Domenic Padula (@Domenic_Padula)
For six full days there was a sense of optimism that the New York Giants could exceed expectations in Year 1 under new head coach John Harbaugh.
Then Monday Night Football kicked off, and we didn’t even get a full drive before that dream needed an X-Ray.
Jaxson Dart got caught in a big hit between Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart, his left knee bent the wrong way in the air, and just like that the dream was over.
Jameis Winston took over for the Giants at quarterback.
Winston went 11-of-27 for 111 yards and an interception in a 28-6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
Trent McDuffie might never get an easier pick than this.
With Dart and Jayden Daniels sidelined on back-to-back days, the path to the postseason gets a little easier on paper for the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
Philly has gone from -162 to -320 to make the playoffs and from -105 to -165 to win the NFC East at 2-0.
Dallas to make the playoffs could be found as high as +290 but is down to +118 at FanDuel this morning.
The Giants odds to make the playoffs climbed from +166 to +320 after Monday Night Football.
Washington is already an afterthought to contend for the postseason without Daniels at +750.
Meanwhile, all is well once again in Los Angeles, where the Rams remain the Super Bowl favourite at +600.
Next up, Matthew Stafford and company will head to the Mile High City for a date with a desperate team in the winless Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Few expected the Broncos and Los Angeles Chargers to be a combined 0-4 entering Week 3, while the Kansas City Chiefs and Las Vegas Raiders are a combined 4-0.
The Chargers have been the NFL’s most disappointing team, and it isn’t particularly close at this point.
Unfortunately for Justin Herbert and company, it won’t get any easier with a trip across the country to face the Buffalo Bills in Week 3.
Meanwhile, Week 2 gave us two new division favourites.
Let’s go back to the futures with a look at those key market moves in this Morning Coffee column for Tuesday September 22nd, 2026.
Can Burrow, Bengals Finally Live Up To The Hype In AFC?
The Cincinnati Bengals once again opted not to blow up the band over the summer.
After missing the playoffs three years in a row with their core four of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown all missing significant time, the Bengals decided to run it back one again in 2026.
This time around, they finally had enough cap space and resolve to upgrade a defence that ranked at or near the bottom of the NFL in several categories last season.
Cincinnati traded the No. 10 overall pick to the Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence III and signed him to a one-year, $28 million contract extension.
The Bengals also added defensive end Boye Mafe, defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, and safety Bryan Cook.
It’s safe to say that Cincinnati is happy with the early returns on those investments.
The Bengals beat the Houston Texans 20-6 on Sunday to improve to 2-0.
The six points against was the fewest Cincinnati has allowed in a road game since Week 13 of the 2015 season.
Per Next Gen Stats, the Bengals defence registered a 43.5 per cent pressure rate in the victory over Houston.
The 27 total pressures are tied for the second-most by any defence since ESPN started tracking that stat in 2009.
A healthy offence, an improved defence, and a 2-0 start is enough to make Cincinnati the AFC North favourite.
The Bengals have gone from +185 to +105 to win their division at FanDuel since Week 1.
In that same span, their odds to make the playoffs have shifted from -205 all the way to -450.
Cincinnati was the most popular bet to win the AFC title at FanDuel over the summer.
The Bengals were also the most popular bet to be the No. 1 seed in the AFC, attracting more than a quarter of the bets in that market at FanDuel.
Both bets look good early on with Burrow and company set to visit the rival Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3.
Cincinnati is a 3.5-point road favourite at FanDuel.
However, the Bengals still have a long road back to the playoffs, and some tough competition at the top.
The Bills look like the class of the AFC through two weeks.
Buffalo is the favourite to win the AFC title at +340.
Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes is healthy again and the Chiefs are about to improve to 3-0 against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3.
Hopefully, the Bengals stay healthy, and we’ll get to see them match up against the best in the AFC in January.
Meanwhile in the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints have emerged as the favourite to win the division title following a couple of thrilling finishes.
In Week 1, the Saints trailed the Detroit Lions 21-0 in the third quarter, then rallied to force overtime and nearly pulled off the comeback victory on a missed two-point conversion in overtime.
Then in Week 2, New Orleans trailed the Baltimore Ravens 14-3 at the half and could be found as high as +1400 to win that game live at FanDuel.
The Saints outscored the Ravens 15-0 in the fourth quarter of a 24-17 comeback victory.
New Orleans outscored their first two opponents a combined 25-3 in the fourth quarter.
While they ultimately split their first two games, Tyler Shough and company have done enough to prove they deserve to be the favourite in the wide-open NFC South.
Shough threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score in the fourth quarter of the win in Baltimore.
He’s now registered 10 combined passing and rushing touchdowns in the fourth quarter and overtime of games since Week 10 of last season – one shy of MVP favourite Josh Allen for the most in the NFL over that span.
Chris Olave has averaged 134.0 receiving yards in two games this season.
Meanwhile, the New Orleans defence shut the door on Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in the second half of Sunday’s win.
With Shough and Olave leading a healthy offence and a defence that held its own late versus Baltimore, the Saints have the potential to surprise in the NFC South.
New Orleans to win the division has been cut from +270 to +120 at FanDuel.
The Saints odds to make the playoffs have moved from +205 to +100.
New Orleans is a three-point favourite for next week’s home opener against the Las Vegas Raiders.
I’m willing to lay the three with the Saints as an early FanDuel Best Bet for Week 3 in the NFL.
Hopefully, New Orleans has another win and cover in them next Sunday.
Have a great day, everyone!
