Cover photo taken from NFL.
Last Week: 10-6
Season Total: 21-11
Bills 30-13 Dolphins 
Thursday, 8:15 p.m. ET, Prime Video
No more trusting the Dolphins for me. I’ve learned my lesson in that regard.
It’s not like they stood a chance in this game anyways. A road trip to one of the best teams in the league whose offense is playing ablaze right now isn’t exactly conducive to winning. Real chance the Bills have this one wrapped up by halftime.
Packers 20-10 Browns 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Both of these defenses have been pretty awesome this season. Neither of these offenses have, though. The Packers pass the eye test on that side of the ball, but it hasn’t translated to a ton of points. They tend to take their foot off the gas with a lead, and I don’t blame them considering how the defense looks. I’m expecting that to be the case on Sunday in Cleveland.
To be honest with y’all, the only thing I remotely care about in this game is Quinshon Judkins’ performance for the Browns, since I think he can be a league winner in fantasy. Don’t let me down!
Titans 23-20 Colts 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
What the hell, why not.
There’s approximately zero reason to take the Titans here, and the strategy of taking the home dog in a divisional game continues to bite me in the behind. But, a broken clock is right twice a day!
Besides, the Titans have to win a game at some point. I know Cam Ward’s numbers are quite bad and I know this Tennessee team has nothing to hang their hats on. Plus, the Colts are the story of the young NFL season and have one of the best offenses in the league.
You only live once, I guess.
Bengals 27-24 Vikings 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
I don’t think CBS had a Jake Browning vs. Carson Wentz QB matchup in mind when they decided to send Jim Nantz and Tony Romo to call this game at the beginning of the season. But, here we are.
Honestly, I had no idea which way to go here. I think both of these backups are capable — hell, any QB can make it work in Kevin O’Connell’s offense, right? — but I don’t like either offensive line right now. In that vein, I’ve seen more out of Cincinnati’s pass rush through two games than Minnesota’s. Shemar Stewart has been an impactful player, and Trey Hendrickson has been an absolute dog. I think that’s the difference in crunch time on Sunday.
Never thought I’d see the day where I picked Cincinnati because of their defense.
Steelers 26-23 Patriots 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
I don’t really trust either of these teams right now. Yes, the Patriots won last week, but it took quite a lot to do that against a horrendous defense and a team that’s falling apart at the seams. And the Steelers were just totally discombobulated against the Seahawks. It makes this one tricky.
I’m taking Pittsburgh because, at the very least, they’ve shown some semblance of balance. Their defense has left a lot to be desired, as has New England’s, but I feel like their offense can make the plays they need to win. The Patriots’ run game is nonexistent, but I feel like they can get going here.
Honestly, this one can go any which way. I wanted to take the Pats at home, but they’re going to have to prove it to me.
Rams 23-17 Eagles 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Ah, yes. What should’ve happened back in January before Mother Nature got in the way.
Let’s be honest. The Eagles are going to find some way to pull this win out of their behinds because we’re not allowed to have nice things. I’m interested to see how the officials deal with the tush push after last week’s outrage, if at all. It’d also be nice to see if Philly’s offense decides to show up for once. It won’t be easy against the NFL’s leader in dropback EPA/play on defense.
Honestly, I just trust the Rams more right now. Their defense is punching above their weight and the offense is starting to get it going. The run game has been sneaky effective, which could prove to be the difference against this Eagles front.
More than anything, I need this to be the spot where the Eagles cease to get away with it. I’m hoping and praying that comes to fruition.
Buccaneers 23-15 Jets 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Pros: watching Tyrod Taylor play football.
Cons: it’s for the Jets again.
The Buccaneers’ offensive line woes are cause for concern against anyone, but in their home opener in those crispy throwbacks, they’ve got to win this one, especially against a backup quarterback. I still think Baker Mayfield is going to have to do his thing to keep this pirate ship afloat, but this one will be easier than the last two weeks.
Commanders 21-18 Raiders 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
It honestly doesn’t matter who starts at QB for Washington in this game. I’m confident in a hobbled Jayden Daniels, and I’m more than comfortable with Marcus Mariota. (For the record, I think it’ll be the latter.)
This comes down to me being extremely turned off by what I saw out of the Raiders last week. And I know Pete Carroll has an outstanding east coast record, but this is a team that played at 10 p.m. ET on a Monday traveling across the country to take on a Commanders squad that played on TNF last week. There isn’t a bigger possible rest and travel disadvantage.
I’d like to see our defense return to form while the offense does what they have to do to win. We could really, really use it.
Falcons 22-10 Panthers 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, FOX
Consider what we’ve seen from the Falcons defense through two weeks against hobbled offensive lines. Now consider what we’ve seen from the Panthers offense with how awful their line is.
Next!
Texans 24-17 Jaguars 
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
The Texans simply have to have this one. It’s not exactly a kitchen sink game, but this has to be the week the offense figures it out.
Houston’s offensive line gives me a ton of pause, but it’s not like the Jags front is anything crazy, though their secondary is playing better than expected. If Jacksonville can keep up their offensive success against this elite Texans defense, it could put them over the top. But I’m just sticking with my gut on this one.
Chargers 20-17 Broncos 
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
This feels like a game the Broncos win. I really wanted to pick them considering their offense’s return to form in Week 2; plus, the defense will be just fine after a bit of an aberration in Indy.
I just trust Justin Herbert more than Bo Nix right now. Can you blame me? One has been arguably the best QB in the NFL through two weeks and the other is off to a Jekyll and Hyde start in 2025. In a game dominated by defenses, sometimes you have to put your faith in the better signal-caller. Right now, that’s unquestionably Herbert.
Seahawks 26-14 Saints 
Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, CBS
Yeah, I’m just not talking about this one. I don’t even know if it’s worth it for NFL Redzone to flip to this game. When they do, it’ll probably be supplanted by a bunch more Wingstop commercials. Sigh.
Cowboys 27-20 Bears 
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
This is my most anticipated game of the week because of just how gnarly the ramifications could be, particularly for Chicago.
The fact of the matter is this: it’s now or never for the Bears offense. If Caleb Williams and co. can’t get it together against this Dallas defense, I don’t know if or when it’ll ever happen. And I seriously think that if it’s another week of inaccuracy, bad timing and being overwhelmed from Caleb Williams, that Chicago will turn to Tyson Bagent in a week or two. Yes, he got that extension because he’s a good backup, but that’s certainly not the only reason.
I don’t think that the Bears will look totally incompetent — the Cowboys secondary will make sure of that — but I also don’t think they’ll do what the Giants did a week ago. Their inability to run the ball means it’s all on Caleb’s shoulders, and I don’t think that’s a recipe for success.
In any case, I’ve seen enough from Dallas offensively to put my faith in them to go on the road and beat a team that has given up 73 points in the last five quarters. And then it’ll be really, really uncomfortable times in Chicago.
49ers 24-21 Cardinals 
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, FOX
I don’t think a game between two 2-0 teams can be any less enticing than this one, especially within the division. But I just can’t bring myself to care.
Maybe it’s because the 49ers are so beat up. Maybe it’s the Cardinals refusing to look truly impressive on offense. Who knows?
I do think Arizona’s got a nice defense. But, so do the Niners, and that unit has helped them clinch both wins this season. And I really hate to choose between Mac Jones and Kyler Murray. But Macaroni looked solid in his first start under Kyle Shanahan, and in their home opener, I think that’ll be enough to help San Francisco get over the top and somehow get to 3-0 despite being so shorthanded.
Chiefs 23-20 Giants 
Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC
To put it plainly, I don’t have the stones to pick the Giants to win this game outright, but New York +6.5 is my favorite bet of the week.
It’s just impossible to trust the Chiefs right now. Even if they get Xavier Worthy back, who knows what the offense looks like? Will they actually be able to run the ball against the league’s worst run D? And while I’d like to believe in their defense, they haven’t been able to make the plays necessary to stay in games in the fourth quarter.
I did say before that we’ll never see the Giants have an offensive explosion like they did last week again this season. I still believe that. But I don’t think they’ll need to do all that to be in this game.
This is a stoppable force meeting a moveable object. Which side gets the advantage? Probably the more desperate one. The Chiefs cannot afford to be 0-3. The thought of them in that position is hard to comprehend. But, it’ll take their best game of the season to avoid it.
Ravens 31-27 Lions 
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN
Now this… this is a Monday Night Football game right here. Get ready for fireworks, points, drama and a damn good time.
There’s honestly not much I can say about this game that can’t just be inferred from looking at these logos, these lineups, these offenses. This is going to be like a tamer version of Bills-Ravens in Week 1 — or a crazier version! None of us would mind that.
I’m riding the Ravens at home here because it’s going to be an unreal environment in a Baltimore blackout. The Lions are more than capable of winning this one on the road — they were incredible away from home last year — and the Ravens have lost in spots like this before, but I’m not betting against them considering how their offense is playing through two weeks.
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