NFL Week 3 Picks: 4 Games That Will Go Down to the Wire

As the NFL season begins too emerge from its infancy, there are several teams that still have to create their identity for their respective 2012 campaigns.

While squads like the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans have lived up to expectations so far by playing stellar defense, the New Orleans Saints are 0-2 and have the same record as the Jacksonville Jaguars. The season is still young, but Week 3 is when the cream begins to rise to the top. 

Needless to say, there are going to be several hard fought games on Sunday.

While some teams are attempting to keep undefeated streaks going, winless squads are fighting to keep their seasons alive.

Let's take a look at four specific games on the Week 3 schedule that may come down the last possession.

Atlanta Falcons vs. San Diego Chargers

Although it's not shocking that the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers have started their seasons off with two straight victories; both of these squads had some serious questions to answer coming into 2012.

For the Chargers, the biggest question is whether Phillip Rivers can improve his decision making. After throwing 20 interceptions in 2011, Rivers has only thrown one pick through two games this season.

With that, he has completed almost 74 percent of his passes. Although the Chargers' victories against Oakland and Tennessee do not represent a strong strength of schedule, this team has undoubtedly made some noise so far in 2012.

On the other side of the coin, the Falcons outplayed Peyton Manning and the Broncos in Week 2. Not only did Atlanta force Manning into throwing three interceptions, but Matt Ryan took advantage of those opportunities by scoring on three of four trips into the red zone.

The key to this game is simple—Atlanta's defense must continue to cause turnovers and stop Phillip Rivers in his tracks.

If he completes 74 percent of his passes like he's been doing so far this season, the Chargers will be awfully tough to beat. With that, Matt Ryan must utilize Julio Jones and his big play ability.

Both teams enter this game with defenses that are probably over performing so far. This matchup has the making of a shootout, and could come down to who has the ball last.

Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints

The loser of this game can likely kiss their season goodbye. The last time an 0-3 team made the playoffs was in 1998 when the Detroit Lions and Buffalo Bills completed that feat in the same season. Needless to say, it's extremely unlikely that the loser of this game will rebound to have a successful season.

The Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints have both given up an average of 37.5 points per game through their first two contests—the worst in the NFL. 

The Saints seem poised to rebound in this one. Although they sit at 0-2, their offense has scored the seventh most points in the league.

With that, not only are they are third in the league in total offense, but this game is being played in the Superdome, where the Saints offense is even more deadly.

However, in a game that has the potential to render the rest of the loser's seasons meaningless, there will be a hard fought battle between these two squads on Sunday.

Don't be surprised to see this matchup end up much closer than expected.

Houston Texans at Denver Broncos

This is a matchup of two stalwart defenses going up against balanced, yet deadly offenses. 

Despite three interceptions by Peyton Manning in Week 2, the Denver Bronco's defense enabled the team to creep back into the game. While they may have still fell short, they held Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons potent offense in check for most of the game.

On the Houston side of the ball, the defensive effort has been exactly what pundits expected. On top of giving up an average of 8.5 points per game, the Texans have given up an average of 196 yards per game so far this season. Both of those statistics are good for first in the NFL.

Something has to give in this one. Although we can probably count on Peyton Manning to shore up his decision making ability, moving the ball on the Texans defense is a tough task. However, stopping Peyton Manning is almost impossible, no matter how good a defense is.

The Broncos are playing at home, so look for them to come out with more fire than we saw last week.

This game will likely be a defensive struggle to the very end, and it will likely come down to which offense establishes an early ground game that opens up passing lanes as the contest wears on.

New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens

Both the Baltimore Ravens and New England Patriots are coming off disappointing Week 2 losses.

The Patriots suffered an embarrassing defeat to a less talented Arizona Cardinals squad. Whilst the Ravens just dropped a heartbreaking one-point contest to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Needless to say, both teams will come out swinging in this one. Not only is this a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, but these are two veteran teams with a long history of fierce battles.

The stats go out the window in this one. If the Patriots offense can move the ball on the Ravens defense, then the Patriots will have a chance to win.

If the Ravens' defense holds up, the Joe Flacco will have opportunities to be successful. It's as simple at that.