes football so captivating. With early-season favorites struggling and underdogs rising to the occasion, fans are reminded that in the NFL, anything can happen. The coming weeks will undoubtedly continue to surprise and engage, keeping both analysts and fans on their toes.