Picking Each Exciting NFL Week Three Game
Another thrilling NFL week is in the books, as we turn our attention to an intriguing Week Three.
This week starts with the New York Giants heading to Levi's Stadium to face the red-hot San Francisco 49ers on Thursday night.
Sunday features a bunch of quality matchups, including a Sunday Night Football duel between the Las Vegas Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh is coming off a win on Monday night against the division rival Browns.
Week Three comes to a close with another Monday Night Football double header featuring the Philadelphia Eagles taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams travelling to Cincinnati to go head-to-head with the Bengals.
So who do our staff writers have winning these Week Three matchups? Here's a look at the records so far and who we believe will win each of the 16 games.
NFL Game Picks Record
Name: William Luke Hendrick
Record: 10-6-0 (62.5%)
Last Week: 10-6-0
Name: Hayden Remillard
Record: 19-13-0 (56.4%)
Last Week: 10-6-0
Name: JT Howland
Record: 18-14-0 (56.3%)
Last Week: 10-6-0
Name: Enrique Samano
Record: 18-14-0 (56.3%)
Last Week: 10-6-0
Name: Danny Fisher
Record: 18-14-0 (56.3%)
Last Week: 11-5-0
Name: Michael Heisner
Record: 13-19-0 (40.6%)
Last Week: 7-9-0
New York Giants VS San Francisco 49ers (Thursday, 7:20pm EST)
Pick: San Francisco 49ers 38-14
Reason: The 49ers are the best team in the NFL right now. Giants are also missing Andrew Thomas and Saquon Barkley. This could get ugly.
Pick: San Francisco 49ers 35-13
Reason: The Niners may be the best team in the NFL. They roll against an iffy Giant team.
Pick: San Francisco 49ers 34-17
Reason: 49ers easily the better team in a lopsided matchup.
Pick: San Francisco 49ers 30-14
Reason: Niners make easy work of the Giants, who struggle without Saquon.
Pick: San Francisco 49ers 31-14
Reason: Giants have no defense, Barkley or Thomas and it will be a long day at the office
Pick: San Francisco 49ers 27-14
Reason: Nick Bosa finally gets going for the niners and my fantasy team notching 3 sacks
Atlanta Falcons VS Detroit Lions (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: Detroit Lions 34-30
Reason: Lions respond at home handing Atlanta its first loss.
Pick: Atlanta Falcons 17-14
Reason: The Lions have a few injury concerns going into this game. I think the Falcons continue to roll.
Pick: Detroit Lions 26-21
Reason: This is a 50/50 game and Goff and the Lions win a shootout.
Pick: Detroit Lions 24-17
Reason: Lions bounce back and take care of business against the Falcons.
Pick: Detroit Lions 24-10
Reason: Lions offense shows it can score and moves to 2-1.
Pick: Detroit Lions 31-28
Reason: Another shoutout for both teams but lions come away with the win this week.
Los Angeles Chargers VS Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: Minnesota Vikings 37-34
Reason: The game of two good offenses and two horrible defenses. Kirk Cousins and this offense pulls out a win at home.
Pick: Minnesota Vikings 21-20
Reason: Two desperate teams in what feels like a 'must win' for both side. The Vikings kick the game-winning field goal with no time left.
Pick: Los Angeles Chargers 30-28
Reason: Someone has to win and the Chargers have the better roster. Let’s see if they can play like it.
Pick: Minnesota Vikings 31-27
Reason: Vikings finally get their first win of the season in a thriller, while the Chargers fall to a scary 0-3.
Pick: Minnesota Vikings 34-31
Reason: Chargers defense gives up a late TD to fall to 0-3.
Pick: Los Angeles Chargers 28-24
Reason: Battle of the winless Chargers make less mistakes to pull off the victory.
New Orleans Saints VS Green Bay Packers (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: Green Bay Packers 21-13
Reason: Packers bounce back after their loss to the Falcons.
Pick: Green Bay Packers 24-18
Reason: I haven't liked what the Saints have shown me. The Packers bounce back at home.
Pick: Green Bay Packers 27-23
Reason: The Saints have won two very close games and now take on Jordan Love and the Packers. Green Bay takes it at Lambeau.
Pick: Green Bay Packers 17-13
Reason: Packers get a low-scoring victory over Saints struggling offense.
Pick: New Orleans Saints 17-16
Reason: The Saints find another win somehow.
Pick: Green Bay Packers 24-13
Reason: Packers give Derrick Carr trouble all day with 4 sacks and 10 QB pressures.
Houston Texans VS Jacksonville Jaguars (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars 30-23
Reason: Texans make this game interesting. Jaguars win but Texans cover.
Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars 31-17
Reason: I still believe the Jags are a good football team. I also think the Texans stink.
Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars 38-12
Reason: This score will likely be closer, but the Jaguars should have no problem winning this one.
Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars 28-20
Reason: Jags dominate, but Texans make the score look respectable.
Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars 28-24
Reason: Texans put up a fight but lose in heart breaking fashion.
Pick: Jacksonville Jaguars 35-17
Reason: Last week’s beating motivates the Jaguars to dominate and Trevor Lawrence throws 5 TDs.
Denver Broncos VS Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: Miami Dolphins 34-21
Reason: Dolphins offense is the most explosive in the NFL. Broncos can’t match.
Pick: Miami Dolphins 24-21
Reason: The Broncos fell apart last week against the Commanders and now we expect them to beat the Dolphins?
Pick: Miami Dolphins 30-24
Reason: Tough ask for Denver to win in the Miami heat and Sean Peyton’s squad falls to 0-3.
Pick: Miami Dolphins 34-20
Reason: Broncos defense lets up another 30+ point game and their offense can’t keep up like against Washington.
Pick: Miami Dolphins 27-24
Reason: Dolphins show they are the best team in the AFC once again.
Pick: Miami Dolphins 27-21
Reason: Dolphins continue the winning streak forcing 3 turnovers.
Tennessee Titans VS Cleveland Browns (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: Tennessee Titans 17-13
Reason: Titans pull off the small upset here. I have questions about how this Browns offense will be able to score without Nick Chubb.
Pick: Cleveland Browns 21-17
Reason: It just feels like the Browns are going to play weird, close games all season long.
Pick: Cleveland Browns 34-30
Reason: Homecoming for Kareem Hunt and the Browns, who look to get a big win in honor of Nick Chubb. But don’t forget King Henry, who had a good day last week.
Pick: Tennessee Titans 13-10
Reason: A low scoring game between two of the league's best defenses, but poor offense. The Titans squeak by and improve to 2-1, while the Browns fall to 1-2.
Pick: Cleveland Browns 24-10
Reason: The Browns defense continues to fly around.
Pick: Tennessee Titans 28-14
Reason: Derrick Henry has a big day over 150 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Buffalo Bills VS Washington Commanders (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: Buffalo Bills 31-27
Reason: Bills win but this Commanders offense with Eric Bienemy keeps it close.
Pick: Buffalo Bills 38-28
Reason: The Bills are ready to show their a true Super Bowl contender. They score lots against Washington.
Pick: Buffalo Bills 32-29
Reason: This game is a test to see if Washington is for real or not. Even if they lose they should make it close.
Pick: Buffalo Bills 27-23
Reason: Commanders keep it close, but the Bills pull away with the win at the end.
Pick: Buffalo Bills 23-13
Reason: Josh Allen gets back on track.
Pick: Buffalo Bills 28-21
Reason: Josh Allen has a big day throws for 400 yards and 4 TDs.
Indianapolis Colts VS Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: Baltimore Ravens 24-10
Reason: The Colts are missing Anthony Richardson due to injury. That hurts their chances here. Ravens score at the end to pull away.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens 20-16
Reason: I like both of these teams. However, the Ravens are the better unit overall. They win by four.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens 31-27
Reason: The closeness of this game all depends on if AR5 can play or not.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens 24-14
Reason: Colts fight hard, but Ravens win in a two-score game.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens 27-13
Reason: This is over before it started.
Pick: Baltimore Ravens 24-13
Reason: Zay Flowers has a big day with a 100 yards and first touchdown.
New England Patriots VS New York Jets (Sunday, 1:00pm EST)
Pick: New England Patriots 17-10
Reason: Low scoring game but Mac Jones out plays Zach Wilson.
Pick: New England Patriots 14-10
Reason: This is going to be the game where the Jets finally realize it's time to make a move for a QB who isn't named Zach Wilson.
Pick: New England Patriots 18-15
Reason: It’s been almost a decade since the Jets beat the Patriots. Is there anything that suggests that streak ends this week?
Pick: New England Patriots
Reason: Patriots get their first win of the season, while the Jets continue to struggle mightily with Zach Wilson.
Pick: New England Patriots 17-14
Reason: It's ugly but Pats get it done against a Rodger-less Jets.
Pick: New England Patriots 20-13
Reason: Patriots run game takes off for 200 yards in week 3 for a much needed win.
Carolina Panthers VS Seattle Seahawks (Sunday, 4:05pm EST)
Pick: Seattle Seahawks 28-17
Reason: The Panthers rough start of the season continues here. This is the Jaxson Smith Njgiba breakout game.
Pick: Seattle Seahawks 24-14
Reason: I don't like a rookie QB traveling across the country to play a tough Seattle team.
Pick: Seattle Seahawks 28-23
Reason: An elite rookie matchup as we see JSN and Bryce Young, two electric offensive players, go head to head. Can either of them get on the right track this week?
Pick: Seattle Seahawks 24-17
Reason: Panthers fall to 0-3 as offense continues to struggle, Seahawks get their season back on track after shocking week one loss to the Rams.
Pick: Seattle Seahawks 20-17
Reason: Seahawks shows Bryce Young what the NFL is all about and ruins his passing game.
Pick: Seattle Seahawks 24-14
Reason: JSN finally goes off for 125 yards and a TD.
Chicago Bears VS Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 4:25pm EST)
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs 41-21
Reason: The Bears are in shambles right now. The Chiefs are one of the best teams in the NFL. Don’t overthink this.
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs 42-21
Reason: I think it's time to admit that Justin Fields might not be the guy in Chicago.
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs 30-9
Reason: This is FOX’s Game of the Week and unfortunately it might be one of the worst. A big mismatch.
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs 30-17
Reason: Bears continue to disappoint and fall to 0-3, while the Chiefs dominate and improve to 2-1.
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs 28-10
Reason: Bears stink and the Chiefs don't.
Pick: Kansas City Chiefs 27-17
Reason: Justin Fields throws 4 picks and takes 5 sacks.
Dallas Cowboys VS Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 4:25pm EST)
Pick: Dallas Cowboys 31-7
Reason: One of the best defenses in the NFL playing one of the worst teams. Cowboys win and cover.
Pick: Dallas Cowboys 35-7
Reason: I'm actually scared for what might happen to Josh Dobbs against this Cowboys defense.
Pick: Dallas Cowboys 41-20
Reason: Easiest pick of the week. Would be a fun upset if the Cards do it.
Pick: Dallas Cowboys 24-17
Reason: Cardinals keep it closer than expected, but ultimately the high-end talent of the Cowboys keeps them undefeated.
Pick: Dallas Cowboys 38-3
Reason: Be glad this game is not the FOX game of the week.
Pick: Dallas Cowboys 35-10
Reason: We all know who should win.
Pittsburgh Steelers VS Las Vegas Raiders (Sunday, 8:20pm EST)
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers 17-13
Reason: The Steelers defense carries them to a win. Steelers D gets a pick-six off Derek Carr.
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers 24-21
Reason: I know it's cool to hate on the Steelers offense this week, but I believe they put it together in Week Three.
Pick: Pittsburgh Steelers 23-20
Reason: Remember how the Steelers won by three last year vs Las Vegas? Deja Vu anyone?
Pick: Las Vegas Raiders 17-10
Reason: Steelers offense struggles, while the Raiders do just enough to win.
Pick: Las Vegas Raiders 13-10
Reason: Jimmy G finds the endzone late in a game nobody wants to watch.
Pick: Las Vegas Raiders 20-17
Reason: Tough choice here but I’m gonna lean more towards the Raiders.
Philadelphia Eagles VS Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Monday, 7:15pm EST)
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles 27-21
Reason: The Bucs lose their first game to the Eagles. Philly moves onto 3-0.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles 28-17
Reason: Baker Mayfield slowly begins to fall back into what we all thought he was at the beginning of the season.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles 33-31
Reason: Can the Baker show take down the NFC champs? The luck runs out for Tampa Bay versus a tough Eagles D.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles 24-14
Reason: Eagles stay undefeated and hand Baker Mayfield his first loss as a Buc.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles 23-17
Reason: Baker throws a bad INT and they lose the game on the final drive.
Pick: Philadelphia Eagles 28-24
Reason: Big time game comes down to the wire with a Jalen Hurts game winning drive.
Los Angeles Rams VS Cincinnati Bengals (Monday, 8:15pm EST)
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals 24-20
Reason: Bengals get their first win of the year. Big game from Ja’Marr Chase.
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals 21-18
Reason: Burrow or not, I like the Bengals on Monday night.
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals 31-28
Reason: Hopefully Burrow can fully get healthy again but as he is questionable for this matchup it is really hard to pick.
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals 21-17
Reason: The Bengals finally win a game, defeating a feisty Rams team that doesn’t have the roster talent to keep up with that of the Bengals.
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals 24-21
Reason: Finally a win for the Bengals.
Pick: Cincinnati Bengals 24-20
Reason: Joe Burrow does just enough to get the Bengals there first win.
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