NFL Predictions Week 3: Picking Top Games Against the Spread

Week 3 of the 2014 NFL season comes with a bevy of highly intriguing contests. Several will begin to determine the pecking order of certain divisions, others may help struggling teams rise from the ashes and a few may all but eliminate the playoff hopes of winless squads.

A season cannot be won or lost by any team after only three weeks of action, but separation will begin between the league's elite and the rest of the pack. With so many pivotal contests on the Week 3 slate, picking against savvy Vegas oddsmakers' spreads becomes increasingly difficult.

Let's take a look at the odds for each of the week's remaining contests, identify the most impactful games and predict the outcome—with the spread in mind—for each.

Home	Odds	Away	Odds
Buffalo Bills	-1	San Diego Chargers	+1
New England Patriots	-14.5	Oakland Raiders	+14.5
New Orleans Saints	-10.5	Minnesota Vikings	+10.5
Cincinnati Bengals	-7	Tennessee Titans	+7
New York Giants	+1.5	Houston Texans	-1.5
Cleveland Browns	+2	Baltimore Ravens	-2
Philadelphia Eagles	-6.5	Washington Redskins	+6.5
Detroit Lions	-1	Green Bay Packers	+1
St. Louis Rams	+2	Dallas Cowboys	-2
Jacksonville Jaguars	+7	Indianapolis Colts	-7
Arizona Cardinals	+3	San Francisco 49ers	-3
Miami Dolphins	-4	Kansas City Chiefs	+4
Seattle Seahawks	-5	Denver Broncos	+5
Carolina Panthers	-3	Pittsburgh Steelers	+3
New York Jets	-3	Chicago Bears	+3

All game odds courtesy of Bovada (via Odds Shark).

Predicting Top Week 3 Games

Buffalo Bills vs. San Diego Chargers

DENIS POROY/Associated Press

Here's a big matchup between two teams looking to remain well in the mix in their respective ultra-competitive divisions. The Bills are currently 2-0 and atop the AFC East, and the Chargers enter the contest at 1-1, trailing only the Denver Broncos in the AFC West.

Buffalo's defense has certainly been impressive through two weeks. The team's front seven has been terrific, allowing an average of just 83 rush yards per game and tallying six sacks, while allowing an average of just 15 points through two games. However, quarterback EJ Manuel is still developing as a quarterback, and despite the emergence of Sammy Watkins, he hasn't proved capable of taking over a game.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller noted Manuel's game-managing ways and alluded to defenses adjusting quickly:

Conversely, the Chargers have been fantastic under head coach Mike McCoy. The team's offensive scheme has revitalized quarterback Philip Rivers, who passed for 284 yards and three scores against a vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 2. The absence of Ryan Mathews may be a slight factor here, but the versatile Danny Woodhead should be a very capable replacement in a pass-happy offense.

The Bills have a great defense; however, if Rivers and Co. were too much for the Seahawks to handle, they certainly will be for Buffalo. Manuel just doesn't have the ability to keep up for 60 minutes.

Prediction: Chargers (+1) 23, Bills 20

Arizona Cardinals vs. San Francisco 49ers

Tony Avelar/Associated Press

This could turn out to be a very decisive matchup for the NFC West. The Cardinals are the surprising division leaders through two games, winning both of their contests heading into a Week 3 clash with the 1-1 49ers. San Francsico is surely reeling after a meltdown against the Chicago Bears in Week 2.

The 49ers looked every bit the part of a Super Bowl contender through seven quarters. The team dismantled the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1 and followed that up by gaining a 20-7 lead after 45 minutes of action against the Bears. Well, 15 minutes and three Jay Cutler touchdowns later, San Francisco was suddenly 1-1.

Arizona began its season with a dramatic last-second victory over San Diego. In Week 2, the team faced the struggling New York Giants—but without Carson Palmer at the helm. Backup quarterback Drew Stanton was fine in replacement, and the Cardinals rode their solid defense to a 25-14 victory.

One problem remains for Arizona going forward: According to Bob McManaman of USA Today, Palmer will not play against the 49ers. Stanton earned a win, despite his offense gaining just 266 total yards against the Giants. With a far superior opponent coming to town on Sunday, that won't fly again. Expect Colin Kaepernick and Co. to right the ship and move to 2-1 on the season.

After all, Gil Brandt of NFL.com noted the quarterback's record against Arizona:

Prediction: 49ers (-3) 24, Cardinals 16

Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

This is the contest everyone is waiting for. After all, it's not often that we get a rematch of the previous year's Super Bowl—especially so early in the season. Both teams look legit once again this season, and we can expect some fireworks.

ESPN's Trey Wingo tweeted how rare this impending contest actually is:

The Seahawks are looking for some retribution in Week 3 after falling to the Chargers—and to 1-1 on the season. Luckily, the impending contest will be in Seattle, giving the team a big advantage. Seattle gave up three touchdowns to Antonio Gates in Week 2, and that's a disturbing fact considering the prolific Julius Thomas is coming to town on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the Broncos weren't exactly dominant in Week 2. Despite gaining a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, Peyton Manning's prolific offense only accrued 24 points, and Denver's defense had to hold off the Chiefs during a goal-line stand in the game's waning moments. Still, Manning was efficient, gaining a passer rating of 143.9 on the game.

So, will we see a repeat of the Super Bowl, or will Manning turn the tables this time around? There will be no rout this time around, as Denver's defense is vastly improved. However, it's simply too difficult to go against the Seahawks when they're at home. Seattle wins a close one, but Denver covers the spread.

Prediction: Seahawks 27, Broncos (+5) 24