2017 Week 3 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

Week 3 begins tonight when the Los Angeles Rams visit the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday Night Football, and concludes on Monday night when the Arizona Cardinals host the Dallas Cowboys. With a new week of games approaching, it is time for Week 3 Predix! 

Now last week, I did not exactly nail my picks. But there’s always the next week to get it right!

My overall record last week: 11-5

Lock of the Week record: 2-0

My overall season record: 22-9 

This is a decent football game, if it’s played on a Sunday afternoon, and both teams are wearing their standard uniforms, instead of the ketchup and mustard Color Rush kits. Have you seen them? They’re disgusting. Anyways, the 49ers are struggling offensively this season, and that’s the main reason they are winless going into Week 3. But their defense has kept them in both of their games so far. Carlos Hyde is their best offensive player, and it’s not really close. The Rams got upset at home by the Redskins, and they look like the same old Rams again. In this type of 50/50 divisional matchup, I tend to go with the home team. I’ll go with the 49ers here. 

Prediction: LAR 12, SF 13

I’m a fan of this game. The Ravens will be making their first ever trip overseas to play an NFL game, while the Jaguars are playing their fifth. They have won their last two games in London, over the Bills and Colts. The Ravens are the stiffest test they will face yet. This is a defense which is the first in franchise history to record four interceptions in their first two games. The defense looks great, and they have a great matchup against a mediocre Jags offense which continues to struggle with Blake Bortles taking snaps. Both teams have great defenses, and subpar offenses. But the Ravens have done just enough on offense in recent history to get the job done. I think the Ravens defense has a field day against Blake Bortles, and they are a must start in fantasy leagues.

Prediction: BAL 17, JAX 9

Of the nine 0-2 teams in the league going into this week, the Giants are the standout team on the list. The Giants have laid back to back eggs on offense in the first two games, scoring only 13 points. Last year’s Giants were able to beat the Cowboys, and the Lions. This year’s Giants lost to both the Cowboys and Lions already. As for the Eagles, they are playing at home for the first time this season, and they look good. They tested Kansas City all the way to the buzzer, and they have a divisional road win back from Week 1. I believe in Carson Wentz and the Eagles in this matchup, because even though the Giants have an amazing defense, their offense is going to force them to play more snaps than they need to. I like the Eagles so much in this matchup that they are my Lock of the Week. 

Prediction: NYG 10, PHI 27

The Panthers are 2-0, but both of their opponents are a combined 1-3 at the moment. The Saints are 0-2, but their opponents are currently 3-1. Neither team is really as good or as bad as their record suggests. The Saints defense has shown that they can’t stop anybody, while Cam Newton continues to struggle mightily. The Panthers dominated the Bills last week, yet they could not punch the ball in the end zone in a 9-3 win. The Saints surrendered over 500 yards to the Patriots last week. It is essentially a matchup between two corresponding weaknesses. I think the Panthers offense is more capable of getting back in rhythm than the Saints defense is capable of stopping anybody.  

Prediction: NO 14, CAR 22

This is one of the dullest playoff rematches in recent memory. While the Pats steamrolled the Saints in the Superdome last week, the Texans struggled yet again on offense. Deshaun Watson provides a different challenge for defenses over atom Savage, but he’s not ready to play in the NFL. The Texans only beat the Bengals because (a) the Bengals offense is terrible, and (b) Deshaun Watson ran for a 49 yard touchdown. He is capable of using his legs to torch defenses, but he is no match for a Bill Belichick defense. I see no other result but a New England blowout victory.  

Prediction: HOU 14, NE 31

As Ben Roethlisberger gets older, it becomes harder to predict how he will perform on the road. At home, he is capable of torching the best defenses in the league. On the road, he has laid egg after egg performances against mediocre defenses. But he has Le’Veon Bell to lean on. This is a potential game where Bell can break out again, but I’m not sure he will given his recent form. I like the Steelers, but I really just don’t like the Bears here. After two bad games offensively, I’m just not confident that Chicago can win games. 

Prediction: PIT 31, CHI 17

It’s strength versus strength in Minnesota this week. The Bucs have one of the best offenses in the league on paper, while the Vikings have neutralized even the highest scoring teams in the whole league. The elephant in the room, however, is Sam Bradford’s knee. I was pretty shocked to see his name under the inactives list last week. For the Vikings to win, they need Bradford. We saw it in Pittsburgh, the Vikings can not operate without him. I think the Vikings win this game if Bradford plays. He is on a roll. 

Prediction: TB 17, MIN 20

Believe it or not, this is the only game between two undefeated teams in Week 3. The Falcons essentially were expected to be sitting at 2-0 right now, while Detroit has surprised us all by even winning either of their first two games. The Lions are hot, and they are riding the hot hand of Matthew Stafford. After coming from behind in yet another comeback victory against Arizona, he led the Lions to a comfortable victory on the road against one of the league’s best defenses in the Giants. Now if the Lions are for real, they have to win this game. In Matthew Stafford’s career, the Lions are 5-46 against teams with a winning record. He has not done it yet on the biggest stage. The Falcons should be a winning team this year. Stafford has not won this type of game in the past, and that is why I am picking Atlanta. 

Prediction: ATL 34, DET 31

After two tough road games, the Jets host the Dolphins in their home opener. The Dolphins looked pretty good in their win over the Chargers on the road, and they are fresher than the Jets at the moment. Also, the Dolphins are just more talented. The Jets are rebuilding, and the Dolphins have their eyes set on the prize. As much as I doubt Jay Cutler’s capability to carry a team, I think he starts 2-0 as a Dolphin. 

Prediction: MIA 23, NYJ 13

Another great matchup between two solid defenses. Denver is hot at 2-0 with wins over the Chargers and Cowboys, while the Bills are coming off of a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of Carolina. The Bills offense looks pretty dreadful at the moment, and their best player, LeSean McCoy could only pick up 9 yards on 12 carries last week. Meanwhile, Trevor Siemian just threw for four touchdowns against Dallas, and the offense is firing on all cylinders. For Denver, this is a road game against an inferior opponent with little to no realistic playoff hopes, and this is a game that they have usually won. I think they get it done again.

Prediction: DEN 19, BUF 13

Both teams come into Week 3 winless. Even though it is only September, it feels like a must win. If Andrew Luck is to play this season, the Colts have to keep it close. They have to stay in the race, and they have to win a game or two. This might be the game to do it. The Browns are the best matchup of the schedule so far, but they are still a solid team. The offensive line is vastly improved, with Joe Thomas, Kevin Zeitler, and JC Tretter all holding it up. This game is almost unwatchable, however, unless you are a fan of one of the teams. But I think the Colts win. 

Prediction: CLE 17, IND 19

Are the Titans for real? I don’t know. I liked them going into the season, but they haven’t impressed yet. They managed to steamroll the Jaguars, but everybody will do the same in the coming weeks. Now the Titans welcome one of the league’s powerhouses, the Seahawks. For Tennessee, this is a game you have to win if you are legit this season. This is a big test for Mike Malarkey’s men, because the Seahawks are quite vulnerable right now. The Seahawks could only muster 9 and 12 points in two games, and their offensive line is one of the worst around. Russell Wilson is running for his life, and he has no time to find Doug Baldwin, or Jimmy Graham. Just ask fantasy owners. This is the best time to play Seattle for Tennessee. But until Tennessee proves they’re legit, I’m going to pick Seattle.

Prediction: SEA 20, TEN 16

The Bengals are in a free fall. Reports suggest that the locker room is turning on Andy Dalton, and that the name “Colin Kaepernick” is being thrown out by many players. The Bengals are in serious trouble. Meanwhile, Green Bay is pretty good. Once again, they were forced to play the role of spoiler for a team opening a new stadium, but they lost to Atlanta last week. But no worries, or, relax. Green Bay will be alright, and they have the perfect matchup to bounce back right here. 

Prediction: CIN 13, GB 30

The Chargers are in mid season form, losing both of their first two games on special teams blunders. The Chiefs are also in mid season form, at 2-0. It is quite impressive what the Chiefs have been able to do in the past three years. Since 2015, they have won 26 games. Andy Reid’s Chiefs are a machine right now, and they dominate in the division. The Chiefs were undefeated in the AFC West last season, and they are 11-1 since 2015. It only helps that the Chargers are a mess right now, and that they only have to fight a crowd of less than 27,000 people, most of which are not even Chargers fans.

Prediction: KC 28, LAC 21

I was pretty surprised to see this game was scheduled for Sunday Night Football. I guess the schedule makers don’t understand that the Redskins just don’t play well in primetime. Well, we better get used to this. This is one of five nationally televised games that the Redskins will play this season, and one of three in the next four weeks. Now, there are two teams here. The Raiders are hot at 2-0, and feeling great about themselves. Just ask Marshawn Lynch. Michael Crabtree is pretty underrated, but he is the best receiver in Oakland, and arguably in the entire state of California right now. He caught three balls for scores last week, and looks primed to shine in a great matchup this week. I’d expect plenty of points to be put on the board this week. But the Raiders will score.

Prediction: OAK 30, WSH 21

What a great game of Monday Night Football this promises to be. Arizona are at home for the first time this season, and they have a test against a Dallas side coming from an embarrassing loss at Denver last week. Elliott is the topic of conversation right now, after Cam Newton-esque behavior on the field after his quarterback threw two interceptions, and he did nothing but sit and watch. Denver made Dak beat them through the air, and Dak couldn’t do it. That is the game plan all teams will use when they play Dallas this year: stop the run and make Dak beat you. Can Arizona do that? I don’t think so, especially without Calais Campbell there anymore. I have more faith in the Cowboys offense rebounding than I do in the Cardinals offense struggling on the back, or arm, of 37 year old Carson Palmer who, frankly, is playing like a 37 year old quarterback. But, I believe in Bruce Arians more than Jason Garrett, and I think the Cardinals will be up for this one.  

Prediction: DAL 17, ARZ 20

Picture credit: http://www.seahawks.com/galleries/2013/10/15/photo-blog-eye-seahawks-vs-titans