2018 NFL Week 3 Predix

Written by Sam DeCoste

Just as we predicted, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Patrick Mahomes are the frontrunners to win MVP, the Steelers are winless, and the Browns should arguably be unbeaten through two weeks of play. Another NFL season, yet another season of wild surprises. This season is projecting to be just as unpredictable as ever, and I still haven't quite figured out how to pick games in 2018. Will this week be my week? Probably, unless two teams tie again this week. 
Week 3 is here, and there are some exciting matchups coming up to look forward to. Two playoff teams from last square off in both Atlanta and Jacksonville, when the Saints take on the Saints, and the Titans visit Jacksonville to renew their respective divisional rivalries. The Los Angeles teams will battle for city bragging rights this week as well when the Chargers and Rams duel in the Coliseum. But the story of the week lies on Thursday night, when the Browns take on the Jets, with the chance to win their first game in two years. Will it happen? Let's find out!

Here are my season records: 

Lock of the Week record: 1-1

Last week's record: 8-7-1

Regular season record: 16-14-2

    NYJ @ CLE

The Jets had two starkly opposite performances. They dominated the Lions in impressing fashion only to lay an egg at home against the Dolphins. They are a talented team and should be marching into Cleveland undefeated. As should the home team, whose kicker has cost them two victories out of the gate. Tyrod Taylor has kept the Browns competitive in their first two games, and I believe he can outlast Sam Darnold in a tough Thursday night battle. Yes, the Browns will win!

Prediction: NYJ 17, CLE 21

 NO @ ATL

The Falcons bounced back last week, but the Saints were rather pathetic, and lucky to win against the Browns. These games are usually blockbuster, and it should continue, considering one defense has struggled, and the other is riddled with injuries. I must admit though, I am concerned about the Saints. They were the second best team in their own dome for two weeks, and their opponent at least showed us what they can be at peak performance on offense. I'm going to roll with the hot hand.

Prediction: NO 14, ATL 31

 TEN @ JAX

Strangely enough, the Titans swept the Jaguars last season despite finishing second in the division. And the roster has been bolstered with more talent, and they have a new coaching staff, but they are still underdogs to beat Jacksonville. The Jaguars looked fantastic in every way last week, and somehow, Blake Bortles was the superior quarterback in the same game with Tom Brady. And they're going up against Blaine Gabbert this week? Money in the bank.

Prediction: TEN 10, JAX 27

 GB @ WSH

Because of the Redskins, I was eliminated in my survivor pool. So I am reluctant to pick them again, especially against a great team like the Packers. If I was smart, I would pick the road team because they have Aaron Rodgers and they are more talented. But I won't, because I still believe in the Redskins. The Packers will play on the road for the first time this week, against a Redskins squad that will want to redeem themselves after a pathetic showing against the Colts. They just need to find some home field advantage.

Prediction: GB 20, WSH 24

 NYG @ HOU

Do the Texans know the season began two weeks ago? If so, where is Deshaun Watson? There's an imposter on the field with the same name who has not played anything like Watson did last season. I think this will be their bounce back game. Against a Giants squad that underwhelmed in primetime last week, I think Houston has a chance to light it up in their home opener.

Prediction: NYG 13, HOU 23

 SF @ KC

I overestimated the 49ers going into the season. They almost let the Lions steal the game at the very end, and they don't have the same swagger they did at the tail-end of 2017. Meanwhile, Patrick Mahomes is the talk of the town. He is on pace to throw 80 touchdowns this season, and he has a chance to light up a weak Niners secondary and march on. But the Chiefs defense will keep the 49ers in the contest because they haven't been able to stop anybody this season.

Prediction: SF 21, KC 30

 BUF @ MIN

Josh Allen played decent last week, but his supporting cast does not have the caliber to help him develop like Patrick Mahomes does in Kansas City. This is the biggest mismatch of the weekend, as the Vikings defense should feast on the worst offense in the league. And Kirk Cousins will have a field day. In his lone start against the Bills in 2015, Cousins threw for 319 yards and scored five touchdowns.

Prediction: BUF 7, MIN 38

 IND @ PHI

Carson Wentz is back! We are saved! Not so fast, Philadelphia. How are we supposed to believe that Wentz is going to light it up like he did last year? And he may look good in practice, but it's practice! He is going against eleven Colts defenders that have a preseason and two regular season games under their belt. Now, I don't believe the Colts have the talent to march in and win in Philadelphia no matter who the quarterback is. It is the perfect game for Wentz to return, because there will be rust.

Prediction: IND 16, PHI 21

 CIN @ CAR

Do the Panthers think they can beat them Bengals? I'm not so sure. Carolina's offense has underwhelmed this season, and they're hosting the sizzling hot Bengals who are coming off ten days rest. However, Joe Mixon will be out for Cincinnati, and that is a massive loss. But I'm still not sure if the Panthers can contain AJ Green, or stop John Ross and Tyler Boyd from making plays as well. This is a game that the Bengals normally drop an egg, but I think they can carry their momentum going forward.

Prediction: CIN 24, CAR 17

 OAK @ MIA

Jon Gruden probably wishes he was back in the booth. His team hasn't quite played out his vision, going winless in the first two weeks. It doesn't get much easier in a road trip to Miami, where the Dolphins are 2-0. The defense has been playing very well, and Ryan Tannehill is doing enough to make plays for the Dolphins. This should be easy for the Dolphins.

Prediction: OAK 17, MIA 23

 DEN @ BAL

This is Denver's first serious test of the season. They're 2-0 but they haven't been very convincing, whereas Baltimore is coming off of an embarrassing defeat at the hands of the Bengals. After ten days rest of watching what they did wrong in Cincinnati, the Ravens should bounce back against a Broncos team which was 1-7 on the road last year.

Prediction: DEN 20, BAL 23

 LAC @ LAR

A contest for bragging rights in Los Angeles. It should be entertaining, but mostly for Rams fans. The Chargers do not have a pass rush to pressure Goff, and the Rams look the sharpest team in the league. Try shutting down this offense. 

Prediction: LAC 24, LAR 28

 DAL @ SEA

I think the Seahawks are primed to bounce back in their home opener against the Cowboys. Dallas looked better against the Giants, but realistically, their performance against the Panthers is more of what we should expect in this game. They will struggle on the road to run the ball, and Dak Prescott will not outduel Russell Wilson in Seattle.

Prediction: DAL 13, SEA 22

 CHI @ ARZ

The Bears look sharp on defense, especially with Khalil Mack rushing the passer. But Mitchell Trubisky could provide to be a liability and hold Chicago back based on his performance against the Seahawks. It won't be exposed this week, though. Arizona is struggling mightily to score points or even get their best player, David Johnson, space to roam.

Prediction: CHI 24, ARZ 19

 NE @ DET

Matt Patricia will coach against his mentor this week in Bill Belichick, but he is not going in with any sort of momentum. The Lions are winless and they have been one of the worst teams in the league through two weeks. Not to mention the Patriots are the worst team to play after a loss. They fix their mistakes.

Prediction: NE 27, DET 14

 PIT @ TB

The Steelers just don't seem right. Antonio Brown wants a trade, Mike Tomlin supposedly lost the locker room, Le'Veon Bell is chilling on a beach somewhere, and the team isn't winning. Meanwhile, Ryan Fitzpatrick has given the Buccaneers life. He is on a roll, and the Steelers defense has given up 63 points in their first two games. I think the Bucs will win keep their win streak going. This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: PIT 30, TB 39

Works Cited
Choate, Dave. “What You Need to Know to Watch Falcons vs. Saints on Thursday Night Football.” The Falcoholic, The Falcoholic, 4 Dec. 2017, www.thefalcoholic.com/2017/12/4/16732380/what-you-need-to-know-to-watch-falcons-vs-saints-on-thursday-night-football-channel-location.