Week 3 Picks!

When you look at the league heading into Week 3, you notice that a lot of teams are at 1-1. That is pretty much par for the course for the NFL, so dropping to 1-2 is not the worst possible scenario after this week.We all know that 0-2 is not the end of the world, but 0-3 could be the deathblow. Two teams that had high expectations meet up this week with the hopes of avoiding the fatal 0-3 start. Kansas City and New Orleans were both popular picks to win their respective divisions, but both have started poorly. You can see the effect that the suspension of Sean Payton has had on the Saints, and the Chiefs defense has gotten ripped apart in both of their losses. The winner of this game saves their season. The loser of this game has a hole that might be too big to dig out of. That is what you love about the NFL: Games with impact in September. Onto the picks for Week 3....

Last week's record: 9-5-2
Overall Record: 13-17-2
(HOME TEAM IN CAPS)

St.Louis (+8) over CHICAGO: This looks like a blowout win for the Bears, and I expect them to win the game outright, but the Rams have played really well so far this year. The Rams are sneaky tough, and they will keep this game close throughout. The Bears maybe a little overrated at this point in the season.

DALLAS (-7) over Tampa Bay: No team was a bigger disappointment in Week 2 than the Cowboys. They were awful in their loss at Seattle. Now, they return home for their first home game of the year. Look for a big effort out of them this Sunday. The Bucs are going to be tough all year long, and they had the Giants dead to rights last week before Eli Manning ripped the game away from them in the last quarter. Look for a well-played game, but I'll take Dallas to bounce back.

San Francisco (-6) over MINNESOTA: This line seems a little too low. You get the Niners defense matching up against Christain Ponder. SF certainly has the edge in that matchup. You have to love what you see out of the 49ers so far. Solid defense, effective running game, and protecting the football have all been on display for them in the first two weeks. They look like the best team in the NFL. That will continue this week on the road.

TENNESSEE (+4) over Detroit: Why did I pick the Titans to win the AFC South? They are making me look pretty bad, and I am picking them this week only out of desperation. I can't see them going 0-3. Although Detroit is the better team, I'll take the Titans to squeeze one out at home.

WASHINGTON (-3) over Cincy: The Skins were a Josh Morgan meltdown away from possibly being 2-0. They head home this week to take on the 1-1 Bengals. I love this game for Washington, and they are only giving three points. Robert Griffin III continues to look like a star, and he will help get the Skins to 2-1 with a big win at home over the Bengals.

New York Jets (-2.5) over MIAMI: Rex Ryan gets to devise a gameplan to stop Ryan Tannehill and Reggie Bush. Talk about a mismatch. The Jets get Darrelle Revis back this week, and their defense will completely shut down the Dolphins offense. Look for a lot of sacks, some interceptions, and a multitude of puzzled looks on Tannehill's face all afternoon.

Kansas City (+9) over NEW ORLEANS: It is put up or shut time for these two teams. First, I actually think the Saints will win the game, but I can't lay the nine points with them. Second, when is everyone going to realize that Matt Cassel stinks? He isn't a big-time NFL starter. Plus, as bad as KC's defense has looked the last two weeks, things can't get worse for them, right? I'm taking the Chiefs to keep it close.

CLEVELAND (+3) over Buffalo: I have been so off on the Bills. I loved them over the Jets in Week 1, and they got killed. I had KC over them in Week 2, and they destroyed the Chiefs. The Bills are one team that I just can't figure out. I'm going with a hunch here, and the Browns are my pick. Brandon Weeden showed some flashes of brilliance last week, and Trent Richardson looks like a beast. Browns win it by a field goal.

INDY (-3) over Jacksonville: The Colts got their first win last week late on a drive by Andrew Luck. They will get to 2-1 with a victory over the Jags this week. This game could go either way, but I'll take Luck over Blaine Gabbert.

Philadelphia (-3) over ARIZONA: The Cardinals are a surprising 2-0, and they killed me in my suicide pool with their upset over the Patriots last week. The Eagles could easily be 0-2, but they come in at 2-0 with a big come-from-behind win over the Ravens last Sunday. The Cards defense is the story in this game, and you would expect them to play well again, but the Eagles will play their best game of the year this week and win it going away.

Atlanta (+3) over SAN DIEGO: The Chargers are 2-0, but they beat two winless teams in the process. The Falcons are 2-0 and they look really solid in their wins over the Chiefs and Broncos. This should be a really good game, but I think the Falcons will expose the Chargers weaknesses. Look for a decisive win on the road for Atlanta.

Pittsburgh (-4) over OAKLAND: A classic battle between two historic rivals. This game does scare me if your are picking the Steelers. Pittsburgh always seems to throw on clunker on the road each year to an inferior team, and this game could be it. I am taking the Steelers on merit, but don't be surprised if the Raiders rise up and shock everyone with the upset.

New England (+3) over BALTIMOREL: The Ravens are probably the better team, but everytime you count out the Pats, they rise up and fight back. A lot of people are taking Baltimore this week, but I'm going the other way. The Patriots will make a statement and win a crucial game on Sunday Night Football. Great game to end the football Sunday.

SEATTLE (+3) over Green Bay: I'm going with a Seahawks team that is another one of those "Sneaky" good teams. They are at home on Monday Night, and the Packers come in a little banged up. I'll take Seattle and the points in an upset.

Houston (-2) over DENVER: Last week was alarming for Broncos fans as Peyton Manning threw three first quarter interceptions. It is going to take some time for Manning to get it going consistently with the Broncos. This week, the task doesn't get any easier. The Texans have a good, aggressive, and young defense coming to Mile High. They could very easily make life miserable for the Broncos and Manning. Also, Houston runs the ball better than anyone in the league. The Broncos defense hasn't been tested too much in the run game, and that matchup overwhelmingly favors the Texans. Look for a valiant effort by the Broncos, but Houston is just the better team, and they will prove on Sunday.

Final Score: Houston-31 Denver-20