We saw a lot of heavy hitting matchups in week two, week three has some solid matchups and some matchups that could get ugly. Game of the week is Detroit Lions vs Baltimore Ravens. Let’s see how accurate my predictions are for this week.
Buffalo Bills vs Miami Dolphins
The Bills have looked like the second-best team in the NFL, beating the Baltimore Ravens in the first game in a crazy fourth-quarter comeback win. Buffalo is coming off a 30-10 win versus the New York Jets, with Josh Allen throwing for 245 yards and two touchdowns. The Dolphins however have not had the success anticipated for this season; their defense gives up 33 points per game, the second-worst mark in the league. The Dolphins have been outscored 66-35 in their first two games. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has had a disastrous season to start, with just two touchdowns and four interceptions, and many fans are calling for the trade or release of Tua.
Prediction: Bills 38-17
(Actual Score 31-21)
Cincinnati Bengals vs Minnesota Vikings
On Sept. 16, Joe Burrow was put on injured reserve, keeping him out for a minimum of four games.
“There is no definite timetable for his return,” Head Coach Zac Taylor said.
Jake Browning is the quarterback for the Bengals. Browning threw two touchdowns and three interceptions in the win versus the Jacksonville Jaguars. Similar to the Bengals, the Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is out for this week’s game with an injury; there is no definite answer for when he will be back. Super Bowl champion Carson Wentz will be at QB for the Vikings on Sunday.
Prediction: Vikings 24-16
Houston Texans vs Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are coming in at 1-1, with a strange loss against the Bengals, where they lost the game more than the Bengals won it. Trevor Lawrence has had a good season so far with 498 passing yards and three touchdowns, although his receivers, Brian Thomas Jr. and rookie Travis Hunter, have not helped him out a lot so far this season. The Texans have not had the success they wanted, star receiver Nico Collins has not hit his stride yet with just 76 receiving yards, along with bad offensive line play giving up nine sacks, that has the Texans sitting at 0-2.
Prediction: Jaguars 27-17
Indianapolis Colts vs Tennessee Titans
The Colts have been the surprise of the NFL season so far, and the revival of Daniel Jones has been unexpected. Jones has thrown for 540 yards and four touchdowns, leading the Colts offense that is averaging 28 points per game, fifth in the NFL. Are they serious contenders? No. Though they have looked very good offensively, coming in 2-0, they are looking to show their seriousness and trounce the Titans. Cam Ward and company will be looking to get their first win of the season. Ward has completed just 54 percent of his passes and will be relying on his receivers to make some plays for them.
Prediction: Colts 27-13
Las Vegas Raiders vs Washington Commanders
Raiders quarterback Geno Smith is coming off his worst game of the season, throwing three picks, including one on the first play of the game. Smith has 482 passing yards with three touchdowns this year, but turnovers have been the issue. “We always talk that way of taking what the defense gives you, it is when things get off rhythm sometimes that is when the quarterback needs to decide and always protect the football first,” Head Coach Pete Carroll said. Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels and his playstyle have not matched what they did a year ago during his rookie season. He has 379 passing yards and two rushing touchdowns, but has been held under 200 yards through the air in both games. The Raiders have a weak defense; this could be the game he gets on track.
Prediction: Commanders 27-24
Los Angeles Rams vs Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles are coming off back-to-back wins, though they have not quite looked like the Super Bowl champions they were a year ago. New offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo has a run-heavy approach, and superstar wideout A.J. Brown has six catches for 35 yards on the season. To compare, last season he had 11 catches for over 130 yards through two games. The Rams are 2-0 and have been finding ways to win games. The new wideout duo of Puka Nacua, who has 18 catches for 201 yards, and Davante Adams, who has 144 yards and two touchdowns, have paired well to start the season.
Prediction: Eagles 34-24
Atlanta Falcons vs Carolina Panthers
The Panthers do not have many things going right, whether it is quarterback play, coaching, ownership, uniforms, or whatever else. They have been outscored 62-27 in their first two games, averaging just 13.5 points per game. The Falcons, on the other hand, are the complete opposite, quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has had a good season thus far with 525 passing yards, and running back Bijan Robinson has rushed for 218 yards with three touchdowns, putting himself in Offensive Player of the Year contention.
Prediction: Falcons 31-13
Pittsburgh Steelers vs New England Patriots
The Patriots are coming off a win versus the Dolphins; they sit at 1-1. Rhamondre Stevenson has 174 rushing yards in two games to help balance the offense. Same with the Steelers, they are coming off a blowout loss to the Seahawks, in a game they were dominated in the second half, giving up 458 total yards. Both teams are built almost the same way in terms of wanting to play defense and a run-first approach to set up the passing offense.
Prediction: Steelers 24-17
Green Bay Packers vs Cleveland Browns
The Packers have been the hottest team this season, adding superstar pass rusher Micah Parsons, who already has three sacks and seven tackles. Quarterback Jordan Love has thrown for 506 yards and five touchdowns in the first two weeks. The Browns are competing with the Panthers for worst team in the NFL., Quarterback Joe Flacco is not the answer, neither is Dillon Gabriel. Shedeur Sanders is their best option to not go winless or have under three wins. The Browns’ offense has averaged just 12.5 points per game.
Prediction: Packers 38-14
New York Jets vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This game is simple: the Jets do not have Justin Fields since he is in concussion protocol, and they have a bad offensive line, and their defense is mediocre. Backup Trevor Siemian threw for just 176 yards last week. The Buccaneers are a dark-horse contending team, Baker Mayfield has been proving his doubters wrong with 562 passing yards and five touchdowns so far, and this is a good game for him to get his name in the Most Valuable Player contention with a blowout win.
Prediction: Buccaneers 28-7
Denver Broncos vs Los Angeles Chargers
The Chargers fell in love with the pass game last week versus the Raiders. Justin Herbert threw for 324 yards and three touchdowns. This week, I expect them to run the ball more with rookie Omarion Hampton, who is averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and Najee Harris. Denver has a challenging defense, allowing just 308 total yards per game, so it will be tough, but Justin Herbert has been playing at an All-Pro level this season.
Prediction: Chargers 24-21
Seattle Seahawks vs New Orleans Saints
The Seahawks are coming off their blowout win against the Steelers, and look to beat up on the Saints. Kenneth Walker had over 100 yards rushing last game and will look to have back-to-back 100-yard rushing games for the second time in his career. Geno Smith threw for 276 yards and two touchdowns. The Saints have no quality quarterback and cannot seem to utilize all their weapons; first-year head coach Kellen Moore has his hands full.
Prediction: Seahawks 31-13
Dallas Cowboys vs Chicago Bears
The Cowboys’ offense is efficient and explosive, but their defense is terrible. Last week, they allowed multiple Russell Wilson moon ball touchdowns, resulting in him throwing for 450 yards and three touchdowns. The Cowboys’ defense has allowed 62 points in two games. Chicago has been the biggest disappointment to start the season with a record of 0-2. Head Coach Ben Johnson has his hands full.
Prediction: Bears 34-27
San Francisco 49ers vs Arizona Cardinals
Mac Jones was at the helm for the 49ers last week, and he produced well in the offense, throwing for 298 yards and two touchdowns. Two good things cannot happen to Mac Jones; he will be in a trap on Sunday against the Cardinals’ defense. Kyler Murray has not made many headlines this season outside of him posting a pitbull while having a Michael Vick jersey on his Instagram. Murray has put up a decent season so far with 429 passing yards and 72 rushing yards. Beating the 49ers’ defense could change his outlook on him with a win versus a very good defense.
Prediction: Cardinals 24-20
Kansas City Chiefs vs New York Giants
Patrick Mahomes has never come off a two-game losing streak, and the Giants could be a trap game for the Chiefs. The Chiefs are heavily favored in this matchup with a moneyline of -295. Mahomes has thrown for 601 yards and four touchdowns but also three interceptions through two games. The Giants are coming off an explosion offensively against the Cowboys, it took Russell Wilson turning into his 2020 form with 450 yards, which is unlikely to happen again.
Prediction: Chiefs 17-10
Detroit Lions vs Baltimore Ravens
Both coming off blowout wins, this will be the game of the week. Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry against Jahmir Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown, either this game will be an instant classic or it will be a low-scoring affair. Most of America is hoping for a high-scoring game. Both offenses possess the power to score 50 points. Jackson has 325 passing yards, Henry has rushed for 108 yards, Gibbs has rushed for 122 yards, and St. Brown has 104 receiving yards.
Prediction: Lions 41-38
