NFL Preseason Week 2 Preview: Quarterback Battles and Young Players Take Center Stage

The NFL preseason moves into its second full week from Thursday through Sunday, giving coaches another opportunity to evaluate rookies, backup quarterbacks and players battling for roster spots before the regular season arrives. Week 2 is often more revealing than the preseason opener. Teams still vary considerably in how much they use established starters, but several clubs are expected to provide more meaningful snaps to players who could have important roles in September. The NFL’s Week 2 schedule features 16 games beginning Thursday with Las Vegas-Houston and San Francisco-Los Angeles. Quarterback remains one of the biggest themes. Rookie Fernando Mendoza gets another opportunity for Las Vegas after completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in his debut. Rams first-rounder Ty Simpson was even more impressive, completing 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns against Kansas City.

Players and Teams to Watch

• Fernando Mendoza, Raiders: The No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft showed encouraging signs in his first NFL appearance and now faces Houston’s defense. Another strong performance could make the Raiders’ quarterback situation with Kirk Cousins more interesting.
• Shedeur Sanders, Browns: Cleveland is giving Sanders the start against Buffalo after Deshaun Watson held the early edge in the quarterback competition. This could be Sanders’ best opportunity yet to close the gap.
• Ty Simpson, Rams: Simpson’s efficient two-touchdown debut was among Week 1’s strongest rookie performances. He’ll look to build on that against New Orleans.
• Drew Allar, Steelers: Allar impressed in Pittsburgh’s 28-9 win over Green Bay and remains part of a crowded quarterback depth chart. He gets another opportunity against the Jets.
• Jadarian Price, Seahawks: Seattle’s first-round running back returned to practice after dealing with upper-leg soreness. With Kenneth Walker III gone and Zach Charbonnet recovering from an ACL injury, Price could have a major regular-season role.

NFL Preseason Week 2 Schedule and Betting Odds

DraftKings odds below were reported on Aug. 19 and are subject to change.

Date	Matchup	Spread	Moneyline	Total
Aug. 20	Raiders at Texans	Texans -1.5	HOU -142 / LV +120	40.5
Aug. 20	49ers at Chargers	49ers -1.5	SF -125 / LAC +105	38.5
Aug. 21	Jets at Steelers	Jets -2.5	NYJ -142 / PIT +120	36.5
Aug. 21	Panthers at Jaguars	Jaguars -1.5	JAX -120 / CAR +100	37.5
Aug. 21	Packers at Broncos	Broncos -6	DEN -245 / GB +200	41.5
Aug. 22	Commanders at Lions	Lions -4.5	DET -192 / WAS +160	37.5
Aug. 22	Bills at Browns	Browns -3	CLE -162 / BUF +136	36.5
Aug. 22	Ravens at Vikings	Vikings -3.5	MIN -170 / BAL +142	36.5
Aug. 22	Falcons at Colts	Colts -3.5	IND -180 / ATL +150	36.5
Aug. 22	Saints at Rams	Saints -3	NO -162 / LAR +136	37.5
Aug. 22	Giants at Dolphins	Giants -2.5	NYG -162 / MIA +136	37.5
Aug. 22	Bears at Bengals	Bears -1.5	CHI -122 / CIN +102	36.5
Aug. 22	Eagles at Patriots	Eagles -1.5	PHI -135 / NE +114	36.5
Aug. 22	Chiefs at Buccaneers	Buccaneers -5.5	TB -230 / KC +190	37.5
Aug. 22	Cowboys at Cardinals	Cardinals -1.5	ARI -135 / DAL +114	37.5
Aug. 23	Seahawks at Titans	Titans -4.5	TEN -218 / SEA +180	38.5

Betting Outlook

Preseason betting remains heavily dependent on playing-time announcements. A team favored by five or six points in August isn’t necessarily considered the stronger regular-season roster; the line may instead reflect expected quarterback rotations and how long starters are scheduled to play. Regular-season futures provide a different picture. The following teams were listed as favorites to win their respective divisions in an early-August futures market.

Division	Favorite	Odds
AFC East	Buffalo Bills	-136
AFC North	Baltimore Ravens	-112
AFC South	Houston Texans	+110
AFC West	Kansas City Chiefs	+160
NFC East	Philadelphia Eagles	+115
NFC North	Detroit Lions	+170
NFC South	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	+170
NFC West	Los Angeles Rams	Even (+100)

Those futures betting illustrate why preseason results should be viewed carefully. Kansas City, Philadelphia and Buffalo can lose exhibition games without materially changing expectations for September, while younger teams may prioritize evaluation and development over the final score. For preseason bettors, backup quarterback quality, roster depth and confirmed playing time generally deserve more attention than regular-season power rankings. Line movement can also become especially important once coaches reveal which starters are expected to play and for how long.