Thursday Night Football: Patriots @ Jets 7:15 PM (Prime Video)
Historically, this past decade, the New England Patriots have owned the New York Jets. Most of that has to do with a certain quarterback, but even without Tom Brady, the Pats managed a split of the season series with the Jets last season.
That said, the Patriots will bring both a new coach and a quarterback to this dance at MetLife Stadium. The Patriots have been scrappy if unspectacular in their first two games of the season, stifling the Bengals, who just scored 25 points on the Chiefs last week, and giving the Seahawks all they could handle before losing in overtime. But like I’ve said before, unless the Patriots hold their opponent to under 20 points, they can’t win.
The Jets, meanwhile, were dreadful against the 49ers and were outplayed for most of the game by the Titans, needing a last-second red zone defensive stand to claim victory. The good news for the Jets is that they were slightly more efficient at running the ball, but they’ll need Aaron Rodgers to start shaking off the rust if they want to make some noise this season.
Prediction: 20-14 Jets.
Sunday Noon Window
Texans @ Vikings (CBS)
The Minnesota Vikings shocked many pundits last week by toppling the San Francisco 49ers and moving to 2-0. What impressed me about the Vikings was their control of the game. If not for two Minnesota turnovers, that game likely could’ve been a blowout. The offensive attack has been balanced, with Darnold doing just enough throwing the ball and the running game being sturdy enough to lean on in crunch time.
The scoreboard for last week’s Sunday Night Football game will show that the Texans only won 19-13 and that the Bears had a chance with the ball late. For those who watched the game, the Texans should’ve won about 26-10, but turnovers and penalties by the Texans kept an inept Bears offense hanging around.
The Texans have all the talent in the world, but they are still learning how to be a great team, and being great takes time. The Vikings, meanwhile, are punching well above their weight and are rolling into their second home game of the year as sole leaders in the NFC North. Both teams have legitimate reasons to believe they’ll be walking out of Minneapolis with a 3-0 record after this game.
The Vikings’ running game will be the X-factor in this game. If the Vikings can establish the run and prevent themselves from becoming one-dimensional, they might be able to spring this upset. The Texans smothered the Bears’ run game last week, which allowed them to tee off on Caleb Williams.
Prediction: 24-23 Texans
Giants @ Browns (FOX)
The New York Giants accomplished something last week that I didn’t think was possible: scoring three touchdowns, holding their opponent to no touchdowns, and still losing. That atrocity happened because they didn’t have a backup placekicker and missed all of their two-point conversion while the Commanders connected on all seven of their field goals.
Now, the Giants will be heading to Cleveland in search of their first win. They will square off with a Browns team whose defense had a nice bounce-back effort, holding the Jacksonville Jaguars to only 13 points. If the Browns are going to sneak their way into the playoffs again this year, this next three-game stretch will be crucial for them as they’ll likely be favored in all three of their next matchups.
Both offenses rank in the lower half of the league, and neither side possesses a quality run or passing attack. In games like this, one of two things usually happens: one side erupts for close to 40 points or it becomes a knockdown drag-out brawl where the first to 20 points wins.
Prediction: 20-13 Browns
Packers @ Titans (FOX)
My apologies to Malik Willis for underestimating him and the Packers last week against the Colts. Willis completed 12/14 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown, while Josh Jacobs carried the rock 32 times for 151 yards as they ground out a 16-10 win over Indianapolis. This is a prime example of what sound coaching can do. Matt LaFleur kept things simple and didn’t ask Willis to do too much.
This week will be interesting because as efficient as Willis was against the Colts; he goes from facing one of the worst defenses in the league to one of the best in Tennessee. If the Titans had competent QB play, they’d be 2-0 with wins over the Bears and Jets. But because they have Will Levis, they are 0-2.
Levis should be and probably will be on the shortest of leashes going into this game, with one more careless mistake resulting in not only his benching but the end of his time in Tennessee as a whole. If Jordan Love does not play this week, and the Titans don’t shoot themselves in the foot, they can win this game. But if they do what they’ve done for the past two weeks, they’ll lose again in agonizing fashion.
Prediction: 17-14 Titans
Bears @ Colts (CBS)
Welcome everybody to the “All Potential Bowl,” where each side’s quarterback has incredible potential but no actual production to back it up. Some pundits touted Caleb Williams as a top-10 quarterback in the league before he took a snap. As it turns out, the Bears have no offensive line, banged-up weapons, and an offensive scheme you can find at your local pee wee football game.
Meanwhile, Anthony Richardson is a freak athlete who can chuck the ball 70 yards down the field off his back foot and hit a receiver in stride. Just don’t ask him to hit an intermediate crossing route because that’ll likely result in an INT. The frustrating part about their loss to the Packers is that they moved the ball, rushing for nearly eight yards a carry while generating almost 200 yards passing.
The Bears have a legit defense with good special teams but no offense, which has become a broken record since 1985. The Colts have a legit offense that can hit home runs but don’t possess the ability to produce a consistent, sustained drive because of their inconsistency. I have no doubt the Colts are the better team, but I doubt their ability to consistently be the better team and keep teams like the Bears from pulling the upset.
Prediction: 20-17 Colts
Eagles @ Saints (FOX)
I feel so bad for Eagles fans. They have one of the most talented offensive units in the league, but an absolute buffon is coaching them in Nick Siriani. The Eagles change identities so often that it’s hard to keep track of, and it’s what cost them against the Falcons. The Eagles are at their best when they control the clock and lean on you with their running game. When they are at their worst, they overcomplicate things and snatch defeat from the cold, dead jaws of victory.
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, the Saints are making me look like an idiot by putting up back-to-back dominant wins. Honestly, I still don’t quite get how they are doing this. I’ve seen enough of Derek Carr to know the ceiling he puts on a team, and I know their defense is good but not great. But like they say, down in the big easy, “let the good times roll!”
When the Saints are good, and the Superdome is rocking, very few home-field environments are more intimidating to play in. I don’t question the Saints’ offense, but I do wonder if their defense is good enough to stop the Eagles if they come out like they did in week one. This is the ultimate prove-it game for the Saints. A win here, and they will instantly have everybody in the league’s attention.
Prediction: 28-25 Saints
Chargers @ Steelers(CBS)
The Pittsburgh Steelers are 2-0 and have ridden their defense to sole possession of the top spot in the AFC North. Despite seemingly yearly calls from Steeler fans to have him retired or fired, Mike Tomlin continues to rack up wins with substandard quarterback play. Justin Fields has done a great job of not turning the ball over and managing the game, but the fact of the matter remains that the Steelers’ offense will remain limited so long as he is the quarterback.
The Chargers have an identity for the first time in what feels like forever. Under Jim Harbaugh, the defense is second in total yards allowed, and the Bolts rank second in rushing offense per game. This formula is the exact one that Harbaugh used to turn around both the 49ers and the University of Michigan, and it appears to be working now.
The Chargers have more ways of winning this game than the Steelers, who are backed into the corner of keeping teams below 20 points to win. Time of possession will be a major factor in this game, as both coaches want to run the ball and limit mistakes. This game feels like it will come down to a field goal made or missed within its last two minutes.
Prediction: 21-18 Chargers
Broncos @ Buccaneers (FOX)
Remember when Sean Payton tried to convince the world that he tricked the Vikings into selecting J.J. McCarthy so he could draft Bo Nix? As it turns out, building your team’s hopes, dreams, and expectations around the sixth quarterback taken in the draft is not a winning strategy. Bo Nix is overmatched and never should’ve been declared the week one starter, but arrogance and bravado got in the way of reasonable decision-making.
The Buccaneers have started 2-0, and Todd Bowles continues to run a tight ship defensively in Tampa while Baker Mayfield conducts the offense. At this rate, if both the Saints and Bucs keep winning like this, their week 18 matchup could be for the NFC South title. But before we go overboard with compliments, they still need to handle their business against Denver.
With a big game next week against the Eagles, this could be a trap game for the Buccaneers if they get caught looking ahead. However, Bowles, being the veteran coach he is, will have his team ready to go for this game. This will be the second rookie quarterback Tampa Bay has faced this year, and unlike Jayden Daniels, Bo Nix doesn’t possess the mobility to evade the pressure of the Buccaneers’ defense.
Prediction: 24-13 Buccaneers
Sunday Afternoon Window
Panthers @ Raiders (CBS)
The Panthers are bad… like it might not be too soon to start 0-17 watch bad. Most major quarterback busts were unlikeable, lazy, and or arrogant (i.e., Ryan Leaf, Jamarcus Russell, etc.). Bryce Young seems like a nice guy, but he doesn’t have it right now, which is why the Panthers are moving on to Andy Dalton to try and spark an anemic offense. Even with Dalton at the helm, the expectation for the Panthers is to avoid being embarrassed for three weeks in a row.
All credit to the Raiders; they came out and ripped that game away from Baltimore. Gardner Minshew made some big throws late, and Maxx Crosby continues to prove why he was voted by his peers as one of the top-10 players in the league, sacking Lamar Jackson to help force a late punt. I still don’t think the Raiders are that good, but the power of self-belief is a powerful weapon.
After an emotional win against the Ravens, seeing how the Raiders come out for this game will be interesting. Andy Dalton might only be 6-9 in his last 15 starts, but in those starts, he has 20 TDs and 9 INTs, so if there’s anything left in the tank, now’s the time to find out.
Prediction: 24-20 Raiders
Dolphins @ Seahawks (CBS)
The evaluation of this game starts with the fact that one team has its quarterback and the other doesn’t. The Seahawks are coming off a win in which their man Geno Smith passed for over 300 yards and helped lead his team down the field for the game-winning field goal in overtime. The Dolphins are coming in with all the offensive weapons you could ask for, but Skylar Thompson will be throwing the ball after Tua Tagovailoa suffered a severe concussion.
The Dolphins were embarrassed by the Bills, and if not for a Jacksonville fumble inside the five-yard line in week one, they’d be sitting at 0-2. Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel came into this league born on third base with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Tua already on the team, but with his teams back against the wall, we are going to find out how good of a motivator he actually is. Miami’s tight end Jonnu Smith was the Dolphin’s most prolific receiving option, and the Seahawks allowed over 100 yards to Patriots tight end Hunter Henry, so that’ll be a matchup to watch.
The Seahawks have the better offense and defense in this game and have the bonus of being at home, with the Dolphins having to catch the longest plane ride in the league for this matchup. Expect to see a lot of De’Von Achane from the Dolphins this game; he had over 160 yards from scrimmage against the Bills and averaged 4.4 yards a carry. If the Seahawks are going to make a legit challenge for the NFC West crown, this is a must-win game for them.
Prediction: 24-16 Seahawks
Ravens @ Cowboys (FOX)
Two teams are going through the Big D, and I don’t mean Dallas. It’s not divorce (even though both fans hate their head coaches) but rather desperation. The Cowboys got molly-whopped by the Saints last week, leaving many people wondering what in the world happened to that smothering defense from week one. The Ravens, meanwhile, let a double-digit lead slip away again, as Derrick Henry has gone from a bell cow to a lawn ornament in the Ravens’ offense.
After signing his mega-deal, Dak Prescott has been far from stellar, tossing a pair of INTs against the Saints last week while only mustering one score against the Browns. It’s not like his defense was much help either; after putting on a performance that made Derek Carr look like Moses parting the Red Sea, they’ll be looking to rebound with a strong outing against Lamar Jackson, who had another impressive stats day, but again failed to lead a critical two-minute drive.
It seems like ever since last year’s AFC Championship Game, the Ravens have been trying to be something they are not. They so desperately want to prove that they can win by throwing the ball that they forget their entire identity is built around running the ball. Like Sandra Bullock said in The Blind Side, “Run the dang ball! Run it!”
I still think both of these teams make the playoffs regardless of how this result goes, but the pressure to perform has this game feeling like a must-win for both sides. Dak needs to show up and deliver a statement performance to get the critics off his back, and the Ravens need to get back to their roots and embrace the grind. This is a coin-flip game with a lot more stakes than most games in week three.
Prediction: 27-24 Ravens
49ers @ Rams (FOX)
The Rams would love desperately to hop in a time machine and head back to the preseason when there was still hope and optimism for the season. But after Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua both went down with injuries after their first two games, many Rams fans are already looking ahead to next year. Even pundits suggest that the Rams should trade Matthew Stafford to the Dolphins because the situation appears bleak in the city of angels.
Meanwhile, the 49ers will be out for blood after a flat showing against the Vikings. The 49ers defense, in theory, should absolutely feast against the revolving door that is the Rams offensive line, which allowed five sacks to what is considered a pedestrian Arizona Cardinals pass rush. Brock Purdy had a rare off game last week, and with his top target, Deebo Samuel, out for this game, expect a lot of Jordan Mason, who had 100 yards and a touchdown on five yards a carry against the Vikings.
The 49ers’ formula for winning is simple: get after Stafford, run the ball effectively, and get the ball to George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk in the passing game. The Rams’ path to victory is much less clear. They’ll need the mother of all bounce backs on defense, and they’ll need Stafford to have time to throw it to Tutu Atwell and Demarcus Robinson, who will both need to shine against a good 49ers secondary.
Prediction: 28-14 49ers
Lions @ Cardinals (FOX)
Kyler Murray played about as well as you can get, putting up a perfect passer rating of 158.3 as he led Arizona to a lopsided win over the Rams in week two. For Cardinals fans, it was also nice to see Marvin Harrison Jr. erupt for 130 yards and two touchdowns after a debut that worried many people about the connection between Harrison and Murray. Their defense was also dominant, securing five sacks in their week two win; they’ll be hoping to duplicate that effort against one of the league’s premier offensive lines.
The Lions have all the potential to be great, but sometimes, they can’t help but get in their own way. Jared Goff’s brutal INT on the first play of the game to set up a Tampa Bay field goal resulted in a butterfly effect that forced the Lions to go for it on a fourth-and-8 that they wouldn’t have had to if that play never happened. The defense was great against Tampa Bay, forcing an interception, while Aiden Hutchinson recorded 4.5 sacks.
You rarely put up twice the number of yards your opponent does and lose, but Detroit managed to accomplish that feat. It also shows that the Lions’ offense is still a force to be reckoned with. They need to limit the mental miscues and finish these drives with touchdowns instead of field goals. The Cardinals will be looking to make this a shootout and show that their offense is one of the best in the league.
Prediction: 31-28 Lions
Sunday Night Football: Chiefs @ Falcons 7:15 PM (NBC)
The Chiefs have the better offense, the better defense, the better quarterback, the better special teams, and the better head coach, meaning they should win this game. But as a Chiefs fan of close to 30 years, I know better than to assume that they’ll just roll to an easy victory in primetime. Outside of Patrick Mahomes first-year as the starter, the Chiefs usually have at least one head-scratching loss per year.
The Falcons are coming in with all the momentum after stealing a win on the road in Philadelphia after Kirk Cousins led a touchdown drive to claim a 22-21 win over the Eagles. Cousins has never beaten the Chiefs (0-4 in his career) but has always played adequately. In this game, the key for the Falcons will be to get tight end Kyle Pitts the ball; the Chiefs are miserable at covering tight ends this year, allowing over 200 yards combined to the likes of Isaiah Likely Mike Gesicki. On the other hand, the Chief’s defense has locked up wide receivers and held running backs to an average of 3.8 yards per carry.
The Falcon’s defense has been excellent against the pass but horrid against the run this season, allowing the sixth most rushing yards per game. The good news for the Falcons is that the Chiefs will be down their starting running back, Isiah Pacheco, for quite a bit after he suffered a fractured tibia against the Bengals. Rookie undrafted running back Carson Steele will need to summon the spirit of Ed Podolak if the Chiefs want a chance to win this game because they can’t beat the Falcons being one-dimensional.
Do you want an upset special? Well, here it is.
Prediction: 24-20 Falcons
Monday Night Football
6:30 PM (ESPN): Jaguars @ Bills
We’ve got two Monday Night Football games this week, and the early window will feature a team in the Bills that many thought would be rebuilding, as well as another team in the Jaguars, who are looking for answers after an 0-2 start.
The Bills without Stefon Diggs haven’t missed a beat, bludgeoning the Dolphins last week 31-10 and shutting down a potentially prolific Cardinals offense in the second half of their week one game. Once again, Josh Allen looks like an MVP candidate, with James Cook turning into a potential Pro Bowl-level running back, giving Buffalo some much-needed balance. After getting torched in the first half vs. Arizona, the defense has only allowed 21 points over their last six quarters and is coming off a three interception day against Miami.
The Jaguars have to figure out the offensive side of the ball because it’s been awful to watch. I made an excuse last week that they would’ve won if not for a poorly timed-fumble, and I still believe that. But last week against a good Browns defense, they looked lost, putting up 13 points while Trevor Lawrence completed less than 50% of his passes. The defense has been good, but it’ll be another wasted effort if they don’t get any help from their newly minted-franchise signal caller.
While we’re not quite in do-or-die time yet for Jacksonville, we aren’t too far off, as they’ll need to show something in this primetime matchup.
Prediction: 23-14 Bills
7:15 PM (ABC): Commanders @ Bengals
The Bengals are 0-2 to start the season for the fourth time in the last five years. No matter the firepower they have, they just can’t seem to get it going early on in the season. Lucky for them, the Commanders are a prime candidate for them to get their first win of the season against.
Like I said last week, weird things happen when the Bengals play the Chiefs, and the game is always close. What do you know? Weird things happened, and the game was decided on a walk-off field goal. The Chiefs are the Bengals’ Super Bowl and have been for quite some time, and they always perform their best against them. The next game, however, is always a bit of a letdown, with a 1-3 record in games that follow their games against the Chiefs, with Burrow being the quarterback.
The Commanders are coming off one of the weirdest wins you’ll see, scoring no touchdowns and allowing three but still winning 21-18 because they had a kicker, and the Giants literally didn’t. Despite having yet to throw a touchdown pass, Jayden Daniels has been the best rookie quarterback, averaging over 270 yards of total offense per game. This, however, will be a tougher test than the one he faced last week against the Giants.
If the Bengals can get to their week 12 bye week with a winning record, they’ll still have a chance to make the playoffs. But in order to get that winning record, they’ll first need to start winning some games, and losing this one could be disastrous. The Bengals, in theory, should be able to shred this pedestrian Washington defense, but it all depends on which Joe Burrow shows up.
Prediction: 26-20 Bengals
Overall Record: 21-11 (Last Week 8-8)