The Patriots opened up Week 3 with a convincing 27-0 win over the Houston Texans. Here is our preview of the rest of the week.
Arizona Cardinals (1-1) at Buffalo Bills (0-2):Firing offensive coordinator Greg Roman is further proof that the Bills are a mess. To compound matters, they have to play a Cardinals team today that can score points and exploits match ups in the secondary. Needless to say, the misery will continue in Buffalo.
Prediction: Cardinals 38 Bills 20
Oakland Raiders (1-1) at Tennessee Titans (1-1): The Raiders have been as good as advertised offensively. The defense however has been bad thus far, surrendering over a thousand yards of offense in the first two games. You’d think a visit to Tennessee might aliviate some of the Raiders issues on defense but the Titans are pretty good offensively. Marcus Mariota and company can exploit the Raiders weaknesses on defense so this will be a tough game for Oakland. I think this will be a high scoring affair but I’m going with Derek Carr and the Raiders to win close.
Prediction: Raiders 35 Titans 31
Cleveland Browns (0-2) at Miami Dolphins (0-2): It’s not enough that the Browns are terrible, they are also dealing with injury issues. Which means that this is a winnable game for the Dolphins. That’s why I’m picking them with confidence this week. I like Miami by two scores in this one.
Prediction: Dolphins 28 Browns 14
Baltimore Ravens (2-0) at Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2): Yes, I’m still on the Ravens bandwagon. Don’t get me wrong. I think Baltimore’s defense will have its hands full with Blake Bortles and the Jaguars offense today but the Jacksonville defense is so bad right now, that the Ravens could win a shootout and they will.
Prediction: Ravens 35 Jaguars 28
Detroit Lions (1-1) at Green Bay Packers (1-1): The Lions beat the Packers at Lambeau last season for the first time since 1991. Don’t think the Packers have forgotten that. Green Bay will be extra motivated after last week’s debacle in Minnesota. I like the Packers to bounce back in a big way this week. Aaron Rodgers and the offense need a boast and this is the game that will provide that boast.
Prediction: Packers 31 Lions 17
Denver Broncos (2-0) at Cincinnati Bengals (1-1): Lets see how Trevor Siemien handles playing in a tough environment on the road. Life has been easy thus far at home but today he faces a good defense that is well coached and could give him fits. The good thing for Siemien is, he has a good running game and a good defense to support him. As long as Siemien plays within the system and doesn’t turn the ball over, the Broncos will be fine. That’s why I am picking them today. I think Cincinnati is too inconsistent to win games like this.
Prediction: Broncos 24 Bengals 17
Minnesota Vikings (2-0) at Carolina Panthers (1-1): The Vikings lost Adrian Peterson and Matt Kalil earlier this week to injury and now they have to travel to Charlotte to play a Panthers team that is tough at home. Talk about unfair. We’ll find out what type of team the Vikings are today. Obviously it’ll be hard for the Vikings to contend long term with all of the injuries they have, but they are well coached and I suspect they’ll play well today despite being short handed. It won’t be enough however. I don’t think Minnesota will score enough to keep up with the high powered Panthers.
Prediction: Panthers 28 Vikings 17
Washington Redskins (0-2) at New York Giants (2-0): I am not going to waste time talking about Beckham, Norman II. I could care less! The Redskins should be focused on winning a game they desperately need. Jay Gruden’s team is already at a crossroads. If they don’t win this game, they’ll be 0-3 and three games behind the Giants in the NFC East. Speaking of the Giants. Their defense has carried them thus far and I think that’ll be the difference today. The offense needs to pick it up but with the defense playing as well as it is, the Giants should have no problem winning this game.
Prediction: Giants 24 Redskins 17
Los Angeles Rams (1-1) at Tampa Bay Bucs (1-1): The Rams are averaging 4.5 points per game thus far. That’s pathetic and it won’t be enough to beat a Bucs team that is licking its wounds after a blowout loss in Arizona last week. I think @Jabowins (Jameis Winston) and the Buccos will get back on track this week with a win over the Rams. Los Angeles defense will keep them in this game but Case Keenum and the offense looks hopeless.
Prediction: Buccaneers 28 Rams 10
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (1-1): 49ers, Seahawks just isn’t as nasty as it used to be. The Seahawks need to figure things out offensively. Russell Wilson and company have really struggled thus far. A big part of them problem has been identify. the Seahawks don’t have an identity offensively. They better figure it out today because the 49ers can score points. San Fran’s defense might not be what it used to be the offense is averaging 27 points per game. I think this will be a close game. I’m taking Seattle but not by much.
Prediction: Seahawks 27 49ers 24
New York Jets (1-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (1-1): The Jets had a nice win in Buffalo last Thursday night but what got lost in the win was the play of their defense. Darrelle Revis and company did not play well. I think Andy Reid and the Chiefs offense will create match ups, make big plays and win what should be a tight game.
Prediction: Chiefs 20 Jets 17
San Diego Chargers (1-1) at Indianapolis Colts (0-2): It’s another installment of Pagano Bowl but this time I think Chuck (Colts HC) will get the better of his brother John (Chargers DC) in what should be a high scoring affair. Neither team is very good defensively so I’m expecting a lot of points in this one. I’m going with the Colts at home to get off the snide.
Prediction: Colts 34 Chargers 31
Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-0): The Eagles have been a pleasant surprise thus far through two weeks of the season. Carson Wentz looks like a franchise quarterback and the defense has been terrific under DC Jim Schwartz. All of that sounds great, but it’s only two games. It’s a small sample size.
The Steelers are also 2-0 and they are the more talented team. They are battle tested and well equipped on both sides of the ball to win a game like this. That’s why I am picking them in a close one.
Prediction: Steelers 28 Eagles 24
Chicago Bears (0-2) at Dallas Cowboys (1-1): This would have been a tough game for the Bears to win with Jay Cutler, never mind without him. Don’t get me wrong. Chicago will still score some points but it won’t be enough as Dak Prescott and the Boys improve to 2-1.
Prediction: Cowboys 27 Bears 20
Atlanta Falcons (1-1) at New Orleans Saints (0-2): Emotions will be running high on the ten year anniversary of the return of the Saints to the Superdome. Factor in that the Saints need a win and there is no way I’m picking the Falcons in this one.
Prediction: Saints 31 Falcons 24