Armenian Sports News

Week 1 is in the books and Armenian Sports News editor Andre Khatchaturian is off to a decent start in his NFL against-the-spread picks.

But now we’re on to Week 2 — the week known for overreactions in the NFL. Here are this week’s picks. All odds via DraftKings sportsbook as of Wednesday morning.

Week 1 results: 9-7-0
Season results: 9-7-0

Week 2 ATS picks

Thursday, September 16, 2021

New York Giants at Washington Football Team (-3), 8:25 PM

Andre’s Pick: Football Team. Taylor Heinecke isn’t a huge downgrade from Ryan Fitzpatrick. Heineke showed he was more than capable to compete in a losing effort in last year’s NFC Wild Card game against the defending champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Then, in relief effort on Sunday he was thrown into the fire against the Chargers and completed 73 percent of his passes. This shows Heineke handles pressure well and he’ll be just fine on a short week. Finally, New York’s woeful offensive line will struggle against Washington’s daunting pass rush which ranked sixth in sacks last year.

Sunday, September 19, 2021

New England Patriots (-6) at New York Jets, 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: Patriots. This line opened up at -4 and has already moved to -6 for good reason. It’s hard to see Zach Wilson succeeding against a Bill Belichick defense. Since 2000, quarterbacks with 20 or fewer games of experience going up against Belichick have 86 touchdowns and 104 interceptions with a 20-66 record.

Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) at Indianapolis Colts, 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: Rams. The Rams finished last season with the highest yards per play differential and they began the 2021 season with the highest yards per play differential in Week 1. This team was already strong defensively, but they’re going to be more dynamic offensively with Matthew Stafford. Finally, the Colts don’t show up against the league’s best as they’ve lost four straight to teams who had winning records in 2020. Their last six losses have also come against teams with winning records in 2020.

Buffalo Bills (-3.5) at Miami Dolphins, 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: Bills. Don’t overreact to Week 1. The Dolphins beat the Patriots on the road and the Bills’ offense looked anemic at home against the Steelers. Buffalo will right the ship in Week 2. Despite winning 10 games, Miami had a negative yards per play differential last season. They also won with a negative yards per play differential in Week 1. Teams can’t be successful long term with those trends.

Houston Texans at Cleveland Browns (-12.5), 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: Browns. This is game where you shouldn’t overreact to Week 1 results. I love the Browns to come out and execute an explosive running attack against one of the league’s worst rush defenses. The Texans allowed 4.8 yards per carry last week (but only on 16 attempts). Houston also allowed the most yards per carry last season. Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt averaged nearly six yards per carry against the Chiefs in Week 1. The number seems big but a 31-14 score doesn’t seem unrealistic.

San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) at Philadelphia Eagles, 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: 49ers. I’m not taking away anything from Jalen Hurts and the Eagles’ Week 1 showing, but the Falcons defense they feasted on is baaaad. Only the Lions, Jaguars and Texans allowed more yards per play than the Falcons last season. San Francisco, as mentioned last week, had the highest yards per play differential among non-playoff teams last season. They just need to clean it up in garbage time. Philly’s offensive line, which allowed 65 sacks last season, will face a much bigger test against the 49ers this week.

Cincinnati Bengals at Chicago Bears (-2.5), 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: Bengals. Andy Dalton revenge game! Too bad Joe Burrow showed in Week 1 he is more than capable of taking the next step forward and he will continue to do so against the Bears. It’s a small sample size, but Chicago has the league’s worst yards per play differential heading into Week 2. Cincinnati has the better quarterback, stronger running attack and more elite receivers. Sure, Khalil Mack will feast on the Bengals’ horrid offensive line which allowed five sacks in Week 1, but Burrow showed he is still capable of performing well under pressure.

Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers (-5.5), 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: Steelers. Derek Carr will realize it’s not going to be as easy to move the ball down the field against the vaunted Steelers defense, who kept Josh Allen in check on the road last week. Vegas is also on a short week and also traveling from west to east.

Denver Broncos (-6) at Jacksonville Jaguars , 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: Jaguars. I’m not in love with Denver just yet. Sure, Jacksonville lost its first game to Houston, but Trevor Lawrence showed he can play. He’ll be at home where he’ll probably be more comfortable and he’s getting six points instead of giving three like he did last week. Seems like an overreaction spread after Denver’s dominant win against the lowly Giants last week.

New Orleans Saints (-3.5) at Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM

Andre’s Pick: Panthers. I’m sold on the Panthers this year. Sam Darnold actually has weapons and Christian McCaffrey looks like the Christian McCaffrey of 2019. Eight of Carolina’s 11 losses last year were decided by one possession. This is a very pesky team that has improved offensively this year and will be a contender in the NFC South all year. Plus, Jameis Winston is still Jameis Winston. The last time he went back-to-back games without a pick was in 2018.

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-12), 4:05 PM

Andre’s Pick: Bucs. As mentioned in the 49ers-Eagles pick, only three teams allowed more yards per play than the Falcons last season. Tom Brady and his ensemble of weapons will pick apart this Atlanta defense like its nobody’s business. Falcons RB Mike Davis will struggle against the Bucs’ elite rush defense and it’ll put way too much pressure on Matt Ryan to succeed. Expect a 40+ pass attempt game for Ryan, with not much success.

Minnesota Vikings at Arizona Cardinals (-4.5), 4:05 PM

Andre’s Pick: Cardinals. I whiffed on Arizona last week saying they would have their day in the sun, but not in Week 1. I was wrong. Kyler Murray is slowly looking like Patrick Mahomes and the defense is going to give a lot of offensive lines problems. Arizona’s run defense limited Derrick Henry last week by getting on top early and forcing Ryan Tannehill to throw the ball early and often. Arizona can do the same against a shaky Vikings defense that struggled in Week 1.

Dallas Cowboys at Los Angeles Chargers (-3), 4:25 PM

Andre’s Pick: Cowboys. A three-point spread is appropriate for two teams who have combined for 146 games decided by three or less since 2004 (the year Philip Rivers took over the Chargers). Dallas allowed 6.7 yards per play last week and that doesn’t bode well against Justin Herbert, who has plenty of options. But Dak Prescott will surely get his against a defense that is much less stifling than Tampa’s. Finally, Ezekiel Elliott should have an easier time running the ball. Tampa had the league’s best rush defense last season. It’s also important to note that this will likely be a de facto home game for the Cowboys. There’s a ton of Cowboys fans in L.A.

Tennessee Titans at Seattle Seahawks (-5), 4:25 PM

Andre’s Pick: Seahawks. I love Seattle a lot here. The Seahawks aerial attack can put the Titans behind early, thus taking Derrick Henry out of the game. The Titans pass defense has a lot of issues and that doesn’t bode well against Russell Wilson, who was superb last week. The Seahawks also had an elite run defense last year, allowing fewer than four yards per carry.

Kansas City Chiefs (-3.5) at Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 PM

Andre’s Pick: Ravens. Cleveland exposed Kansas City’s biggest weakness last week in a big way, gashing the Chiefs rush defense. The Browns averaged nearly six yards per carry. Baltimore runs the ball more than any other team. If they keep the turnovers down, they can easily cover. Lamar Jackson is 0-3 lifetime against Patrick Mahomes so something’s gotta give right?

Monday, September 20, 2021

Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers (-11), 8:15 PM

Andre’s Pick: Packers. One has to wonder what the spread would be if Green Bay hadn’t gotten rocked by New Orleans. They’re at home on a Monday night against a really bad team following an embarrassing loss. Packers by a million.