Week 1: 12-4
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 10-6
Lions 2-1 @ Packers 2-1
Detroit’s defense locked up Atlanta last week despite a number of injuries. Jared Geoff might be one a top 10 QB right now and they should have a few more guys back on defense than they had last week. Jordan Love is top of the league in uncatchable balls despite leading the Pack to a 2-1 start. The Lambo losses don’t come often, but the Lions have a shot.
Pick: Lions
Falcons 2-1 @ Jaguars 1-2
Yikes Jacksonville. The offensive isn’t very good and Trever is trying. Falcons offense is one-dimensional and makes it easy to shut down. This is still one of the better international games. Give me ground game and Falcons defense. Sorry Jags.
Pick: Falcons
Dolphins 3-0 @ Bills 2-1
Why is this a 1pm game? The Dolphins return Waddle to the receiving core and look awesome. The Bills are still leaning hard on Allen who has looked sub-par even in crushing Raiders and Commanders wins. James Cook is shaping up to be a competent weapon in the run game. Allen should be able to get a few good tosses against the Fins secondary but it’s difficult to pick against Miami right now.
Pick: Dolphins
Broncos 0-3 @ Bears 0-3
These teams suck but the Bears are completely dysfunctional. Give me a competent Russ.
Pick: Broncos
Ravens 2-1 @ Browns 2-1
Desaun is questionable a week after Chubb goes down. Rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson would start in his place and he looked sharp in the preseason but would have a load with the ground game being held to 78 yards on 31 carries last week. Perhaps Hunt will get more involved after only 5 carries for 13yds. The defense is still suffocating. Indy got after the Ravens last week and you better believe Cleveland can do the same. Lamar is actually playing pretty well even if the box score doesn’t show it. He ran for 101 yards and 2 Tds last week but the offensive line hasn’t been helpful.
Pick: Browns close
Bengals 1-2 @ Titans 1-2
Cincy might just be bad if Joe Burrow isn’t fully heathy. The ground game was a problem last season and continues to be an issue. The defense has taken a step back. Arguably the #2 QB in the league playing at 50% isn’t good enough. The Titans offense is awful. Tannehill is completing 59% of his passes and has to be looking at the bench soon. Derrick Henry is averaging 3.2 yards per carry and has 1 TD against full boxes as a result. I don’t know who wins this game.
Pick: Titans
Rams 1-2 @ Colts 2-1
It doesn’t really matter if Anthony Richardson is back because Gardner Minshew can move the ball too. The defense is top 5 in sacks. The Rams lack of talent is starting to show but great coaching has kept them in the last two losses. Stafford has the throw the ball and awful lot and he has 4 turnovers the past two games. The defense has been playing well and should keep them in the game. This could be another low scoring matchup.
Pick: Colts
Buccaneers 2-1 @ Saints 2-1
These teams both took tough losses last week. Jameis Winston and Alvin Kamara are in for the Saints like a flashback and that leads to new set of data we haven’t seen in a while. The Saints have an excellent pass defense that could cause issues for Baker. The Bucs can disrupt turnover prone Winston and rusty Kamara. I would expect a low scoring game, yet again, at first glance but Winston can pitch the ball downfield if given the green light and the Bucs can match.
Pick: Saints
Commanders 2-1 @ Eagles 3-0
Smart offensive scheming allowed Howell to push past the Broncos and Cardinals but the Bills crushed him last week. The Eagles rolled the Bucs and will be looking to do the same to the Commanders.
Pick: Eagles
Vikings 0-3 @ Panthers 0-3
Cousins is throwing for over 300 yards per game as the Vikes have no defense and the Panthers can’t move the ball regardless of Andy Dalton or Bryce Young under center.
Pick: Vikings
Steelers 2-1 @ Texans 1-2
CJ Stroud is better than Pickett. Questions are also popping up as to whether or not the Steelers are running the O effectively to optimize their talent. They’re not statistically good at anything. I think the Texans can shape up into a pretty good football team. They can’t run the football and the defense needs to step up in several areas like 3rd down rate and force turnovers but a Jacksonville win on the road was a great step. The floor is low but the ceiling is high. Give me an upset.
Pick: Texans
Raiders 1-2 @ Chargers 1-2
Neither defense is very good. But Chandler Jones and Maxx Crosby being out could cripple the Raiders D. Jimmy G is questionable. The Chargers have a chance to win comfortably here even with injuries of their own.
Pick: Chargers
Patriots 1-2 @ Cowboys 2-1
The Boys were stunned last week because they couldn’t convert in the red zone and the Pats will make it difficult. 3 starters could be out on the Dallas offensive line. The Cowboys offense could be in real trouble. New England made life difficult for the Eagles and the Dolphins. Give me the upset on the road.
Pick: Patriots
Cardinals 1-2 @ 49ers 3-0
The Cards are coached well, which is something that can’t be said for half the teams in the league right now. Josh Dobbs is playing really well. The 49ers are a little banged up this week but have two 3+ score blowouts already this season. Cards can still make it interesting.
Pick: 49ers
Chiefs 2-1 @ Jets 1-2
Rumor is that Jets defense is getting fed up with the offense. NY will have to make a QB move soon or the locker room will spiral.
Pick: Chiefs
Seahawks 2-1 @ Giants 1-2
Are either of these teams good? The Giants have been demolished twice (but by good teams) and have a win over the Cards. Seattle took out a miserable Panthers team, lost to an inconsistent Rams, and outlasted the Lions on the road. They’re both scoring and giving up 29ppg. Pretty much the entire secondary is questionable. If Saquon is out I’m not sure Jones can generate enough offense to win.
Pick: Seahawks