Thursday
Game: Washington at NY Giants
Prediction: NY Giants - It's difficult for me to go against the home team in Thursday night games. I'm still not convinced Washington's defense is as good as it's appeared in their first two games, considering they squared off against Miami and St. Louis. The Giants have the talent needed on the offensive side of the ball; they just need to learn how to close out games. I think they'll finally do that at home on a shortened week in this game. I'm taking New York by 4.
Result: NY Giants 32 Washington 21
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: Atlanta at Dallas
Prediction: Atlanta - Both defenses look to be improved from a season ago, but with both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant out for the Cowboys, I have to give the edge to Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White, and the Falcons. I'll go with Atlanta by a touchdown.
Result: Atlanta 39 Dallas 28
Record: 2-0
Game: Indianapolis at Tennessee
Prediction: Indianapolis - The Titans looked great against Tampa Bay in Week 1 and not so great against Cleveland in Week 2. Expect such inconsistency through the season. Due to that, it'll often times make me nervous picking for and against this team. Similarly, Indianapolis hasn't played well, especially on the offensive side of the ball, so far this season, but I'll tentatively go with Andrew Luck and the Colts by 10.
Result: Indianapolis 35 Tennessee 33
Record: 3-0
Game: Oakland at Cleveland
Prediction: Oakland - It's usually a pretty good rule-of-thumb to not pick West Coast teams playing a 1 pm game on the East Coast. However, with Cleveland's quarterback situation still up in the air at the moment and with Oakland playing so well against Baltimore on Sunday, I'm going to be a rebel and take the youthful West Coast Raiders by 3 in Cleveland.
Result: Oakland 27 Cleveland 20
Record: 4-0
Game: Cincinnati at Baltimore
Prediction: Baltimore - Baltimore should be 2-0 right now, but lost at the end of their games against Denver and Oakland. They appeared to sorely miss Terrell Suggs against the Raiders this past weekend. Even though he'll be out again for this game, though, I have an incredibly difficult time seeing John Harbaugh, Joe Flacco, and the Ravens falling to 0-3 with a home loss. I'll go with Baltimore by 3.
Result: Cincinnati 27 Baltimore 24
Record: 4-1
Game: Jacksonville at New England
Prediction: New England - Jacksonville may be 1-1 and flying high after their upset win over Miami this past weekend, but don't expect that high to last long as they square off against the Super Bowl champion Patriots, who are almost unbeatable at home. I'll go with New England by 17.
Result: New England 51 Jacksonville 17
Record: 5-1
Game: New Orleans at Carolina
Prediction: Carolina - Especially with Drew Brees reporting he's having some discomfort in his throwing shoulder, I have next to no faith in the Saints right now. I look for the "Ain'ts" to go 0-3 with a tough road loss against the Panthers. I'll go with Carolina by 3.
Result: Carolina 27 New Orleans 22
Record: 6-1
Game: Philadelphia at NY Jets
Prediction: Philadelphia - The Jets are playing better than expected and the Eagles are playing worse than expected. These trends can't continue forever, right? With Philly's embarrassing performance against Dallas on Sunday, I look for them to focus and bounce back in this game. I'll go with the Eagles by 4.
Result: Philadelphia 24 NY Jets 17
Record: 7-1
Game: Tampa Bay at Houston
Prediction: Houston - Houston has lost a couple of tough games, so expect them to bounce back at home. In facing rookie quarterback Jameis Winston of Tampa, look for the Texans to give him some new looks and place plenty of pressure on him, enough to result in a couple of turnovers. I'll take Houston by a touchdown.
Result: Houston 19 Tampa Bay 9
Record: 8-1
Game: San Diego at Minnesota
Prediction: Minnesota - I think San Diego likely has the better overall team, but Minnesota bounced back nicely against Detroit this past weekend after a disappointing showing in their first game at San Francisco, and with the game at 1 pm EST for the West Coast Chargers, I'll take the home team Vikings by a field goal.
Result: Minnesota 31 San Diego 14
Record: 9-1
Game: Pittsburgh at St. Louis
Prediction: Pittsburgh - So long as the Steelers defense can be mediocre this season and their offense stays healthy, I like this team's chances. I'll go with the Steelers by a touchdown.
Result: Pittsburgh 12 St. Louis 6
Record: 10-1
Game: San Francisco at Arizona
Prediction: Arizona - To this point in the season (yes, it's early), Arizona has been playing the best football in the NFC. I look for that to continue at home against the 49ers. I'll go with the Cardinals by 10.
Result: Arizona 47 San Francisco 7
Record: 11-1
Game: Buffalo at Miami
Prediction: Buffalo - To put it simply, Buffalo has surprised me through their first two games, meanwhile Miami has disappointed me. Given that, I'll take the Bills on the road by a field goal.
Result: Buffalo 41 Miami 14
Record: 12-1
Game: Chicago at Seattle
Prediction; Seattle - What's the best recipe for 0-2 Seattle to get back on track? Face the Jimmy Clausen- led Chicago Bears at home. Seattle improves to 1-2 with a 14-point win at home against the Bears.
Result: Seattle 26 Chicago 0
Record: 13-1
Game: Denver at Detroit
Prediction: Denver - Matthew Stafford is banged up, the Lions defense doesn't look as staunch as last year's, and Denver's strengths this year might be their defense and running game. No matter who stands behind center for the Lions in this game, expect him to get knocked around a bit. I'll take the Broncos by 10.
Result: Denver 24 Detroit 12
Record: 14-1
Monday
Game: Kansas City at Green Bay
Prediction: Green Bay - Kansas City should be 2-0 but blew their Thursday night game against the Broncos last week. That's especially bad news for them since they have to travel to Lambeau to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. I'll go with the Packers by 10.
Result: Green Bay 38 Kansas City 28
Record: 15-1
Week 3 Record: 15-1 (.938)
Overall Record: 30-18 (.625)
Game: Washington at NY Giants
Prediction: NY Giants - It's difficult for me to go against the home team in Thursday night games. I'm still not convinced Washington's defense is as good as it's appeared in their first two games, considering they squared off against Miami and St. Louis. The Giants have the talent needed on the offensive side of the ball; they just need to learn how to close out games. I think they'll finally do that at home on a shortened week in this game. I'm taking New York by 4.
Result: NY Giants 32 Washington 21
Record: 1-0
Sunday
Game: Atlanta at Dallas
Prediction: Atlanta - Both defenses look to be improved from a season ago, but with both Tony Romo and Dez Bryant out for the Cowboys, I have to give the edge to Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, Roddy White, and the Falcons. I'll go with Atlanta by a touchdown.
Result: Atlanta 39 Dallas 28
Record: 2-0
Game: Indianapolis at Tennessee
Prediction: Indianapolis - The Titans looked great against Tampa Bay in Week 1 and not so great against Cleveland in Week 2. Expect such inconsistency through the season. Due to that, it'll often times make me nervous picking for and against this team. Similarly, Indianapolis hasn't played well, especially on the offensive side of the ball, so far this season, but I'll tentatively go with Andrew Luck and the Colts by 10.
Result: Indianapolis 35 Tennessee 33
Record: 3-0
Game: Oakland at Cleveland
Prediction: Oakland - It's usually a pretty good rule-of-thumb to not pick West Coast teams playing a 1 pm game on the East Coast. However, with Cleveland's quarterback situation still up in the air at the moment and with Oakland playing so well against Baltimore on Sunday, I'm going to be a rebel and take the youthful West Coast Raiders by 3 in Cleveland.
Result: Oakland 27 Cleveland 20
Record: 4-0
Game: Cincinnati at Baltimore
Prediction: Baltimore - Baltimore should be 2-0 right now, but lost at the end of their games against Denver and Oakland. They appeared to sorely miss Terrell Suggs against the Raiders this past weekend. Even though he'll be out again for this game, though, I have an incredibly difficult time seeing John Harbaugh, Joe Flacco, and the Ravens falling to 0-3 with a home loss. I'll go with Baltimore by 3.
Result: Cincinnati 27 Baltimore 24
Record: 4-1
Game: Jacksonville at New England
Prediction: New England - Jacksonville may be 1-1 and flying high after their upset win over Miami this past weekend, but don't expect that high to last long as they square off against the Super Bowl champion Patriots, who are almost unbeatable at home. I'll go with New England by 17.
Result: New England 51 Jacksonville 17
Record: 5-1
Game: New Orleans at Carolina
Prediction: Carolina - Especially with Drew Brees reporting he's having some discomfort in his throwing shoulder, I have next to no faith in the Saints right now. I look for the "Ain'ts" to go 0-3 with a tough road loss against the Panthers. I'll go with Carolina by 3.
Result: Carolina 27 New Orleans 22
Record: 6-1
Game: Philadelphia at NY Jets
Prediction: Philadelphia - The Jets are playing better than expected and the Eagles are playing worse than expected. These trends can't continue forever, right? With Philly's embarrassing performance against Dallas on Sunday, I look for them to focus and bounce back in this game. I'll go with the Eagles by 4.
Result: Philadelphia 24 NY Jets 17
Record: 7-1
Game: Tampa Bay at Houston
Prediction: Houston - Houston has lost a couple of tough games, so expect them to bounce back at home. In facing rookie quarterback Jameis Winston of Tampa, look for the Texans to give him some new looks and place plenty of pressure on him, enough to result in a couple of turnovers. I'll take Houston by a touchdown.
Result: Houston 19 Tampa Bay 9
Record: 8-1
Game: San Diego at Minnesota
Prediction: Minnesota - I think San Diego likely has the better overall team, but Minnesota bounced back nicely against Detroit this past weekend after a disappointing showing in their first game at San Francisco, and with the game at 1 pm EST for the West Coast Chargers, I'll take the home team Vikings by a field goal.
Result: Minnesota 31 San Diego 14
Record: 9-1
Game: Pittsburgh at St. Louis
Prediction: Pittsburgh - So long as the Steelers defense can be mediocre this season and their offense stays healthy, I like this team's chances. I'll go with the Steelers by a touchdown.
Result: Pittsburgh 12 St. Louis 6
Record: 10-1
Game: San Francisco at Arizona
Prediction: Arizona - To this point in the season (yes, it's early), Arizona has been playing the best football in the NFC. I look for that to continue at home against the 49ers. I'll go with the Cardinals by 10.
Result: Arizona 47 San Francisco 7
Record: 11-1
Game: Buffalo at Miami
Prediction: Buffalo - To put it simply, Buffalo has surprised me through their first two games, meanwhile Miami has disappointed me. Given that, I'll take the Bills on the road by a field goal.
Result: Buffalo 41 Miami 14
Record: 12-1
Game: Chicago at Seattle
Prediction; Seattle - What's the best recipe for 0-2 Seattle to get back on track? Face the Jimmy Clausen- led Chicago Bears at home. Seattle improves to 1-2 with a 14-point win at home against the Bears.
Result: Seattle 26 Chicago 0
Record: 13-1
Game: Denver at Detroit
Prediction: Denver - Matthew Stafford is banged up, the Lions defense doesn't look as staunch as last year's, and Denver's strengths this year might be their defense and running game. No matter who stands behind center for the Lions in this game, expect him to get knocked around a bit. I'll take the Broncos by 10.
Result: Denver 24 Detroit 12
Record: 14-1
Monday
Game: Kansas City at Green Bay
Prediction: Green Bay - Kansas City should be 2-0 but blew their Thursday night game against the Broncos last week. That's especially bad news for them since they have to travel to Lambeau to take on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. I'll go with the Packers by 10.
Result: Green Bay 38 Kansas City 28
Record: 15-1
Week 3 Record: 15-1 (.938)
Overall Record: 30-18 (.625)
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