NFL Picks Week 3: 8 Teams Guaranteed to Roll Their Opponents

So, this is what parity looks like. With only two games gone in the 2011 season, more than half the league finds themselves at 1-1 with seven teams each at 2-0 and 0-2.

We are guaranteed that at least one of the seven undefeated teams will remain so after week three as two of them play against each other.

The biggest surprises so far this season have been the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions. Since 1999—the last time these two teams made the playoffs—they have combined to finish above .500 only three times (the Lions in 2000 with a 9-7 record, and Bills in 1999 when they finished 11-5 and again in 2004 when they finished 9-7). With 2-0 records they have their fans thinking they have turned things around.

For one of them, a huge dose of reality awaits.

Perhaps the other surprise is the 2-0 Packers. Not that they are 2-0, but the fact 2010's fifth-best defense against the pass is currently dead last, giving up an average of 400 yards per game—more than double what it averaged last season.

Jacksonville (1-1) at Carolina (0-2)

Surprisingly, the Carolina Panthers are only a 3.5-point favorite as they host the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Cam Newton has opened the season with back-to-back 400-yard passing games, and came within a touchdown in both games of being 2-0. 

The Jaguars start someone called Luke McCown. Since 2004 McCown has played six seasons, making only seven more starts than the Panthers' Newton.

This one looks like a mismatch. The Panthers, who scored 23 points against the Super Bowl champion Packers, will finally win, and win big at home. 

Jaguars 13

Panthers 21

Houston (2-0) at New Orleans (1-1)

The 2-0 Houston Texans travel to New Orleans to face the 1-1 Saints.

The Texans have defeated the Peyton Manning-less Colts, which may be the worst team in the NFL, and the Dolphins in Miami, which finished 1-7 at home last season. 

The Saints are coming off back-to-back games against last season's participants in the NFC Championship game. After dismantling the Bears 30-13 last week, they will continue their winning ways.

Texans 17

Saints 28

New England (2-0) at Buffalo (2-0)

Three of the seven 2-0 teams can be found in the AFC East. After this week there will be at least one of them suffering their first loss.

The Patriots travel to Buffalo as nine-point favorites.

The Buffalo Bills did not win their second game of the season until Week 11 on Nov. 21 last season.The last time the Bills opened the season with two wins was 2008 when they started 4-0, but quickly faded to finish 7-9.

The Patriots have easily won their first two games by two touchdowns. There's no reason to believe the Patriots' winning ways will end anytime soon. Quarterback Tom Brady has thrown seven touchdowns and only one interception and comes into the game with a 128.0 passer rating. 

Look for the Patriots to continue winning and winning big.

Patriots 34

Bills 20

New York Jets (2-0) at Oakland Raiders (1-1)

After barely beating the Cowboys in Week 1, the Jets made a statement with a 32-3 whipping of the Jaguars. They travel to Oakland as 3.5-point favorites.

The last time the Jets traveled to Oakland in Week 7 of the 2008 season they won 38-0. They have won four of the last five meetings against the Raiders.

After beating the Patriots in the playoffs last season the Jets want to prove to New England that they are for real and want to win the division, something they haven't done since 1998. To do that they will need to continue their winning ways. 

The Raiders have scored exactly as many points as they have given up. Both games have been decided by only three points. The difference in this one will be more than three points.

Jets 27

Raiders 17

Kansas City (0-2) at San Diego (1-1)

After winning the AFC West and matching their best record since 2005 at 10-6, the Kansas City Chiefs were looking to another good season. So far they have been the worst team in the league. With the loss of Jamaal Charles for the season with a torn ACL, it will be a long season for the Chiefs.

The Chargers are this week's biggest favorites at 14.5 points. After a comeback victory over the Vikings, the Chargers suffered a 14-point defeat at New England. While the Chargers seem to start every season slow, they should not have too many problems on Sunday.

Chiefs 7

Chargers 30

Atlanta Falcons (1-1) at Tampa Bay Bucanneers (1-1)

In a battle for first place in the NFC South, the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers find themselves at 1-1. 

The difference is the caliber of opposition the Falcons have faced is much better than that of the Buccaneers.

The Falcons opened the season with a loss at Chicago and then had an impressive come-from-behind win at Philadelphia. Tampa Bay suffered a home loss to the surprising Lions and overcame a 17-point deficit to defeat the Vikings.

The Falcons, 1.5-point underdogs, will ride their comeback victory a little further than the Buccaneers.

Falcons 28

Buccaneers 27

Arizona Cardinals (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (0-2)

This is the battle of two teams that signed veteran quarterbacks to take over the team in hopes of better results.

On paper it would appear the Seahawks would have the advantage. Seattle signed free agent Tarvaris Jackson, who had a 10-10 record in 20 starts for the Vikings with a 76.6 passer rating, while the Cardinals traded for Kevin Kolb, who had a career 3-4 record and a 73.2 rating while in Philadelphia.

For the worst division in football, every victory over a division opponent is critical. The Cardinals are the better team and should prove it easily on Sunday.

Cardinals 20

Seahawks 10

Detroit Lions (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

As a Minnesota sports fan, this has been a nightmare year. Not only have the Minnesota Twins fallen to the bottom of the AL Central with the Detroit Tigers winning the division, now the undefeated Lions come to town to face the winless Vikings.

My early prediction was for the Vikings to gain their first victory of the season against the Lions.

I cannot recall the last time the Vikings were home underdogs to a team they have beaten 16 of the last 18 meetings.

The Lions come to the Metrodome as 3.5-point favorites after impressive wins over the Buccaneers on the road and the Chiefs at home.

For the Vikings, they have to find a way to hold onto their first-half leads. In both games they went into the locker room with at least a 10-point lead, only to score a total of three points in the second half of both games.

Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford has connected with Calvin Johnson for four touchdowns this season, and with questions in the Minnesota defensive backfield this duo will continue to be successful.

Lions 34

Vikings 16

Week 3: The Rest of the Schedule

While the only guarantees in life are death and taxes, here are my picks for the other half of the Week 3 schedule:

Miami at Cleveland

Miami finally gets to play on the road.

Dolphins 17

Browns 14

Denver at Tennessee

Tennessee has momentum with the win over the Ravens, and wins at home.

Broncos 20

Titans 24

New York Giants at Philadelphia

Both teams have beaten up the Rams, but Philadelphia is the better team, and will win at home. (Note: That is if Michael Vick plays, if not, take the Giants.)

Giants 14

Eagles 27

San Francisco at Cincinnati

Home-opener for the Bengals in a battle of two teams going nowhere.

49ers 24

Bengals 27

Baltimore at St. Louis

Baltimore rebounds from its hangover loss to the Titans.

Ravens 24

Rams 14

Pittsburgh at Indianapolis

It's going to be a long season for the Colts—44-year-old Jeff George is offering his services.

Steelers 24

Colts 17

Washington at Dallas

I don't like this game, there's just too much drama with Rex Grossman with more wins than Donovan McNabb and the Tony Romo roller coaster.

Redskins 27

Cowboys 24

Green Bay at Chicago

This is a must-win for the Bears. If Jay Cutler can put up 400 passing yards like Drew Brees or Cam Newton, then the Bears have a chance. Don't count on it. 

Packers 31

Bears 27