This past week in the NFL marked several unexpected outcomes, including the heavily favored Cincinnati Bengals’ loss to the New England Patriots, along with significant comebacks by the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins in their matches.

Although Week 2 appears to have a calmer schedule, the absence of standout games could lead to new surprises.

This week’s consensus is strong, as all six experts from YSL News Sports agree on their picks for 11 out of the 16 games. However, we challenged our writers to make one bold prediction for the upcoming games.

Here are the daring forecasts from YSL News Sports for Week 2 in the NFL:

Caleb Williams will have to wait until Week 3 to find the end zone

Despite starting his NFL journey with a win, Caleb Williams’ performance in his debut with the Chicago Bears wasn’t impressive statistically. He completed just under 50% of his throws (48.3%), recorded fewer than 100 passing yards (93), and averaged 3.2 yards per attempt. Nevertheless, the Bears managed to defeat the Tennessee Titans without scoring an offensive touchdown. This time against the Houston Texans on “Sunday Night Football,” their luck might run out.

Houston allowed 27 points in their Week 1 victory over the Indianapolis Colts, but their defense effectively limited the run game, holding Jonathan Taylor to 3.0 yards per carry while keeping quarterback Anthony Richardson in check. The Texans struggled with big play coverage, as Richardson connected on two touchdown passes exceeding 50 yards.

The Bears’ offense, however, does not present the same level of threat—at least for now. Chicago’s rushing offense may not provide much support for Williams. The Texans’ coach, DeMeco Ryans, will have his defense ready to disrupt, making it difficult for the rookie. Thus, Williams might have to wait until Week 3 for his first NFL touchdown.

— Chris Bumbaca

Jordan Mason will surpass 100 rushing yards again

With San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey out due to calf and Achilles injuries, coach Kyle Shanahan has announced that Mason will step up to fill the role. After a standout performance in Week 1, where he recorded career highs in carries (28) and rushing yards (147), Mason is set to exceed 100 rushing yards in his next outing. The 49ers possess advantages on the offensive line against the Minnesota Vikings, particularly at the edges. Shanahan is expected to implement many zone runs in the game plan, allowing Mason to showcase his skills confidently and decisively. In Week 1, Mason had five runs of 10 or more yards, a feat he could repeat in Minnesota.

— Tyler Dragon

Bucs will make major statement with win at Lions

The Lions turned back Todd Bowles’ team twice last season – once in Week 6 and again in the divisional playoffs in Detroit. This makes the Bucs, winners of three consecutive NFC South titles, highly motivated to avoid losing to the Lions for a third time in a row since the start of 2023. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, star safety Antoine Winfield may miss the game due to a foot injury, leaving an already vulnerable secondary in a tougher spot against receivers Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, and tight end Sam LaPorta. On the bright side, Baker Mayfield has started strong – throwing for 289 yards and four touchdowns with the best passer rating in the league (146.4) in Week 1 – and he boasts one of the NFL’s top receiver combos with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Dan Campbell’s determined squad reached the NFC title game in January by defeating the Bucs after breaking open a 17-17 tie in the fourth quarter. Now the Bucs will return to a charged Ford Field with another chance to prove they’re up to the challenge.

— Jarrett Bell

Seahawks will notch six sacks in win against Patriots

Malcolm Butler’s return to Foxborough as “Keeper of the Light” is a clever move by New England, underscoring how far both teams have strayed from their Super Bowl 49 days. While Mike Macdonald’s defense doesn’t have the same reputation as the Legion of Boom, there are genuine expectations that they can cause significant problems for the Patriots this Sunday. In Week 1, Jacoby Brissett was only sacked once but faced the highest pressure rate (48.3%) of any quarterback, according to Next Gen Stats. Although Brissett handled the pressure well, he might have a much tougher challenge against the Seahawks. With formidable threats in the interior like Leonard Williams and rookie Byron Murphy, along with edge rusher Boye Mafe, Macdonald’s intricate defense could generate pressure without many blitzes. Achieving six sacks is ambitious—only the Dallas Cowboys managed that in Week 1, against a Cleveland Browns team missing its top two offensive tackles—but the Seahawks may be able to achieve this against a Patriots team that appears weakened along the offensive line.

— Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz