Week Three NFL Lines: The Quick Read

Injuries are mounting around the league, and depth is becoming more of a factor as the season plugs on. Some of the previous perennial powerhouses are being usurped by upstart youth, not only as players but in the coaching roles as well. The youth movement is on and looks to continue.

Browns @ Ravens 13.5 O/U 38.5

The inept rushing attack of this Browns team is facing the best rush D in the league, which is only yielding 41 yards per game. Quinn has struggled mightily, and the defense seems to fall apart in the second half. Willis McGahee and Ray Rice have been running wild, combining to rank the Ravens fourth in the league with an average of 164 yards per game. They are going up against a D giving up 205.5 yards per game on the ground, ranking them 31st overall. Flacco is just getting better, hitting TE Todd Heap for big scores each game.

Ravens win, 27-6.

Redskins @ Lions +6.5 O/U 38.5

The Redskins haven’t shown me anything that justifies a 6.5 point spread on the road. Their offense is non-existent, averaging 13 points per game, though Campbell has a 68.9 completion percentage averaging 7.4 yards per pass. Yet he's only averaging 212 yards per game in the air, good for 18th overall.

The Lions hung with the top offense in week one (for the first half, at any rate) against the Saints and were actually leading against Minnesota, who has one of the best defenses in the league. This game's a total conundrum, but it’s about time this Lions team got a W. This could be the week, even with their mounting injuries.

Lions win, 17-16.

Jaguars @ Texans -3.5 O/U 47.5

This is the second divisional game in a row for Houston, and QB Matt Shaub had a career game last week against the Titans with four touchdowns in the win. Without a pass rush by the Jags, Shaub could have another great week. He torched them through the air last year, and should do so again. Maurice Jones-Drew could very likely have a great week for all you fantasy gamers, but time ticks off the clock while you run and points go on the board when you put up big numbers through the air.

Texans win, 27-20.

Falcons @ Patriots -4.5 O/U 47

With the loss of numerous veterans on this New England squad, they don’t look like the team that has dominated the AFC. With all the injuries, including Wes Welker and Randy Moss, this depleted team will be in fight against a Falcons team that’s on the rise. The chemistry between second-year QB Matt Ryan and newly acquired future hall-of-famer TE Tony Gonzales has been apparent in the Falcons' 2-0 start.

Falcons win, 23-13.

Packers @ Rams +6.5 O/U 41.0

Many people thought the Pack would be a contender this year, and they still may be. Aaron Rogers has some weapons in Donald Driver and Greg Jennings. Ryan Grant is a legitimate threat, but he needs to step it up in the running game where the Pack rank 23rd in the league. The Packers' offense should get a boost going up against a Rams team that is 25th against the run and pass, though 13th in points against. Steven Jackson is the only weapon the Rams have ,and as Green Bay becomes more adept to the new 3-4 defensive scheme their numbers will improve.

Packers win, 33-10.

Giants @ Buccaneers +6.5 O/U 45.5

Eli Manning and the Giants continued to excel on the road last Sunday night in Dallas. This week, they are facing a Tampa Bay team that has been pretty good on offense yet horrid ono defense. Tampa Bay's D ranks near the bottom in almost every category, and are a large reason why this team is 0-2, a complete turnaround from past years.

The Giants are banged up (as are the Bucs), but the problem facing this Bucs team is going to be the running attack of the G-men. Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw are dangerouns, and Manning has still been able to find receivers even though that position has been depleted.

Giants win, 37-23.

Titans @ Jets -2 O/U 36.5

Both of these teams feature a tough run defense, to say the least. The Jets hold the No. 1 overall ranking for total yards allowed and rank second in points allowed, whereas the Titans are in the bottom of the league in both categories. The Jets will have to stave off the pass rush of the Titans and give rookie QB Sanchez time to get the ball downfield. The Jets are 5-0 ATS versus Tennesee, dating back to 1998.

The Titans, who had the best record in the NFL last year, are 0-2 and have their backs against the wall. They may find themselves sitting at 0-3 when the dust settles. The Jets beat Houston week one, Houston beat Tennessee in week two...what's the next logical progression?

Jets win, 17-14.

Chiefs @ Eagles -7.5 O/U 39.5

With Donovan McNabb gone, and Brian Westbrook (DNP) and DeSean Jackson (FP) both questionable, six starters are either out or questionable for the Eagles—leaving no names and no offense.

The Chiefs have hung in there during both of their games, though they're sitting at 0-2. Question marks of a different kind are involved when talking about this Chiefs team. Can Cassel be the QB he was expected to be when traded from NE in his first year starting in both NCCAF and NFL? Can he get the ball to anyone other than Dwayne Bowe (Questionable Hamstring) for a TD? Can the young talented team pull it together with a one-dimensional, aging running back?

Doubtful, but they may hang around again.

Eagles win, 17-13.

49ers @ Vikings -7 O/U 39

San Francisco has been a surprise this year, but who have they beaten? They jumped on an Arizona team that was not prepared to start the season and a Seattle team that is still at best a middle-of-the-road team. The 49ers have been playing with a fire instilled in them by coach Mike Singletary, and the Vikings will be the water that douses this early flame.

Yeah, Gore looks good and broke two huge runs, but don’t expect that to happen here. SF ranks 3rd against the rush, and with the Vikings 2nd-ranked rushing attack featuring Adrian Peterson I'm looking for that number to inflate. Favre should have an easy time getting the ball down the field against SF, who ranks 21st in pass yards allowed.

Vikings win, 37-13. 

Saints @ Bills +6 O/U 52.0

The Bills took it to the discombobulated Bucs last week, and in week one they hung with the not-so-Patriot-like Patriots. But those both featured a healthy Bills team, mind you.

Now, injuries are mounting—including starting CBs McKelvin and McGee, which does not bode well when facing a team that is on fire through the air (on fire might be an understatement).

New Orleans is plagued with the injury bug as well though. Breezy, Bush, Shockey, and Colston are too much for the Bills, who will put up points against a weak Saints D but won’t be able to keep up with the torrid pace of the Saints' offense.

Saints win, 38-24

Bears @ Seahawks +2.0 O/U 37

Da Bears got the win in a truly convincing fashion—two missed field goals—against Pittsburgh, and lost to GB in week one. They haven’t been able to run the ball effectively, which should change this week. The defense across the board has been pretty solid, and QB Jay Cutler seems to be getting used to his new team. 

Keep in mind he’ll be facing the league's second-best team against the pass and third in points allowed. Seattle without Hasselbeck will have to rely on Seneca Wallace yet again. Seattle is just too banged up, and Chicago looks to be on the rise after taking out the Super Bowl champs.

Bears win, 17-13.

Steelers @ Bengals +3.5 O/U 37

After losing to the Bears on the aforementioned missed field goals, Pitt comes into Cincinnati with something to prove. But they may be in for more than they expect.

The Bengals are coming off a high after winning in Green Bay and a Lambeau-Leaping Ocho Cinco. A healthy Carson Palmer and an improving Bengal defense should be able to keep this one close, though Big Ben hasn’t lost in the state of Ohio since college.

Steelers win, 17-16

Broncos @ Raiders +2 O/U 37.5

Kyle Orton seems to have a found a new home in Denver, and this divisional game should push Denver’s record to 3-0. Oakland’s QB Jamarcus Russell was horrid up until the last drive in KC last week and should struggle again against a pretty solid Denver defense.

Broncos win, 24-10

Dolphins @ Chargers -5.5 O/U 44.5

Miami is coming off a short week after losing to Indy. But their running game seems to be a bit off. The Wildcat, which really hasn’t been as much of a surprise as last year, seems to be slipping into every team’s playbook.

The Chargers lost in a squeaker to the rough Ravens last week, one of only five home losses for starting QB Phillip Rivers. With no LaDainian Tomlinson, still speedy Darren Sproles will get the majority of the carries in another tough game for the Chargers.

Chargers win, 23-20.

Colts @ Cardinals -3 O/U 48.5

Indy is on a short week, travelling across the country to face the potent air attack of the Cards. Kurt Warner was off the hook last week, going 24-of-26, and with Bob Sanders still out for the Colts, Warner should have success through the air again. The porous run defense of Indy should also have some trouble with the emerging ground game of the Cards.

Cardinals win, 34-27.

Panthers @ Cowboys -8.5 O/U 47.5

Jake Delhomme came up with his best performance in quite a while, yet it was to no avail in the eight-point loss to Atlanta. The Panthers are banged up everywhere and should have difficulty beating Dallas, who—under the watchful eye of owner Jerry Jones—cannot lose a second straight game in their new 1.15 Billion dollar stadium under the primetime spotlight.

Dallas wins, 33-13.

Ship it, send it, chalk it, and lock it! Good luck, boys! All the best!