After week 3 is typically when we finally start to get a grasp of how good teams are going to be, but there are still plenty of question marks heading in, especially with some of our 0-2 teams. Which will rebound, which will flounder? It’s almost getting to do or die time.
Here are this week’s games and spreads:
GAME OF THE WEEk – Buffalo Bills (1-1) at Miami Dolphins (1-1), MIA by 3 – These two teams resemble each other a lot. Hard-nosed defenses, occasionally struggling offenses. This is going to be a very important game for both teams. The Dolphins have to feel like they should be 2-0 right now, and the Bills have to be fuming after failing to live up to the upset hype at home against New England. Miami is going to have the homefield advantage in the heat, but right now Buffalo is playing better football. Should be a hard-hitting, grueling game of football that will be fun to watch. UPSET! – Bills 24, Dolphins 20
THURSDAY NIGHT – Washington Redskins (1-1) at New York Giants (0-2), NYG by 4 – Honestly confused about what to make of the Redskins. Never would have had them beating St. Louis last week, and never would have guessed Kirk Cousins would have put up such an efficient statline. But given how dysfunctional this team is, I have a hard time seeing them do it again, no matter how dire the situation is for the Giants. Giants 20, Redskins 13
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) at St. Louis Rams (1-1), PIT by 1 – St. Louis did what it does best in week one: fuck things up for divisional opponents. Now it’s back to business as usual: sucking. Pittsburgh’s aerial attack ain’t nothin’ to fuck with, and that will be on full display once again this week. Steelers 28, Rams 13
San Diego Chargers (1-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-1), MIN by 2.5 – Minnesota may have gotten past the Lions last week, but they got shut down by the 49ers in week one and that, I think, still says quite a bit about this team. The Chargers are a more talented club, and while the Vikings may be able to control the clock with Adrian Peterson I’m still not particularly sold on the rest of this offense or team. UPSET! – Chargers 23, Vikings 16
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) at Houston Texans (0-2), HOU by 6.5 – The Saints might just be the worst team in the NFL right now, so while the Buccaneers beating them was a slight surprise, I’m not sure I’d read too much into it in terms of the Bucs’ fortunes. The Texans have a horrible situation at quarterback but that front seven alone should be enough to suffocate the Bucs in this one. Texans 20, Bucs 10
Philadelphia Eagles (0-2) at New York Jets (2-0), NYJ by 2 – Sooner or later things are going to have to start clicking for the Eagles… right? But for that to happen, this defense is going to need to wake up, the offensive line is going to need to give DeMarco Murray some space to run and Sam Bradford is going to need to start playing like he was worth the trade. The Jets’ offense isn’t very frightening, but that defense is legit. Can’t believe I’m making this pick, but Jets it is. Jets 20, Eagles 17
New Orleans Saints (0-2) at Carolina Panthers (2-0), CAR by 9 – The Saints look awful, and Drew Brees might be out with a shoulder injury. Even if he’s playing, the Saints just look done. Time to start building for the future In New Orleans. Panthers 23, Saints 13
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) at New England Patriots (2-0), NE by 13.5 – Well, the Jaguars’ first division lead since 2010 was fun while it lasted, right? Patriots 37, Jaguars 14
Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) at Baltimore Ravens (0-2), BAL by 2.5 – I guess the oddsmakers feel like Baltimore is going to get its shit together, but based on what I’ve seen from each of these teams the first two weeks it’s Cincinnati who is playing the part of a contender. UPSET! – Bengals 27, Ravens 17
Oakland Raiders (1-1) at Cleveland Browns (1-1), CLE by 3.5 – This is actually a really tough game to predict and could wind up being quit entertaining. As fun as it was to see highlights of Johnny Manziel running around throwing bombs, this Raiders team really impressed with the way they held together and made a comeback drive against the Ravens. Derek Carr was looking like a young Brett Favre out there. That grit they showed makes me think they will pick up a minor upset in Cleveland. UPSET! – Raiders 20, Browns 17
Indianapolis Colts (0-2) at Tennessee Titans (1-1), IND by 4 – Marcus Mariota has played some great football, but the Titans as a whole still have a way to go before they can be considered contenders in the AFC South. The Colts are going to be a punching bag for pundits all week long, so it’ll be a good chance for them to come out and do what they do best: womp on a lesser divisional opponent. Colts 31, Titans 24
Atlanta Falcons (2-0) at Dallas Cowboys (2-0), ATL by 1 – This would be a really intriguing game if the Cowboys were playing at full strength, but with Dez Bryant and Tony Romo both down for a couple months and Brandon Weeden taking snaps, the Cowboys are in dire straits. Falcons 27, Cowboys 13
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at Arizona Cardinals (2-0), ARZ by 6.5 – Experts are fawning over the Patriots and Packers, but the Cardinals might just be the best team in football right now. Expect another long winning streak for them to start the season. Cardinals 26, 49ers 10
Chicago Bears (0-2) at Seattle Seahawks (0-2), SEA by 14.5 – First of all, it’s the freaking Bears. Second of all, the Bears are playing Jimmy Clausen. Third of all, it’s the winless Seahawks’ home opener the week after an emotional loss to a budding rival. Yeah, this is gonna be embarrassing. Seahawks 45, Bears 9
Denver Broncos (2-0) at Detroit Lions (0-2), DEN by 3 – Detroit needs to pick its shit up, and quickly. If Suh was still playing for the Lions I’d be really tempted to pick them in this game, given how poor Peyton has looked through two weeks. But the Broncos’ defense has been outstanding and the Lions are back to being a rather one-dimensional team. Looks like 0-3 for Detroit. Broncos 17, Lions 14
Kansas City Chiefs (1-1) at Green Bay Packers (2-0), GB by 7 – Can you believe it’s been four years since the Packers went 1-0, let alone 2-0? That year, the Packers went 15-1, with their sole loss being to… these Kansas City Chiefs. These are now very different teams, but Aaron Rodgers has a long memory. Playing in primetime under the Lambeau Field lights, even a defense as good as this Chiefs one is going to have a hard time slowing down the best QB in the game, whether or not Eddie Lacy is playing. Packers 31, Chiefs 17
