By Jacob Sanders
Wow. Week 2 was….rough to say the least. Not because of any upsets but because the injury bug showed up to bite some teams real early in the season. It’s Week 3, and it feels like some teams’ destinies have already been fulfilled because they don’t have their key players anymore (looking at the Giants, 49ers on this one). Regardless, 2020 has been filled with adversity and, just like in life, the best will come out strong from the adversity. Let’s see how it affects Week 3!
Sanders went 14-2 last week putting him to 23-9 on his picks for the season. He also picked the Jaguars to win on TNF and will start 0-1 on the week.
PIT Steelers vs HOU Texans
Lot of hulabaloo on the national media that the Steelers defense isn’t as good as it has looked and that the Texans offense will eventually bounce back because of Deshaun Watson. While I certainly give more credibility to the latter theory than the first, it just doesn’t seem like the Texans have figured out how to consistently move the ball on offense without Hopkins. That worries me when they’re playing against a Steelers offense who, as a matter of fact, IS JUST AS GOOD as they have been looking. Sorry. This Steelers defense is for real. Any national media head saying otherwise just wants attention. Despite the fact the Texans MUST win this game or suffer the potential of digging themselves a hole too early, the better team and better head coach lies on the Pittsburgh side of this matchup.
Steelers 31 Texans 20
PHE Eagles vs CIN Bengals
It’s pretty crazy to me that the Eagles are 0-2 and, even worse, I myself am beginning to have some doubts of Carson Wentz. I’ve been a longtime defender of Wentz, but you can’t be playing as poorly as you have been. We’ve seen QBs play with worse offensive lines *cough* Tom Brady *cough* Andrew Luck, and perform much better. If you’re gonna be payed like a top 10 QB, you need to play like one. Speaking of QB play, how about Joe Burrow? I’ve been quite impressed with how the guy has carried himself on the field. Rookie mistakes can be excused when it’s so clear you have a handle on the offense. I love that. It’s also why I’m picking the Bengals in an upset pick. Whew. 0-3 for the Eagles? Quite possibly. Also, for the record. I think Joe Burrow is a backwards hat kinda guy.
Eagles 20 Bengals 24
NE Patriots vs LV Raiders
This has the potential to be the best game of the morning. The Raiders came out and punched the Saints in the mouth last weekend while the Patriots were just a yard away from stealing a win in Seattle despite Russell Wilson heroics. Looks like a great morning game to start the day out. The key here will be, I believe, which offense operates more heroically. Yes, I said heroically. To me, the team who puts the ball into the endzone with 30 seconds left go, wins this game. It’s gonna be a tight game. Two solid defensive lines. Two good QBs. Two great coaches. Only one gameplan takes the W.
Patriots 28 Raiders 24
TEN Titans vs MIN Vikings
I’m coming out and telling you in the first sentence that I’m picking the Titans to win. Which, according to one superstitious Vikings fan that I know in particular, means the Vikings are going to secure their first win. Jokes and superstition aside, I’m genuinely shocked at how poor this Vikings team has looked. The talent is there so I have no clue why they aren’t putting up any fight in the first part of the season. Meanwhile, the Titans have won both a shoot-out AND an ugly game. The Titans are already ready to go for whatever comes at them. Did you know Tannehill has also thrown for 32 TDs and 5 INTs ever since he took over for Mariota? It’s incredible just how well oiled this Tennessee machine is despite not being stacked with elite talent. The Vikings on the other hand look lost on offense, and can’t seem stop the run on defense at all. And here comes Derrick Henry. Ugh. I had Minnesota going 10-6 which is still possible but feels improbable if they drop to 0-3 like I’m thinking. Woof.
Titans 33 Vikings 20
CLE Browns vs WAS
Listen, what Washington has going on just isn’t inspiring. The team will remain a bit competitive as long as Ron Rivera is the coach and the defensive line keeps mauling their opponents. However, the Browns have a decent line, and a ton of talent on offense to handle Washington’s defense. Truly, more than any game he’s ever played, this game comes down to Mayfield’s decision-making. If he protects the ball, and takes what is given to him, this game should be on easy W. The Browns defense can handle Dwayne Haskins and Co. The question is if Mayfield can keep up his side of the bargain. The reality of it all is, you gotta beat mediocre teams if you want to be seen as a franchise QB.
Browns 28 WAS 16
LA Rams vs BUF Bills
The game I am most excited for is this one. This one right here. This better be on your tv if you’re simply a lover of football. Early on, this is a great non-conference matchup. Josh Allen has been beyond impressive and can step into the top 10 to top 8 QB conversation if he continues his stellar play. Meanwhile, the Rams have shown themselves to be reminiscent of the team they were in 2018. A few believe that Josh Allen will revert a bit back to his bone-headed ways against a better defense. There’s something to be said about Allen having played some, let’s call them, donut-hole defenses. However, I think this transformation is real. The Bills defense is good enough to handle Woods, Kupp, and Goff. I am, however, rolling the dice that the Bills offense is good enough to not let Aaron Donald ruin their day.
Rams 20 Bills 24
SF 49ers vs NY Giants
It would be a lie of I told you that I think the Giants have a shot at this game because the 49ers are banged up and Nick Mullens is starting. If anything, I’m still confident the 49ers take this game away, hands down. Why? Daniel Jones hasn’t improved at all from his rookie season. He’s still the QB who makes some wow throws but keeps giving the ball to the opposing defense. You can’t do that. You lose games when you do that. Against the 49ers team? Yeah. Good luck winning a game where you keep giving the ball away to the 49ers. Daniel Jones will be the 49ers MVP this game.
49ers 20 Giants 13
ATL Falcons vs CHI Bears
You know what? What if I just didn’t talk about the Falcons blowing leads. That story has been blown over (ha) many times this week. On to the Chicago Bears for these Falcons who are looking for their first win against a team who hasn’t experience a loss yet. By standings, this game looks rough considering the Bears are 2-0 and Falcons 0-2. However, on paper, the Bears barely squeaked by with two wins, while the Falcons carry an offense that could just run over this Bears defense. This game really comes down to whether the Bears offense can score more points than the Falcons offense. As the young kids say, “Press X to doubt.”
Falcons 35 Bears 24
LA Chargers vs CAR Panthers
Quite odd circumstances for Justin Herbert to become the starting QB for the Chargers. Regardless, he showed up and almost beat the SB defending champions. Keyword: almost. Herbert looked fine in his debut. And I’m sticking with the word fine. He missed some key throws and made some odd decisions that I can excuse because it was his first game, but regardless, it didn’t sell me on him either. However, I am sold on Teddy B as an NFL starter and I certainly think, despite McCaffrey being gone, that Bridgewater can win a game for the Panthers. Guess that’s how I view this game, despite the analysis being a little shallow.
Chargers 20 Panthers 23
IND Colts vs NY Jets
The Jets are still being coached by Adam Gase. The Colts are being coached by Frank Reich. That’s honestly all you need to know for why the Jets aren’t winning this game. If you want something better than that, I can tell you that the Colts have a more balanced roster than the Jets. The Colts could win the game through a defense stepping up, Rivers turning back the clock, or the run game grinding through the Jets defense. The Jets win condition? I honestly could not tell you. Maybe someone has an idea. I sure don’t. Not when Adam Gase is the coach of the Jets. Poor Sam Darnold.
Colts 30 Jets 16
SEA Seahawks vs DAL Cowboys
Take. A. Freakin. Bow. Dak Prescott. Wow was I impressed by Prescott’s poise and his ability to pull victory from the jaws of defeat. However, that’s not happening against better teams and better head coaches. For the Cowboys to beat the Seahawks, the playcalling will have to be creative, and the execution of the Cowboys will have to be on par, if not better than the execution of the Seahawks. Considering just how awful the Cowboys looked against the Falcons and their average performance against the Rams, I just don’t foresee a scenario where the Seahawks allow the Cowboys to win on Sunday afternoon. Expect Russell Wilson to be cooking up a delicious Texas BBQ for a Seahawks W.
Seahawks 31 Cowboys 28
TB Buccaneers vs DEN Broncos
Well. My hype train for the Broncos crashed, leaked oil, started burning, and then just exploded. It started with Von Miller getting hurt, Courtland Sutton being out for the season, and then Drew Lock being out for several weeks? Damn. That sucks. It’s great news for the Buccaneers who can get a jump on the Saints this week by winning against an injury-riddled team while the Saints are playing against an NFC powerhouse. The story here, will be how efficient the Bucs offense looks. Will the Week 1 Bucs show up or will the Week 2 Bucs show up? I’m guessing the Week 2 offense does.
Bucs 28 Broncos 17
AZ Cardinals vs DET Lions
This game….feels like a trap game for Arizona. Previously 5-10-1, this team starts 2-0, has another easy team up on the schedule aaannnndddd they lose. That’s typical of 2-0 teams who don’t look like 2-0 teams. However, the Cardinals have looked pretty good. Not great like I think they will be, but they’ve looked good. I think that continues against the Lions. HOWEVER! Big however here. The Lions have an offense that can explode. This Cardinals offense is built to win a shootout. Question is, will they do it? I certainly believe the Lions are gonna score quite a few points this game. Then again, I also believe a Kliff Kingsbury offense can beat a Matt Patricia defense. Let’s see it K1.
Cardinals 35 Lions 33
GB Packers vs NO Saints
Just a month ago, I was incredibly excited for this matchup. Following 2 weeks of football, the Packers appear to be in just a different class than the Saints do. I definitely feel like the Saints have a chance if they can have Kamara run the ball down the Packers throat. However, I feel like that’s the only way the Saints win. On the other hand, the Packers can win through Aaron Rodgers, Aaron Jones, or just the Packers pass rush overwhelming Drew Brees. There’s far more opportunities for the Packers to steal a win on the road, than there is for the Saints to keep the win at home. That’s how it’s looking to play out. We’ll see if Sean Payton has anything to say about that.
Packers 31 Saints 24
KC Chiefs vs BAL Ravens
I could rant about how this game should a SNF game in Week 9 and not a MNF game for Week 3, but I’m not the schedule-maker. This is a game that has game of the year hype around it. However, with it being in Week 3, I really don’t feel like either team is at full-potential. And I feel that way moreso for the Chiefs than the Ravens. The Ravens have continued where they left off in the regular season running opponents over and smothering them on defense. However, the Ravens have done nothing spectacular despite winning both games by double digits. The same can be said for the Chiefs in that they have done nothing spectacular in either of their first two wins. If we’re trying to judge this matchup based upon the first two weeks of production, I’m gonna tell you that Baltimore has been playing better. This reminds me of a matchup where two teams meetup, one wins handily, but then they meet in the post-season, and the team who previously lost gets an upset win. I’m picking Baltimore for this round, but won’t be shocked if KC beats BAL again come post-season time.
Chiefs 27 Ravens 33
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