NFL picks, predictions for Week 3: Eagles upset Cowboys; Saints, Chiefs rebound vs. Patriots, Chargers

After per week of upsets, the Week 3 schedule options only one sport between groups with 2-0 information. 

It is early, however a doable NFC championship preview between the Buccaneers and Rams is the spotlight of the schedule; an opportunity for Los Angeles to indicate it is for actual with new quarterback Matthew Stafford. Ought to Tom Brady and Tampa Bay be underdogs in that one? 

There are three intriguing divisional matchups between 1-1 groups, too. The Bengals journey to Pittsburgh, the Chargers are on the street at Kansas Metropolis, and Monday Night time Soccer options the following installment of the Eagles-Cowboys rivalry. Dallas video games have been must-see TV to this point.

Every week, Sporting Information will choose video games straight up. The upset issue hit exhausting in Week 2: 

• Week 2: 8-8
• Season complete: 18-14

With that in thoughts, under are our picks and predictions for Week 3: 

NFL POWER RANKINGS:
49ers, Cowboys, Broncos climb; Steelers, Seahawks, Saints slide into Week 3

Week 3 NFL predictions 

• Carolina Panthers (-7) at Houston Texans 

Thursday, 8:20 p.m., NFL Community

Houston’s Tyrod Taylor (hamstring) is each day, and Deshaun Watson won’t play this week. That’s disconcerting heading right into a matchup in opposition to the Panthers, which have allowed a league-low 190 yards per sport to this point. Christian McCaffrey will get one other 20-plus touches, and Carolina is the shock 3-0 staff. 

Choose: Panthers 28, Texans 16 

Consequence: Panthers 24, Texans 9

• Washington Soccer Group at Buffalo Payments (-7)

Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX

The Payments are coming off a shutout victory. Washington’s Taylor Heinicke threw for 336 yards in Week 2, however Buffalo will clamp down on the working sport in an enormous house victory.

Choose: Payments 31, Washington 20

• Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns (-7.5)

Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX

This may very well be Justin Fields’ first begin, and he presents a unique problem for the Browns. Cleveland has generated simply three sacks in two video games, however that strain will flip. Chicago is nice at stopping the run, however they are going to have a tough time taking part in catch-up if Baker Mayfield continues to play mistake-free soccer.

Choose: Browns 27, Bears 20

• Baltimore Ravens (-7.5) at Detroit Lions

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

The Lions are nonetheless determining their protection underneath first-year coach Dan Campbell, and that is problematic coming off a brief week in opposition to Baltimore. The mix of Lamar Jackson and Ty’Son Williams carries the Ravens to a different street victory.

Choose: Ravens 33, Lions 21

• Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans (-4.5) 

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS 

The Colts almost upset the Rams, and now they face a Titans’ staff that discovered its offense in an time beyond regulation thriller in opposition to the Seahawks. These groups have cut up the final eight conferences with surprising outcomes alongside the way in which. We’ll strive the Colts yet one more time.

Choose: Colts 30, Titans 27

• Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas Metropolis Chiefs (-7)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS 

The Chiefs are 1-1, and there’s a case to be made they may very well be 0-2. Justin Herbert and Patrick Mahomes are among the many top-five passers by means of two weeks, however Herbert has two TDs and three interceptions. The Chiefs’ protection tightens up late in a shootout.

Choose: Chiefs 36, Chargers 29

MORE: Who’re NFL’s contenders, pretenders after Week 2?

• New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots (-3)

Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX

The Saints have been the early-season field of goodies with Jameis Winston, and the Patriots have allowed simply 11.5 factors per sport with 5 interceptions. This was once a blockbuster matchup with Drew Brees and Tom Brady. Now, it comes right down to which staff commits fewer turnovers.

Choose: Saints 20, Patriots 19

• Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants (-2.5) 

Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX

A pair of 0-2 groups have struggled to attain, so it is a true tossup sport. Atlanta’s Matt Ryan may have a profitable day with favourite targets Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts, and the Giants will endure one more shut loss, this time at house. 

Choose: Falcons 24, Giants 21

• Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)

Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS

There is no such thing as a love misplaced between these AFC North rivals. Joe Burrow has taken 9 sacks by means of two video games, however Pittsburgh averages simply 57 dashing yards per sport. The Bengals have not gained at Heinz Subject since 2015. That will not change in Week 3.

Choose: Steelers 23, Bengals 19

• Arizona Cardinals (-7.5) at Jacksonville Jaguars

Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX

Kyler Murray is averaging 370 passing yards of complete offense per sport, and the Cardinals current too many challenges on offense for Jacksonville. The Jaguars have a -5 turnover ratio by means of two video games. That will not minimize it in opposition to this offense.

Choose: Cardinals 34, Jaguars 23 

• New York Jets at Denver Broncos (-10.5)  

Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS

The Broncos have an opportunity to be a shock 3-0 staff within the AFC. The protection has allowed simply 13 factors per sport, and Von Miller has three sacks. That may immediate extra rookie errors from Zach Wilson, and Teddy Bridgewater will take benefit.

Choose: Broncos 26, Jets 13

• Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders (-3.5)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS

The Raiders are an early-season darling after a 2-0 begin, and Derek Carr is dealing a scorching hand. That will make them appear primed for an upset, however that is too tough to name with Tua Tagovailoa’s standing to be decided due to a rib damage. We’ll at the least name for an in depth sport.

Choose: Raiders 27, Dolphins 24

MORE: Grading the NFL’s rookie QBs in Week 2

• Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams (-1.5)

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX

The Rams are the final NFC staff to beat the Buccaneers, and that was in a 27-24 matchup final season. Stafford will get his shot on the defending champions, who’ve proven no indicators of slowing down with Tom Brady. Each groups are averaging greater than 30 factors per sport, so we’re hoping this sport will dwell as much as the hype.

Choose: Buccaneers 38, Rams 31

• Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) at Minnesota Vikings

Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FOX

The Vikings have misplaced back-to-back heart-breakers due to subject objectives, and Kirk Cousins is 0-3 in opposition to the Seahawks since signing with Minnesota. These final two video games have been tight nonetheless, and Seattle may slip up in one other shut one on the street. The Vikings keep away from a 0-3 begin.

Choose: Vikings 28, Seahawks 26

• Inexperienced Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers (-3) 

Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC

Cue one other spherical of Aaron Rodgers-49ers speak, and the profession arc that has adopted the quarterback all season. Inexperienced Bay gained at San Francisco final yr, however that was in opposition to an injury-riddled roster that does not have an opportunity. It is a large Sunday Night time Soccer spot, and the Packers’ protection can be uncovered.

Choose: 49ers 28, Packers 21

• Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys (-3)

Monday, 8:15 p.m., NBC

The Cowboys have performed two thrillers in two weeks, so Week 3 must be no totally different. The Eagles have misplaced their final three street video games at Jerry World, however Jalen Hurts will flip the script in a back-and-forth battle with Dak Prescott. At all times count on the surprising with these two.

Choose: Eagles 27, Cowboys 24