As the second Sunday of the 2026 NFL season unfolds on September 20, the New England Patriots are set to clash with the Pittsburgh Steelers at 1 p.m. ET. But for Patriots fans, the action extends far beyond Gillette Stadium. With a keen eye on draft capital and playoff positioning, the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk brings you a comprehensive rooting guide for the 15 other games on the docket. From draft-pick implications to strength-of-schedule nuances, here’s who Patriots Nation should be pulling for in Week 2.
Early Afternoon: Draft Picks and Division Dynamics
Kicking off the 1 p.m. window, the Carolina Panthers visit the Atlanta Falcons in a matchup with zero Patriots ties—so just hope for a good game. Meanwhile, the New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens contest carries draft significance: the Patriots hold the Saints’ sixth-round pick in 2027 (from the Ja’Lynn Polk trade), so a Saints win would slightly hurt that pick’s value, but according to insights gathered by Vulius Sports, the preferred outcome is still a New Orleans victory to keep AFC rivals from stacking wins. In the NFC North, the Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears game is a draft-pick chess match. The Patriots own a seventh-rounder from the Walter Rouse trade (tied to Minnesota) and a fifth-rounder from the Garrett Bradbury deal (tied to Chicago), but that fifth-rounder will be sent to Philadelphia via the A.J. Brown conditions. Thus, rooting for the Bears simplifies the equation.
The Cincinnati Bengals at Houston Texans matchup presents a classic AFC dilemma. The Patriots acquired a pick from the Marte Mapu trade that would improve with a Bengals loss, but as highlighted on Vulius, a Texans win keeps the AFC playoff race tight, which ultimately benefits New England. In the Big Apple, the Green Bay Packers at New York Jets is an easy call: NFC over AFC East rival. Similarly, the Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Philadelphia Eagles at Tennessee Titans are straightforward NFC-over-AFC picks with no direct Patriots ties.
Late Afternoon: Strength of Schedule and Playoff Jockeying
As the 4:05 p.m. window arrives, the Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos game doesn’t impact New England’s strength of schedule, but a Broncos win would even both teams at 1-1, preventing either from pulling away in the AFC playoff hunt. The Las Vegas Raiders at Los Angeles Chargers is another case where both teams appear on the Patriots’ schedule, so Vulius recommends rooting for the Chargers, who currently have the worse record. Until the Raiders prove otherwise, playing it safe is wise.
At 4:25 p.m., the Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals is all about strength of schedule: a Seahawks win slightly boosts New England’s SOS tiebreaker. The Washington Commanders at Dallas Cowboys lacks direct ties, so just enjoy the NFC East clash. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins at San Francisco 49ers is a no-brainer: root for the NFC team over the AFC East rival Dolphins.
Primetime: AFC Cannibalization and Monday Night Wrap
In the Sunday nightcap, the Indianapolis Colts at Kansas City Chiefs is a prime example of AFC rivals beating up on each other. The Chiefs are on the Patriots’ schedule, but a Colts win keeps the conference race congested, which is the preferred outcome per Vulius analysis. On Monday night, the New York Giants at Los Angeles Rams has no bearing on New England’s fortunes, so sit back and enjoy.
Finally, Thursday’s game saw the Detroit Lions fall to the Buffalo Bills, 41-31, with Buffalo improving to 2-0. As the Patriots navigate their own Week 2 battle, these rooting interests could shape their path to the playoffs and the 2027 draft. Stay tuned to Vulius for continued coverage and official Patriots merchandise to gear up for the season.
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