NFL Picks Week 3

So last week was a reminder than no one knows anything about football. I had not done any worse making picks... ever really. It wasn't pretty, and didn't bode well for Daily Fantasy Football either. My league team won again so that's a plus.

Last week: 4-12.. oh the misery.

I dare to dream that things could turn around this week but the parity is also good for the sport... let's get on with the picks.

Thursday Night Football

Washington @ New York Giants

Winner: Washington

The Giants aren't getting quality from the whole team while Washington surprised everyone in running all over one of the most feared fronts in football last week. The Giants haven't been able to put games away and this Washington team doesn't seem like the team you want to keep around.

Atlanta @ Dallas

Winner: Atlanta

Dallas has been getting bitten by the injury bug too much so far. The trade for Matt Cassel likely won't offer much of a pay off, especially this week. I don't expect the defense to handle Julio Jones or the offense to be able to keep up with Weeden and Williams as the main components. The running game isn't where it needs to be and their most reliable player, Witten, has a hurt whole lower body.

Indianapolis @ Tennessee

Winner: Tennessee

Well the Colts need to win at some point. It's possibly this week, but I don't like how the Colts have shaped their team this year. Luck is on the brink of being elite in the NFL but the franchise chose aging players to help him and it just hasn't. Mariota should be able to bounce back against the Indy defense.

Oakland @ Cleveland

Winner: Oakland

I almost pulled the upset card last week but went with Baltimore instead. This week I will go with Oakland although Cleveland has won 3 out of the last 4 against them. The coaching staff still doesn't know how to handle the Cleveland QB battle and Oakland has to be feeling they can play with Cleveland after beating Baltimore. 

Cincinnati @ Baltimore

Winner: Baltimore

AFC North match ups are always physical and fun to watch if you love defense. This might come down to more of a shootout. Dalton and AJ Green impress more than Flacco and Smith Jr who is as veteran as it gets. I don't see Baltimore allowing themselves to lose two straight and Flacco continues to get better this year.

Jacksonville @ New England

Winner: New England

New England is mighty after all. Jacksonville will be competitive but the score probably won't be indicative of how hard they play.

New Orleans @ Carolina

Winner: Carolina 

Drew Brees is hurt and wasn't playing well when healthy. Carolina is healthier and Cam has to be ready to be dynamic again. He will have the chance against a substandard New Orleans defense.

Philadelphia @ New York Jets

Winner: J-E-T-S

How fitting that this is the week Mark Sanchez gets back under center. This Bradford experiment isn't working out to Chips favor and DeMarco Murray has 21 carries for 11 yards. Money well spent. The Jets on the other hand caused 5 turnovers against the unLucky Colts, including 3 interceptions. Revis Island and the Jet's defense will be the difference.

Tampa Bay @ Texans

Winner: Tampa Bay

Texans sorely miss Arian Foster. Winston will likely miss his tight end Jenkins but is more solid at QB than anyone the Texans have fielded this year.

San Diego @ Minnesota

Winner: San Diego

Adrian Peterson started to look like his regular self on the football field but had a couple of fumbles. Turnovers cannot be part of the Minnesota offense with the play makers they have. San Diego's offense will be sure to exploit the Vikings' mistakes.

Pittsburgh @ St. Louis

Winner: Pittsburgh

Antonio Brown is fast. Big Ben is still very good. And Bell is back at running back for the Steelers. St. Louis got ran over by the Washington backs last week and could very much happen again between Bell and Williams in the back field for Pittsburgh.

San Francisco @ Arizona

Winner: Arizona

Oh I hope I am wrong. San Francisco needs a bounce back game this week which could prove difficult against another potent offense. 49ers need to get healthier in the back field already and have to show more fight on defense. That's not even mentioning the offensive line issues. The Cardinals have Fitzgerald and Brown, who could more have their way with the Niners defense this week.

Buffalo @ Miami

Winner: Buffalo

I think last weeks loss to New England will cause a bit of a hangover for Buffalo. And at the same time Miami needs to rebound from a tough loss to Jacksonville. Miami needs to prove they can take care of teams in their own division so here is to being hopeful that Tannehill can make that next step that's expected. But Miami has had difficulty with Buffalo in the past and this is as good as Buffalo has been in a few years.

Chicago @ Seattle

Winner: Seattle

Seattle will finally get a win this week as the Bears will be without Cutler and will likely have to depend on Jimmy Clausen. Even without Chancellor, I like Seattle's defense this week.

Denver @ Detroit

Winner: Denver

Denver keeps winning in spite of Peyton Manning which is as tough to realize as it was to type. Their defense is good enough to win them games but I'm not sure it is good enough to do it EVERY week. Detroit has been flawed and Stafford isn't totally healthy. A sore and beaten up QB against that defense could keep Denver rolling this week.

Monday Night Football

Kansas City @ Green Bay

Winner: Green Bay

There's no other night like Monday night. Until next week though, right? Those commercials are something else... but this game shouldn't be. Alex Smith lacks a vertical passing game thus far and he will need that against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Randall Cobb should get featured a little more week as well.

NFL Week 2

I will try to do more picks this year as I did last year but it's crazy hectic between work and school. So here goes for week 2 of the NFL.

Thursday Night- Denver @ Kansas City
Winner: Kansas City
 I thought Peyton Manning was done last year and with how he played the last half of the year and week 1, it isn't inspiring. The defense will attack KC but their offense isn't where it needs to be.

Texans @ Carolina
Winner: Carolina
Already a QB change for the Texans and while I think the change will be for the better, it just won't be better this week. Give it a couple of weeks with Mallet and they'll turn it around. But Carolina will figure out a way to give Olsen more opportunities in the passing game,

San Francisco@ Pittsburgh.
Winner: San Francisco
Might be a homer pick, but I loved what I saw out of the 49ers defense and their running game. If Pittsburgh had their full arsenal then it'd be a different story. But without Bell and Bryant, the offense might have a tough time against a physical defense. And the 49ers appear to have a running game that could maul the Pittsburgh defense.

Tampa Bay @ New Orleans
Winner: Saints
The Bucs got torched by Mariota last week. This week it's Drew Brees. Enough said.

Detroit @ Minnesota.
Winner: Detroit
I don't think Minnesota will be bad all year, but their coordinator needs to figure out a way to implement AP more effectively. The Detroit defense gave up a large lead last week, but Minnesota only put up 3 points.

Arizona @ Chicago
Winner: Arizona
The Bears defense isn't all that great. The Arizona offense with Carson Palmer is. The QB play will be the difference and I'd take Palmer over Cutler all day.

New England @ Buffalo
Winner: Buffalo
OH THE MIGHTY PATRIOTS! But Rex Ryan lead teams always play the Pats tough and he now has the great defense to win. It'll be interesting to see how Tyrod Taylor does as en encore to a great week 1.

San Diego @ Cincinnati
Winner: San Diego
Cincinnati's defense is usually very good at home. But I think San Diego will be riding some momentum still from their comeback victory over Detroit last week. The Bengals didn't look overly spectacular against a Carr-less Oakland team last week either.

Tennessee @ Cleveland
Winner: Tennessee
Whether it's McCown or Manziel starting for the Browns, Mariota will still be the best QB on the field. The Tennessee defense will be able to handle Manziel as they did Winston. There might be some magic for Mariota this year.

Atlanta @ New York (Giants)
Winner: Atlanta
If you saw what Julio Jones did against Maxwell and the E-A-G-L-E-S on Monday then he should have a better day against a much worse Giants secondary. Tevin Coleman is looking to have a good outing as well. It'll be interesting to watch how much of an emotional let down it was for New York to lose the way they did Sunday night.

St. Louis @ Washington
Winner: St. Louis.
The front 7 for St. Louis might be the best in the league. Washington might be the worst team. RG3 will be lucky he's riding the bench as QB3.

Miami @ Jacksonville
Winner: Miami
Miami almost had a let down in week 1 against Washington but they should trend up against another struggling team in Jacksonville. I'd expect a stellar game from Tannehill this week as he tries to bring Miami to the next level. Jacksonville has talent, but they need to find a way to bring it all together still.

Baltimore @ Oakland
Winner: Baltimore
I almost want to say this will be my upset this week with Oakland winning but if Carr isn't playing then they have no hope. And if Carr is playing, then they'll have to hope his hand is okay. Even without Suggs, the Ravens defense should be able to handle Oakland. Flacco needs to find a target in the passing game especially with the injury bug hitting Oakland early this year.

Dallas @ Philadelphia.
Winner: Philadelphia.
Why? I don't even want to pick this game but Dallas will struggle early to find success without Dez and they aren't sold yet on who will actually handle the running back duties yet. Philadelphia started to find it's stride and rhythm late in the game Monday and I expect them to come out the gate fast.I don't think Maxwell will struggle against the likes of Williams or Beasley like he did Julio Jones.

Seattle @ Green Bay
Winner: Green Bay
OH dare I say the consensus Super Bowl picks will be 0-2!? I do. I do think they go 0-2. James Jones might not have the magic again this week but someone for Green Bay will. The Seattle offense seems to be getting in their own way the last two games the played. That defense isn't the same without Chancellor and they be susceptible to the pass with Rodgers under center.

New York (Jets) @ Indianapolis
Winner: Indianapolis
 Again, this could be another one of those upsets but I don't see Luck allowing his team to go 0-2 to start the year. He will go into this game with a different fire than usual to come up with a win. He will need his supporting cast to step up in a big way. Gore cannot have 31 yards and expect his new team to win. If the Jets defense outplays the Colts defense, then it could be another frustrating day for Colts fans.

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