Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles
The homecoming of Andy Reid will grab the majority of the headlines in this match up, but the real story is the revival of the Chiefs. The change of scenery has been good for both Reid and Alex Smith, but they will have their toughest test of this early season in week three as they face the dynamic Eagles offense. Look for the Eagles to use their speed on defense to put pressure on Smith and Kansas City.
Eagles 28 – Chiefs 23
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at New England Patriots
Darrelle Revis is no stranger to playing New England , but even he might be hard pressed to name anyone on the Patriots WR corps. Brady has some new faces on offense and the going has been rough, but still the Patriots persist. Tampa Bay has a great defense and has lost a couple of squeakers in the final seconds, which could indicate that they are not as bad as their 0-2 record. We think that Brady and Co will get a bit more production on offense and pull out the win.
Patriots 24 – Buccaneers 16
Green Bay Packers at Cincinnati Bengals
Dalton and the Bengals stumbled during their opening week game, but came out strong against the Steelers last week. Week 3 will present their first elite test of the season. The Packers have a top-tier offense, but it will be tested as the Bengals have one of the league’s best defenses. The only thing holding Cincy back from winning this game is the inconsistent play of the offense. Packers win a tight one.
Packers 27 – Bengals 17
St. Louis Rams at Dallas Cowboys
We still aren’t sure what to think about the Cowboys. One week they look like the most complete team in the NFC East, and the next night they can barely muster double digit scoring. Saint Louis, on the other hand, might be 2-0 if it were not for them digging a gigantic hole to start off their game last week. This game will likely be more hotly contested than you’d think, and we just can’t see the Cowboys coming through in the clutch.
Rams 20 – Cowboys 17
San Diego Chargers at Tennessee Titans
Both the Chargers and the Titans have had the unfortunate pleasure of losing last second games to the Texans. Some might say that losing in the final seconds is a sign of a team that is headed in the wrong direction, but when it comes to San Diego and Tennessee, the fact that they were even in a position to lose the way they did means they are much improved. The Chargers have a few more weapons than the Titans do and Philip Rivers is playing like it’s 2007, but the 1:00 pm EST start time never bodes well for teams on the left coast. We have to give this one to the Titans.
Titans 26 – Chargers 16
Cleveland Browns at Minnesota Vikings
The Browns seem to have already given up on the season, trading away a player that many thought would be the franchise running back for quite some time. While this isn’t the forum to discuss whether Cleveland made the right call or not (they did), it’s clear that they have no intentions of winning this game (or maybe at all this season). This is what we call low-hanging fruit and the Vikings should be a shoo-in to win this game.
Vikings 21 – Browns 3
Arizona Cardinals at New Orleans Saints
The Cardinals are rejuvenated behind Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald, but unfortunately they play in one of the toughest divisions in football. Things don’t get too much easier as they are asked to go on the road and face Drew Brees and the Saints in the raucous SuperDome. Brees and Graham are in mid-season form and the offense always plays better in New Orleans. This isn’t a match up that favors Arizona at all.
Saints 31 – Cardinals 20
Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins
RG3 has some great passing numbers so far this season, but most of it has been in garbage minutes. If the Redskins are going to have any shot at winning games against good teams this year, they need to score some points in the first half. We aren’t sure that they will be able to do that, and the Lions are quietly playing some pretty decent football. It will take too good of a game for Washington to win and we don’t see that happening.
Lions 35 – Redskins 27
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New York Giants at Carolina Panthers
The Panthers have lost a couple of games in the fourth quarter this year, which brings up questions about whether Cam Newton is doing enough to lead his team to victory. Questions are abounding in New York, as well, but more about whether the Giants defense can stop anyone enough to let Eli Manning have a shot to win a game. If Cam can’t get the offense rolling against the Giants, then it’s time to panic. Still, we think that Eli will be able to put up enough points to outscore the Panthers.
Giants 30 – Panthers 24
Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens
Despite being 2-0, the Texans are not really looking like a dominant team on either side of the football. To add to their woes, Andre Johnson might be inactive for Sunday’s game with concussion-like symptoms. Normally, his absence would seal the Texans fate against the Ravens, but Baltimore has looked less like a defending Super Bowl champion and more like a team that will likely miss the playoffs. Even without Johnson, the Texans should be able to outscore Flacco and this anemic Ravens offense.
Texans 24 – Ravens 16
Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins
This is a big game for both of these teams, for a variety of reasons. Miami needs a win to prove that they can keep pace with the Patriots in the AFC East, as they are looking like the only team who has a chance to usurp New England as division champs. Atlanta, on the other hand, needs a win to avoid slipping to 1-2 and falling even further behind New Orleans in the NFC South. The Dolphins defense will be the deciding factor in this game, as Miami pulls out a close one.
Dolphins 24 – Falcons 21
Buffalo Bills at New York Jets
EJ Manuel orchestrated an amazing come-from-behind victory for the Bills who are out to prove that they can take steps in the right direction for this franchise. The other team from New York hasn’t looked good at really any point this year, and momentum is a huge thing in this league. Look for Buffalo to build on their impressive win and put another W on the board in week 3.
Bills 26 – Jets 13
Indianapolis Colts at San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco is fresh off getting embarrassed on national television last week and faces an Indianapolis team with a brand new weapon. It likely won’t be the match up that new Colt Trent Richardson was looking to have in his first week in Indy, but his touches would likely be limited anyways as he plays catch up on a new offense. Look for San Fran to take out some frustration on Luck and the Colts.
49ers 27 – Colts 16
Jacksonville Jaguars at Seattle Seahawks
So what can you say about a game that features a team who looks like the worst in the NFL going up against a team that looks like one of the best. We will say, however, that this is the NFL and any team can win on any given week. The Seahawks need to avoid looking ahead in the schedule and take care of business against the Jags.
Seahawks 24 – Jaguars 10
Chicago Bears at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers laid an egg on MNF last week, particularly on offense. The defense is playing as well as it has in a couple years, but with few weapons on offense, this team is really limited. The Bears are playing some really good football, with a couple of close victories. This game shouldn’t be as close, with the Bears winning handily.
Bears 21 – Steelers 9
Oakland Raiders at Denver Broncos
Our NFL Power Rankings have the Broncos as the best team in football, but that doesn’t mean that the Raiders will lay down and die. These teams always play tough within the division, and while it’s not the most appealing MNF matchup, there is no love lost between these teams. If you are on the fence about watching this game, please refer to the photo above.
Broncos 34 – Raiders 17
I have been slowly trying to get into football because my fiance is a big fan. These weekly picks have given me some good stuff to talk about with him. It’s really helping me understand football better and how teams might approach each weeks game.
Awesome get Alex! Glad The Man himself, Kurt Warner, anerswed it too.I have to go with the Packers because they are a team that has been plauged with injuries but keep on ticking. If they make it in, I think they can do it with Aaron Rodgers or Matt Flynn. Folks on defense like Clay Matthews are Good to have along as well.For the team already in (and in the AFC), I go with the Chiefs. I think they are a team that had some rough, humbling moments like losing to the Broncos but are a stable team. We are going to see them show up and be ready, I feel, like earlier in the season. They’re a young squad doing their thing and there is no stopping them when they stay hot during the game.
I take your recommendations (most of the time), and I am in first place in my office pool. Just wanted to say thanks! You’re my secret weapon.
You really screwed me with the Browns over Colts pick. I should have known better than to listen to you on that one!
Some weeks you’re on, some weeks you’re super on. Last week, you were super on.
You make football easier to understand with how you make your picks. I just wish that you’d pick my Colts more often!
Every guy I’ve ever dated has loved football and I never knew anything about it. Now I read your blog and I know a lot more than I used to know. Thanks!
You might not always be right, but you’re better than I would be picking these games on my own. I appreciate the little insight into why you picked each team too, instead of just telling me who you think is going to win and leave it at that.
I am so glad that someone out there updates these things weekly on the same page that way I don’t have to keep updating my bookmarks every single week.
Every week I come back here and every week you pick the Cardinals to lose. I used to laugh at you, but now I see that you were totally right all along. Sad times in the desert.
Do you really think that the Patriots can continue to win like this? Absolutely not. If they face a decent team, they will loose every time.
I know you’re the expert and everything, but here’s a protip for you. As long as Cam Newton keeps acting like a baby, don’t pick the Panthers.
I’m a huge Steelers fan and I can’t believe that you pick against them like every week. We showed you this week. Maybe you will come to your senses and choose Pittsburgh this week. Probably not though.
I picked the Redskins to win based on your prediction and they almost pulled it out. You can’t project 77 yard game winning touchdown passes can you?