NFL Week 3 Picks: Redskins and Teams That Will End Early-Season Winless Streaks

Parity is strong in the NFL this season outside of Jacksonville, but some unexpected teams have yet to put a tally in the win column through two weeks.

Interestingly enough, three winless teams highlighted below won eight games or more, and two took a trip to the postseason last year. For better or worse, not much has changed from a year ago for these squads.

The problem for the remaining winless squads is simple: Teams that start 0-3 don't have a strong history of making the playoffs as illustrated by Bleacher Report's Russell Baxter:

As of now, the following three teams have done nothing but lose this year. That changes in Week 3. Here's why. 

Minnesota Vikings Take Advantage of Cleveland Browns

Earlier in the week this game seemed a bit difficult to predict. We've known for a while that Cleveland starting quarterback Brandon Weeden would miss the game as NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported:

Then the crazy happened—Cleveland traded away star running back Trent Richardson as reported by CBS Sports' Will Brinson:

Minnesota has what could be called an advantage with Cleveland missing its starting quarterback and running back. Adrian Peterson has the Vikings ranked as a top-10 rushing attack despite a miserable passing game thanks to Christian Ponder's two touchdowns and four interceptions.

Cleveland is going to struggle moving the ball without any weapons to speak of on offense. Make no mistake, Minnesota will struggle offensively as well, but playing at home against a team clearly playing for 2014 equates to the first win of the season for the Vikings.

Prediction: Vikings 20, Browns 6

New York Giants Turn It Around in Carolina

Giants quarterback Eli Manning has had a rough go of it through two games. Manning has thrown for 812 yards and five scores, but also tossed seven interceptions.

New York has been downed by both Dallas and Denver to this point in large part because the offense is asking too much of Manning as he is supported by a rushing attack that has tallied all of 83 total yards in two games.

Starting back and last year's first-round pick David Wilson has only received 14 carries in the same time span after two fumbles in Week 1. Wilson has been working hard at correcting the issue, so expect head coach Tom Coughlin to give him the rock plenty of times in order to find a nice balance and make things easier on Manning.

It's not that the Carolina Panthers are a bad squad—especially after playing the Seattle Seahawks and Buffalo Bills tough—but New York is due and has the better roster. Carolina has the No. 26 ranked defense and will find it difficult to contain a balanced New York attack in desperation mode.

Prediction: 30, Panthers 24

RGIII and Washington Redskins Bounce Back Over Detroit

The Detroit Lions have lost 21 straight times in Washington.

No. 22 is on the way, even if Robert Griffin III and the Redskins have started things off on the wrong foot.

Despite being rusty, RGIII has already thrown for almost 700 yards and five scores. Three team turnovers via questionable mistakes such as a botched handoff doomed Washington in Week 1 against Philadelphia before Green Bay was unstoppable offensively in Week 2.

Detroit is no slouch and can take advantage of a horrific Washington defense that ranks dead last against the run, but the status of starting back Reggie Bush is up in the air after banging up his knee last week.

To counter Detroit's high-flying assault, RGIII and Co. can play ball-control offense with running back Alfred Morris, who is averaging over six yards per carry this season. In what amounts to a playoff game for Washington at home, expect the Redskins to pull out a gritty win in a shootout to save the season.

Prediction: Redskins 35, Lions 30

Note: All stats courtesy of NFL.com

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