NFL Regular Season Week 3 Predictions: The Packers and Winners of the Week

We are starting to see things come together for teams a bit now, getting to understand just how good or bad they are going to be this year. It's too early to determine anything concrete, but this third week will go a long way towards setting the standard for the season.

Without further ado, the picks for the week, starting with...

New England @ Buffalo

Surprisingly, both teams are 2-0 coming into this. New England was expected to do so, but Buffalo is shocking us right now with their good play.

They have a strong offense that spreads opponents out and also runs well. Their defense is improving as well, shutting the Chiefs down and then making plays when needed against the Raiders. They will show whether they are for real or not against the Patriots, though.

New England has blown through the defenses of the Dolphins and Chargers and are expected to be a much better defense than the Bills. So this will be close only if the Bills do the same to the Patriots D. I think they can do that much, but they won’t win this one.

NE 45-BUF 41

San Francisco @ Cincinnati

San Fran got very close to a big win over the Cowboys, but ended up losing in overtime. Cincinnati meanwhile lost to Denver in another close game.

The 49ers weren’t too effective on offense for most of the game and I don’t expect them to be effective in this one either. I see Cincy taking it.

CIN 24-SF 20

Miami @ Cleveland

The Dolphins haven’t been able to play good defense so far this year, despite it being thought that they had improved on their sixth ranked defense of last year. Their offense also took many steps back after putting in a decent showing against the Patriots.

If they are going to get things going for themselves, they need to start immediately. I think Cleveland will make it tough though, because they can run the ball well and pass when needed. I see the Browns holding on for a win and sending Miami to 0-3—and causing a lot of panic.

CLE 20-MIA 13

Denver @ Tennessee

Both teams got their first wins this past week when it wasn’t really expected. So now one of them will be looking at a 2-1 record going into Week 4, something almost unfathomable with all the offseason changes and adjustments each team made.

I think either COULD come away with the win because both have strengths they can play to, but only one will do enough to win. I see that team being the Titans, by a decent margin.

TEN 23-DEN 10

Detroit @ Minnesota

The Lions are winning games convincingly, something that hasn’t been seen this decade.

Minnesota can’t seem to close out a game, allowing both the Chargers and Buccaneers to stage big comebacks. They can run the ball well, but they don’t seem to have the ability to mix it up at all on offense so they get predictable and eventually end up losing because of it.

The Lions are the exact opposite right now, able to explode for a huge play at any given moment. I don’t see the Vikings slowing down this team, not at all.

DET 38-MIN 13

Houston @ New Orleans

The Texans are playing pretty well right now, even without being at full strength at RB. They do have great depth there though, which has helped a lot at keeping balance. Their defense hasn’t been too shabby either, showing good improvement already under Wade Phillips.

The Saints will give them a gigantic test on D and also put a lot of pressure on their O-line when they have the ball. I would like to see the Texans keep winning, but I don’t think they win this one on the road.

NO 33-HOU 27

New York Giants @ Philadelphia

The Giants really want to shove the “Dream Team” down a few notches, but it will be difficult to do so, even if Mike Vick doesn’t play because of his concussion from playing Atlanta. They just have so many weapons on offense and a lot of good players on defense, so it is going to be tough for anyone to beat them.

There are ways to beat them though, like staying in base offenses and using the tight end, but I don’t see the Giants doing enough on offense to win this and faking injuries won’t bail them out on defense this time.

PHI 30-NYG 17

Jacksonville @ Carolina

The Jaguars got demolished and embarrassed by the Jets, to the point that they had to make Blaine Gabbert the starter before they wanted to. Somehow they have a win already, something the Panthers are missing even with Cam Newton setting passing records like a madman.

I think he can continue doing so against a team with a suspect defense like the Jags, but this time he gets his first win.

CAR 23-JAX 12

Kansas City @ San Diego

The Chiefs are getting worse and worse this year, losing Jamaal Charles for the year on top of Eric Berry and Tony Moeaki already being done. They have been outscored 89-10 already and should only get worse as the year goes.

San Diego got beat pretty bad by New England, so they should come out angry and ready to win. I can see a repeat of last year’s second meeting.

SD 31-KC 0

New York Jets @ Oakland

Mark Sanchez better not be eating hot dogs on the sideline this time around, because the Raiders are going to give them a game. They are showing they can stay in every game, something they couldn’t do consistently since their last Super Bowl appearance. It helps that their passing game is showing signs of life.

The Jets will be a much sterner test than the Bills though and I can’t see them putting up 35 again. I call it a close game and the score will stay low. That suits the Jets just fine, which is why they will win.

NYJ 16-OAK 10

Baltimore @ St. Louis

The Ravens had a big drop-off in play after dominating the Steelers, causing their sloppy loss to the Titans. The Rams had plenty of self-inflicted mistakes that helped keep them winless on the year against the Giants.

I think both will come out to prove something, but I don’t see it being the Rams who succeed in doing so. The Ravens will take this one and keep the Rams opening spiral going at 0-3.

BAL 27-STL 14

Arizona @ Seattle

The past two winners of the NFC West need to make some progress if either is to win this division again.

The Cardinals at least have their QB situation decided, but the defense is a huge problem. Seattle has plenty of decent players and talent all around, but when Tarvaris Jackson is at QB and his best game so far is a shutout, you have problems. BIG problems.

I know every team has to win at some point (except the 2008 Lions), but I just can’t get myself to pick the team with QB problems this bad.

ARI 19-SEA 12

Atlanta @ Tampa Bay

The Falcons and Bucs both made comebacks this past weekend, each impressive in their own ways.

Against a team with as much talent as the Eagles have (and some timely luck from Vick’s concussion), the Falcons came back from multiple scores down and took over the game with strong performances by Tony Gonzalez and Michael Turner. The Bucs somehow made their way back from down 17-0 at halftime to finally take the lead with 39 seconds left and hold on for the win over the Vikings, 24-20.

This was entertaining last season when we didn’t truly know about both teams, but it will only get better from here on out. I’m going with the home team on this one, ending with yet another Josh Freeman comeback.

TB 24-ATL 20

Green Bay @ Chicago

The Bears got utterly demolished against the Saints, no one more so than Jay Cutler. He is even having doubts about his ability to last this season—and it’s only two weeks in.

The Packers meanwhile are struggling on defense yardage-wise, giving up nearly 1,000 already. They have tightened up when necessary, but it’s troubling to see so many yards go to a rookie QB and a former 2-14 team.

It has to get a bit better for at least one of these teams though and I say it will be the Packers. The defense could get Tramon Williams back, and with that freeing up Woodson to be used everywhere again, Dom Capers will unleash hell on Cutler and make him have flashbacks of the NFC Championship Game.

GB 19-CHI 12

Pittsburgh @ Indianapolis

Had Peyton Manning been healthy this would be the marquee game of the week, hence the late time slot. Since he isn’t, this is not even going to be a challenge...barring some insane circumstances.

No need for a big explanation here. Steelers score often, Colts barely avoid shutout and we wait for the Monday night game.

PIT 31-IND 3

Washington @ Dallas

Surprisingly, this could be a pretty good game. Even more surprising is that it’ll be a much bigger draw than Steelers-Colts.

If the Cowboys win this they are tied for the division lead at 2-1 with whoever takes the Giants-Eagles matchup. If the Skins win they hold the division lead outright and are on their way to a very shocking 3-0 and possible playoff berth.

If this were in Washington, I’d be more inclined to choose the latter. Since it is in Dallas, though, I think it will eventually end up being a win for the Cowboys.

DAL 22-WAS 17

Prediction Record so Far This Year

Week 1: 11-5

Week 2: 11-5 

Overall: 22-10