Hey yall, Sid Kalyani here with Week 3 predictions for the NFL. So far we’ve gotten some crazy games and I expect them to continue this upcoming week.
New York Jets vs. New England Patriots
I’m going for a 24-17 win for the Jets seeing how they were able to hold off the Titans in Tennessee. Aaron Rodgers is looking more comfortable in his first couple games with the Jets and I think that will increase with this matchup. As for the Patriots, I don’t think they have the talent to matchup with the Jets and even with their great win against the Bengals in week 1, I believe the Jets will out perform them on every level.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. Pittsburg Steelers
I’ve got this to a 20-10 win for the Chargers seeing how Harbaugh has been able to change the environment in the locker room. They have seemed very impressive in the past 2 weeks and even with a stout Steelers defense, I think Justin Herbert and those boys will be able to win. The Steelers offense has been worrisome, as Russell Wilson getting back healthy, will Mike Tomlin switch to him or stay with Justin Fields. Even though the Steelers are 2-0, those matches were won through the defense and the offense has been lackluster. I expect this performance to continue this week.
Houston Texans vs. Minnesota Vikings
I’m sure we expected the Texans to get off to this start, but for me, I was a little shocked to see the Vikings undefeated after 2 weeks. The resurgence of Sam Darnold is looking real and after all that has happen to the Vikings organization, this game could prove whether he is the man for the job. My answer to that question is yes, and that is why I am going with a 20-17 win for the Vikings. It takes a lot to only allow 17 points to the 49ers, and the Texans looked shaky in their last game against the Bears, so I’m expected a close game here.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New Orleans Saints
Who would’ve thought that Derek Carr would be an MVP candidate in the first 2 weeks of football, but I’m excited about it. It helps when your running back is Alvin Kamara, who is looking like the old Alvin Kamara who is in contention for the best running back’s in the league. The Saints have been looking explosive for the first 2 weeks of football, averaging almost 46 points, and this trend should continue against the Eagles. The Eagles have looked very different between the 2 games they played, and there is a slight worry about it even with the addition of Saquon Barkley. The Eagles look shaky after their Monday Night loss against the Falcons and I don’t think they will be able to overcome the firepower of the Saints. 33-24 Saints.
Green Bay Packers vs. Tennessee Titans
The Packers definitely look worse with Malik Willis at quarterback, but they don’t look anywhere as bad as the Titans with Will Levis. He has had back to back weeks with 2 of the most horrendous throws ever in the league and he has not shown improvement since last year. I believe that out of these 2 players, Willis is going to play better and that is why the Packers are going to win.
Denver Broncos vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Bucs have been looking amazing with their MVP candidate in Baker Mayfield. It’s nice to see the resurgence of Mayfield after his stint with the Panthers and with a proper team he is showing why he was a number 1 pick in his draft. Now the Broncos have been lackluster these past 2 weeks. Bo Nix is not being smart in his decision making, costing the Broncos picks, but I wouldn’t give him that fault. It’s tough when your receivers are not getting much separation and you can’t run the ball at all, and the Bucs will send the house at Nix just like the Steelers and the Seahawks did. Bucs win 30-17.
New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns
2 teams that have felt the same but have different records. After an atrocious week 1 Deshaun Watson looked slightly better last week’s game but still not the Watson of old, and the Browns look rather decent at best in their offense. The Giants have also looked decent but with a winless start, and Daniel Jones has not looked like the man who deserves a $160 million dollar contract. Their newest draft selection in Malik Nabers is proving out to be great, but the Browns defense will be too much for the Giants to handle. I’ve got this to be a 21-17 game for the Browns.
Carolina Panthers vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Panthers have been the worst team for the past 2 weeks, and the decision to bench Bryce Young seems rather rash seeing how the rest of the team has played. Andy Dalton has proven to be a starter in this league, but this team just lacks everything that the Raiders have, even in head coach. Gardner Minshew looked more confident in his last game and with that type of performance and this Raiders defense, this might get ugly for the Panther. 24-13 win for the Raiders.
Miami Dolphins vs. Seattle Seahawks
The loss of Tua was big for the Dolphins, and I don’t think that Skylar Thompson has enough in his arsenal the bring the Dolphins a win against the Seahawks in Seattle. This game will have to be in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle to bring the offense up as the run game has not existed much the past 2 weeks. The Seahawks have been slightly better than the Broncos and the Patriots, and I think they will have the same result here with a 20-17 win.
Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys
I have no idea how the how the Cowboys got demolished like that at home, but something is going to need to change. Baltimore is starting 0-2, which looks really weird for a team of this caliber, and I don’t think this week is the week they change the situation. Lamar Jackson has potential to get through this Dallas defense, but Dak and the offense are going to be better than the Ravens in a 27-24 nailbiter win to the Cowboys.
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
The 49ers did not look like themselves in their loss against the Vikings, but if there’s 1 thing I know about Kyle Shanahan, it’s his ability to get this team back to where they need to be to get a win. Of course that is going to be difficult without their star running back Christian McCaffrey, but the Rams have not looked good at all the past 2 weeks. This division matchup will come down to which offense steps up and that will be the 49ers in a 23-17 win for them.
Detroit Lions vs. Arizona Cardinals
No one expected the Cardinals to drop 41 points in their last game, but Kyler Murray and the offense have looked more comfortable than in recent years. This matchup is going to be good and I have the Cardinals winning this and proving their back in a 24-17 win.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Chiefs have won 2 close games, and they come with Travis Kelce not being himself for these 2 games. The Falcons won a close Monday night game against the Eagles with Kirk Cousins looking like himself for that last drive. Even with this confidence boost to the Falcons, I don’t think they have enough talent to beat the defending champs and I’ve got this as a 20-10 win for the Chiefs.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Buffalo Bills
The Bills have looked pretty good after the departure of Stefan Diggs and Josh Allen is looking forwards to carrying this team on his shoulders, with help from James Cook. The Jaguars have looked uncomfortable in their 2 games so far, and it might close to discussing whether Trevor Lawrence is the guy at the helm for this team. This is going to take a massive game from Lawrence to prove he still deserves the number 1 spot, and I don’t see that happening this week against the Bills. 27-17 win for Buffalo.
Washington Commanders vs. Cincinnati Bengals
I’m surprised to see the Commanders having better record after 2 weeks, but this week will be the week we see the Bengals for who they are, a team with an explosive offense and Joe Burrow will lead his team to their first win this season. Jaden Daniels has not looked bad in his first 2 NFL games, but he has not produced anything special like he did in college, and this will take some time as I don’t see it happening against the Bengals this week, but I expect it to happen sometime in the near future. 30-17 win for the Bengals.
That’s it for my week 3 picks. Next week we’ll see how accurate these picks are.
