The Herd with Colin Cowherd - What's Wright - NFL Week 2 Predictions: Colts-Chiefs, Steelers-Patriots, Jags-Broncos, Saints-Ravens, Vikings-Bears

Episode Date: September 19, 2026

Nick Wright shares his predictions for Week 2 of the NFL season including Patrick Mahomes and his Kansas City Chiefs looking to go 2-0 at home against Daniel Jones' Indianapolis Colts on Sunday Night Football, Aaron Rodgers' Pittsburgh Steelers taking on Drake Maye's New England Patriots, Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars heading to Denver for a matchup with Bo Nix and the Denver Broncos, Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears looking to stay hot against Brian Flores' Minnesota Vikings defense and much more! #Volume 18+ Only. Restrictions and eligibility requirements apply. Not available in all jurisdictions. Trading is risky. 100% loss can occur. See polymarket.com/tos for more information. The Polymarket US App serves as an independent software provider and affiliate of Polymarket US and Polymarket Clearing, the CFTC-regulated exchange and clearing organization.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Concerned about your gambling or that of someone close to you? visit connectsonterio.com. Welcome in What Driving the Gride episode 504. It is our week two NFL pick show. This episode of What Driving the Grind is presented to you by Boost Mobile. A reminder to everyone, if you would, to like, rate, and subscribe review to the pod. We are recording this on a Thursday, so we do not know the results of Bill's Lions. You guys do. You will see this on Friday. What we did know, DeMonze, while we can't see the future,

of, and good to see you, of what's going to happen in Bill's Lions. I expect the bills to move the ball at will. I think the Lions' offensive line injuries could hurt them significantly in this game, but people will know. I could, because I don't know the future on that. Somewhere I did know the future. That at some point this season,

the Los Angeles Chargers would go from, Super Bowl contender Year 3 Harbaugh Herbert putting it all together Mike McDaniel all this talent two

you know when you look at it are they actually even better than the Cardinals player for player I'm not poking fun I guess I am but this is not personal at the two gentlemen

you're about to see on your screen before we do our picks. I respect these guys a lot. Nate Tice, Shield Capadia, Thursday morning, having the earnest discussion of, you know, Justin Herbert just needs more help. Play it, please. Would you rather, other than quarterback, take the Cardinals roster or the Chargers roster? Oh, great question. Okay. I think. it's pretty close. I don't know. Yeah, I don't mean to like just avoid that, but I'm like on the fence. I think I could go either way. Are you, are you cardinals on this? I think I'm leaning

cardinals, even defensively. I like more of the card. This is great. That's all we need. It goes on, by the way, it goes on for four more minutes, um, including this quote from Sheal. It's year three with Herbert and Harbaugh, and I'm looking at this charge's roster. Is this a talented roster? Now, Listen, I happen to think the Chargers talent's been vastly overrated for years. So I don't even necessarily, you know, fully disagree with the gist of how good is this team really. But it's so, the Cardinals were supposed to be the worst team in the league this year. Okay. The worst team?

I mean, them in Miami. They had a projected win total of three and a half. bro. Like they were supposed to be awful. And in week one, the biggest, I just love Nate's like remove the quarterbacks. Of course you got to remove the quarterbacks. In week one, if you flip the quarterbacks, the Chargers win. Jacoby thoroughly outplayed Herbert. I just love it. I just, that is, that train's never late. another train that hasn't been lately. Me starting the year two and three in Nick's picks. Let's go to the recap, DeMonse. So, yeah, go ahead.

We starting off with New Orleans plus seven and a half at Detroit. That was the winner. Tampa Bay, do you want to go one by one? Tampa Bay plus... You know what? I'll discuss these, actually, because I got to tell you, for a two and three week,

I feel really good about four of them. New Orleans plus seven and a half at Detroit, with the rationale being, back door is going to be open the whole game. They're going to be able to move the ball through the air. Shuck throws for 410. They're down 21-0 and force overtime. I nailed that one.

Great. Tampa plus 3.5 at Sensey. I love Baker. But Baker went just full Bozo mode on that. It could have been touchdown run. Just go down. They had plenty of opportunities to, you know, if not win the game, certainly cover.

So, I mean, they lost four fumbles in the game. There were four balls on the ground. The Angles got all four. I'm all right with it. Houston plus a point navigance Buffalo. Again, like, that game's nip and tuck the whole way. Laster drops the pick. Then Josh makes the great throw.

Texans drive down the field. CJ fumbles, like, I don't, I don't feel badly about that pick. Philly minus five and a half against Washington was, I was a bad pick. Like, I thought Philly would dominate the Washington offensive line. They didn't. The Philly, I mean, they were fine, but the Philly offense was pretty lethargic. That was a bad pick. And Kansas City minus two and a half against Denver, never a doubt.

So I, I feel good, as good as one can feel about a two and three week. Now, here is the real killer to Monzae. You know every week on the TV show, I don't do five picks. I do three. What are the three games you think of the five I pick to have on the TV show as my official Nick's picks? I'll go with Tampa Bay, Houston, Philly. That is correct. Oh, and three.

Two and three here. Oh, and three on TV. I'm shocked. You didn't go to Kansas City on the TV show? What's going on? I did not. I didn't. I used my holmes first came back.

And I got to look at Danny's little smug face. He went three and O. Not great. Such is life. All right. We've got five picks for you this week. We've got an offer for you. We might have a touchdown stuff for you.

Tomazze's got a teaser. Or as Polly Market, our new pick sponsor and partner calls it a combo. But first, we do our stayaways. Let's do the stayaways quickly, DeManzai. First stayaway is Philly at Tennessee, Tennessee seven and a half point dogs. Tennessee's offense might just be impossibly bad, but Philly doesn't seem for two years now. Philly hasn't seemed interested in ever blowing anyone out. So I can't ride with the Titans, but I'm also not laying seven and a half for Philly in what's going to be a hot road game.

So I'm just staying away from it. I think that may like on any of these, if you think I, you know, you disagree, think I'm wrong, tell me. But that's where I would take Philly minus the seven and a half. I feel like week one, you know, it's a little, you know, shaking the rest off, week two, I feel like they can, I don't believe in Tennessee at all. And I think if Philly scores 21 points. Here's the thing, though. I think Philly is the type of team like if Philly gets up seven, they just aren't interested in getting. Yeah, just super conservative, especially against that Tennessee offense.

Next. New Orleans at Baltimore, Baltimore, seven and a half point favorites. So this is, Zay. would be Zayflowers dependent. So he didn't practice Wednesday. We're doing this Thursday. You guys are hearing it Friday. My guess is he's not playing.

I just don't want to lay more than a touchdown without their explosive big play receiver. If he is playing, then I probably would lean Baltimore. I don't think he is playing, though. And New Orleans, I don't want to grab that. I don't feel going to grab him to seven and a half because obviously Baltimore can blow anybody out. New Orleans coming off, you know, a five-quarter game, stay away.

Next. Cleveland at Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay's eight and a half point favorites. Might be the last time of our chance in our whole lifetime to be able to bet against Deshawn Watson. Truly, it might be. This might be at America. Your last chance to wager real, you know, pick against Deshaun Watson with real American currency.

And Deshawn's quote this week, where he's like, you know, the media expects me to go out there and throw for 400 yards and five touchdowns. Just so everyone knows, the media does not expect you to go out there, throw for 400 yards and five touchdowns. And the reason the media does not expect that is because in the last, do the math here 34 months you've thrown for six touchdowns so we certainly don't expect a five touchdown game when you have six in the last 34 months the media does not expect you to throw for 400 yards probably because you have not thrown for 300 yards since you were a Texan Forget 400. We haven't had 300 since the waning days of the first Trump administration.

So let's just pump our brakes. With that said, I can't lay eight and a half with Tampa. It's just too many points. Everyone's going to be doing it. It feels like a public side. I can't do it. I want to do it. I can't do it.

Green Bay at the Jets. Jets are three and a half point dogs. I think Jets are the right side here. But I'm not interested. That's tough for Green Bay. I mean, I just can't bet Green Bay or I can't pick Green Bay to win without Michael Parsons

until they win a game without Michael Parsons. But I also feel like if I'm going to, going to take the Jets at any point this year, I need to be getting more than a field goal in the hook. So staying away from it. Next. Minnesota at Chicago, Chicago is four and a half point favorites? Yeah, this is just a question of, is Chicago's defense going to be the worst in the league?

Are they going to be this year's, like what the Cowboys were last year or the Bengals the year before? If so, then back door is always going to be open. we know that we know Chicago's going to try to pour it on people and I almost did include them because of that but I need to I was

you guys part of this might be my own Bryce Young bias but I don't think the Carolina offense is that good so seeing them score 37 right is alarming and so I'm just going to stay away from Chicago until I see their defense show of pulse next Cincinnati Houston Houston's

Two and a half point favorites. So, we're doing this Thursday. Joe Burroughs dealing with a back. Nico Collins dealing with a hamstring. We talked about this game on yesterday's show. There's just too many questions about injuries. This is a Sunday morning, you know,

if I lean Houston. Yeah, same. But I, the, it's just, there's too many outliers injury related, so I'm staying away next. Miami as San Francisco. San Francisco is 13.5 point favorites. I mean, you're obligated to pick Miami.

But that doesn't sound fun. San Francisco, with the extra rest, however, it's back from Australia. Remember what some of the narrative was, the Niners getting to Australia early will help them in week one, hurt them in week two. And the Rams doing it the way they did. it would hurt them in week one, help them in week two. 13 and a half points is an outrageous amount.

I'm sure the sharp side is Miami, but I don't have to pick this game. I don't want to score a touchdown Miami. That will be enough, though. Yeah. Miami to cover probably needs 13. Perfect. You know what I mean?

like they and so that's i just don't think they're going to be able to hold san francisco to 23 or less um all right next yeah Washington at Dallas Dallas four and a half point favorites wait what yeah i yeah okay i lean heavily Washington here based on how both teams looked in week one but i would have leaned heavily Dallas a week ago before i saw them both play week one with this point spread. So I'm just staying away from it. Next. India, Kansas City.

Kansas City six and a half point favorites. This, Kansas City minus six and a half would have been picked number six. And I, the, you know, I would be very, very surprised if the chiefs lose. But I also think because I expect them to be so conservative,

I don't want to lay six and a half points, but I think the Chief's defense might, I think we could leave week two, and the Chiefs have allowed the fewest points of any team in the NFL. And so I think the defense really could shut down Jonathan Taylor, and if that's the case, I think Indy's offense with Daniel Jones just in his second game back from the Achilles is going to be pretty inept. I still, though, I don't want to lay that big of a number with the Chiefs

team that's going to be starting a rookie undrafted free agent left tackle and Patrick in just a second game back from the injury. Next. Last one is Giants at the Rams. Rams are five and a half point favorites. Yeah, and I think the Rams are actually, I know we have five and a half there. I think it has moved. I think they're six and a half point favorites.

You know, I could be wrong there, but I can double check it. Regardless, the, yeah, I think it's six and a half on Polly Market at the moment. I think it was that, but it's moved. I am not yet a Giants believer. However, the Rams are a absolute stayaway given, I don't know right now of Aaron Donald's playing. Stafford was alarming in week one. Everything about the Rams in week one,

it's like, was that Australia or was that the Rams? and so I really need to see them Monday night to have an idea. There are five games I feel very good about. Before we get those, let me talk to you guys about our partner, Polymarket. Football's back, folks. Time to level up your approach to the NFL and college football this season with Polymarket. Polymarket's a legal prediction market available in all 50 states. Unlike traditional sports books on Polymarket, you can trade on all things football.

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The Hard Rock Bet Casino app is here, Ontario. Roll with us. Must be 19 years of age or older to play. Ontario only. Please play responsibly. Concerned about your gambling or that of someone close to you, visit connectsonterio.ca. All right, Demonsay, pick one for Nick's Picks Week 2. Pittsburgh plus five and a half at New England.

Yes, so they played last year in the Steelers defense gave Drake May all types of troubles. And this is, you can see on your screen, kind of how the polymarket market has flowed on this game. over the days and weeks leading up to the game. New England looked awful in week one, Demonse. There's no way around it. I didn't think their defense looked good against Drew Locke.

Obviously, Drake May look. Drake may look so bad. Kevin Wilde's all of a sudden is assigning him a shoulder injury. Like, there's real concern in New England. A.J. Brown is out. I, you know, the Steelers defense looked really good last week. Granted, it's against Atlanta. I'm getting five and a half points and I don't trust the Patriots.

Well, so here's the thing. I don't trust the Patriots pass rush. And so if there's teams that if Aaron has time, he can still throw an accurate ball. And so I'm just getting five and a half points. I think it should be right, New England three and a half. you know, I think 1714, 2117, 2420 are all 27, 24, 24, those are 28, 24. Those are all New England wins that I cover. And I think Pittsburgh, you know, has got a one and three shot of just winning the game outright.

So I'll take Pittsburgh plus five and a half against going into New England. and T.J. Watt against Will Campbell or against Morgan Moses is something I'm interested in watching. Trayvion Henderson should be back, but those Patriot receivers with no AJ Brown, it's a real concern. Pittsburgh plus five and a half. Carolina minus two and a half at Atlanta. Listen. As of this recording, the Falcons have no idea who's playing quarterback. for them.

Cooper Rush is not an NFL starting quarterback. They want to play pinnics. He's injured. Tua might just be done. They, you know, they did everything they could to use Bijan last week, and they'll do that again. I recognize that. And Carolina's defense didn't, you know, it looked awful last week. I have to imagine that they bounced back to some degree.

The Panthers are 9 and 0 against the spread after lost the last two seasons. Now, the Panthers haven't won outright or covered the spread in a game they were favored in five years. Now, that sounds worse than it is because there's only a handful of games they've been favored. This is, so I get it. I'm doing a road divisional favorite. Spoiler alert. This isn't the only one of those I'm doing in this week. That is historically the wrong thing to do.

But I think Carolina has real hopes for this season. Their offense looked, you know, Bryce got to be as confident as he's ever been. Atlanta just trying to, you know, keep its head above water until Pinnix gets healthy. Carol, I expect Carolina to win. I'm laying less than a field goal. I'll take Carolina minus the two and a half. Next, you've got Vegas plus six and a half at the Chargers.

I don't think the Chargers are good. I think there is real concern about Ladd-McConkey's availability. I think that they are already not liking Harbaugh's decision to platoon their guard position, which I've never seen done before. Herbert seems like he is. Latoon their guard position. What do you mean? Is he like cycling them in and out a lot or something?

Yes. Yeah, yeah. He's rotating their left guard. They had, you know, one of their offensive linemen, Trey Pipkins didn't practice on Wednesday. Lad didn't practice on Wednesday, and I don't expect Ladd to play. I don't know where they get offense from.

Lad doesn't play. Genty, on the other hand, yeah, that's where it'll have to be. Oh, no, he's good. Genty looked awesome in week one. Cousins is fine. And this, the Chargers will have to go silent count in this game. It is in Los Angeles, which means it is a Raiders home game.

I think the Raiders can win outright. I certainly think they can keep it. close. I will take the Chargers getting six. I'm sorry, the Raiders getting six and a half in Los Angeles. Next. Solid. Jacksonville plus two and a half at Denver.

Yeah. The Jags have been awesome in their last half season. The Jags went to Denver last year and beat the shit out of them. Denver is

shaken, obviously, and they're on a short week, while the Chargers, I'm sorry, the Jags are on the opposite of a short week. That game was wrapped up after three quarters, guys sitting in halves on the sideline. Trevor's playing out of his mind. The Jags have a good offensive line. That Denver defense does not look the same without Jonathan Cooper and Jonathan Branklin Myers. The Denver's defense struggled last week with the Chiefs, the Chiefs receivers didn't do a good job. but with the Chiefs offense. Now you get a Jags team that has four receivers they trust. Jalen Waddle is going to be dealing with Travis Hunter a lot of that game.

The Jags are going to win this game outright. And I get two and a half points. And Sean Payton in early parts of seasons with the Broncos has not been great. Trevor is 22 and 14 against the spread in his career coming off a win. And 13 and 9 against the spread as an underdog coming. off a win. The Broncos, by the way, have been, like I mentioned, under Sean Payton, not very good weeks one and two of seasons. I think the Jags are better by a significant margin. I think the Jags plus two and a half is the play. Last but not least. Seattle minus three and a half

at Arizona. I understand that I'm laying points as a divisional favorite on the road with Drewlock. Counterpoint. Arizona right. Right. Right. now, people, the long tale of overestimating Justin Herbert and the Chargers has now extended to people being like Arizona, maybe they're good. Guys. And I, Jacoby is a fun player and the best backup in the league and maybe

should be a starter. Jacoby against this Seattle defense is going to be catastrophic. like they're he's just listen he's going to fight and he's going to throw the ball he leads the NFL in passing yards the last dozen games but he's going to make some mistakes he's immobile

and I just think Seattle's defense can win them this game they also are you know Arizona great win Sunday afternoon on a high Seattle been chilling since last Wednesday and they should have Nikki Menwere back, who might be the second best player on their entire defense.

If Arizona hadn't beaten the Chargers, you feel like this game would have been six and a half? With Sam Darnold, it was going to be like nine and a half. I just think that Drew Locke played fine in week one. He's now had 10 full days to prepare, I'll lay the three and a half with Seattle. So I am going to Monzae with five road teams, three road dogs, two road favorites, and those road favorites are divisional road favorites.

We're breaking some rules here. We're all right with it. Pittsburgh, getting five and a half at New England, Carolina, laying two and a half at Atlanta, Vegas getting six and a half at the Chargers, the Jags getting two and a half at Denver and Seattle laying three and a half at Arizona. All right, we'll get to DeManzay's teaser. in just a moment. But first, do you notice how everything keeps going up, rents going up, streaming services going up, favorite burrito spots charging you extra for Salz? It's outrageous.

Not with Boost Mobile. With Boost Mobile, you and your phone bill don't have to play the Will This Go Up Soon game. Why? Because Boost Mobile has unlimited. Talk, Tex and Data playing at a price that'll never go up. In fact, same price you pay for life. So switch now for unlimited wireless at a price that'll never go up only at Boost Mobile. After 30 gigs, customers may experience lower speeds. Customers will pay $25 per month as long as they remain active on the boost unlimited plan. All right, no touchdown genie this week. Should have been no teaser last week, DeMonze. The only leg you got right was the one I hated. So yeah, I feel like we can't, we can't, we can't give me a ding on going across the zero anymore. It's the one part of the, I hit. Well, I clearly see

something when I go across the zero. Okay. All right. I'll stay out of it. Last week, Gamonze had Detroit plus a point and a half that worked. And by the way, even if New Orleans had gotten that two-point conversion, it would have worked. Green Bay plus 10 and a half, one of the worst losses ever. I mean, up 12 and you don't cover 10 and a half. Come on, y'all. And Denver, but at least that one lost or else that you wouldn't have been able to fully enjoy the chiefs eviseration of the Broncos. All right, what do we got this week, DeMazze?

All right, so we got a three-team eight-point combo. it's up pit Pittsburgh plus 13 and a half and then we got we're gonna tease or cobble the giants up to 15 and a half and then Miami I'm taking them plus 21 and a half like I said earlier you go out there scored touch now you get 10 points like come on man you got it we win the teaser there um all big numbers huge numbers yeah um

and you're getting through every key big number imaginable I'm giving this an A hey uh I I think I probably would have personally removed one of these legs and put in Tampa to just win against Cleveland. Fair. But I probably would have taken out the Giants and put in Tampa because I just feel like the Rams are a bit of a black box right now. 100%. That's fair. I give it an A.

All right. What's the offer? Last week we went with the offer with Caleb Williams and his passing yards, but he leaned more towards running. This week we're going to roll with the Prince. We could go, Mahomes, coming back from a knee surgery, scored a rushing touchdown against Denver. Trevor had nine rushing touchdowns a year ago.

The producers think he'll score one this week. What do you say for Trevor Lawrence anytime touchdown score at 22%. Love it. I'm in. I think the producers were on the right side of the Caleb offer last week. We got a little unlucky, and it was passing yards, not total yards. but I don't love Denver's linebackers. I think that Trevor, you know,

Mahomes was running a bunch or had opportunities to run a bunch. Trevor's going to want to run. So yeah, you're getting almost 4 to 1 on that. I'll take that offer. All right, there it is. Week 2, NFL Picks Show. Great job, everyone. Thank you to Boost Mobile and to Polly Market.

Thank you to Blue Duck and the volume. Thank you to all of you. Everyone have a great weekend. week to talk to you guys oh and by the way um Saturday tomorrow you guys will be able to hear me if you want doing a little um no gamble no future commentary on poker goes YouTube page if you guys want to check that out I might hop in the game as well but I'm definitely going to be doing some commentary so you guys can check that out there I will talk to you guys on Monday on the air see you guys then what's right this is an I heart podcast guaranteed human