NFL Week 3: Fearless Forecast; Can the Bears Improve to 3-0?
We are two weeks into the NFL season, and two playoff teams from a year ago are already in trouble. Both the Cowboys and Vikings are 0-2 and in a must win situation in Week 3.
The Cowboys have a tough game in Houston, while the Vikings host the Lions.
Meanwhile, we are in for a treat on Monday Night Football Packers travel to Chicago in a game for first place of the NFC North.
Here are my Week 3 NFL predictions. Enjoy.
Top QB: Tom Brady, 27-37 302 yards, 3 TDs
Top RB: Ray Rice, 22 carries, 170 yards, TD. 8 catches, 70 yards, TD.
Top WR: Wes Welker, 12 catches, 164 yards, TD
Top Kicker: Ryan Longwell
Top Defense: Baltimore Ravens
Tennessee Titans at New York Giants
1 of 16
After getting embarrassed against the Colts on Sunday Night Football, the Giants return home and play a Titans team also coming off of a loss.
Both of these teams looked good after Week 1 action, but then in Week 2, we began to have second thoughts about that. Vince Young couldn't get anything going last week, and the result was a quarterback change with Kerry Collins coming. Young will start in Week 2 however.
The Giants running game needs to get going, and it starts with Brandon Jacobs. He is off to a terrible start to the season, and it's only a matter of time before he permanently loses his job to Ahmad Bradshaw.
I like the Giants to win this one and try to get back on the right track.
Fearless Forecast: Giants 27, Titans 20
Cincinnati Bengals at Carolina Panthers
2 of 16
After a rough start to the season for Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen will make his highly anticipated first start Sunday. He has a tough task ahead of him, playing against a Bengals team who forced four interceptions a week ago against Joe Flacco.
The Bengals rebounded nicely following their Week 1 embarrassment in New England, showing they are still the team to beat in the AFC North. Will this be the game Terrell Owens scores his first touchdown as a Bengal?
Clausen will struggle in his first start, and the Panthers will fall to 0-3.
Fearless Forecast: Bengals 27, Panthers 10
Dallas Cowboys at Houston Texans
3 of 16
The most anticipated game of Week 3 comes in Houston, where the Cowboys will try to prevent from falling 0-3. Bad news for the Cowboys though: The Texans are 2-0 and are playing at an extremely high level.
Last week the Texans fell behind 27-10 before rallying behind Matt Schaub and his 497 passing yards to win in overtime in Washington.
The Cowboys failed to pick up their first win of the season, losing to the Bears at home, raising question marks around the league.
Wade Phillips' seat is hot right now and will get even hotter after a loss in Houston.
The Texans are the best team in Texas.
Fearless Forecast: Texans 31, Cowboys 24
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San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs
4 of 16
For almost any other team in the NFL, if you have an 0-3 start, your playoff aspirations are sinking.
Luckily for the 49ers, they play in the worst division in football and can afford to start 0-3. Am I saying they will make it if they lose their first three games? No. I'm just being an optimist.
Having said that, I think the Niners will win their first game of the year this week and prevent going 0-3.
While the Chiefs have looked impressive thus far, Matt Cassel is going to have to do a little more than he has done the first two games. I do not understand why Todd Haley does not use Jamaal Charles more.
It was a heartbreaker for the 49ers on Monday night, but they'll pick up their first win here.
Fearless Forecast: 49ers 20, Chiefs 14
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
5 of 16
The first two weeks of the season could not have gone better for the Steelers, who now just have two more weeks till Ben Roethlisberger comes back.
Unfortunately for them, Dennis Dixon got hurt last week, and Charlie Batch will start Week 3 in Tampa Bay.
Think that's a red flag? I don't.
Batch will do a good job of managing the game, and the defense will shut down the Bucs.
You know who else had a great first two weeks of the season? The Buccaneers, who are 2-0 and coming off a nice road win in Carolina. I don't think it will continue this week however, the Steelers defense is too much for them.
Fearless Forecast: Steelers 17, Buccaneers 10
Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots
6 of 16
After leading 14-7, the Jets scored 21 unanswered points en route to a 28-14 victory over the Patriots. The Patriots could not get anything going in the second half. The offense will rebound this week.
I feel sorry for the Bills.
With Trent Edwards not being able to move the offense, the Bills have turned to Ryan Fitzpatrick to give them a "spark." Unfortunately no spark will come out of the quarterback out of Harvard, we've seen what he can bring to the table.
The Bills woes will continue.
Fearless Forecast: Patriots 38, Bills 13
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens
7 of 16
The Ravens offense has struggled mightily throughout the first two weeks of the season, failing to score more than ten points in either game. With the Browns coming to town though, the Ravens offense is bound to wake up.
Joe Flacco was miserable last week, throwing four interceptions in a 15-10 loss to the Bengals. Expect him and Ray Rice to have big games this week.
The Browns will start Seneca Wallace for the second straight week due to the injury to Jake Delhomme. Wallace was not good last week against the Chiefs, and it will be even tougher against a scary Ravens defense.
Fearless Forecast: Ravens 34, Browns 7
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
8 of 16
This is one of the best games of week 3. In the NFC South, the Falcons are the only team that will threaten the Saints. A win in New Orleans would be huge for the Falcons, who are coming off a dominating win over the Cardinals.
The Saints beat the 49ers thanks to a last second field goal by Garrett Hartley. However, in the process they lost Reggie Bush to a leg injury, and that hurts their depth at running back.
Something just tells me the Falcons are going to win this game. The Falcons have a balanced offense, and their defense has looked good thus far.
The defending champs will lose their first game of the year.
Fearless Forecast: Falcons 30, Saints 24
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings
9 of 16
The Vikings have gotten off to a rough start, and Brett Favre is looking like he should have stayed retired. Can the Lions be the wake up remedy for the Vikings offense?
Favre has not be in sync with any of his receivers but Visanthe Shaincoe, and somebody has to step up. Percy Harvin needs to be that guy.
The Lions have been competitive their first two games, but I don't think that trend continues here.
The Vikings need to get on the right track because their schedule is brutal. Seriously, look:
Week 4 - Bye Week
Week 5 - @NYJ
Week 6 - Dallas
Week 7 - @GB
Week 8 - @NE
Fearless Forecast: Vikings 31, Lions 10
Washington Redskins at St. Louis Rams
10 of 16
The Redskins lost a heartbreaker last week, blowing a 27-10 lead against the Texans. It's a new week though and time to move forward from that loss.
They should not have any problems with the Rams.
Sam Bradford is still searching for his first career win as an NFL starter, and I don't think it comes this week. The Rams had their chances to win their first two games but couldn't close them out.
This is one of the least appealing games of the weekend, I really have nothing to say about it.
Fearless Forecast: Redskins 23, Rams 13
Philadelphia Eagles at Jacksonville Jaguars
11 of 16
In a surprising turn of events, Andy Reid named Michael Vick the Eagles starting quarterback after his impressive performance against the Lions. The Eagles made this move because they need a quarterback who is mobile, and Vick sure is.
Vick completed his first task with flying colors, which was to beat the Lions, and now the Eagles travel to Jacksonville. You don't know what to expect out of the Jags, especially with David Garrard. He was terrible last week, making mistake after mistake.
The Michael Vick era will continue to start on the right foot as the Eagles improve to 2-1.
Fearless Forecast: Eagles 20, Jaguars 16
Indianapolis Colts at Denver Broncos
12 of 16
The Colts responded beautifully to their Week 1 loss, destroying the Giants 38-14. Peyton Manning was on fire. Now they travel to Denver to play a Broncos team coming off of a convincing win versus the Seahawks.
After struggling in Week 1, the Broncos came out firing last week in a 31-13 win. It's clear that they are a passing team, and with Knowshon Moreno out for this week, the passing will continue.
I don't think the Broncos have enough to win this game, they'll fall to 1-2.
Fearless Forecast: Colts 27, Broncos 17
Oakland Raiders at Arizona Cardinals
13 of 16
And the award for the worst game of week three goes to...
The Oakland Raiders at the Arizona Cardinals!
The Raiders had high hopes heading into the 2010 season. They had a new quarterback in Jason Campbell, a good defense, and play in the AFC West. However, just two weeks into the season, Campbell has been benched and replaced by Bruce Gradkowski.
Meanwhile for the Cardinals, things are much different without Kurt Warner. Derek Anderson might not make it through the entire season as the teams starter. He'll improve the Cardinals to 2-1 though. I like the Arizona in this one.
Fearless Forecast: Cardinals 16, Raiders 10
San Diego Chargers at Seattle Seahawks
14 of 16
Last week the Chargers unloaded on the Jaguars, while the Seahawks got dominated in Denver. Antonio Gates has been a monster for the Chargers thus far, and will be all season.
Historically, the Seahawks have played far better at home than they do on the road. The Chargers are kind of unpredictable and will be without Ryan Mathews, who is out with an ankle injury.
Matt Hasselbeck is they key to this one, he needs to limit his mistakes.
Fearless Forecast: Chargers 31, Seahawks 20
New York Jets at Miami Dolphins
15 of 16
The story for the Miami Dolphins throughout the first two weeks has been the great play of their defense, who have given up ten points both weeks. Last season the Dolphins swept the Jets, and signs are pointing in their direction for this game.
Darrelle Revis is out with an injury, and the status of Braylon Edwards is unknown after his DWI. Mark Sanchez is going to need to duplicate his performance from a week ago or the Jets to win this game.
Chad Henne and the Dolphins will keep on rolling.
Fearless Forecast: Dolphins 20, Jets 13
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
16 of 16
Is Jay Cutler finally figuring out things in Chicago? Judging from last week, he is definitely on that track. With Mike Martz as the Bears offensive coordinator, Cutler has played well and is finding his many weapons on offense.
The Packers are in for a battle this week, and it is a big test for them. This is a game for first place in the NFC North. Don't be surprised if it's a shootout.
I like the Bears to improve to 3-0.
Fearless Forecast: Bears 34, Packers 28
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