Jason Ross’ NFL Week 3 Picks & Predictions
Sep 24, 2021, 9:57 AM | Updated: 9:57 am
(Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Another week of the NFL is upon us so let’s go ahead and make some predictions.
I have my lock of the week, upset of the week, the games I feel good about and the games that can go either way.
Here we go.
Lock of the Week: (2-0 this season, last week’s choice was Cleveland over the Texans)
Panthers over the Texans.
Carolina is (2-0) and has looked good in the process. They are very well coached and have a great defense. With Tyrod Taylor out and rookie quarterback Davis Mills getting the start look for it being a tough night for the Texans. Too much McCaffrey, too much of a talent discrepancy should results in a W for Carolina and a (3-0) start.
Upset of the Week: (0-2 this season, last week’s choice was Vikings over the Cardinals)
Lions over the Ravens. Detroit has really competed well the first two weeks. They aren’t the more talented team but Dan Campbell has the Lions battling hard so far through two weeks.
The Ravens got an emotional win last week but may still be riding that high instead of locking in on the Lions. Detroit in a stunner.
Games I feel good about
Bills over Washington. Buffalo got back on track last week with a shutout of the Dolphins. Josh Allen is too good, the Bills are too good and my pick to win the Super Bowl should be just fine this week.
Browns over the Bears. I am really intrigued by this game. Justin Fields will get his first start and even though I really like him and his future, the NFL is generally brutal to its rookie quarterbacks. The Browns are now a seasoned team and they should do well at home and take advantage of the rookie.
Chiefs over the Chargers. Kansas City is (1-1) and the team that most people pick to win the Super Bowl hasn’t looked great yet. Their offense is just fine but their defense needs work. They know the Chargers well and trying to win at Arrowhead is a very tough task. Chiefs in this one.
Saints over the Patriots. Talk about up and down. The Saints looked great and then awful in the first two weeks. The real team is probably somewhere in between but they have a lot of very good parts. Saints figure things out and take care of New England this week.
Cardinals over the Jaguars. This is a matchup issue. The Jags will be in that spot a lot. They haven’t had a great chance to win either week and this should be more of the same, Cardinals get to (3-0)
Broncos over the Jets. Much like the game above the Jets are going through a transition. Zach Wilson had a brutal week last week and the Broncos defense will try to put him in more of the same positions. Teddy Bridgewater will limit his mistakes and Denver should be (3-0) by week’s end.
Raiders over the Dolphins. Miami has trouble scoring and is missing their starting quarterback. I don’t think there will be much of a drop off from Tua to Jacoby Brissett but the Dolphins need to score in the 20’s to win and they haven’t been able to do that. Vegas rides Carr and the home crowd to a perfect start.
Games That Could Go Either Way
Titans over the Colts. The Colts are a good football team but they don’t have a win. Injuries have slowed them down and the Titans found their groove late last week. Huge division battle early in the season because these seem like the only two teams that can win the division. Titans in a close call.
Giants over the Falcons. The Giants have had a few extra days to iron out some of their issues. Both these teams have issues but it appears the Giants have a few less. Giants in a nail biter.
Steelers over the Bengals. Pittsburgh regressed last week but they can go back to their calling card and get the defense to make it’s impact and help win the game. These two teams know each other so well and that will help the Steelers. Pittsburgh by 1 score.
Rams over Buccaneers in the game of the week. Neither team has lost yet and both have looked good in their wins. Tampa has been so strong offensively and I believe the Rams will be able to make it more difficult on Brady and the Bucs. Tampa has given up points and the Rams can score. Not many teams match up well with Tampa but the Rams do. Rams win at home.
Seahawks over the Vikings. The Vikings have had two heart breakers in a row but they are still without a win. They may play better this week but I think they will come up short again. Seahawks by a field goal.
49ers over the Packers. It seems that these two teams play each other all the time in Santa Clara. The 49ers home opener and the crowd will really help.
The 49ers running back group is so depleted but they will plug and play and scheme their way to an effective enough offense. Green Bay’s offense was better on Monday but the defense still isn’t there. 49ers go (3-0)
Cowboys over the Eagles. Dallas in a close one of two teams that are far too familiar with one another. Cowboys and Dak will get the amount of points needed to secure the W.
