Now THAT’S more like it: 11-5 in Week Two! Here’s how I think Week 3 will shape up.
NOTE: All games will be played on Sunday afternoon unless otherwise noted. Picks published originally on Tuesday of this week.
Miami 30, Jacksonville 19 (Thursday night): It’s not the best matchup for a nationwide Thursday-night telecast. But for Florida-based fans, you might as well call it a state tournament. It’s funny how, in Florida, the caliber of play gets worse from high school to pros because Florida’s three NFL teams are not among the elite. Jacksonville is one of only two cities that allowed fans in Week One (Kansas City was the other), but I think it won’t make a difference.
Pittsburgh 29, Houston 17: Just seeing Houston playing at Pittsburgh conjures up memories of two straight AFC title games at Three Rivers Stadium in the late ’70s, including a Mike Renfro touchdown catch that should have counted, but didn’t. I expected Houston to take a step back this year…and it has–its streak of nine straight wins following a loss ended when Baltimore took a win last week. Pittsburgh has started 2-0 in a somewhat skillful fashion, and that’s how it will win this one, too.
Cincinnati 26, Philadelphia 24: These two teams once played a tie game at Cincinnati. This one is in Philly, where the Eagles are more banged up than the British after the Revolutionary War. But, somehow, I feel Joe Burrow’s fine effort in Cleveland–and the ten-day mini-bye that followed–carries the day for the Bengals.
Washington 20, Cleveland 17: This could qualify as the “Game Of The Weak,” pitting two teams that aren’t exactly among the most admired by Baltimore fans for various (and obvious) reasons. But someone has to win it, and I’m not going to predict a tie … so… (deep breath) … I’ll go with Washington. Its defense is younger and more talented than the Browns.
Chicago 31, Atlanta 23: How long will Atlanta’s hangover last after blowing a 20-point lead and falling at Dallas in the final seconds? How long will Mitch Trubisky’s resurrection continue? Those are big questions. Atlanta’s defense has been more than generous so far, and, if Trubisky continues to play smart and take what’s given to him, the Bears will leave the South with another win.
Los Angeles Rams 23, Buffalo 16: This is the Chuck Knox Bowl. The late, great coach headed both franchises. The Rams have already gone on a long road trip and won (in Philadelphia). Yes, they’ll take a step up in class by facing the Bills, but LAR is more battle-tested. I’ll go with the road team here.
Tennessee 33, Minnesota 20: I’m not sure what has happened to the Vikings–a team that has contended continuously and surprised in the playoffs. I picked them to win the NFC North, which could end up being a bad call. They’re back home this week against Tennessee, a club that knows what it’s like to shock the world. I don’t see Minnesota shocking anyone. Vikes fall to 0-3.
New England 27, Las Vegas 21: The Raiders and Patriots meet again, but I don’t see the “tuck rule,” which was correctly called in that long-ago playoff game, rearing its head. So far, the Patriots have been more competitive than I thought they’d be, and they should beat a team traveling west-to-east that’s also working on a short week.
San Francisco 38, New York Giants 23: Do the Giants have anyone these days that can sack Joe Montana and give him a concussion–as they did in a 1986 playoff meeting between these two teams? They don’t … and there’s no Montana, either. But wait! The 49ers are banged up–and they are blaming the MetLife Stadium field where they played last week against the Jets. But wait again! The Giants have perhaps the most damaging injury of all–the torn knee incurred by workhorse back Saquon Barkley. 49ers in this one.
Indianapolis 20, New York Jets 10: When the Colts began the Indianapolis chapter of their history, their first home game was against the Jets. Back then, the Colts were near the bottom of the league. These days, the Jets hold that rather dubious distinction. The NYers should be able to keep it somewhat close, but, in the end, remember these are the Jets.
Los Angeles Chargers 27, Carolina 13: A few years ago, a game between the Panthers and Chargers would be regarded as a good matchup. That’s not true these days. Carolina seems to be in transition, and LAC is getting used to a new stadium. I’ll go with the Chargers here because they nearly upset the defending Super Bowl champ Chiefs last week. They look more ready to win–especially with Justin Herbert at the controls–than do the Panthers.
Arizona 34, Detroit 17: These teams met in the desert and tied in last year’s season opener, thanks to a Lions rally. Today, the Cardinals have raised their level of play, while the Lions do nothing more than raise fans’ blood pressure. That happens when you blow consecutive game leads and end up 0-2.
Tampa Bay 27, Denver 14: This game is a fascinating quarterback battle between young and old, Tom Brady and Drew Lock. But… Lock incurred a shoulder injury that knocked him out at Pittsburgh last week. If Denver were a bit healthier, this would have been one of the marquee games of the week. Brady may not have to be at his best to win this one.
Dallas 37, Seattle 30: If there is any stadium in the league where the lack of full-capacity fans hurts the home team the most, it’s Seattle’s usually-deafening CenturyLink Field. They should have beaten New England by more than five points last week, but at least they did get the win. Now, the ‘Hawks entertain Dallas. The Cowboys had an unreal comeback against Atlanta last week. I’ll take a chance and say that propels them into a winning mode.
Green Bay 40, New Orleans 37 (Sunday night): The Packers are one of the very few teams in NFL history to put 40+ points on the board in each of the first two games of a season. That could make for a heck of a nationally-televised track meet against the Saints, a team that still has plenty of weapons despite Michael Thomas’ injury. I thought Green Bay would start to decline this year, but the ‘old ones’ are doing just fine.
Kansas City 26, Baltimore 24 (Monday night): This is the game fans are eager to see. It’s pegged as a likely AFC Championship Game preview. Even though it’s being played in Baltimore this year, I give a slight edge to the Chiefs–a team that’s 4-1 in Baltimore since the Ravens were born and 6-3 overall.
