NFL Trends That Matter Week 2: Panthers in Prime Bounce-Back Spot

Joe Osborne: Senior Betting Analyst at Covers
Joe Osborne • Senior Betting Analyst 16+ years betting experience
Updated: Sep 17, 2026 , 01:00 PM ET • 4 min read

The Panthers went 9-0 ATS following a loss last season and find themselves in a friendly bounce-back spot against an incompetent Falcons offense in Week 2.

Bryce Young Carolina Panthers NFL
Photo By - Reuters Connect. Bryce Young during action against the Bears.

One week into the NFL season and everybody suddenly has it all figured out. Let’s pump the brakes! 

My top Week 2 trends spotlight the Panthers' knack for bouncing back, a Saints team that refuses to go quietly, and the Seahawks' ownership of the Cardinals franchise. 

If you’re lining up your NFL picks for the week, these three spots deserve a look.

Best NFL trends for Week 2

For help understanding Kalshi probabilities, see our odds calculator.

Matchup Trend Pick Kalshi
Probability
Panthers CAR @ Falcons ATL The Panthers went 9-0 ATS after a loss last season Panthers -2.5 50%
Saints NO @ Ravens BAL The Saints are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games; the Ravens are 1-7 ATS in their last eight home games Saints +8.5 52%
Seahawks SEA @ Cardinals ARI The Seahawks are 8-1 ATS and 9-0 SU in their last nine games against the Cardinals Seahawks -3.5 51%

Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps

Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account Add as a preferred source on Google

Panthers vs Falcons trends

Trend: The Panthers went 9-0 ATS after a loss last season

  • Why it matters for Week 2:

    Dave Canales proved last season that he could get Carolina off the mat, rewarding anyone willing to back the Panthers after an outright loss with a perfect 9-0 ATS record

Week 2 pick: Panthers -2.5

Kalshi probability: 50%

Giving up 59 points to Chicago last week isn’t exactly how you build trust, but the Carolina Panthers get a much friendlier assignment against the Atlanta Falcons’ disastrous quarterback situation.

With Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. unavailable in Week 1, Cooper Rush threw two interceptions in a 20-13 loss to Pittsburgh. The Falcons managed just 13 points and ranked 28th in yards per play. Good luck scaring anybody with that.

Carolina has also won and covered in three straight meetings with Atlanta. Am I nervous about the Panthers’ defense? Absolutely, but this is a modest spread against an offense with very little going right. 

Saints vs Ravens trends

Trend: The Saints are 7-0 ATS in their last seven games; the Ravens are 1-7 ATS in their last eight home games

  • Why it matters for Week 2: 

    I’m comfortable grabbing a healthy cushion with a Saints team that showed zero quit against Detroit in Week 1, digging out of a 21-0 hole to force overtime.

Week 2 pick: Saints +8.5

Kalshi probability: 52%

The New Orleans Saints might make you sweat, but last week showed why this team can be a nightmare to put away. 

Tyler Shough threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns, and the Saints’ big-play ability through the air gives them a chance to erase a deficit in a hurry. That’s appealing when taking a spread outside of seven against a Baltimore Ravens team that’s also 0-5 ATS in its last five games after a straight-up win.

And if the Ravens build a big lead, could they ease off with next week’s Brazil trip looming? The back door could be wide open.

Seahawks vs Cardinals trends

Trend: The Seahawks are 8-1 ATS and 9-0 SU in their last nine games against the Cardinals

  • Why it matters for Week 2: 

    This has the makings of a classic Week 2 reality check, with Arizona coming back down to earth after its opening-week surprise.

Week 2 pick: Seahawks -3.5

Kalshi probability: 51%

Apparently, one win is all it takes to erase an entire offseason of skepticism. Suddenly, people have a very short memory about how little was expected from the Arizona CardinalsI’m not buying it!

The Seattle Seahawks have won nine straight meetings against the Cards, including six by double digits, and Drew Lock gave us plenty to work with after being thrown into a difficult spot against New England. Replacing an injured Sam Darnold, he completed 16 of 22 passes for 187 yards and posted a 113.3 passer rating.

Seattle also gets extra rest after playing Wednesday, while its defense looked outstanding, holding the Patriots to 10 points on just 4.1 yards per play. This team generally handles opponents it’s supposed to beat: the Seahawks are on a 13-4-1 ATS tear as favorites since last season, including the playoffs. Arizona’s honeymoon will be brief.

Other notable NFL trends for Week 2

(Trend rating: 🟢 = good, 🔴 = avoid)

  • 🟢The Cowboys have gone Over in seven straight games
    Commanders/Cowboys Over 49.5
  • 🟢The Rams are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games after an outright loss
    Rams -7 vs. Giants
  • 🔴The Buccaneers are 0-10 ATS in their last 10 games 
    Avoid Browns +8.5 vs. Buccaneers
  • 🔴The Vikings have gone Under in eight of their last 10 games 
    Avoid Under 47.5 vs. Bears

Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.

Pages related to this topic

Joe Osborne Senior Betting Analyst Covers.com
Senior Betting Analyst

Joe is an industry veteran who loves the entertainment aspect of the sports betting industry. His opinions are always backed by data and he enjoys digging into the numbers and coming up with interesting nuggets to share with sports bettors.

Joe takes a high-energy and fun approach to covering his favorite sports which include the NFL, MLB, UFC, NBA and NHL, and there’s no bet type he loves more than an NFL six-point teaser. Joe is the host of our daily sports betting program, Before You Bet, while he also leads our weekly UFC show, P4P Picks, and our 'Covers on the Ground' series where he's covered many UFC, NFL and NBA games in person. A monthly highlight for Joe is conducting interviews with UFC legend Georges St-Pierre ahead of every UFC PPV.

Outside of his work at Covers, Joe has appeared on many top media brands including ESPN Radio, Mad Dog Sports Radio, VSIN, TSN, and SportsNet. He always recommends not reading too much into narratives when placing your bets as those factors are already cooked into the lines set by oddsmakers.

Popular Content

Covers is verified safe by: Evalon Logo GPWA Logo GDPR Logo GeoTrust Logo Evalon Logo