Week Three
Thursday, Sep. 22nd-
Houston Texans at New England Patriots:
Anyone remember the last time the Patriots were 0-2? Yeah me either, and they don’t plan on getting to 0-3. This is a must win game for the Patriots, and they play like it, as Bill Belichick and Josh McDaniels scheme up a game plan based on the running game, taking some pressure off their young QB. In doing this, Jimmy has far more time to throw the ball, and connects with Gronk for a pair of scores in the second half.
The Pick: Patriots 31 Texans 16
Sunday, Sep. 25th-
Arizona Cardinals at Buffalo Bills:
The Bills start to the season sure has been a rough one, and a date with the Arizona Cardinals is unlikely to change things. The Bills start slow again, but do mount a furious rally, coming back from 20 down to cut it to a 3 point game late in the 4th quarter. A failed onside kick dooms the comeback however as the Bills fall to 0-3.
The Pick: Cardinals 27 Bills 24
Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans:
For a team with a lot of unmet expectation to this point, the Raiders need a confidence boost, which is exactly what they get from the lowly Titans. The offense comes alive finally, and the defense really digs into Mariota as Khalil Mack finally gets his first sack of the season, and the Raiders as a whole get to Mariota 5 times on this day. All this leads to an easy W for the Raiders.
The Pick: Raiders 35 Titans 10
Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins:
Just as he did a season ago with Jay Cutler, Adam Gase has Ryan Tannehill playing a very efficient and effective brand of quarterback. Tannehill tosses 2 first half TD’s, and Arian Foster continues his resurgence down in Miami. The Dolphins seem to to a true contender in the AFC East.
The Pick: Dolphins 27 Browns 13
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars:
The Ravens look to begin the season 3-0, but the Jags certainly have something to say about it. The Allen’s have themselves a heck of a day, as Allen Hurns reels in two TD passes, Allen Robinson catches one as well, and Julius Thomas gets into the action as well, hauling in Blake Bortles fourth TD pass midway through the fourth quarter. Joe Flacco brings the Ravens into the red zone to try and tie the game late, but Jalen Ramsey snags his first NFL INT to seal the deal for the Jags. Could they be for real this year?
The Pick: Jaguars 31 Ravens 24
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers:
The last time the Lions went to Lambeau, they earned their first victory there in two decades. However, this is a very different Packer team this time around. Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson have picked right back up where they left off in 2014, and Jared Cook is becoming a favorite target for Rodgers. Lighting won’t strike twice in two years, and this day belongs to the Packers.
The Pick: Packers 45 Lions 7
Denver Broncos at Cincinnati Bengals:
Trying to avoid an 0-3 start is not an easy thing to do against the defending champs. However all things click on this day for the Bengals, as the Broncos come out sluggish in the Eastern time slot. With 2 first half picks by Trevor Siemian, and a 20 point deficit, the Broncos look to rookie Paxton Lynch to lead them from behind. In the second half, the Broncos defense wakes up as Lynch throws for a TD, and runs for another. A game winning TD drive comes up just short as the Broncos as Cody Latimer drops a 4th down pass at the Bengals 22 yard line and the Broncos drop their first of the year.
The Pick: Bengals 23 Broncos 17
Minnesota Vikings at Carolina Panthers:
Bank of America Stadium is becoming one of the toughest venues to win a game if you are an opposing team. The Vikings find that out the hard way, as CaMVP throws for 356 yards and 3 scores, and runs for 112 yards and 2 more TD’s as the Panthers steamroll through the Vikings.
The Pick: Panthers 38 Vikings 10
Washington Redskins at New York Giants:
The first matchup between Odell Beckham Jr. and Josh Norman goes a little better for the former this time around. Beckham catches 2 TD’s and finishes with 122 passing yards, and the Giants take the first matchup between these two teams.
The Pick: Giants 28 Redskins 17
Los Angeles Rams at Tampa Bay Buccaneers:
It’s early, but Jameis Winston has his name in the hat as an early MVP candidate. He adds TD’s seven, eight and nine through three games, and he adds his third straight game without a turnover. Doug Martin gets into the mix this week as well, adding another 2 scores against a very formidable Rams defense. Dirk Koetter has this squad rolling, and has Jeff Fisher reaching to his bench in the second half, as first overall pick Jared Goff gets his first game action of the season.
The Pick: Buccaneers 38 Rams 20
San Francisco 49ers at Seattle Seahawks:
With only 10 points scored total over the first two games, a trip to CenturyLink isn’t exactly what the doctor ordered. Making his first start of the year, Colin Kaepernick leads the Niners to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter, but that is all she wrote, as the Niners would only score 3 points the rest of the way. Midway through the second quarter the Seahawks take the lead on a 26 yard Russell Wilson scramble and the Seahawks never look back. Doug Baldwin records three TD receptions in this game and the outcome is never really in question.
The Pick: Seahawks 38 49ers 13
New York Jets at Kansas City Chiefs:
This Jets team already has 2 good wins under their belt as they come in to Arrowhead to try and make it 3. This game turns into a low scoring defensive struggle, but a deep Fitzpatrick strike to Brandon Marshall breaks a late fourth quarter tie and Alex Smith is intercepted by Darrelle Revis with 30 seconds to go.
The Pick: Jets 17 Chiefs 10
San Diego Chargers at Indianapolis Colts:
This is an affair in which the defenses may as well have stayed on the sidelines. Neither team punts until midway through the third quarter, although the QB’s do exchange first half picks. Regardless Andrew Luck hits TY Hilton for 2 scores, and the Colts pull away from the Bolts in the 4th quarter.
The Pick: Colts 42 Chargers 31
Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles:
Coming in like a wrecking ball, the Steelers offense simply starts and doesn’t stop. Roethlisberger fires 5 TD’s in this lopsided affair with Antonio Brown on the receiving end of 3 of them. The Steelers finish with over 600 yards from scrimage.
The Pick: Steelers 38 Eagles 24
Chicago Bears at Dallas Cowboys:
Jay Cutler gets the Bears off to a nice start, leading TD drives on each of the first 2 possessions from the Bears. After that, the run game takes over for the Cowboys as Ezekiel Elliott breaks one for 67 yards in the 3rd quarter, and the Cowboys take the lead for good.
The Pick: Cowboys 24 Bears 17
Monday, Sep. 26th-
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints:
A game like this makes you feel like the Saints have really regained their home field advantage. After beginning the 2015 season 5-0, not much has gone right for the Falcons aside from ending the Panthers bid for a perfect season a year ago. Drew Brees has his way as he has for so many years in the SuperDome, and the result is never in question.
The Pick: Saints 34 Falcons 14
Standings:
AFC East
New York Jets: 3-0
Miami Dolphins: 2-1
New England Patriots: 1-2
Buffalo Bills: 0-3
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: 2-1
Pittsburgh Steelers: 3-0
Cincinnati Bengals: 1-2
Cleveland Browns: 0-3
AFC South
Indianapolis Colts: 2-1
Jacksonville Jaguars: 2-1
Houston Texans: 1-2
Tennessee Titans: 0-3
AFC West
Denver Broncos: 2-1
Kansas City Chiefs: 2-1
Oakland Raiders: 1-2
San Diego Chargers: 0-3
More from Predominantly Orange
- Broncos chances of landing Sean Payton dwindling, but not gone
- Denver Broncos dream coaching staff for DeMeco Ryans
- Denver Broncos: “Sleeper” David Shaw checks every box
- The Broncos’ coaching search likely has not gone to plan
- Special Chiefs Suck Offer: Bet $5, Win $150 if Joe Burrow Passes for ONE YARD vs KC
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: 2-1
Philadelphia Eagles: 1-2
New York Giants: 2-1
Washington Redskins: 1-2
NFC North
Green Bay Packers: 3-0
Minnesota Vikings: 1-2
Chicago Bears: 1-2
Detroit Lions: 1-2
NFC South
Carolina Panthers: 2-1
New Orleans Saints: 2-1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 2-1
Atlanta Falcons: 1-2
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: 3-0
Seattle Seahawks: 3-0
Los Angeles Rams: 1-2
San Francisco 49ers: 0-3
Next: Week 4