Hey everyone, here are my NFL Week 3 predictions and analysis. Side note: I will not be mentioning the Thursday Night Football game between the Jets and Browns (Cleveland won 21-17), as it had been played prior to the date of this article.
Sunday:
Bills at Vikings: Vikings win 28-7
The Buffalo Bills are truly looking like the worst team in football, as they have virtually no offense, limited defense, and questionable coaching. Minnesota, coming off a very unlucky tie with division rivals, Green Bay Packers, will be looking to enact revenge on this very lackluster Bills team and get back to their winning ways.
Giants at Texans: Texans win 17-10
The 0-2 bowl is here and both of these teams are really not living up to pre-season standards. The Giants have a horrendous offensive line, that allows QB Eli Manning to have essentially no time to make a play, and an inconsistent defense that could one week shut down top receivers, but concede hundreds of yards the following week. On paper New York is the better team, but I believe playing in front of their home crowd, that Houston should rise up to the occasion and get their first win of the season. Their extremely talented defensive line should have no issues getting to the quarterback throughout this game.
Packers at Redskins: Packers win 20-17
This wreaks of “trap game” as Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers is still suffering from his knee injury, he got during the week 1 game against the Chicago Bears, and could very well be tested by an underrated Washington defense. Redskins QB Alex Smith has shown flashes of playing well in big games in the past, and this could potentially be another one of those times. Regardless of his injury though, if there is anything I have learned as a professional football fan, it is to never doubt Aaron Rodgers in any circumstance. The Packers are the more talented team and should grind a win out.
49ers at Chiefs: Chiefs win 28-21
In arguably the most anticipated matchup of this week, we have two teams with great young quarterbacks and elite offenses facing off. Despite the hype surrounding 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo, since his solid end of the year, last season, I feel as if it will be the Chiefs’ “gunslinger” Patrick Mahomes that will steal the show and get his team the win. Mahomes has recently been tearing up all defenses he has come across, and most notably set an NFL record for most touchdown passes made in the first three starts of a player’s career. I personally cannot wait to watch this matchup, as each team is capable of scoring a plentiful of points and is destined to be a very back and forth contest.
Raiders at Dolphins: Raiders win 23-13
As a Dolphins fan this one hurts, but I need to be unbiased in analyzing this game. Sure, we’ve looked great to start the year off, as we currently stand 2-0, but we have yet to play a team with the offensive firepower and overall talent level of the surprisingly winless Oakland Raiders. Miami’s DBs still have more to prove, in my opinion, before I can definitively say they have a shot at contesting Oakland’s strong receiving core. Moreover, the Dolphins’ defensive line has been historically poor at guarding the run, and with RB Marshawn Lynch taking the field for the Raiders, it could be a long day.
Colts at Eagles: Eagles win 24-17
The unspoken MVP of last season, QB Carson Wentz is finally back for Philly, after a season-ending ACL tear. He will be looking to make an instant impact for his team, as they just came off a tough loss against a red-hot Tampa Bay Buccaneers squad. I believe he has the complete ability to regain his form of last season and win this game relatively easily.
Titans at Jaguars: Jaguars win 21-3
Coming off a huge win against the New England Patriots, the Jacksonville Jaguars will be looking to make a statement against their tough division rivals, the Tennessee Titans. I believe the Jags have the strongest defense in the entire NFL at the moment and their at times questionable QB Blake Bortles, has been playing well as of late, which combined is deadly for almost any opponent. Especially with the whole controversy surrounding the Titans’ QB situation, due to Marcus Mariota’s week 1 elbow injury, I feel as if the Titans aren’t strong enough at this current moment to compete with the likes of Jacksonville.
Bengals at Panthers: Bengals win 17-13
With my upset of the week, I have the in-form Cincinnati Bengals going into Charlotte and beating the Carolina Panthers. This Bengals team is looking to make a statement to those that are questioning their legitimacy in the potential playoff team discussion, by getting this win. Former NFL MVP QB Cam Newton is sure to have a strong game regardless, for Carolina, but I believe it won’t be enough to secure them from the upset.
Broncos at Ravens: Ravens win 10-7
I frankly think this will be a very low-scoring contest between two teams with uninspiring offenses, but phenomenal defenses. The veteran presence of QB Joe Flacco and loud home crowd, should be enough to will the Ravens over Denver and get the win.
Saints at Falcons: Falcons win 21-20
This is going to be an extremely close game, between two Super Bowl contending teams. Each team will be looking to score on every possession, and will most likely find it easier than not to do so. I believe that regardless of the countless injuries to their defense, Atlanta will prevail and prove to the world they are as strong, if not stronger, than that Super Bowl runner-up team of two years ago.
Chargers at Rams: Rams win 28-13
The Rams are right now the strongest team in the entire league without a doubt. From their strong run game and at times unfair defense, they are well-balanced enough to contend against any team, contender or not. I think that despite the Chargers potent offense, the Rams should comfortably win the battle for L.A.
Bears at Cardinals: Bears win 23-7
Against who I think is the second-worst team in the NFL, in the Arizona Cardinals, the up and coming Chicago Bears team should have absolutely no problem winning this game. Thanks to generational talents like DE Khalil Mack and an overall strong defense, this already putrid Cardinals offense will have an even harder time, trying to muster points.
Cowboys at Seahawks: Seahawks win 16-10
Home field advantage is the main factor in me picking the Seattle Seahawks to win this game. In having one of the worst offensive lines in football, QB Russell Wilson will have a tough time finding targets to pass to, but will ultimately succeed due to his incredible talent. I pick against Dallas, not because they are a worse team than Seattle, as they clearly aren’t, but since I have yet to see them perform well on the road, in a hostile, loud environment.
Patriots at Lions: Patriots win 31-19
After what was an embarrassing loss last week to the Jaguars, I fully expect QB Tom Brady and the New England Patriots to light up the mediocre Lions in Detroit. This will not be the reunion new Lions’ head coach and former Patriots’ defensive coordinator Matt Patricia will have planned for.
Monday:
Steelers at Buccaneers: Steelers win 20-14
This will inevitably be a heated contest between one of the hottest teams in the NFL, in Tampa Bay, and a deflated Pittsburgh team without their star running back due to contract issues. The Steelers are a more talented team than the Bucs, even without the services of RB Le’Veon Bell and I fully expect them to finally get a win after a forgettable start to this year’s campaign.