Thursday Night Football: Cowboys @ Giants 7:15 PM (Prime Video)
For the second week in a row, the Dallas Cowboys were trampled on as Derrick Henry ran for over 15 yards and a pair of touchdowns while Lamar Jackson added 87 yards and scored himself. The disparity in the rushing attack was so alarming that the Cowboys were outrushing 274 yards to only 51 yards themselves. Dak Prescott did his best to make things interesting, scoring 19 points in the fourth to make it 28-25, but the Ravens ended the game with a couple of first downs, sending “America’s Team” to a 1-2 start.
Meanwhile, the Giants put forward another spirited effort, scoring three touchdowns for the second week in a row and defeating the Browns 21-15. This performance also included multiple stops late in the game when the Browns had a chance to take the lead in the fourth quarter. Since his week one debacle against Minnesota, Daniel Jones has had four touchdowns and no interceptions, completing 54% of his passes. The Giants have a clear formula for victory, play good defense, and don’t turn the ball over.
With a brutal six-game stretch coming up, the Cowboys need this win to avoid slipping into a hole they might be unable to dig their way out of. The Giants, meanwhile, are looking to prove that they are a team to be reckoned with and need this win to legitimize themselves. The X-Factor will be which run game reigns supreme. Both sides have lackluster run defenses and running games, but with both teams holding their opponents to under 200 yards passing per game, the ground game should play a pivotal role.
Prediction: 24-20 Cowboys
Sunday Noon Window
Vikings @ Packers (CBS)
So, I’ve whiffed the last two weeks on the predictions for these teams. I didn’t give the Vikings’ defense enough credit, assuming they could not keep up with the 49ers and Texans. Meanwhile, Green Bay has resurrected Malik Willis’s dying career and won both their games with him under center, while Jordan Love missed the last two weeks with an injury.
The key matchup in this game will be the Packers’ number one rushing offense vs. the Vikings’ number two rushing defense. However, last week, the bulk of the Packers rushing game came from Willis, meaning that his legs will not be a factor if Love comes back this week from injury. This, of course, will potentially be the Aaron Jones revenge game, who in his first three games with the Vikings is averaging over 100 scrimmage yards per game to go along with two touchdowns.
If Kevin O’Connell has truly unlocked the potential that everyone thought Sam Darnold had coming out of USC, then there’s no reason to doubt that the Vikings can walk into Lambeau and win with or without the Packers starting Jordan Love. I think the Packers’ run game might be a bit overinflated with Willis’s rushing stats, and I think Darnold can take advantage of a mediocre Packers pass defense.
Prediction: 26-24 Vikings
Saints @ Falcons (FOX)
I’m perplexed by the Saints. On one hand, I like the offensive pieces they have, and Dennis Allen is a solid defensive coach. On the other, they just lost to the Eagles, who outgained them 460 yards to 219, and likely would have been blown out if not for Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni’s questionable decision-making. Derek Carr struggled against a mediocre Eagles secondary, and the run game was virtually nonexistent.
This situation favors the Falcons, who have a strong pass defense, and their offense seems to be finding its rhythm. Like many teams facing the Chiefs, the Falcons left points on the field and didn’t execute well in crunch time, but they still moved the ball effectively. The Saints, with one of the league’s worst pass defenses, could offer Kirk Cousins a chance to finally connect with his new weapons.
At the start of the season, most people expected the Falcons to run away with the NFC South, but a slow start has raised doubts. Meanwhile, the Saints have gone from early-season darlings to underdogs, eager to prove their first two weeks weren’t a fluke. On paper, it’s a toss-up, but in my gut, I have more faith in one quarterback over the other.
Prediction: 27-20 Falcons
Rams @ Bears (FOX)
Evaluating Caleb Williams is difficult. While he’s made some poor decisions with the football, his offensive line has struggled, which has been a sieve allowing him to be sacked 13 times in three starts. Despite this, there was reason for optimism after his performance against the Colts, where he passed for over 300 yards and recorded two touchdowns.
The Rams pulled off a dramatic comeback victory against the 49ers, scoring 13 unanswered points to defeat the defending NFC champions. However, the team’s injury issues remain, and their offensive line is almost as shaky as the Bears’. If Matthew Stafford manages to lead this team to a Wild Card berth, it could be even more impressive than his Super Bowl win.
I see the Rams’ defense as slightly better than the Colts’ unit the Bears recently faced, but not by much. The Bears’ only win this season came when Williams protected the ball, and if they want to win again, he’ll need to do the same. While the Bears’ defense might be strong enough to secure a victory, I’m doubtful the offense can make enough plays to pull it off.
Prediction: 17-16 Rams
Steelers @ Colts (CBS)
Justin Fields may be playing his way into a permanent starting role, having led the Steelers to a 3-0 start. Averaging about 200 yards of total offense per game and throwing just one interception, he’s done exactly what’s been asked of him — which hasn’t been much. With a ferocious pass rush led by T.J. Watt, the Steelers don’t need to ask much from Fields. They know that if they avoid turnovers and score around 20 points per game, they have a good chance to win the AFC North.
The Colts picked up their first win of the season last week against the Bears. Anthony Richardson has thrown six interceptions in three games and is as unpredictable a quarterback as I’ve seen. The Colts would love to play a conservative, defense-first game like the Steelers, but they don’t have the defense to do so. That means Richardson will likely sling the ball all over the field — perhaps to his teammates, or maybe to the opposition.
With a top-five pass and rush defense, I doubt the Colts can score enough points to win this game. That being said, if they can replicate their performance against the Bears, they could make things interesting. Steelers fans, however, are hoping to see Fields have a true breakout game with 300-plus yards and multiple touchdowns, offering hope that this season could be different.
Prediction: 21-10 Steelers
Broncos @ Jets (CBS)
The Denver Broncos delivered an impressive performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, forcing two turnovers, while rookie quarterback Bo Nix had his first turnover-free game as a starter. The Broncos also ran the ball effectively, averaging just under five yards per carry, with both Nix and Jaleel McLaughlin scoring a touchdown. Denver’s defense has been solid all season, so if this efficient offensive play is a sign of things to come, there may be reason for optimism in the Mile High City.
The Jets, off to a 2-1 start, have seen Aaron Rodgers growing more comfortable with each game. While beating the Patriots isn’t the most notable accomplishment, the Jets did what they were supposed to — dominating on defense and avoiding mistakes on offense. If they can replicate that formula, they shouldn’t have much trouble against the Broncos and their rookie quarterback.
Though I still question the Jets’ ceiling against the NFL’s elite teams, they are more than capable of handling Denver. Nix had his first clean game last week, but if he wants to give the Broncos a chance to win, he’ll need to deliver a true breakout performance on Sunday.
Prediction: 24-13 Jets
Eagles @ Buccaneers (FOX)
Nick Sirianni must have a vendetta against kickers. That’s the only explanation for his repeated decision to turn down chip-shot field goals in favor of fourth-down gambles. It seems like he’s trying to prove he’s the smartest person in the room. The formula for the Eagles is simple: run the ball and occasionally let Jalen Hurts hit a big throw downfield. Yet, for some reason, the Eagles keep outsmarting themselves into preventable defeats and playing down to their competition.
The Buccaneers looked as bad as you can against the Broncos. Baker Mayfield was sacked seven times and threw for fewer than 200 yards. The rushing attack averaged 5.1 yards per carry but failed to record any touchdowns. Defensively, Tampa Bay was shredded by a Broncos unit that had looked lost the previous week against the Steelers. The problem with Tampa is their inconsistency. Will it be the team that got dusted 25-11 by Philadelphia in Week 3 last year, or the team that blew the doors off the Eagles 32-9 in the playoffs?
Saquon Barkley has been a godsend for the Eagles this year. There’s a strong case to be made that without him, Philadelphia would be 0-3 right now. To win this game, the Eagles need to feed Barkley over and over and let him work against the league’s eighth-worst run defense.
Prediction: 23-21 Eagles
Bengals @ Panthers (FOX)
It appears the “Red Rifle” still has some ammunition left. Andy Dalton passed for more than 300 yards and three touchdowns against a Raiders defense that had shut down Lamar Jackson the week before. The Panthers’ running game also shined, piling up 131 yards at more than four yards per carry. The defense wasn’t amazing, but it did enough, forcing an interception while holding the Raiders to 22 points.
The Cincinnati Bengals had an offseason to forget, with multiple contract holdouts and early injury concerns for Joe Burrow, leaving them at 0-3 and in the cellar of the AFC North. Their defense was embarrassed on national television, allowing five touchdowns and recording no stops in a 38-33 home loss to the Washington Commanders. The good news is that the offense scored 33 points, and Joe Burrow seems to be back to his usual self.
It seems like Bengals head coach Zac Taylor is coaching for his job this week. The players don’t seem to respond to or respect him, and if he loses to the Panthers and Andy Dalton, he may also lose the faith of the front office. The Bengals are the better team, and on paper, they should win this game nine times out of 10. The key word is “should.”
Prediction: 28-23 Bengals
Jaguars @ Texans (CBS)
No, that’s not the stench of a landfill you’re smelling — it’s just the Jaguars’ offense. Averaging only 13 points per game and sitting at 0-3, it’s safe to say things have been far from ideal in Duval County this year. Trevor Lawrence not only doesn’t look like the $275 million quarterback the Jaguars paid for, but he also doesn’t even look like a starting-caliber quarterback. The run game has been a non-factor in the past two weeks, and the defense, which had been playing well, just gave up 47 points to the Bills.
The Texans’ hype was derailed last week against the Vikings, as C.J. Stroud threw two interceptions and the Texans’ run game failed to muster 40 yards. That’s now two consecutive weeks in which the Texans have failed to score at least 20 points, after putting up 29 in their Week 1 win against the Colts. The defense has been inconsistent this season, with two rough games and one strong performance in Week 2 against the Bears.
If the Texans struggle for a third week in a row to put up points, it may be time to start discussing the actual ceiling of this team. If the Jaguars struggle for a fourth straight week, then it might be time to start wondering who will be removed from their duties first — Trevor Lawrence or head coach Doug Pederson.
Prediction: 26-18 Texans
Sunday Afternoon Window
Commanders @ Cardinals (FOX)
The Cardinals have the same problem as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers: you never know which team will show up week to week. Will it be the team that dropped 41 points on the Rams, or the one that looked helpless against the Lions? However, the Cardinals are facing one of the worst defenses in the NFL in the Commanders, so they should be able to showcase their offensive firepower again.
The Commanders are coming off an impressive offensive performance against the Cincinnati Bengals, scoring 38 points and not punting once. The defense, meanwhile, couldn’t stop a nosebleed, but you can overlook those inconvenient truths when you win. Washington looks like it may finally have found an answer at quarterback, but the defense is still very much a work in progress.
The Cardinals’ defense has been something of an overachiever this season, holding two of their first three opponents to 20 points or fewer. This game has the potential to be a shootout, with both offenses possessing plenty of skill position talent, and both defenses raising a lot of questions.
Prediction: 28-25 Cardinals
Patriots @ 49ers (FOX)
The San Francisco 49ers, to put it nicely, underperformed in the second half against the Rams last week. To put it accurately, they choked away a game that should’ve been an easy win. Now, for all the doom-and-gloomers out there, I’d like to remind you that last year, the 49ers dropped three straight before rattling off six consecutive wins on their way to the Super Bowl. I have no doubt they’ll figure things out, but it’s been a while since they’ve looked this vulnerable.
They’ll be taking on a Patriots team that had a rude wake-up call after two promising weeks, getting drubbed 24-3 on Thursday Night Football against the Jets. The less said about the New England offense, the better. Jacoby Brissett is a good spot starter, but not someone you want to rely on long-term, and the offensive line isn’t good enough to establish any sort of run game.
As with all games involving the Patriots, the analysis boils down to one question: Do you think the Patriots can hold their opponent to under 20 points? If the answer is yes, they have a chance to win. If the answer is no, they have no chance. I trust Kyle Shanahan too much to believe he won’t find a way to generate at least as many points as the Jets did.
Prediction: 26-10 49ers
Chiefs @ Chargers (CBS)
The Kansas City Chiefs haven’t played great through their first three games, yet they’re still 3-0, despite seemingly doing their best to give fans cardiac arrest every Sunday. The good news for the Chiefs is they managed to cobble together enough of a running game to keep the Falcons honest, but they still need to find a way to protect the ball. Travis Kelce’s slow start has been offset by the emergence of Rashee Rice, but Kelce has typically owned the Chargers, posting 100-plus yards in four of his last five games against them.
The Chargers, meanwhile, are coming into this game after being roughed up by the Pittsburgh Steelers. The run game, which had been key to their two wins, was held to just 3.1 yards per carry, and the Chiefs have shut down running backs through their first three games. Justin Herbert is questionable with an ankle injury, and both of his tackles are out. Even though the Chiefs aren’t generating sacks, they’re still producing pressure at an elite rate.
The last time the Chargers beat the Chiefs at home was in 2013, when Chase Daniel started a Week 17 game with the Chiefs resting their starters in Andy Reid’s first season. Essentially, this is a mostly healthy Chiefs team going up against a banged-up Chargers team missing both tackles, Joey Bosa, and possibly Herbert. In theory, this should be an easy game to predict, but as I know all too well, nothing is ever easy with the Chiefs.
Prediction: 23-20 Chiefs
Browns @ Raiders (CBS)
As soon as I saw this game, I immediately wondered, “How in the world is this on primetime television?” This isn’t even in hindsight, because at the beginning of the year, this game had about as much appeal as drinking a mystery cup of alcohol left out in the Las Vegas sun.
Deshaun Watson was outplayed by Daniel Jones, which is something I don’t think anyone has ever managed before. The Browns have no energy, no ambition, and no desire. Their only apparent goal is to possibly grab the seventh seed in the AFC playoffs, only to get blown out by the Bills, Ravens, or Chiefs. Cleveland can only ask the defense to bail them out so many times before it quits.
The Raiders are already in turmoil, with their head coach calling out his players for a lack of hustle and refusing to commit to Gardner Minshew as the starting quarterback. The defense, supposedly one of the nastiest units in football, just got shredded by 36-year-old Andy Dalton and what many consider the worst team in football. The good news is that they’re facing a Browns offensive line that allowed eight sacks last week against the Giants.
This game will be less about who wins and more about who loses. If the Raiders lose, all their offseason boasting will start to look childish, and if the Browns lose, the idea of trading Amari Cooper will only become more real. Whoever runs the ball better will win, and the Raiders have one of the worst run defenses in the league.
Prediction: 16-13 Browns
Sunday Night Football: Bills @ Ravens 7:15 PM (NBC)
Two of the premier teams in the AFC square off in Charm City, with the Ravens looking to kick-start their season after a win last week against the Cowboys, while the Bills aim to keep stampeding through their early schedule.
The Ravens rediscovered their identity, rushing for over 270 yards, with Derrick Henry finally having his breakout game with his new squad. Were it not for another near-collapse by their defense, they would be entering this game as confident as possible. However, the defense is still a concern, giving up 25 points per game through the first three weeks, and allowing 19 unanswered points in the fourth quarter against the Cowboys.
They’ll be facing a Bills team that has been steamrolling the competition, averaging 37 points per game with a +64 point differential. Josh Allen has to be considered the early MVP favorite, with nine total touchdowns in three weeks. The only concern about the Bills is their tendency to look unbeatable for several weeks, only to lose a head-scratcher.
Although the Ravens are 1-2, they are very close to being 3-0, but their defense is also the reason they are nearly 0-3. The Bills look like the best team in football right now, and I’ve picked them to win all three of their games so far, but their reputation still precedes them. This game has the potential to be an electrifying shootout between two MVP-caliber quarterbacks, and it’s one of those matchups you hope lives up to the billing.
Prediction: 31-28 Ravens
Monday Night Football
6:30 PM (ESPN): Titans @ Dolphins
Will Levis vs. Skylar Thompson or Tim Boyle — a quarterback matchup so bad it makes you wonder if there’s a good Law & Order rerun on. For whatever reason, I still can’t shake the feeling that Will Levis will put it all together, keep his nose clean, and lead his team to a win against a backup-level quarterback. Instead, I’ve been left with egg on my face and questioning my convictions.
The Dolphins have elite weapons but nobody to get them the ball. Thompson and Boyle will probably be selling insurance in the next five years because it’s become clear they’re not cut out to be NFL backups. Miami’s running game managed just three yards per carry against the Seahawks, which doesn’t bode well given the Titans are holding teams to just over 130 passing yards per game.
Protecting the quarterback will be crucial for both teams. The Titans allowed eight sacks against the Packers, while Miami gave up six. Eventually, I’ll learn my lesson about believing in Will Levis, but this week won’t be that week.
Prediction: 17-10 Titans
7:15 PM (ABC): Seahawks @ Lions
The Lions should be much better than they are, but they have a knack for playing with their food and making games too close for comfort. They’re essentially the Chiefs without Patrick Mahomes and the championship pedigree. Aidan Hutchinson, the NFL’s sack leader, should feast against a leaky Seahawks offensive line that gave up three sacks to an average Dolphins pass rush.
The key matchup to watch will be Seattle’s wide receivers against the Lions’ secondary. D.K. Metcalf is well on his way to another Pro Bowl selection, while Jackson Smith-Njigba and Tyler Lockett provide solid secondary options. Despite Seattle’s easy win over Miami, Geno Smith struggled at times, recording only one touchdown against two interceptions.
The X-factor in this game will be the running backs on both sides. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery each recorded over 100 scrimmage yards in Detroit’s win over the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Kenneth Walker III is expected to return for the Seahawks, bolstering a rushing attack that put up exactly 100 yards against Miami.
Prediction: 28-23 Lions
Overall Record: 27-21 (Last Week 6-10)