NFL Week Three Picks and Tweets from Winners and Losers

As much as it hurts me to put a Giant as the picture that corresponds with this article, I have to admit—as a Cowboys fan—that Eli Manning played an amazing game to open up the new Cowboys Stadium.

Seriously, could Eli and the Giants have handed Dallas a worse opening present?

Manning played excellently, repeatedly reading the Cowboys' defense to the tune of a 300-yard passing performance and most importantly, a win.

What's even worse for Dallas is Tony Romo made some of his now signature, "What the hell was he looking at?  Is he playing for them or us?" kind of turnovers, with no T.O. to blame for it.

Roy E. Williams was invincible in the game, and Dallas has a nice 0-1 start to the new Cowboys Stadium.

Now that we've got that out of the way, we can move on to Week Three of the NFL season.  And if it's anything like the first two weeks, we can rely on witnessing some surprising upsets and nail-biting excitement.

Mark Sanchez outperformed Tom Brady, Frank Gore looked like a speeding 18-wheeler, Aaron Rodgers made himself look like the biggest fluke of the preseason, and Terrell Owens finally caught a pass in Week Two.

Before I make my Week Three picks on the five most important games, I'll give you my disclaimer.

I am historically good at picking games.  Really good.  Therefore, you should listen to my picks, because I'm a self-proclaimed proclaimer.  Oh, and don't bet money on what I say, and if you do, I'm not responsible for bookies showing up at your door.

Let's go.

Oh, and for you Twitter geeks, I have Tweets from your favorite players you can expect to see after the games end this weekend.  Man, I hate Twitter.

New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills, 1PM (Line: NO by Six)

Trent Edwards has been surprisingly efficient in the Bills' first two games this season. Against the rebuilt Saints' defense, don't expect that to change anytime soon.

Darren Sharper has been a turnover machine for the Saints, with three interceptions so far this year, including one returned for a touchdown.

Drew Brees could be listed in the dictionary under "pass offense," and Reggie Bush has looked like a stationary bush this season.

What does this all mean for Sunday?

It means that these teams will score on one another.

But the Bills' defense has been better than expected so far, and the Saints gave up 27 points to the Lions. T.O. scores again, Brees goes for 350, Fred Jackson gets 120 on the ground.

Bills win, 31-28.

TOBills81: I'm taking this team to the playoffs, who wants to sign me next year?

Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots, 1PM (Line: NE by Four)

Tom Brady has looked like Kevin O'Connell for the Patriots this season, with the exception of four minutes against the Bills.

The secret formula to beat Brady and the Pats has been revealed in the form of pressure on the quarterback, and teams have gotten the memo.

Laurence Maroney and Fred Taylor haven't been able to get a good ground game going for the Patriots, and Brady has paid dearly for it.  Teams have dared him to go down the field, consistently blitzing him.

Matt Ryan has shown no signs of a sophomore slump, and Tony Gonzalez is looking like the best acquisition of the offseason.  Atlanta has questions on the defensive side of the ball, but any player can rush, right?

Falcons' D blitzes Brady into submission, Ryan tears Pats' D apart, Michael Turner goes over 100.

Falcons win, 24-17.

TomGisele2009: Can somebody contact those bodyguards who shot at those photogs at my wedding? I'm tired of being hit!!!

San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings, 1PM (Line: MIN by Seven)

Brett Favre looked spectacular last week against the Lions, as he was supposed to. This week, the upstart Niners come to town, and won't be walkovers.

Frank Gore ran for over 200 yards last week, and reportedly will start despite his bum ankle.  Adrian Peterson was held under 100, but carried the ball less than 20 times.

Both defenses are playing consistent ball but will be tested in this game. Nobody believes in the 49ers yet, and this is the upset special they need to get for us to do just that.

Favre turns the ball over, Gore runs for a score or two and Shaun Hill ends this game as the more productive quarterback.

49ers win, 17-13.

APetersonAllDay28: I can't win games alone, I'm starting to rethink this whole No. 4 thing.

Tennessee Titans at New York Jets, 1PM (Line: NYJ by Three)

Mark Sanchez has surprised all of us in playing exceptionally well in his first two starts. After this game, make it three.

Tennessee has stumbled out of the blocks, and can join the Volunteers as an underperforming football team. Kerry Collins isn't the blame here, and neither is Chris Johnson.

It's surprisingly the defense, which didn't get stops when it needed to in Pittsburgh and gave up way too many yards to the Texans.

This week, it will be a different story as the offense of Tennessee will sputter and the blitzing schemes of Rex Ryan's Jets will give Collins more than he can handle.

Sanchez manages the game, Thomas Jones and Leon Washington score and somebody loses a fumble in a big moment for the Titans.

Jets win, 16-7.

SanchezTrojanForLife: I am thinking playoffs! Take that Pete!

Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys, 8:30PM Monday (Line: DAL by Nine)

Jake Delhomme finally ended a streak of 11 turnovers with just one and a good performance last Sunday in a loss to Atlanta.

Tony Romo looked less than average in a last-second loss to the rival Giants at home on Sunday night.  Marion Barber, who saved Dallas from really getting run out of the stadium last week, has a hurting quad and may not go.

These two defenses have given up way too much pass yardage so far, and with two QBs who chuck it a lot, that won't change Monday.

If DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart can break out, the Panthers won't need Delhomme to do too much.  Romo cannot turn the ball over if Dallas wants to give the home fans something to cheer about.

Delhomme will do just enough, Williams will score multiple TDs and Romo will have to rebound from two lackluster performances in a row.

Panthers win, 28-17.

Dware94: Can anyone step up on defense? We need a home win to justify that ginormous video screen!!!

I know I'm going out on a serious limb by picking the 49ers over the Vikings as my upset special, but that's why it's called an upset special.

Happy football weekend my friends, and when Favre loses this Sunday, you can't say I didn't tell you.

I'm out like Kanye West.