The Week 2 Monday Night Football double header comes at us again this season, with two interesting clashes set to finish up Week 2 in the NFL. First up, two playoff teams from last season go head-to-head as the Texans host the Buccaneers at NRG Stadium, before an AFC West rivalry rounds out the festivities, as the Raiders host the Chargers at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas. Plenty on the line in these early season clashes, and it should be a great day of football.
We have previews ane best bets for both matchups below. Remember to check back at our NFL Tips page for regular updates on all marquee NFL fixtures this season!
2025-26 NFL Week 2 Tuesday Betting Tips
Houston Texans (0-1) vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0)
NRG Stadium, Houston, Tuesday 16th September, 9:00am (AET)
Last Week
The Texans headed west to LA last week, taking on the Rams at SoFi Stadium as 3-point underdogs. In a highly competitive defensive battle, both teams struggled on offense, however the Texans had huge issues on the offensive line all game. They managed to convert just 22.2% of third downs, in no small part to the fact they were playing from 3rd and long so often. If the Texans can’t fix this offensive line, they will struggle to be anything other than a winner of a poor AFC South again this year, at best. CJ Stroud threw for 188 yards of 19/27 passing, whilst scrambling for 32 yards on 5 carries. Nico Collins was unable to get going, hauling in 3 catches for 25 yards. Looking at the positives for the Texans, and it's all on their defence. Their pass rush graded out as the best in the league last week, and whilst their coverage struggled, the defensive front made up for those issues. This will be a top 3 defence moving forward in the NFL, and it will need to be to keep this team competitive.
The Bucs also looked underwhelming last week, needing a missed Koo 46-yard field goal as time expired to win by 3 points on the road in Atlanta. The Falcons were the better team in my opinion, with the Bucs benefitting from some inspired plays by Baker Mayfield, with his redzone play enough to get them home 23-20. The Falcons had more yards, more yards per play, more passing yards per play, more first downs, and an extra 10 minutes of time of possession, but it wasn’t enough. The Bucs run defence was the highlight for this team, with the Falcons only managing 2.5 yards per carry, despite having one of the most explosive running backs in the NFL. Still, a win is a win, and in a road divisional game, it sets the Bucs up for another NFC South title.
Match Preview
The Texans were short 1.5-point home favourites on the look ahead line last week, and after the week 1 results that number didn’t shift. However, as the week has progressed, Texans money has hit the market to where they now sit as juiced 2.5-point home favourites, with the chance this close 3. The injury report is decent for both teams, with no major injury news coming through the week that wasn’t already apparent from the numbers last week. My fair spread for the game is Texans -1.5, and if this ever got the 3, I would bet the Buccaneers, however at 2.5 there is no value in the spread here in my opinion.
Looking towards the total, and it was 46.5 on the look ahead, before re-opening a full point and a half lower at 45. This made complete sense after watching the Texans last week, who couldn’t move the ball on offense, and shut the Rams down on defence. The total has since dropped a further three points to where we now sit at 42.5. This is a huge drop from the look ahead total, and I fully agree with the move, with my fair total sitting at 40.5. Obviously, it would have been much nicer to get this at open, or even the look ahead, however we aren’t blessed with those numbers now and need to make a play on the current total. Whilst it’s still above the key number of 41, there is still just enough value here to make a play, albeit a smaller one. This is yet another example as to why you should make your own numbers in the NFL, and why you should bet early in the week.
Looking towards the prop bet, and I’m going to take an under on Bucky Irving’s rush yards. Whilst I love Irving and expect him to have a big year, the loss of Tristan Wirfs has a huge impact on the run blocking of this team. Whilst Irving can certainly go over in one or two explosive plays, I’ll take the under here and expect another low output game from the Bucs rushing offense.
Prop Bet: B Irving under 64.5 rushing yards - $1.88 @ NEDS (1u)
Under 42.5 points
$1.92 (1 Unit)
Las Vegas Raiders (1-0) vs Los Angeles Chargers (1-0)
Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas, Tuesday16th September, 12:00pm (AET)
Last Week
The Raiders were one of the surprise packets last week, going into Gilette Stadium and taking down the Patriots as 2.5-point road underdogs. Head Coach Pete Carroll had his team up for the game, and it was a slightly different offensive scheme than many had anticipated, with the Raiders airing it out on offense, rather than going through rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. It worked well, as Geno Smith went 24-34 through the air for 362 yards and a touchdown, with tight end Brock Bowers looking brilliant until an injury had him taken out early, however he still finished with 5 catches for 103 yards. His availability will be crucial this week for the Raiders. Defensively, the Raiders completely shut down the run game of the Patriots, who managed just 60 yards rushing at 3.3 yards per carry, whilst converting only 28.6% of third downs. The Raiders graded out as the 14th best defence overall in week 1, however their coverage was poor and that could well be exploited this week by a team that looked irresistible through the air in week 1.
Speaking of their opponents, the Chargers were the biggest underdog winners last week, as they closed 3-point underdogs in Brazil against the Kansas City Chiefs, winning 27-21. There’s every reason to be excited if you’re a Chargers fan after their performance in week 1, as Justin Herbert looked sensational at quarterback, and actually played well in the fourth quarter when his team needed him the most. Herbert finished with 25-34 for 318 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air, and also scrambled for 32 yards on 7 carries, in a performance that saw him shoot up MVP odds markets. The biggest positive for this Chargers offense was perhaps the play by third year receiver Quentin Johnston, who tore the Chiefs’ to shreds with 5 catches for 79 yards and 2 touchdowns. If he can keep up this sort of form and continue taking the top of defences, this Chargers offense could be one of the most electric in football.
Match Preview
The Chargers opened 3-point road favourites on the look ahead, before the number pushed out to 3.5 at re-open on Monday evening. Raiders money came in and pushed this back to Chargers -3, however we are back to 3.5, albeit with the Raiders heavily juiced. My numbers are pretty close to market, however with 2.5’s available for the Chargers (albeit heavily juiced), I think they are the play here. The Raiders home field advantage is negligible, and I think the Chargers showed enough last week to be rated as at least 3 points better than the Raiders. Brock Bowers’ availability will be paramount, with him currently listed as questionable with a knee injury. Given it’s a divisional matchup I believe he likely plays, but any small hiccup could see him miss, or aggravate the injury in-game and not play the full game. I’ll take the Chargers to win by the 3+ here.
Looking towards the total, and it opened 44.5 and has been bet up heavily to 46.5. I’m fully on board with this move up, with my fair total at 48. Both offenses looked effective last week, whilst both defences were about league average. Familiarity often brings lower scoring, however with the Raiders having a new Head Coach / quarterback combo, and the Chargers looking more pass happy this season, the familiarity may be a little way off what it could have been. Would lean the over, but I prefer the point spread to attack this game.
Looking at the prop markets, we will go back to the well with Ladd McConkey this week, after the second-year receiver once again looked brilliant in week 1, hauling in 6 passes for 74 yards on 9 targets. The Raiders’ coverage was the weak spot on this defence last week, and I expect Herbert to have another productive day from under center. McConkey is his favourite target, and I believe his receiving yard total should start with an 8, so I see some great value here in Ladd to go over. Consider laddering him all the way up to 100+ yards.
Prop Bet: L McConkey over 72.5 receiving yards - $1.91 @ Bet365 (1.5u)
Chargers (-2.5)
$1.80 (2.5 Units)
