When you’re in search of a method to make picks in Week 3, do not overthink it, simply take all of the fowl groups. I am guessing all you ornithologists on the market already do that each week, however everybody else may need to get on board as a result of the fowl groups went UNDEFEATED in Week 2.
The Seahawks, Cardinals, Eagles, Falcons and Ravens all received, marking the primary time since 2019 that each one the fowl groups received in the identical week. The one manner the week might have been any higher for the fowl groups is that if Huge Chicken had dealt with the coin toss for one of many video games.
Though the fowl groups had a stable week, it wasn’t so nice for beginning quarterbacks across the NFL as Joe Burrow (toe), J.J. McCarthy (ankle), Jayden Daniels (knee) and Justin Fields (concussion) all suffered some type of harm. And let’s not overlook that Brock Purdy did not even play in Week 2 resulting from an harm. We have not even began Week 3 and 15% of the beginning quarterbacks within the league have already gone down.
On the price issues are going, there is a 40% probability we’ll get Mac Jones vs. Jake Browning within the Tremendous Bowl.
Talking of these two, they will each be beginning this week and Jones can be beginning in opposition to a fowl crew. Will I truly decide a fowl crew to lose? Let’s get to the picks and discover out.
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Truly, earlier than I get to the picks, here is your weekly reminder to take a look at all of the picks from each NFL author right here at CBSSports.com.
The rationale it is best to click on over and take a look at the opposite consultants this week is as a result of you are going to need to print out my picks from final week and put them in your fridge. In Week 2, I went 15-1 and I might have gone 16-0 if I did not stupidly decide in opposition to one of many fowl groups. In case I did not make myself clear, NEVER PICK AGAINST BIRD TEAMS.
With that in thoughts, let’s get to the picks.
NFL Week 3 picks
Cincinnati (2-0) at Minnesota (1-1)
1 p.m. ET (CBS, Stream on Paramount+)
When you’re questioning how issues are stepping into Minnesota, let met simply put it like this: The Bengals simply misplaced their beginning quarterback for a minimum of three months and I believe you may make the argument that their season continues to be going higher than Minnesota’s.
The Vikings completed with a 14-3 report final season, however as an alternative of sticking with the quarterback who bought them there (Sam Darnold), Kevin O’Connell turned the keys to the offense over to J.J. McCarthy. He has performed eight quarters up to now and he has regarded spectacular for precisely a type of quarters and I am not even positive we will rely that quarter as spectacular as a result of it got here in opposition to a Bears protection that gave up 51 factors to the Lions in Week 2.
McCarthy has been so dangerous that Vikings followers aren now wishing that Minnesota had stored Daniel Jones.
Not everybody Vikings is wishing the crew had Daniel Jones. Another followers want the Vikings had Kirk Cousins.
And this fan is so determined, he is prepared to commerce a first-round decide to the Seahawks to get Darnold again.
These followers all have one factor in frequent and that is the truth that they need the Vikings had anybody moreover McCarthy at quarterback. I assume the excellent news is that their want goes to return true this week as a result of it is trying like Carson Wentz goes to be beginning for the Vikings (McCarthy is unlikely to play resulting from an ankle harm).
If Wentz by some means leads the Vikings to a win over the Bengals after which O’Connell sends him again to the bench, there may be a mutiny within the Vikings’ locker room. And only for the report, I’ve seen each Pirates of the Caribbean film, so I do know a potential mutiny once I see one.
With Wentz getting set to play, it may be a battle of the backups in Minnesota this week. For the Bengals, Jake Browning can be making his first begin of the 12 months. Browning is coming off a recreation the place he threw three interceptions, however he additionally led a 92-yard game-winning drive. Primarily based on the truth that Wentz and Browning are each making their first begins of the 12 months, we most likely will not be getting a shootout on Sunday.
There are solely three groups within the NFL which might be averaging lower than 250 yards per recreation by means of two weeks and two of these groups can be taking part in on this recreation. We would solely see eight yards of offense by each groups mixed in the course of the first quarter.
The Bengals are three performs away from being 0-2, however by some means, they appear to discover a technique to win each week they usually’re taking part in a Vikings crew that also hasn’t scored a first-quarter landing, a second-quarter landing or a third-quarter landing this 12 months. That is loads of quarters with no landing. I believe I am going to take the Bengals.
PICK: Bengals 23-20 over Vikings | Bengals +3.5 | Odds by way of BetMGM, the place you possibly can stand up to $1,500 again in bonus bets in case your first soccer wager loses:
Indianapolis (2-0) at Tennessee (0-2)
1 p.m. ET (CBS, Stream on Paramount+)
The Colts all of a sudden appear like one of the best crew within the NFL and all it took was including Daniel Jones to the crew. Sorry Vikings followers, you possibly can’t have him. By two weeks, nobody has been ready to determine the right way to cease the Colts offense:
- Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL in dashing yards
- Tyler Warren leads the NFL in receiving yards by a good finish
- Daniel Jones is second within the NFL in passing yards
The Colts are so good that they by no means punt. Like, ever. We’re heading into Week 3 and the Colts nonetheless have not punted in a recreation, which makes the Colts the primary crew in NFL historical past to make it by means of the primary two weeks of the season with out punting. Tom Brady by no means did that. Patrick Mahomes hasn’t finished that. Peyton Manning spent 14 seasons with the Colts and he by no means pulled it off. Daniel Jones has invented his personal stage of eliteness.
If Jones leads the Colts to the Tremendous Bowl, somebody will certainly have to show that right into a film and the excellent news is that we have already got the title for it.
With all of the hype surrounding this crew heading into Week 3, a traditional transfer by the Colts could be for them to lose this recreation and that is not totally inconceivable. The Titans have truly performed nicely at occasions this 12 months, particularly on protection. Though they’re 0-2, they held a second half lead in opposition to each the Broncos and Rams earlier than finally dropping.
The issue for the Titans is that Cam Ward all the time appears to be working for his life. Each time he drops again to cross, I’ve observed that one among three issues appears to occur: He will get sacked, he throws an incomplete cross or the play is blown lifeless as a result of the Titans get known as for a penalty.
Ward has already been sacked 11 occasions, which is probably the most of any quarterback within the NFL by means of two weeks. That places him on tempo to take 93.5 sacks this 12 months, which might blow by the present NFL report of 76, a mark that was set in 2002 by David Carr.
The Colts offense can transfer the ball and the Titans offense cannot, so I believe everyone knows the place I am going with this decide: The legend of Indiana Jones lives on for an additional week.
PICK: Colts 23-16 over Titans | Colts -3 | Odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook, the place you possibly can get 20 100% revenue boosts with the promo code CBS20X. Get began right here:
Arizona (2-0) at San Francisco (2-0)
4:25 p.m. ET (Fox, Fubo, strive totally free)
In keeping with Kyle Shanahan, there’s an opportunity that Brock Purdy might play this week, however I am not shopping for it. I imply, there’s additionally an opportunity {that a} speaking hamster will present up at my home and provides me a examine for $1 million, however I will not be holding my breath ready for that, identical to I will not be holding my breath anticipating Purdy to play.
If Purdy is out, meaning we’ll be getting one other week of Mac Jones, who has given us much more proof that you could put nearly anybody in Kyle Shanahan’s offense and it’ll succeed. At this level, I am satisfied {that a} kicker might throw for 250 yards in Shanahan’s offense. Throughout their Week 2 recreation in opposition to the Saints, the 49ers did not have Purdy or George Kittle, however they nonetheless managed to place up 344 yards and that was principally due to Jones, who threw for 279 yards.
Jones’ passing complete was greater than Lamar Jackson, Patrick Mahomes and Josh Allen threw for in Week 2. Am I saying that Jones is healthier than these three? Possibly, however I am going to have to see him play a minimum of yet one more recreation in Shanahan’s offense to make certain.
Pretty much as good because the 49ers’ offense has been, the rationale they’re successful video games is due to the protection. The return of Robert Saleh has given the unit an enormous increase: The 49ers have surrendered the sixth-fewest yards within the NFL this 12 months.
Throughout the preseason, I picked the 49ers to win the NFC West and preseason me would punch current day me within the face if I picked in opposition to the 49ers right here, so I’ll must roll with San Francisco. And no, I do NOT be ok with choosing in opposition to a fowl crew. I am already regretting it.
PICK: 49ers 20-16 over Cardinals | 49ers -1.5 | Odds by way of FanDuel Sportsbook, the place new customers get $300 in bonus bets after a successful $5 wager:
Kansas Metropolis (0-2) at N.Y. Giants (0-2)
8:20 p.m. ET (NBC, Fubo, strive totally free)
I do not know the way it occurred, however the CHIEFS are taking part in in a Week 3 recreation involving two winless groups and it may be one of the best recreation on the schedule this week. Effectively, it won’t be one of the best, nevertheless it ought to actually be probably the most entertaining. For one, you might have the Giants, who discover a new technique to lose each week. In Week 2, I am unable to even blame them for dropping. The one cause they misplaced is as a result of Brandon Aubrey went out and hit the third-longest subject objective in NFL historical past to pressure additional time.
If Aubrey would not hit this kick, the Giants are 1-1. After which simply so as to add insult to harm, Aubrey beat them in additional time with one other subject objective.
As for the Chiefs, we’ve got already reached the purpose of the season the place Travis Kelce is yelling at his teammates on the sideline for no cause.
Was he yelling at them as a result of the Chiefs gave up a landing? No.
We he yelling at them as a result of somebody fumbled? No.
Was he yelling at them after Patrick Mahomes scored a landing to provide Kansas Metropolis a 10-7 lead? Sure.
I believe he must have a protracted discuss with Taylor Swift about when it is OK to yell at your teammates.
By two weeks, the Chiefs have struggled on each side of the ball. With Rashee Rice suspended and Xavier Worthy out resulting from a shoulder, Mahomes is mainly on the market throwing passes to himself (and Kelce). Because of the Chiefs lack of weapons, the Giants truly match up considerably nicely with them.
The one query here’s what model of the Giants’ offense can be displaying up: Will or not it’s the model that solely scored six factors in opposition to the Commanders in Week 1 or will or not it’s the unstoppable model that put up 37 on the Cowboys in Week 2?
One loopy factor about this matchup that if I instructed you the NFL’s main passer was taking part in on this recreation, you’d most likely assume that it was Patrick Mahomes, BUT IT’S NOT. By two weeks, Russell Wilson is main the NFL in passing yards with a mean of 309 yards per recreation.
If Wilson goes off, the Giants might pull off a Big upset right here.
If the Chiefs had crushed the Eagles in Week 2, I believe I might have taken the Giants, however at 0-2, the Chiefs are going to be determined. The Giants can even be determined, however in a scenario like this, I am going to take the crew that has been to the Tremendous Bowl in 5 of the previous six years.
PICK: Chiefs 27-24 over Giants | Giants +6 | Odds by way of BetMGM
Detroit (1-1) at Baltimore (1-1)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET (ESPN, Fubo, strive totally free)
I do know they misplaced in Week 1, however the Ravens may be scariest crew within the NFL. They’ve performed two video games they usually have hit the FORTY-POINT mark in each video games. The Ravens are the fifth crew over the previous 20 years to open the season by scoring 40 factors or extra in back-to-back video games and two of these 5 groups ended up successful the Tremendous Bowl (2009 Saints, 2013 Broncos).
You would argue that the Ravens’ weakest hyperlink on offense this season has been Derrick Henry. In Week 1, he had an enormous recreation with 169 yards, however he additionally misplaced a fumble late within the fourth quarter that allowed the Payments to return again and win. In Week 2, he ran for simply 23 yards. Primarily based on how the primary two weeks have gone, I really feel just like the Lions are going to get an indignant Henry and let me simply say that the final individual I might ever need to sort out is an indignant Henry. I’ve by no means tried to sort out a steamroller, however I really feel like that is what it might be prefer to sort out Henry when he is indignant.
Though Henry struggled in opposition to the Browns in Week 2, the Ravens nonetheless managed to attain 41 factors. Since there’s clearly no manner of stopping the Ravens’ offense, the one query is whether or not the Lions will have the ability to sustain. It is a Detroit crew that could not get out of its personal manner throughout a Week 1 loss the place they scored simply 13 factors in opposition to the Packers. Nonetheless, in Week 2, they regarded just like the Lions of outdated by scoring 51 factors in opposition to the Bears in a recreation the place Jared Goff threw 5 landing passes.
If you will get strain on Goff, you possibly can decelerate the Lions’ offense, however getting strain on him may very well be troublesome for a Ravens crew that seemingly will not have Kyle Van Noy. The pass-rusher, who led the crew in sacks final 12 months, is coping with a hamstring harm and more than likely will not be taking part in, so that would open the door for Goff to have an enormous evening (Goff threw for 334 yards and 5 touchdowns in Week 2).
Even when Goff goes off, I am unable to decide in opposition to the Ravens. Not solely have they got an indignant Henry, however they’re additionally 18-2 straight up of their previous 20 dwelling primetime video games.
PICK: Ravens 41-31 over Lions | Ravens -6 | Odds by way of Caesars Sportsbook
NFL Week 3 picks: All the remainder
Payments 30-20 over Dolphins
Packers 31-17 over Browns
Colts 23-16 over Titans
Steelers 19-16 over Patriots
Eagles 20-17 over Rams
Buccaneers 24-17 over Jets
Commanders 30-23 over Raiders
Falcons 24-13 over Panthers
Jaguars 22-19 over Texans
Chargers 27-24 over Broncos
Seahawks 27-13 over Saints
Cowboys 30-27 over Bears
Final Week
Greatest decide: Final week, I predicted that the Patriots would go on the highway and beat the Dolphins in Miami for the primary time in six years, and guess what occurred? The Patriots beat the Dolphins in Miami for the primary time since 2019. For me, making this decide was simple as a result of on the subject of choosing video games, I solely have one rule: In case your crew has to carry a players-only assembly after the primary week of the season, then there is a 100% probability I’ll decide in opposition to your crew. I name this the JJ Watt rule as a result of JJ as soon as defined why these conferences are by no means an excellent signal.
“When you’re at players-only conferences level, simply go forward and e-book your January holidays. It’s over,” Watt stated.
I do not need to say the Dolphins’ season is over earlier than we even get to Week 3, however primarily based on Watt’s remark, the Dolphins’ season may already be over.
Worst decide: Final week, I picked in opposition to one fowl crew and that got here once I inexplicably took the Steelers to beat the Seahawks. I solely made the decide as a result of I assumed that Mike Tomlin had taught his rookies the fundamentals of the NFL rule e-book, you recognize, like the truth that you possibly can’t simply let a kickoff ROLL INTO THE END ZONE with out fielding it.
As Kaleb Johnson discovered on Sunday, if you don’t subject the ball on a kickoff, the opposite crew can get better it in the long run zone for a landing. I am fairly positive that almost all groups cowl this rule on the primary day of follow, apart from the Steelers, apparently.
This was the ONLY straight-up decide I missed in Week 2, however I deserved it, as a result of I picked in opposition to a fowl crew.
Picks Report
Straight up in Week 2: 15-1
SU general: 26-6
Towards the unfold in Week 2: 10-6
ATS general: 17-15
Yow will discover John Breech on Fb or Twitter, and if he is not doing a type of issues, he is most likely out fowl watching along with his fowl buddies from his fowl membership.
