I Got Five on It: Week 3 NFL Picks

(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Week 2 of the NFL season came and went as some teams continued to surprise (49ers, Jets) and some squads are surprisingly disappointing. (Titans, Panthers) Either way, the NFL season is off to a great start.

Cowboys vs. Panthers

This week in the NFC East features a few intriguing match-ups. First up is the game between the Cowboys and the Panthers. Dallas is coming off of a tough loss to the Giants on Sunday night as they racked up 251 rushing yards. Carolina continues to skid off the track as they were sent packing by the Falcons last week 28-20, falling to 0-2.

Both teams clash on Monday Night as the Panthers try to avoid a tough 0-3 start. Carolina and Dallas feature quarterbacks that are looking to bounce back from tough games. Panthers signal caller Jake Delhomme has had nothing short of a disastrous start to his season. Jake has a passer rating of 45.3 to go along with five picks and only one touchdown for the year.

Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo threw for a dismal 127 yards and three picks against the Giants last week. I’m sure Jason Garrett will try to get Romo into a rhythm early to shake the cobwebs off.

But the ‘Boys may miss a key part of their offense in Marion Barber as he’s nursing a strained quadriceps muscle.

Running backs Felix Jones and Tashard Choice will have to shoulder the load if Barber misses the game.

Even though the Panthers will try to claw and scratch their way out of a losing streak, the Cowboys running game will prove too much for the Panthers weak rush defense.

Look for a close battle, but Dallas pulls it out in the end 27-20.

Eagles vs. Chiefs

The Philadelphia Eagles were the sexy off-season pick to win the NFC East. How’s that working out so far after the Saints game?

Quarterback Donovan McNabb is still injured with a cracked rib and Kevin Kolb is well, umm, a serviceable back-up. The Eagles signed Jeff Garcia as a safety valve for McNabb and Kolb and Michael Vick isn’t quite ready for the bright lights.

So with a defense that’s left licking its wounds and an offense that needs to find a rhythm with Kolb, playing the Chiefs may be just what the doctor ordered.

Kansas City has started the season as many expected 0-2. Head Coach Todd Haley stated earlier this week that he’ll go with the quarterback that puts the team in the best position possible. So does that mean that $63 million dollar man Matt Cassel could be benched?

I doubt it, but it’s good theatre.

The Chiefs also have a suspect defense and a pedestrian running game so far, so I’m not expecting too much of a fight for the Eagles. Philadelphia wins this one 24-13.

New York vs. Tampa Bay

For me at least, this game does not have that much intrigue. The Giants are rolling at 2-0, their defense allowed 250 yards rushing against the Cowboys and they still won, and they found two receivers in Mario Manningham and Steve Smith.

What may concern G-Men fans is that the team will be without Justin Tuck on defense as he’s still suffering a strained shoulder.

I know and understand that any given Sunday any team may loose, but not this Sunday. The Giants have a ton of confidence heading into this week’s match-up against the Bucs and Tampa is still trying to find an identity.

The Bucs have a pretty decent running game in Cadillac Williams, Earnest Graham, and Ahmad Bradshaw. What’s lacking is continuity in the offense as the passing game is charged with bringing the team back late in games and their offense just isn’t built for that.

Look for the Bucs to make it a game late, but the Giants will win this one 35-21.

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