NFL Week 3 Predictions

Week 2 Record - 14-2

Season Record - 23-8

Thursday Games

Los Angeles Rams (1-1) at San Francisco 49ers (0-2)

The Thursday night battle is not exactly must-watch, but this should be a pretty tight game. Los Angeles will be playing its first road game of the season, so it will be interesting to see if young quarterback Jared Goff can keep up his strong start to the season (66 percent completion percentage, 525 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception). San Francisco will be looking to score their first touchdown of the season. The 49ers’ defense has played pretty well through two weeks, ranking third in passing yards allowed (153). I like Rams’ running back Todd Gurley to have a big game while a Goff touchdown pass in the fourth quarter seals up LA’s second win of the season.

Final Prediction - Los Angeles 20, San Francisco 10

Sunday's Games

Baltimore Ravens (2-0) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) at Wembley Stadium, London Baltimore and Jacksonville will play their week three matchup in London. The Ravens have dominated the Bengals and Browns to open the year and are the favorites again this week. Joe Flacco has passed for just 338 yards so far while the Ravens’ running game ranks third in the league (146.5 yards per game). The Jaguars opened the year by thumping the Texans before being dominated by the Titans last week. I like the Ravens to improve to 3-0 with a tight win over the Jaguars. Final prediction - Baltimore 24, Jacksonville 17

Atlanta Falcons (2-0) at Detroit Lions (2-0) Atlanta and Detroit meet in one of the more intriguing matchups of week three. With the game being at Detroit, it gives the Lions an even better chance to earn the win. Detroit’s defense has allowed just 289 yards per game through the first two weeks and will now be tasked with slowing down a Falcons’ offensive attack that racked up 364 yards against Green Bay. I think this game comes down to which team takes better care of the ball and runs the ball better. I like the Falcons to pull out the road win and take this battle of 2-0 teams. Final Prediction - Atlanta 31, Detroit 28

Denver Broncos (2-0) at Buffalo Bills (1-1) This matchup between Denver and Buffalo sets up as a trap game for the Broncos. Coming off an impressive win over Dallas, the Broncos head to Buffalo for what should be a defensive-driven game. The Bills have allowed just 234.5 yards per game while the Broncos’ defense has allowed just 258.5 yards per contest, ranking second and fourth in the league, respectively. Denver has moved the ball better on offense and I think the Broncos earn the road win after a slow start. Final Prediction - Denver 24, Buffalo 13

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) at Chicago Bears (0-2) The Steelers’ defense has helped the team to a 2-0 start after wins over Cleveland and Minnesota. Pittsburgh will look for a second straight win over a NFC North foe when it travels to battle the Bears on the road. Chicago looked helpless against the Buccaneers last week and could be in for a repeat performance against Pittsburgh this week. Steelers pull away in the second half. Final Prediction - Pittsburgh 34, Chicago 17

Cleveland Browns (0-2) at Indianapolis Colts (0-2) This matchup is probably the most difficult one to predict in week three. So far this season, the Browns have looked like the superior team, but winning on the road win a young team is never an easy task. If the Colts still want to bring back quarterback Andrew Luck and make a postseason push, this is a game they need to win desperately. But, I think Cleveland picks up their first win while Indianapolis falls to 0-3. Final Prediction - Cleveland 16, Indianapolis 10

Miami Dolphins (1-0) at New York Jets (0-2) The Dolphins escaped with a win over the Chargers last week while New York has looked lifeless through two losses. Miami QB Jay Cutler looked pretty good in his Dolphins’ debut and he could be in for an even bigger game against the NFL’s third-worst defense through two games. Look for Cutler to toss a couple touchdowns and running back Jay Ajayi to top 100 rushing yards and add another score. Miami earns a road win to improve to 2-0. Final Prediction - Miami 31, New York 17

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-0) at Minnesota Vikings (1-1) Without QB Sam Bradford, the Vikings struggled to move the ball against the Steelers in a 26-9 loss in week two. Bradford is again out this week, leaving the Vikings with Case Keenum to run the show against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay dismantled the Bears in its season-opener last week but now will have to try and move the ball against a legit Minnesota defense that has kept Pittsburgh and New Orleans relatively in check. I like the Bucs to pull a road upset to move to 2-0. Final Prediction - Tampa Bay 20, Minnesota 17

Houston (1-1) at New England Patriots (1-1) While the Patriots rebounded from a week one loss with a 16-point road win over the Saints, the Patriots’ defense still has lots of question marks as it enters their week three matchup against Houston. This game will come down to how effectively New England’s high-powered offense can move the ball against one of the league’s best defenses. I like the Patriots to earn the win over the Deshaun Watson-led Texans. Final Prediction - New England 28, Houston 24

New Orleans Saints (0-2) at Carolina Panthers (2-0) The Panthers’ defense has allowed just two field goals and 393 yards in wins over the Bills and 49ers. Things will get much tougher against the 0-2 Saints, who average 386.5 yards per game. This game will also feature a lackluster Carolina offense trying to move the ball against the league’s worst defense (512.5 yards per game). This game will be tight, but I again like the road team, the Saints, to pull off the win. Final Prediction - New Orleans 24, Carolina 21

New York Giants (0-2) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) The Giants entered the season as my favorite to win the NFC East. If the Eagles can defend their home turf, New York will fall to 0-3 and create a tougher road to making the postseason for itself. The Giants have not looked good on offense, even with the return of Odell Beckham Jr. on Monday against the Lions. I like the Giants to get the O rolling against an Eagles’ defense that has allowed just over 300 yards a game over its first two games. The Giants win a shootout to pick up their first W. Final Prediction - New York 38, Philadelphia 31 Seattle Seahawks (1-1) at Tennessee Titans (1-1) I absolutely love this week three matchup and I believe it could turn out to be the game of the week (yes, even better than the LA Rams against the San Fran 49ers). Seattle has looked lost on offense through two games while the Titans are coming off a beat down of the Jaguars on the road. The Seahawks are going to figure it out sooner or later and I like them to move the ball against the Titans. But, I like Tennessee to pick up a big home win in a thriller. Final Prediction - Tennessee 31, Seattle 28

Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) at Green Bay Packers (1-1) The Bengals head to Lambeau Field without a touchdown through two weeks while the Packers’ defense was trounced during the first half in a road loss to Atlanta. Aaron Rodgers has never led the Packers to a win over the Bengals, the only NFL team he has not beat. I like the Packers to defend home turf and improve to 2-1 on the season, but the Bengals will score a touchdown. Final Prediction - Green Bay 27, Cincinnati 13

Kansas City (2-0) at Los Angeles Chargers (0-2) The Chiefs have looked like the NFL’s top team through two weeks of play while the Chargers have suffered a pair of last-second losses. Los Angeles could get its season back on track with a statement win over Kansas City this week, but the Chiefs are just too hot to pick against right now. Final Prediction - Kansas City 31, Los Angeles 21

Oakland Raiders (2-0) at Washington Redskins (1-1) The Raiders enter their week three matchup with the Redskins with one of the top offenses in the NFL. If Derek Carr and Michael Crabtree can continue to shred defenses, that just opens things up for Amari Cooper, Jared Cook and company. Washington picked up a needed road win over the Rams last week, but still looked shaky on defense. I don’t think the Redskins can stop the Raiders enough to win this one. Oakland improves to 3-0. Final Prediction - Oakland 27, Washington 21

Monday's Games

Dallas Cowboys (1-1) at Arizona Cardinals (1-1) Heading into the season, this matchup looked like one that would feature two of the league’s best running backs in Ezekiel Elliott and David Johnson. As you know, Johnson is out with a dislocated left wrist and Elliott is coming off his worst performance as a pro (eight yards on nine attempts). This game probably still comes down to which team can run the ball most effectively, and I’ll take Elliott over the Cardinals’ committee. Final Prediction - Dallas 24, Arizona 21

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