The Recent York Giants are the surprise undefeated team within the NFL after two weeks.
Saquon Barkley is an element again, and Recent York has pulled out two close victories in the primary two weeks. Now, the Giants get the Monday Night Football highlight against the rival Dallas Cowboys, who pulled off their very own upset against Cincinnati in Week 2 with backup quarterback Cooper Rush. These teams are all the time in primetime – even once they’re bad – but this one is price watching.
San Francisco’s Jimmy Garoppolo is back after the devastating season-ending injury to Trey Lance. Garoppolo gets the Sunday Night Football highlight against the Denver Broncos and Russell Wilson, who’ve split two games and are back in a prime-time slot.
We just like the underdog in each games as a part of a fun Week 3 that offers us one other installment of Aaron Rodgers vs. Tom Brady, Ravens vs. Patriots, Carson Wentz taking up the Eagles and the surprising Lions going to Minnesota with a likelihood on the NFC North lead.
Each week, Sporting News will pick all of the NFL games straight up and against the spread. A take a look at our track record this season:
Record: 17-14-1 (9-7 in Week 2)
Listed below are our straight-up picks for Week 3 (lines courtesy of Caesars).
POWER RANKINGS: Dolphins rocket into top 10; 49ers, Rams get better; Colts, Browns plummet for Week 3
NFL picks, predictions for Week 3
- Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (-3.5)
Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video
The Steelers are underdogs for the third straight week. Jacoby Brissett and Mitchell Trubisky have nearly equivalent passing lines through two games, so it is going to be about which team generates a gentle rushing attack. Neither team can stop the pass, however the Browns are somewhat higher against the run. It is a coin flip truthfully, and it can come all the way down to the last kick. Anybody remember what happened the last time these two played on Thursday Night?
Pick: Steelers 23, Browns 20
- Houston Texans at Chicago Bears (-3.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
It is the Lovie Smith revenge game we didn’t know we would have liked. Chicago averages 76.5 passing yards per game with Justin Fields; a desperate sign they should cut him loose somewhat bit. Houston has shown some fight the primary two weeks. Ultimately, the Texans fail to generate a gentle running game behind Davis Mills, and the Bears go to 2-1 despite all those offensive issues.
Pick: Bears 24, Texans 18
- Las Vegas Raiders (-1) at Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Titans are in desperation mode after a rough start, and the Raiders are coming off a shocking loss to the Cardinals. Derek Carr has the weapons around him with Darren Waller and Davante Adams. Tennessee plays keep-away long enough to chop Derrick Henry loose. The Raiders have won the last three at Tennessee, however the last meeting was 2019.
Pick: Titans 28, Raiders 27
- Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5) at Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Colts’ early-season woes is one in every of the more surprising storylines of the NFL season. Indianapolis has a -4 turnover ratio, and it is a prove-you-still-got-it game for Matt Ryan. Patrick Mahomes II has nothing to prove. Six different Kansas City players have caught TDs this season. The Chiefs keep rolling.
Pick: Chiefs 30, Colts 22
- Buffalo Bills (-4.5) at Miami Dolphins
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
If the Dolphins can pull off this upset, then Mike McDaniel might as well be crowned NFL Coach of the 12 months. If Miami proved anything in Week 2, then it’s that McDaniel is willing to air it out with Tua Tagovailoa and star receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. These are “if” statements, nevertheless. Josh Allen is the reality, and he’s 7-1 with 21 TDs and five interceptions against Miami. He comes through again in what might be one of the best game of the week.
Pick: Bills 31, Dolphins 28
- Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings (-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Lions are an early-season feel-good team with the additions made with second-year coach Dan Campbell. They’ve scored 35.5 points per game, and Jared Goff is off to a terrific start with playmakers DeAndre Swift and Amon-Ra St. Brown. These teams split last yr’s meetings, and every game was decided by two points. We’re still not sold on Detroit’s defense, and the Kirk Cousins-Justin Jefferson continues in a fun NFC North matchup.
Pick: Vikings 30, Lions 23
- Baltimore Ravens (-3) at Recent England Patriots
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Ravens and Patriots each lost to the Dolphins. Lamar Jackson has split two profession starts against Recent England, but he accomplished greater than 70% of his passes in those games. The Ravens need anyone aside from Jackson to step within the running game, because that is what Bill Belichick goes to key in on. It is a tough one to choose, but we’ll trust the Ravens on the road.
Pick: Ravens 27, Patriots 24
- Cincinnati Bengals (-4.5) at Recent York Jets
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
It isn’t a Super Bowl hangover. It’s the actual fact Joe Burrow has taken 13 sacks in two games. The Jets, nevertheless, have had problems stopping the run and attending to the quarterback. Yes, Recent York beat the Bengals last season, which precipitated that Super Bowl run. This time, the Bengals use a heavy dose of Joe Mixon to get back on course within the AFC North.
Pick: Bengals 27, Jets 19
- Philadelphia Eagles (-4) at Washington Commanders
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
The Carson Wentz revenge game is here. Wentz has back-to-back 300-yard games for Washington, however the defense needs Chase Young back and it shows. Philadelphia is working off a brief week, but Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown proceed to refine their connection. That opens lanes for the running game, too. The teams have split the last 4 at Washington, and all 4 games were decided by 10 points or less.
Pick: Eagles 28, Commanders 24
- Recent Orleans Saints (-3) at Carolina Panthers
Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX
What should we expect with Jameis Winston and Baker Mayfield? That is usually anybody’s guess. The Saints have a more reliable running game at this point, and this looks like one other close game for Carolina. Those have not gone Matt Rhule’s way, and the seat is getting warmer.
Pick: Saints 21, Panthers 18
- Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Chargers (-7)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
The road might be impacted on the status of Justin Herbert (ribs), who’s each day after taking a nasty shot against the Chiefs in Week 2. We’ll assume Herbert plays, and the Chargers are capable of protect the ball against an improved Jacksonville team with latest coach Doug Pederson. We’ll re-evaluate this pick if Herbert cannot go.
Pick: Chargers 30, Jaguars 20
- Los Angeles Rams (-4) at Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Rams are 10-1 against the Cardinals under Sean McVay, and that included last yr’s playoff blowout. Kyler Murray led a miraculous comeback, and the Rams nearly coughed up a 28-3 lead in Week 2. We still trust McVay’s track record here.
Pick: Rams 33, Cardinals 28
- Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
Aaron Rodgers referenced the Packers’ last trip to Tampa Bay on Sunday Night Football, and with good reason. It wasn’t pretty in a 38-10 loss at Raymond James Stadium. This may be the last time we see Rogers vs. Tom Brady (you never know), but this one will come all the way down to which team has the higher running game. Brady’s passing stats should not gaudy by any means, but he’s taken just three sacks in two games. Rodgers, meanwhile, has taken seven sacks. The protection needs to be there for the Packers to have a likelihood.
Pick: Buccaneers 27, Packers 21
- Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks (-2)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX
The Falcons have two losses by a combined total of 5 points, and five turnovers in those games is the leading problem. That is tough to hold on the road, but Seattle has turnover problems with their very own. Which quarterback between Geno Smith and Marcus Mariota protects the football higher? We’ll give the house team a slight advantage.
Pick: Seahawks 24, Falcons 21
- San Francisco 49ers at Denver Broncos (-1)
Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC
Garoppolo might just energize the 49ers’ offense and the passing attack here. The 49ers are greater than acquainted with Wilson, who continues to be figuring out the kinks along with his latest team and first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett. The 49ers defense is nasty, and that is the difference in an unpleasant win.
Pick: 49ers 22, Broncos 17
- Dallas Cowboys at Recent York Giants (-3)
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
First-year coach Brian Daboll has a likelihood to push Recent York to 3-0, one other unexpected early-season development. The Cowboys have won nine of the last 10 meetings on this series, nevertheless, so the Giants must know this is not going to come back easy. Daniel Jones is completing 70.9% of his passes thus far. Can Rush match that efficiency on the road? We’re going with the small upset, and Micah Parsons makes the difference on the MNF stage.
Pick: Cowboys 25, Giants 20
