2020 Week 3 Predix: Battle of the MVPs in Batimore

Photo courtesy of Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Written by Sam DeCoste

Week 2 was some exciting stuff. The Cowboys dramatic comeback win over the Falcons, the Chiefs escaping LA with an overtime win, and the Seahawks goal line stand at the last second against the Patriots. Wow.

As if that wasn't enough, last week I produced my greatest ever Predix week. I correctly predicted 15 of the 16 games last weekend. In case you're wondering, the one defeat happened to be the final game of the weekend, in which the Raiders pulled off the upset win over the Saints in their opening game in Vegas. Despite coming so close to an undefeated week and just falling short, 15-1 now stands as my record for most accurate picks in a given week, and highest winning percentage. Naturally, it is very difficult to sustain that level of accuracy from week to week. But that is what it is all about! I predicted the kickoff score on the dot, and I came a Saints loss away from going unbeaten in Week 2. Confidence is at an all-time high for yours truly, and I am gearing up for what could be a historic season for my Predix page. 

Now it is time to turn the page to Week 3, which promises to be the most exciting weekend of football yet in 2020. The week is headlined by two matchups of 2-0 squads, including the Los Angeles Rams visiting the Buffalo Bills, and the Kansas City Chiefs heading to Baltimore to take on the Rams. We also have Cowboys-Seahawks and Packers-Saints on tap to look forward to in the primetime windows on Sunday evening. This weekend should be a barnburner.

There's no time to waste. Week 3 is here, and it begins Thursday night with Dolphins-Jaguars! Let's get it!

Here are my records from this season:

Week 2 record: 15-1

Regular season record: 24-8

Lock of the Week record: 1-1

Dolphins @ Jaguars

The Dolphins sure put up a fight against the Bills last Sunday, but their defensive woes cost the Fins dearly. Josh Allen threw for a 417 yards against this secondary, and Cam Newton racked 75 yards on the ground against them in Week 1. On paper, the Jaguars are the team to give the Dolphins defense a confidence boost, and a bounce back performance. But Gardner Minshew is playing like a man on fire. 

Minshew threw for 339 yards and 3 touchdowns in the air in the narrow loss last week to Tennessee, and has the Jags offense playing with a unique swagger they never have before. Minshew is throwing dimes, putting his playmakers D.J. Chark and Keelan Cole in great positions to make plays. Minshew is heartbeat of Jacksonville, and the team would be flaming out without him. The emergence of James Robinson has complemented Minshew's air attack very well, and will be counted on early and often against the league's 29th ranked rushing defense. 

This is far from an easy win for the Dolphins, even though they are the better team on paper. Miami played well offensively with Ryan Fitzpatrick, who threw for 328 yards against Buffalo. Mike Geisicki played outstandingly, catching 8 passes for 130 yards, and players like Myles Gaskin and Isaiah Ford have stepped up as well. The Dolphins offense matches up well with a young and inexperienced Jags defense, and should move the ball well on Thursday night. But the Dolphins 30th ranked defense is the weak link, and is the X-factor of the night. If the Dolphins can rush Gardner Minshew and force him into sacks and maybe even a turnover or two, the Dolphins can swing the game in their favor. But Minshew has made me eat my words in the past, and I refuse to make that mistake again in Week 3. Dub for Duval.

Prediction: Dolphins 20, Jaguars 31

Rams @ Bills

The year is 2020. Josh Allen leads the NFL in passing yards. The Buffalo Bills rank third in total offense. What a world. 

The trade for Stefon Diggs has opened the floodgates for the Bills offense, which has largely stagnated in mediocrity for the past decade plus. That being said, Sunday presents Buffalo's biggest test of the young season, against a well-coached Rams team. Diggs will be matching up against Jalen Ramsey this Sunday, which will make for the best individual outside matchup of Week 3. If Diggs is covered, John Brown and Cole Beasley can make plays, and the Bills can run the ball with Singletary and Moss against a Rams defense which has given up 129 yards per game on the ground. Buffalo will need to prioritize the ground game to neutralize the formidable Aaron Donald, because the offensive line will not be able to shut him down for four quarters.

It will be difficult for the Rams to fly cross country again to match up against Buffalo, but they certainly have the means to pull off the road win. Jared Goff is coming off a 3 touchdown performance against the Eagles, and the offense is opening up even more with the emergence of Tyler Higbee and Van Jefferson. Against a Bills defense with injuries at the linebacker position, Higbee could be in for another big performance, after racking in a hat trick of touchdowns last weekend. The likes of Cooper Kupp and former Bill, Robert Woods, can be utilized to control the game in the air if Goff can find them as well. 

We know how good the Rams can be when they are at their game, and this is Buffalo's first true test of the season. I could be made to pay for this, but I believe Buffalo is better coached and more talented from top to bottom. If the Bills dial up pressure against Goff, it could unravel for the Rams very quickly. 

Prediction: Rams 20, Bills 23

Raiders @ Patriots

While the Patriots were defeated on Sunday night in stunning fashion, there is a lot to be optimistic about. Cam Newton silenced the critics with a prolific passing performance against Seattle, throwing for 397 yards in the air, and rushing for 47 yards and 2 scores. The team fell just one yard short of a miraculous comeback win, and come back home ready for vengeance. Julian Edelman and N'Keal Harry each caught 8 passes, and Damiere Byrd got involved with 6 receptions as well. The pieces seem to be in place for New England's passing attack to develop, and have another breakout performance against the Raiders. 

The 2-0 Raiders march into Foxboro feeling confident, following a night in which Derek Carr outplayed Drew Brees. Carr threw for 282 yards and 3 scores in a very efficient night for the Vegas offense, also spearheaded by Josh Jacobs' 88 yards on the ground. The ground game will be key for the Raiders, and they will need to lean on an efficient ground game to keep Newton on the sidelines. This week presents an opportunity to let Henry Ruggs get loose, after the Patriots secondary allowed D.K. Metcalf to rack 92 receiving yards and a touchdown. Darren Waller will be a focal point of the gameplan, and Carr will look his way early and often after catching a dozen passes on Monday night.

On a short week, the Raiders are riding high on momentum. But flying across the country to play in Foxboro is a daunting mission, and these Raiders are still unproven against this level of competition. Containing a 41 year old Drew Brees is one thing, doing it to Cam Newton is another. Patriots win.

Prediction: Raiders 10, Patriots 28

Texans @ Steelers

The schedule makers did not hold back on the Houston Texans, giving them the Chiefs and Ravens to begin the 2020 campaign. While the Texans rank 20th in total defense and 31st against the run, the offense has been just as pathetic. Houston ranks 24th in yards per game on offense, and Deshaun Watson is tied for the most sacked quarterback in the league with 8 sacks taken. Houston's problems are beyond the absence of DeAndre Hopkins, although his trade does magnify their issues even more. The offensive line cannot keep Watson upright. Against a formidable Steelers pass rush, Watson is in for another long afternoon, and will be running for his life all afternoon. If the Steelers blitz and leave Brandin Cooks or Will Fuller one-on-one downfield, Watson still has the arm strength to find them. But Mike Tomlin is going to send pressure all game.

It was less than a convincing win for Pittsburgh last Sunday against the Denver Broncos, but the Steelers are 2-0 nonetheless. James Conner returned from injury and racked 106 yards on the ground, and receivers not named Juju Smith Schuster stepped up. Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool combined for 180 receiving yards and 2 touchdown catches against the Broncos, and should get plenty of looks again against the Texans secondary. The Steelers need to start quickly as the last two Texans opponents did, and keep the Texans playing from behind. A large first half deficit will phase David Johnson out of the gameplan, and force Watson to drop back 40 times, and let the Pittsburgh pass rush go to work. 

The Texans are 0-2 and as desperate as can be, and they will give it their all against the Steelers. But the Steelers have the personnel to control the game for all four quarters, and Deshaun Watson could be in for a brutal afternoon at Heinz Field. The Steelers should move to 3-0, but the Texans will put up a decent fight.

Prediction: Texans 24, Steelers 31

Titans @ Vikings

\The situation is ugly in Minneapolis. Kirk Cousins, just three offseasons removed from signing the highest guaranteed contract in NFL history, looks lost. Against the Colts, Cousins completed just 42 percent of his passes for 113 yards, and turned the ball over 3 times. The loss of Stefon Diggs has hurt much more than any Vikings fans could have imagined, and Tennessee presents another tough matchup. Cousins will need to bounce back after the worst performance of his career, and lean on his weapons. Dalvin Cook needs to touch the ball more than 16 times, because he is a game changer from the backfield. Adam Theilen needs more than 3 receptions if Cousins is to bounce back. Role players like Justin Jefferson and Olabisi Johnson will need to step up. The Vikings offense is not a one-man band (clearly), it will take a complete team performance to best the Tennessee Titans.

Meanwhile, the Titans are 2-0 for the first time since 2008, and for just the third time since 1999. After their deep playoff run in 2019, the Titans have come out firing. Ryan Tannehill tossed 4 touchdowns against the Jags last week, and Derrick Henry is still the engine that makes Tennessee run. The Vikings present another fabulous matchup for the away team, with Minnesota unraveling at the seams. The Vikings rank 30th in total offense and 29th in defense, which presents an opportunity for the Titans to control the game from the word go. Against a new-look secondary, Tannehill can exploit the Vikings defense with Corey Davis and A.J. Brown if he is healthy, and ride the hot hand with Jonnu Smith. Derrick Henry will undoubtedly carry the ball 20-25 times as well, and the Titans should not have an issue moving the chains.

This game should be closer than the matchup suggests. Minnesota is desperate for a win, and the Titans could easily fall into a trap. But ball don't lie. The Titans outmatch the Vikings in every single way. 

Prediction: Titans 24, Vikings 14

Bengals @ Eagles

Maybe fans expected the Bengals to be 0-2 led by a rookie quarterback, but nobody expected the Eagles to be winless at this point. After blowing a 17 point lead to the Washington Football Team in Week 1, the Eagles were throttled by the Rams in a 37-19 loss. Carson Wentz is tied for the most sacked quarterback in the NFL, and has thrown 4 picks in just 2 games already. A game against the Bengals should never be considered a must-win, but this one is. The Eagles need to lean on Miles Sanders, who ran the ball 20 times for 95 yards and a score against the Rams. Wentz needs to target Zach Ertz more frequently, and test the young Bengals secondary by looking DeSean Jackson's way, who has yet to make an impact in his homecoming to Philly. 

The Bengals, however, will not just roll over. Joe Burrow, as a rookie quarterback, attempted 61 passes (!!!) against the Browns on Thursday night, and threw for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns. But it is Burrow's supporting cast that has underwhelmed. While the offensive line is horrific and Burrow is often running for his life, Joe Mixon and A.J. Green have yet to step onto the scene this season. Green caught just 3 balls against the Browns, and Mixon carried the ball only 16 times in a game that started to get out of hand. If Burrow can have slightly longer pass protection, and he targets A.J. Green against an underwhelming secondary, the Bengals have a shot. Not to mention Cincy is coming off 10 days rest. They will be refreshed, and they will be ready.

Two 0-2 teams facing off should make for a thrilling football game. While the Bengals have a shot to be pesky down the stretch, the Eagles coached by a Super Bowl winning head coach are desperate, and more talented. An Eagles defeat in this spot would be disastrous, and very concerning.

Prediction: Bengals 17, Eagles 21

Bears @ Falcons

With every passing week, Dan Quinn's job security dissipates exponentially. The Falcons crumbled in the fourth quarter against Dallas, losing 40-39 despite holding a 15 point lead with 5 minutes remaining. The Falcons can score as many points as anyone, but their defense can't stop a cold. While it may only be Week 3, this game is an absolute must-win for the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears present a favorable matchup for the Falcons defense, who need a confidence boost badly. If the Falcons can keep Mitch Trubisky and co in check, Matt Ryan and the Falcons can put the Bears away. 

Chicago, meanwhile, is 2-0 for the first time since 2013. The Bears have played with heart in their first two games, rallying from a 23-6 deficit against the Lions, and shutting down the Giants in Week 2. Trubisky fell down to earth a little bit after throwing 2 picks against the Giants defense. Trubisky does not need to be perfect by any means, considering the Falcons defense ranks 31st against the pass, and 32nd in points allowed. The Bears can lean on Daivd Montgomery who carried the rock for 82 yards against the Giants, but will need to get their top receiver more than 3 catches. The Falcons will score a lot of points, and the Bears will need to keep up.

The Falcons need to win bad. They have the means to beat Chicago this week, but it will not be easy. Anything can happen, but a Bears win would be very impressive for the playoff-aspiring Bears, and devastating for a spiraling Falcons squad.

Prediction: Bears 20, Falcons 34

49ers @ Giants

The 49ers will be making their return to the scene of the crime last week, which saw the likes of Jimmy Garappolo, Raheem Mostert, and Nick Bosa come away with injuries against the Jets. Bosa's ACL tear will sideline him for the remainder of the season, which is a devastating blow for San Fran. Unfortunately the 49ers do not have time to grieve for their own losses, with another cross country trip to New Jersey on tap this Sunday. Garappolo and Mostert may not be ready in time, and Kittle, Samuel, Sherman, Ford, and Greenlaw are also fighting injuries. Whoever suits up for the 49ers this Sunday is essentially a toss-up, and we will only know on game day.

San Fran's Bosa-less pass rush should still get home and pressure Daniel Jones in the pocket, and force him into turnovers. Danny Dimes is still looser with the football than his coaching staff would like him to be, and that could cost the Giants against what is still an elite defense. The loss of Saquon Barkley for the year is devastating, and the Giants offense will not be the same without him. Dion Lewis will see his role increase, but seeing how Barkley could only muster 34 yards on the ground in 2 games behind the Giants' horrific offensive line, it is difficult to imagine improvement coming from Lewis. 

The Giants will ride or die with Danny Dimes, and the flow of the game hinges heavily on the 49ers inactives list. Despite all the injuries the 49ers have, Kyle Shanahan will have his squad ready to go, and there is enough healthy talent on tap to pull out the double in Jersey.

Prediction: 49ers 14, Giants 13

Football Team @ Browns

Another week, another favorable matchup for the Browns offense. After laying 35 on the Bengals, the Browns have an opportunity to rack some momentum, and move to a winning record on the season for the first time since 2014. The Browns are still figuring out their identity on offense under new coaching. They can pound the rock with Nick Chubb, who carried the ball 22 times for 124 yards and scored two touchdowns last week, but it's time that Baker Mayfield gets Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham involved. The two combined for 7 catches against the Bengals, which is still fewer touches than they should be getting. If Beckham and Landry are busy, the Browns will be unstoppable. Against Kendall Fuller and Ronald Darby, the matchup is enticing for Cleveland.

After an impressive comeback win against the Eagles, Washington was humbled by Arizona in Week 2. The Football Team gave up 438 total yards, including 160 on the ground. To help out the defense, Dwayne Haskins and co need to move the chains with more efficiency. Rookie running back Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic have the makings of an explosive 1-2 punch in the backfield, and Terry McLaurin is quickly ascending to top receiver status in the NFL. Washington can move the chains against a defense which ranks 27th in passing yards allowed 29th in points allowed. But they will ned to keep up with the Browns high octane unit, and I do not think Washington is built to do that.

This is my Lock of the Week.

Prediction: Football Team 14, Browns 29

Panthers @ Chargers

I'm sure you were surprised as I was to see Justin Herbert under center for the Chargers on Sunday. With Tyrod Taylor out with a punctured lung, Herbert will likely get his second career start this Sunday against the Panthers. After forcing the Chiefs to overtime in Week 2, there is plenty of reason to be optimistic if you are a Chargers fan. Herbert threw for 311 yards in his NFL debut against the Super Bowl champs, and has plenty of weapons. Austin Ekeler is dynamic from the backfield, Keenan Allen is one of the league's best wideouts and greatest route runners, and the Chargers defense will be confident they can slow down Teddy Bridgewater after holding the Chiefs to just 23 points over 5 quarters.

The Panthers have impressed in stretches, but were thoroughly outmatched by the Bucs in Week 2. The team played from behind all game, and forced Teddy Bridgewater to win the game with his arm, which is not a situation he is comfortable in. Without Christian McCaffrey in the fold for 4-6 weeks, the Panthers face a daunting October. McCaffrey is the engine of Carolina, and his absence will be dearly missed. The Chargers defense will be more than comfortable gameplanning for Mike Davis and Jeremy Chinn in the backfield, and keeping Robby Andersson and D.J. Moore in check with Casey Hayward and Chris Harris lining up against them.

The Chargers have a lot of momentum despite the overtime loss to the Chiefs, and they should carry it into Week 3 against a young Panthers squad without their best player available.

Prediction: Panthers 13, Chargers 24

Jets @ Colts

What can go wrong will go wrong for the New York Jets. Raheem Mostert turned on the jets on the first play against the Jets, and 80 yards later, the game was over before it even started. The Colts present another tough matchup for the Jets, who can do nothing right at the moment. The Jets could stay in the game by forcing turnovers, which could exploit the gunslinger Philip Rivers. On offense, Sam Darnold will need consistent protection from his offensive line in order to find his wideouts, but the Colts can rush the passer with Darius Leonard, Justin Houston, and DeForest Buckner. The NFL schedule makers really did not make it easy on the Jets.

The Colts controlled the game very impressively against the Vikings, and have a chance to do it again this Sunday. Rookie running back Jonathan Taylor ran for over 100 yards in the Week 2 win, and will see his role increased every week. In order for the Colts to take their game to the next level, Rivers needs to step up and stop turning the ball over, and find his receivers in stride. T.Y. Hilton needs more than 3 catches, and rookie Michael Pittman Jr. needs more targets as well. The Jets rank 16th in passing yards allowed so far, so it will not be a walk in the park for the passing game. But the Colts can still control the game and should not have an issue moving the chains this Sunday afternoon.

The Jets are a dumpster fire, and the Colts are playoff ready. We've heard this song before. Colts win.

Prediction: Jets 9, Colts 27

Cowboys @ Seahawks

The Cowboys and Seahawks know a thing or two about dramatic last-second victories. They would know because they are both coming off victories in which the game came down to the very last snap. With each team riding that momentum, this should make for an entertaining clash. 

By the grace of Seattle's old friend, the one yard line, the Seahawks escaped with a win over the Patriots on Sunday night. In the process, the Hawks defense was exposed. Cam Newton threw for 397 yards and ran for 47 more, and the Pats were very close to sealing the comeback at the last second. With Russell Wilson calling the shots, the Seahawks will always have a chance. Wilson is playing like an early MVP candidate, throwing for 9 touchdowns and 610 total yards in two games. The Seahawks offense is the backbone of the team, and they have the tall task of outscoring the Dallas Cowboys this weekend. 

The engine driving the Dallas Cowboys is unquestionably Ezekiel Elliott. To start 2020, Elliott has 185 rushing yards in two games, and looks as explosive as he did in his rookie season. Dak Prescott has elevated his game to the next level as well, and threw for 450 yards in the comeback win over Atlanta. If the Cowboys have to play from behind, they can still move the ball well, which cannot be said about most other teams across the league. It helps that the Seahawks rank bottom in passing defense, and the Cowboys have one of the best wide receiver trios in the NFL. Amari Cooper, CeeDee Lamb, and Michael Gallup should be a handful for Seattle's secondary, and to be frank, it is difficult to discern how Pete Carroll and the Seahawks defense is going to stop them. 

On paper, the Cowboys are the better team. But as Cowboys fans know very well, games are not won on paper. The Seahawks can win the game thanks to an MVP performance from their main man, and that is certainly in the cards. This game is a coin toss, and could legitimately go either way. As much as I think Russell Wilson can do, I believe the Cowboys match up much better with the Seahawks than vice versa. I'm picking the Cowboys, mostly because I can't imagine the Seahawks defense making any stops. Let's go with that.

Prediction: Cowboys 30, Seahawks 28

Buccaneers @ Broncos

The Bucs are catching Denver at just the right time. Several key starters for the Broncos are fighting the injury bug, and the Broncos may be fielding a much weaker squad than who suited up at Pittsburgh. Drew Lock, Philip Lindsay, Jerry Jeudy, Garrett Bolles, Mark Barron, Jurrell Casey, and more are listed on the injury report, and many of them may not start against Tampa Bay. If Lock is out, Jeff Driskel will get the call once more, and everything could unravel for Denver's offense. While Driskel amassed 256 yards and 2 scores, Tampa Bay is an underrated defensive unit, and they will have studied his tape all week long. The Bucs will be ready, and they will stall the Denver offense out.

On the other side, the Bucs are still figuring out who they are on offense. There have been plenty of growing pains for Tom Brady, which is understandable. Brady is adjusting to a new style of offense at 43 years old, and progress has been slower without an offseason or preseason to get reps in. Against a Broncos secondary at less than full health, there is a chance for Brady to have his best game yet as a Buccaneer. Mike Evans could be in for a big game, especially if Chris Godwin returns from concussion protocol. The running game will complement Brady well, which averaged 5 yards per carry last weekend.

Considering how depleted the Broncos are going to be, they have no right winning this game. But the Denver Broncos are the only team that Brady has a losing record against. Brady is 4-7 at Mile High, and 8-9 in his career against the Broncos. That being said, the Broncos have never been this shorthanded. It will be gritty, and it won't be pretty, but the Bucs will fly back to Tampa Bay with a winning record.

Prediction: Buccaneers 17, Broncos 10

Lions @ Cardinals

It appears the Lions and Cardinals are both trending in polar opposite directions. Their head to head matchup should go as their form suggests.

Inside just two games, Kyler Murray already looks like the real deal. Murray totaled 353 yards from scrimmage against Washington last week, and the running game reached 160 total yards. Arizona as a team ranks 6th in total offense, and at times appear unstoppable from the ground. DeAndre Hopkins is going up against Desmond Trufant, and has started the season on a historic pace already, and is bound for another big game. It could be a breakout game for running back Kenyan Drake as well, going against a Lions defense which saw the Packers amass 259 yards on the ground against them last weekend.

The Lions know how to start fast, they've done that in each of their last two games. Everything else is the problem. The running game stalls out quickly, and wild sequences like a dropped pass in the end zone by D'Andre Swift cost the Lions at the end. But the Lions defense needs to step up if they have any shot against the Cards. The Lions rank bottom in rushing defense. The offense, on the other hand, is not nearly as explosive as it used to be. It doesn't help that Kenny Golladay has been out, but Marvin Jones and Danny Amendola have not stepped up. T.J. Hockenson is seeing his touches increase and is making an impact, but it will take a complete team performance for the Lions to get the upset in Week 3. The odds do not stack up well for Detroit. Cards win.

Prediction: Lions 13, Cardinals 23

Packers @ Saints

For the first time in a long time, Drew Brees played like his age last week. The 41 year old averaged 8 yards per attempt, and every throw beyond 20 yards was genuinely cringeworthy. Not to mention the Saints defense was carved up by Derek Carr and the Raiders. Aaron Rodgers is in town this week. Woof. 

The Saints will lean on Alvin Kamara early and often. Kamara looks healthier than ever, and his fitness is key to the Saints offense moving the ball this season. Without Michael Thomas for a few more weeks, Emmanuel Sanders needs to have more than 1 reception for 18 yards, and it needs to be much earlier than the fourth quarter. Tre'Quan Smith and Jared Cook need to step up as well, if the Saints are able to outscore a high octane Packers offense.

The two Aarons in Wisconsin are dominating. Rodgers threw 2 more touchdowns against the Lions, and Jones racked 168 yards on just 18 carries for 2 touchdowns himself. The Packers have not had a dynamic running game like this since the early Eddie Lacy days. Oh and Davante Adams is out wide as well, and he will surely have more than 2 receptions on Sunday night. The Packers are in rhythm, and they will need to be in tune once again to outscore the Saints. Packers fans will feel confident they will be in tune after watching Carr and Josh Jacobs have their way against the Saints on Monday. 

If fans were in the dome, the Saints would be the obvious choice. But the dome is going to be empty, and I am unsure which version of the Saints we are going to get. While the Packers have only played divisional opponents who are a combined 0-4, they have already scored 85 points in two games. The Packers are humming. The Saints are not. 

Prediction: Packers 33, Saints 26

Chiefs @ Ravens

This is the crown jewel of the 2020 NFL regular season schedule. When the schedule was released, everyone circled this game. A heavyweight showdown between two high octane offenses, two Super Bowl winning coaches, and featuring the previous two MVPs.

For the Super Bowl champs, it has been a slow start to the season. Despite their 2-0 start, the Chiefs have not quite hit top gear yet. The offense was held to under 10 points until the fourth quarter against the Chargers, and played a slow, predictable offensive game. That will not be the case every week. Travis Kelce will be targeted early and often, and he will be the chain-mover all night. But the Chiefs have not hit the home run ball as well as they did last season. An early deep bomb to Tyreek Hill or Mecole Hardman could set the tone from kickoff, and keep the Ravens defense on their heels. The Chiefs can control the game however they want, whether it is 20 carries for the rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire, or deep shots to Hill, Hardman, and Watkins fo four quarters. 

The Ravens have started the season off with a bang. Two wins over the Browns and Texans, and dominant team victories. Lamar Jackson has passed for 479 yards and ran for 99 in two games, and has pretty much done whatever he wants to. The ground and pound overwhelmed Houston, and racked 230 yards on Sunday. For the Ravens to pull out the victory, it will have to be because of the running game. If the Ravens start fast and score quickly on the ground with Jackson, Mark Ingram, or J.K. Dobbins, they can ride the game out with their biggest strength. A strong running game can also open up one-on-ones for Marquise Brown deep down the field. 

In the last two matchups, the Chiefs prevailed each time at Arrowhead Stadium. While homefield advantage will hardly make a difference this year for Baltimore, the Ravens are coming off an impressive first two games, while the Chiefs were left rather exposed against the Chargers a week ago. The Ravens are hungry, and it's Lamar Jackson's time to get his first win against Pat Mahomes and KC. 

Prediction: Chiefs 24, Ravens 38

Thank you for reading NFL Predix! Check out the weekly Predix every Thursday afternoon before Thursday Night Football, and be sure to let me know what you think of my predictions in the comments section below! You can also follow me for more football takes on Twitter @thesamdecoste. Thanks for reading!