Two young quarterbacks in Michael Penix and J.J. McCarthy face off on Week 2 of Sunday Night Football. The Falcons enter 0-1 after losing a last-second heartbreaker to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, while McCarthy’s Vikings are 1-0 after successfully leading a comeback victory over the Chicago Bears. Who will emerge victorious in Week 2, and how much money can you make on the bets?
Sunday Night Football Week 2 Predictions: Falcons-Vikings Spread, Over/Under, Best Prop Bets
Atlanta Falcons (+3.5) vs Minnesota Vikings
Over/Under: 45.5 points
J.J. McCarthy saved his best for last in Week 1, but his overall body of work left something to be desired. In total, the second-year quarterback finished the night completing 13 of his 20 attempts for 143 yards, two touchdowns, one interception, and a 63.3 PFF grade, the 24th-best mark out of 32 quarterbacks. The Vikings have plenty of talent, but they’ll probably have to live with the natural highs and lows of an untested quarterback. After all, Week 2 of Sunday Night Football will also be the second start of his young career.
The same could be said of Falcons second-year quarterback Michael Penix. While he’s a little more experienced and polished, a creative defensive coordinator like Brian Flores could give the young quarterback fits throughout the contest. Ultimately, the Vikings have the more talented roster, but this one will go down to the wire. Minnesota will probably win, but a 3.5-point spread feels disrespectful.
Prediction: Vikings win, do not cover spread
Over/Under: UNDER
Best Prop Bets
Bijan Robinson: OVER 27.5 Receiving Yards
Bijan Robinson finished Week 1 with six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown on seven targets, but his over/under line is set at 27.5 yards. Make it make sense. Robinson is one of the game’s best receiving backs with the athletic ability to turn any given screen pass into a 30-yard reception. Add in the likelihood that Penix checks down to Robinson to combat Flores’ complex defensive schemes, and this is essentially free money.
J.J. McCarthy: UNDER 210.5 Passing Yards
J.J. McCarthy has a bright future in the NFL, but head coach Kevin O’Connell doesn’t want him winning and losing games by himself at this stage in his career. Even with a last-second comeback in Week 1, McCarthy only threw the ball 20 times throughout the entire contest. This team will try and win games on the ground and keep McCarthy in a game manager role. This means fewer passing attempts, which means it’s unlikely he reaches 211 passing yards in Week 2 of Sunday Night Football.
Michael Penix: UNDER 1.5 Passing Touchdowns
Michael Penix looks like the real deal, but he hasn’t thrown too many touchdowns thus far in his NFL career. He only has one game with more than one passing touchdown, and that was in the 2024 shootout against an atrocious Carolina Panthers defense. Brian Flores knows how to give young quarterbacks fits, so Penix probably won’t find too much success through the air. If and when this team gets to the red zone, look for them to focus on running the ball.
Main Photo: Matt Marton – Imagn Images
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