The 2024 National Football League season is in full swing, with week two promising another thrilling round of action. All 32 teams are set to take the field, including the Kansas City Chiefs who are looking to make history by becoming the first team to win three consecutive Super Bowls. Here’s a look at the betting odds and the media companies poised to benefit from the excitement of week two.
Betting Odds: Chiefs Remain Favorites
The Kansas City Chiefs remain the betting favorites to win Super Bowl LIX, following their impressive opening week victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Here’s a breakdown of the week 2 matchups and odds from DraftKings Inc (DKNG), showcasing some intriguing games:
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Buffalo Bills (1-0) at Miami Dolphins (1-0) -2.5:
A battle of AFC East rivals with both teams coming off wins.*
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) at Detroit Lions (1-0) -7.5:
Can Tom Brady keep the Buccaneers rolling against a surprising Lions team?*
Las Vegas Raiders (0-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-0) -8.5:
A crucial game for the Raiders to avoid an early 0-2 start.*
San Francisco 49ers (1-0) -5 at Minnesota Vikings (1-0):
A clash of two playoff contenders in a potentially high-scoring affair.*
Los Angeles Chargers (1-0) -6 at Carolina Panthers (0-1):
Justin Herbert and the Chargers look to build on their opening week win.*
New Orleans Saints (1-0) at Dallas Cowboys (1-0) -6:
A classic NFC South rivalry with both teams looking to maintain their unbeaten records.*
Indianapolis Colts (1-0) -2.5 at Green Bay Packers (1-0):
Can the Colts pull off an upset against the veteran Packers?*
New York Jets (0-1) -4 at Tennessee Titans (0-1):
Both teams are looking to bounce back from Week 1 losses.*
Cleveland Browns (0-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-1) -3:
A divisional battle with both teams desperate for their first win.*
New York Giants (0-1) at Washington Commanders (0-1) -2:
An NFC East rivalry with both teams looking to avoid a 0-2 start.*
Seattle Seahawks (1-0) -3.5 at New England Patriots (1-0):
A clash of two teams with contrasting styles.*
Los Angeles Rams (0-1) at Arizona Cardinals (0-1) -1.5:
A battle of division rivals, both looking to get their first win.*
Cincinnati Bengals (0-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-0) -5:
A highly anticipated rematch of last year’s AFC Championship game.*
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) -2.5 at Denver Broncos (0-1):
Can the Steelers remain undefeated on the road?*
Chicago Bears (1-0) at Houston Texans (1-0) -6.5:
An intriguing matchup between two surprising teams.*
Atlanta Falcons (0-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-0) -6.5:
The Eagles look to build on their opening week win against a struggling Falcons team.Betting Trends and Action
Sportsbooks are giving away teams more love this week, with six away teams favored, compared to Week 1’s two. Several teams are battling to avoid an early 0-2 start. DraftKings reports the top five teams attracting the most action against the spread:
* Chargers -6.5%
* Eagles -6.5%
* Commanders -1.5%
* Ravens -9%
* 49ers -6%
Week 1 saw some upsets, with several heavily-bet-on teams losing against the spread, including the favored Bengals. According to BetMGM’s John Ewing, teams with 50% or more bets on them went 6-10 against the spread in Week 1. Ewing also notes that Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen has a strong record in Thursday games, with a 6-0 overall record and a 4-2 record against the spread.
Media Stocks on Watch: NFL Viewership Surges
The NFL’s enduring popularity was evident in the first week of the season, with viewership up 12% year-over-year. A rare Friday game between the Packers and Eagles drew 14 million viewers on Comcast Corporation’s (CMCSA) Peacock streaming platform. The Walt Disney Company (DIS) recorded 20.4 million viewers for the first Monday Night Football game, marking the second most-watched Week 1 Monday Night Football game since 2006.
Primetime Matchups Set the Stage
The second week of the NFL season features a trio of highly anticipated primetime games:
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Thursday, September 12, 8:15 p.m. ET: Bills at Dolphins on Prime Video (Amazon.com Inc AMZN)
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Sunday, September 15, 8:20 p.m. ET: Bears at Texans on NBC, Peacock
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Monday, September 16, 8:15 p.m. ET: Falcons at Eagles on ESPN
Five out of the six teams featured in these primetime games won their opening week games, setting the stage for some exciting week 2 matchups. The Sunday 1 p.m. ET and 4 p.m. ET games will be broadcasted by CBS (Paramount Global PARA PARAA) and Fox Corporation (FOX FOXA), with coverage varying by location. In Week 1, CBS and Fox games averaged 18.4 million viewers per game, the highest opening-week Sunday afternoon figure since 2016 and a 21% increase over last year’s opening week.
The NFL season is off to a roaring start, and week two promises to be another captivating week of action, both on the field and in the media landscape.
