Overall Season Record: 9-7

Giants @ 49ers

In Week 2, the New York Giants defeated the Arizona Cardinals 31-28 after a Graham Gano go-ahead field goal with 19 seconds left. This game was a tale of two halves for the Giants, as they were down 20 at halftime, but rallied back in the second half to take the victory. With New York ending the game with 24 unanswered points, they are currently one of the hottest teams in football. However, with Saquon Barkley’s health in question after suffering an ankle injury, the Giants may struggle to put points on the board come Thursday. The key to a 49ers victory is to make Brock Purdy’s job as easy as possible. Purdy has playmakers who can make his short throws into long gains, something every 49ers quarterback under Shanahan has had the benefit of. Deebo Samuel’s touchdown against the Rams came on a WR screen where he caught the ball at the line of scrimmage and made five defenders miss before reaching the end zone. Samuel and Aiyuk’s explosiveness combined with Christian McCaffrey averaging 134 yards per game on the ground through two games makes for an offense as good as any. Add this to a stout defensive unit anchored by All-Pro’s in Fred Warner and Nick Bosa for a combination that could beat any team in the league. The Giants don’t really have any advantages over the 49ers, and may not be able to put up much of a fight on Thursday Night Football.

49ers 34, Giants 13

Titans @ Browns

With Nick Chubb’s gruesome injury on Monday, the Cleveland Browns are left without an identity. Since he was drafted in 2018, Chubb has been a crucial part of the Browns’ offense. He averages the second most career yards per carry by a running back of all time in his six year career. There is an argument to be made that he is coming off the best year of his career, and this injury is devastating for both the Browns and Chubb. The only potential positive takeaway to be had in this unfortunate situation is that Chubb has bounced back from a very similar injury before. With this being said, the Browns will struggle offensively for the rest of the season without their superstar. Deshaun Watson hasn’t necessarily looked great in his tenure in Cleveland. Against Pittsburghm, his three turnovers likely cost the Browns the game. Given the Titans have their elite running back, Derrick Henry, they should be able to set the tempo in this game. While Myles Garrett and the Browns’ defense has been good to start the year, Derrick Henry is simply better than anyone the Browns have faced off against, and they will struggle to contain him. 

Titans 24, Browns 13

Falcons @ Lions

After two dominant performances on the ground, the Atlanta Falcons take on a Detroit Lions defense that has been able to hold their opponents rushing attack relatively in check. The Lions are coming off an overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks, in which they struggled to stop the quarterback Geno Smith led passing game. However, this game, just like the previous two for the Atlanta Falcons, will come down to how well their young rushing attack can play. When Bijan Robinson, Tyler Allgeier and Desmond Ridder are all contributing in the run game, this team is very hard to stop. In the Falcons Week 2 matchup against the Packers, Desmond Ridder was able to make plays through the air that he hasn’t been able to make so far in his short NFL career. If the Falcons can keep up their improved offense against the Lions, they may be looking at an easier ride to a divisional title.

Falcons 27, Lions 24

Saints @ Packers

The Saints’ defense has dominated to start the season, giving up only 32 points in two games. This, combined with Aaron Jones and Christian Watson dealing with hamstring injuries, is a recipe for disaster for the Green Bay Packers in Week 3. While Jordan Love has looked great considering his circumstances so far this season, that means nothing if his best weapons are out. His receiving core is already inexperienced, as there are no players that have played in the league longer than two years. Combining this inexperience with a lack of talent could lead to another disappointing result for the Packers. This game could end up being close due to the lopsided amount of defense in comparison to offense in this matchup. Derek Carr could lead his team to a 3-0 start, potentially taking control in a division that is considered one of the weaker ones in football. With this being said, the Packers will be outmatched if Watson and/or Jones are out. 

Saints 24, Packers 20

Broncos @ Dolphins

After two weeks of the season, the Miami Dolphins and Denver Broncos might be a matchup of the best and worst teams in the NFL. The Broncos haven’t looked much better than last year’s disaster of a season, and stand at 0-2 before this game against the Dolphins. Although it is early in the season, this game might be considered a must win for Denver if they want to be in the playoff race. Since 2005, only one team has made the playoffs after an 0-3 start, the 2018 Houston Texans. Even though the Broncos may be desperate to win this game, the Dolphins are simply better. Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill have looked like the best duo in football this season, and after letting Sam Howell throw for 299 yards and two touchdowns, this Denver defense won’t be ready for them. If the Broncos do end up losing this game, new head coach Sean Payton may look to change things up quickly, in order to snap Denver’s eight-year playoff drought.

Dolphins 31, Broncos 13

Chargers @ Vikings

Both the Los Angeles Chargers and Minnesota Vikings ended last season on a disappointing playoff loss, and have started this season the same way. These teams are eerily similar, as their games are always close, and they’ve both dropped nail biters to start out 0-2. The Vikings have a point differential of -9, while the Chargers differential is -5. This game could become a shootout, as both defenses have not performed well this season. With superstar running back Austin Ekeler questionable with an ankle injury, the Vikings should be able to shut down the Chargers running game, and that may be enough for them to win. The young receiving core of the Minnesota Vikings, led by Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, should be able to continue their success against a Chargers defense that allowed Ryan Tannehill to look like one of the better quarterbacks in the league last week. As long as Alexander Mattison doesn’t fumble this game away, the Vikings should be able to win it.

Vikings 31, Chargers 30

Patriots @ Jets

Bill Belichick has a record of 35-10 against the New York Jets in his long coaching career. While a large part of this can be attributed to Tom Brady and his greatness, there is something to be said about Belichick’s ability to dominate a divisional opponent. Another one of Belichick’s strengths is when he goes against a struggling quarterback, he almost always exposes their flaws. Zach Wilson is a quarterback who can struggle from time to time, and you can expect Belichick’s game plan to set the Patriots up for success. The one thing that can hold the Patriots back is their lack of offensive firepower. The Jets have one of the best defenses in the NFL, and if they can shut down Rhamondre Stevenson, they should have a decent chance at keeping the game close. While their offense hasn’t been too impressive to start the season, this is likely due to their level of competition being so high. New England has played Philadelphia and Miami, two teams who would be classified as playoff teams at worst. This game will prove a lot to whichever team wins, either showing that the Patriots are a decent team that just played against two great teams, or that the Jets could still hope for a wild card spot with Zach Wilson.

Patriots 20, Jets 13

Bills @ Commanders

The Washington Commanders haven’t looked too convincing in their 2-0 start, as both of their wins have come in close games against winless teams in Arizona and Denver. While Terry McLaurin and Brian Robinson looked dominant in their Week 2 win against the Broncos, their success may not continue against the Bills. Buffalo has only allowed 16 points per game in their first two games, and Sam Howell hasn’t yet shown that he can lead an explosive offense. This combination makes for a potential nightmare matchup for the Commanders against the Buffalo Bills in Week 3. Although Josh Allen has looked very inconsistent to start the season, that shouldn’t matter against the Commanders who have let Joshua Dobbs and Russell Wilson play well against them. Stefon Diggs has the potential to explode this week, and should be able to dominate this weak secondary.

Bills 31, Commanders 17

Texans @ Jaguars

Although they have a promising future with their young core, the Houston Texans are not built to win now. C.J. Stroud has been very good through the air to begin his career, as he averages 313 yards per game, and has no interceptions. Robert Woods and Tank Dell have looked like solid receiving options for Stroud, and Damien Pierce has the potential to have an impact should the offensive line improve. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars are a better, and slightly more experienced team. Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne and Calvin Ridley are all better than anyone the Texans have on offense. The Jaguars did struggle against the Chiefs in Week 2, but the Texans defense has not played well to start the season, allowing 28 points per game through two weeks. Derek Stingley, the third overall pick in 2022, has not looked nearly as good as he was last year at cornerback for the Texans, and that was their only defensive bright spot. However, after scoring only nine points against Kansas City, the Jaguars’ offense realistically could struggle again this week. This being said, the Jaguars could also bounce back this week against their division rival, and gain momentum heading into their Week 4 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons.

Jaguars 27, Texans 14

Colts @ Ravens

Anthony Richardson has looked like the best rookie quarterback to begin the season, and the only thing that could stop him was injury.. If Richardson misses any time due to his concussion, the Colts will struggle to move the ball. Gardener Minshew is a serviceable backup, but with a run game led by Zack Moss and Deon Jackson, the Colts offense is not going to be able to put up enough points to compete with the Ravens. Assuming Richardson is good to go, this game could be close. However, when factoring in the chance that Richardson doesn’t play, the safer bet is to pick the Ravens to win. Despite a season-ending injury to J.K. Dobbins, the Ravens’ offense has not missed a beat, scoring 26 points per game through two weeks. Lamar Jackson’s new weapons in the passing game, Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr., have drastically improved the offense. Their new receivers, along with their new offensive coordinator, Todd Monken, have changed the way Baltimore plays on offense. Rather than a very run-heavy scheme, Monken has orchestrated an offense that allows Jackson to throw the ball at the second highest rate in his career, at 27.5 attempts per game. Jackson’s new system has opened things up for him when he wants to scramble as well, as the defense now prepares for him to pass, rather than preparing for him to run.

Ravens 27, Colts 17

Panthers @ Seahawks

Coming off an impressive overtime win against the Detroit Lions, the Seattle Seahawks face off against the Carolina Panthers in Week 3. The Seahawks defense should be able to bounce back after allowing 61 points in their first two games, as the Panthers have only scored 27 points in their two contests. The Panthers’ offense hasn’t been good so far, as Bryce Young averages under 150 passing yards per game, and their rushing attack hasn’t been great either. Young is a rookie, so he should get better as the year goes on, but he currently isn’t at the level needed to keep up with the Seahawks offense. After what looks like an outlier Week 1 performance, Geno Smith bounced back and led the Seahawks in overtime to win their first game of the season on the road in Detroit. While Smith was impressive, the Seahawks’ run game was not, as Kenneth Walker III averaged only 2.5 yards per carry. The only way the Panthers could win this game is if they take advantage of the Seahawks' lagging running game. Although they played well against the Saints, the Panthers run defense probably isn’t good enough to give them the edge over the Seahawks in Week 3.

Seahawks 26, Panthers 17

Bears @ Chiefs

Justin Fields has been very disappointing in the first two weeks of the season, especially given his preseason expectations. Fields was expected to take a leap into superstardom this season, but has not been able to throw the ball at an efficient rate. Fields has thrown as many pick-sixes as he has touchdowns this season (two), and after losing to the Buccaneers, the Bears’ season long expectations need to change. The Kansas City Chiefs are favored to send the Bears to an 0-3 start, putting Chicago in a tough hole to climb out of. The Bears defense will have no chance against Mahomes and Kelce, and this loss could lead to a change in direction on offense. Fields has not looked as good as he was last season, mostly due to his decision making. Fields has stated that he will begin to play more freely, which could lead to better offensive performances. This week’s game against Kansas City will likely not be the turning point in Chicago’s season, but maybe they can take a few positives away from this game.

Chiefs 38, Bears 14

Cowboys @ Cardinals

The Dallas Cowboys look like one of the best teams in football, and will not be stopped in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. The Cowboys have looked better than they have in years past, potentially contending for the Super Bowl this season. With Micah Parsons as the favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year and their explosive offense led by Dak Prescott, they should breeze by the Cardinals. The Cardinals have one of the worst offenses in the NFL without Kyler Murray, and until he comes back, the Cardinals will struggle against every team in the league, especially those with a defense as good as the Cowboys. The Cowboys should be able to continue their domination to start the season in Week 3.

Cowboys 34, Cardinals 13

Steelers @ Raiders

Through two games, the Las Vegas Raiders have proven that they are significantly worse with Jimmy Garoppolo than they were with Derek Carr. Their offense hasn’t been able to move the ball as well, and without a quarterback who can stretch the defense and make plays with deep shots down the field, the offense has been stale. Josh Jacobs hasn’t been able to get it going on the ground, and if he isn’t throwing to Davante Adams, Garoppolo hasn’t been good either. With this being said, they are going against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that looked great at times, but let a few big plays happen in Week 2. After seeing how the Steelers defense performed after Nick Chubb was injured, they seem to be very vulnerable to losing to teams that have an offensive identity. Although Chubb went down, the Steelers still allowed the Browns to dominate on the ground, allowing a 70 yard run by Jerome Ford. This game could come down to the wire, however, the Steelers should be able to win this one. Pittsburgh’s defense, led by reigning Defensive Player of the Year award winner T.J. Watt should be able to contain the Raiders’ offense.

Steelers 24, Raiders 23

Eagles @ Buccaneers

The Buccaneers might be the most surprising 2-0 team in the NFL, as most people expected them to be at the bottom of the league, competing not for a playoff spot, but for Caleb Williams. Even with their relatively impressive start to the season, there is no reason to believe that they can compete with the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles’ Week 2 game against the Vikings was not as close as the score would make you think, as the Eagles were up by two scores for most of the second half. Jalen Hurts and AJ Brown haven't had a big play connection yet this season, and given that this game probably won’t be very close, Hurts could throw a couple deep balls to Brown to get him going, as they will need Brown to be at his best once they start playing teams on their level. If AJ Brown is able to bounce back to his 2022 form, the Eagles may dominate to the point where they can sit their starters for part of the fourth quarter.

Eagles 34, Buccaneers 13

Rams @ Bengals

Coming into the season, most fans would probably assume that the Bengals would dominate the Cooper Kupp-less Los Angeles Rams. However, after a historic start to the season from Puka Nacua, the Rams’ offense looks even better than they were last year. Kyren Williams and Tutu Atwell have also surprisingly stepped up for Los Angeles. These three names were mostly unknown to most NFL fans coming into the season, however, they are now instrumental to the Rams’ success. On the Cincinnati side, Joe Burrow’s calf injury that could keep him out of the game makes for a very interesting matchup. Considering that Burrow reaggravated an injury that kept him out of all preseason activities, the Bengals may play it safe and let him rest this week. However, how safe is it to let your franchise quarterback sit in a must win game? This is a tough decision for Zac Taylor and the rest of the Bengals’ coaching staff, as either option could end very badly for the team. This being said, the smart move would be to preserve Burrow’s long term health, and sit him until he is 100%.

Rams 28, Bengals 24