Week 3 brought a few more surprises as I only got 7 games correct for a 7-9 record.
The NFL is really living up to that "Any given Sunday" cliche this season as teams struggle to get and stay hot. Outside of the Kansas City Chiefs, the undefeated teams are a bit surprising and after the Carolina Panthers upset the Las Vegas Raiders, the winless teams are even more surprising.
With all of that in mind, let's take a few chances this week and get back on track with the weekly picks.
Season Record: 26-22
Thursday Night
Dallas Cowboys @ New York Giants
The New York Giants are showing that they are a touch better than expected. A lot of that has to do with Malik Nabers who will match up with Trevon Diggs this week. That's not the aspect of the Cowboys' defense that will cause the most problems for the Giants. It's the Cowboys' frustrated pass rush that knows it can take out those frustrations on Daniel Jones.
Winner: Cowboys, 23-13
Sunday Early Window
New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons
The New Orleans Saints may have dropped last week's game to the Philadelphia Eagles, but I think they've done a solid job of proving themselves as legitimate playoff contenders. The Atlanta Falcons are in a similar boat. This game is another early test to see which team believes in themselves the most after getting punched in the mouth by great teams. In the end, I'm banking on the Falcons' defense being the difference.
Winner: Falcons, 24-20
Los Angeles Rams @ Chicago Bears
The Bears are clearly taking positive steps forward, but it's also clear that it's a slow process. But, the better Caleb Williams plays, the better chance they have to surprise the league with an upset victory. The Rams on the other hand proved last week that they can certainly overcome the plague of injuries inflicting the roster.
Winner: Rams, 21-14
Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers
Okay, the Minnesota Vikings are for real. They've taken every challenge in stride and proven that they can compete with anyone in the league. A road trip to Green Bay will be an interesting challenge as the Packers have shown their strength as a ground-and-pound team without Jordan Love. If he plays, that resurgence could put Green Bay over the top. Without assurance he'll play, I'll stick with Minnesota.
Winner: Vikings, 20-17
Denver Broncos @ New York Jets
Bo Nix had a coming-out party of sorts in last week's win. Can he replicate that success for a second straight week against a stronger defense on the road? Plus, the Jets are starting to really come together on offense. It's tough to believe Nix can outscore Aaron Rodgers in this one.
Winner: Jets, 28-17
Philadelphia Eagels @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Eagles draw another tough NFC South matchup. The Buccaneers are coming off of a surprising loss, but I struggle to believe they were pretenders. Philly still isn't a complete package, especially with the wide receiver injuries, and the Bucs can weave through those weaknesses.
Winner: Buccaneers, 17-13
Cincinnati Bengals @ Carolina Panthers
Andy Dalton taking on the Bengals in 2024 wasn't on a lot of people's bingo cards, but here we are. Cincinnati cannot take this game likely after the Panthers took it to the Raiders last week. The Bengals aren't going to be winless forever though.
Winner: Bengals, 30-13
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans
The Jaguars are a big ball of disappointment. The word "bust" is starting to be associated with Trevor Lawrence and it's unlikely that he and his teammates don't see it. How they respond is everything. A win over a superior Texans team isn't a must at this point, but they have to show some serious fight. A win will be too much as Houston isn't built to be embarrassed two weeks in a row.
Winner: Texans, 23-17
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Indianapolis Colts
Anthony Richardson's early struggles are understandable, especially with the defenses he has played so far. Unfortunately for him, he's now going to be playing the best defense in the league. Meanwhile, the Steelers' offense is clicking and while the Colts have a solid defensive unit, the confidence high they are riding could really open things up.
Winner: Steelers, 23-6
Sunday Late Window
Washington Commanders @ Arizona Cardinals
The Commanders are coming along nicely early in the season. There are still some missing pieces that they'll have to make up for, but as they build confidence, they'll continue to be problematic for mid-tier NFC teams. The Cardinals currently fall into that tier, though they have a higher ceiling than many may have expected. Arizona gets the home-field advantage, which is substantial.
Winner: Cardinals, 34-28
New England Patriots @ San Francisco 49ers
The Patriots were served some humble pie in Week 3, but I don't necessarily see them crashing back to earth. They play with great discipline and confidence, so they won't roll over for the top teams in the league. The 49ers need a rebound after two unexpected losses. They can't take the Patriots lightly, but they also need to use this game to get back into rhythm and play with some consistency.
Winner: 49ers, 23-10
Cleveland Browns @ Las Vegas Raiders
Both of these teams are plagued by wildly inconsistent quarterback play while relying on a tough defense. Whichever quarterback plays better should be able to squeeze out the victory. Unfortunately for Las Vegas, they have some off-the-field drama seeping into the locker room. A loss here could make that win on the road in Baltimore a distant memory.
Winner: Browns, 18-13
Kansas City Chiefs @ Los Angeles Chargers
It would be a fun game if the Chargers injury list didn't grow exponentially in their loss to the Steelers last week. With names like Joey Bosa, Justin Herbert, and Derwin James (suspended) for this game, it will be tough to stand up to the Chiefs. Kansas City could stand to play a bit better after looking crisp in Week 1, and this is a good chance for them to get right.
Winner: Chiefs, 30-7
Sunday Night
Buffalo Bills @ Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore stuck to the running game and won. Shocker. Establishing the run against the Bills won't be easy, but it's vital for the Ravens to walk away with another win. Meanwhile, the Bills keep showing that they aren't slumping after some significant roster turnover. A big road win against a team like Baltimore would be huge for Buffalo.
Winner: Bills, 24-23
Monday Night
Tennessee Titans @ Miami Dolphins
The Titans would have few excuses if the Dolphins didn't still have a solid defense that can force Will Levis into a few more turnovers. The Dolphins have a tricky quarterback situation heading into the week, but as long as whoever starts and finishes the game protects the ball, Miami has a good shot at a win.
Winner: Dolphins, 17-13
Seattle Seahawks @ Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions haven't beaten the Seattle Seahawks since 2012. That's a bit of a shock considering the recent resurgence of the Lions, but the Seahawks have no doubt had their number through the years. Still, primetime Lions play a touch better while the Seahawks are bound to drop their first sooner rather than later.
Winner: Lions, 24-18