It's Week 3 of the 2015 NFL season and I'm yet to have a losing week after going 7-7 in Week 2. And it's only 7-7 because I somehow managed to leave two games out. I think this is the last week of the year where it feels like I'm throwing darts at a dartboard. After this week teams will have shown who they can be for the season in many cases.
Washington Redskins (+3.5) at New York Giants
That Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa looks like a really good player, or what about Ole Miss DL Robert Nkemdiche? These guys would be perfect picks for the Giants ... wait, what's that? It's only Week 3? It's not time to talk draft yet? Based on everything I've seen on the Giants I thought the season was over.
The Giants weren't supposed to be any good this year, according to the pundit consensus, but a funny thing happened ... they are 2-0 in games that are only 58 minutes long.
Unfortunately, NFL games go 60 minutes.
There were years where the Giants lived on victories in the final minutes of games. Years where they did everything right to win them. I miss those days.
The Giants come limping into Thursday night after two disappointing losses and with a long injury list. Their top left tackle on PUP. Their franchise defensive end loses another finger every time a new report emerges (but please pay him 15 million dollars, he can play, he promises!). Their top pick hurt his ankle, but manned up and played through it and then hurt it more and is likely to miss the game, the middle linebacker will be back for the game, but probably be carted to the locker room by the end of the third quarter. Their uber talented cornerback, the only player on the team to score a touchdown this year I think (I jest), is out. What's left?
Coughlin and Manning. But they are part of the problem so far this year. Can they turn it around and be the solution?
The Redskins looked much improved on both lines and could cause the Giants real problems. I think they are the right play here, especially getting 3.5 points. But mama never accused me of being smart.
Pick: Don't take my advice on this (Keep your money), but the Giants win by more than 3.5!! Only because I'm not actually ready to start talking draft quite yet.
Here is your chance to predict the score of the Giants-Redskins game:
Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5) at St. Louis Rams
The Steelers offense has looked great already and now they welcome back their "Bell" cow(I'm good at this pun stuff)! The Rams had the big win against the Seahawks and then looked poor against the Redskins, so they are tough to figure out.
When it comes down to it this Steelers offense is legit and I don't think the Rams can match them. I am excited to see how well Todd Gurley plays this week .
Pick: Steelers
San Diego Chargers (+2.5) at Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are going to be a pretty good team this year. Adrian Peterson doesn't look like he has lost any ability and the Vikings have a sound defense and are at home. I"m not really sure which way to go with this game because I think the teams are pretty evenly matched, but when I'm torn I usually lean towards the home team and the healthier team and the Vikings look like both.
Pick: Vikings
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+6.5) at Houston Texans
The Buccaneers have some players, but they will be a hard team to bet this year because Jameis Winston will look awful in some games and great in others. I'll say awful in this one. J.J. Watt forces Winston into some mistakes and the Texans get a defensive touchdown.
Pick: Texans
Philadelphia Eagles (+2.5) at New York Jets
Being a Giants fan this year has been tough. We weren't expecting much, but after the first two games the team should be 2-0. A potential Hall of Fame coach and quarterback duo should not LOSE you two games the way the Giants have because of poor clock management and bad late-game decisions. But on the bright side, at least I'm not an Eagles fan. The Eagles owner gave complete control to their whacky head coach, who decided the best course of action was to get rid of ALL of their good players. Bye Evan Mathis, DeSean Jackson, Jeremey Maclin, Nick Foles, LeSean McCoy. You know all the players that made the Eagles good.
What an idiot! It's really starting to show now. It's about the Pros and Joes not the X's and O's. Yes, the X's and O's can influence games greatly, but the Eagles are just flat out losing them. It's not getting easier this wee with the dominant Jets front seven giving them problems. I like the Jets to win by more than 3, Plus it's still early in the season when Fitzpatrick plays his best.
Pick: Jets cover the spread
New Orleans Saints (+6.5) at Carolina Panthers
I'm going to take the 6.5 points because despite how poor the Saints have looked at times if Drew Brees does somehow manage to play Sunday they should be able to stay within 6.5 points, besides it's not like the Panthers are a juggernaut. I'm not sure they should be favored 6.5 points over anyone.
Pick: Saints to lose by less than 6.5
Jacksonville Jaguars (+13.5) at New England Patriots
Pass to Julian Edelemen, pass to Gronkowski, swing it to Dion Lewis back to Edeleman. Touchdown Gronkowski It's been that simple for the Pats, but so effective. Can a defensive coach like Gus Bradley come up with something to fix it? I'm not sure, but I'm not sure the Patriots are two touchdown favorite territory yet
Pick: Pats win easy, but the Jaguars back door cover
Cincinnati Bengals (+2.5) at Baltimore Ravens
This one is simple for me. I think the Bengals are the better team. The Bengals are getting points. I think the losses of Suggs and Ngata are being under-rated. Suggs is the heart soul of the defense and Ngata is nearly irreplaceable.
Pick: Bengals win outright
Indianapolis Colts (-3) at Tennessee TItans
The Colts have looked awful so far this year, but they have also played probably the two best front sevens in the National Football League in the Bills and Jets. Those teams can really completey destroy games from a mismatch standpoint on defense. The Colts can''t block teams like that, but they should be able to find enough room to operate to get back on track vs the Titans.
Pick: Colts
Atlanta Falcons (-1.5) at Dallas Cowboys
Teams coming off losing a coach or a quarterback tend to have very good efforts the first game coming off such an instance. And while the Falcons are 2-0 against the NFC East (Weird schedule quirk, right, NFC East first 3 weeks of the season), I don't think they are that good of a team, which makes me lean slightly towards Dallas especially with how competent their defense has looked so far. But the backup quarterback is Brandon Weeden. He was old and washed up when he was drafted. I'll say the Falcons win this game and hopefully embarrass the 'Boys. Losing Dez Bryant and Tony Romo should be too much.
Pick: Falcons win by more than 1.5
San Francisco 49ers (+6.5) at Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals look like absolute juggernauts so far this season, while the 49ers are a much different team than last year. I think they are better than I expected and still at this very early point in the season a team that can show some surprises with their new coach and do some different things. The Cardinals are very good at home so I think they'll win, but I'll take the points.
Pick: 49ers cover the spread, but lose
Chicago Bears (+14.5) at Seattle Seahawks
There seems to be some turmoil going on in Seattle. Jimmy Graham is unhappy, Kam Chancellor is unhappy. I';m going to assume Marshawn Lynch is unhappy because when isn't he? Meanwhile the sky is falling in Chicago, and for good reason they have not looked good, but point spreads of 14.5 are more often then not, covered. Plus, has anyone seen the Seahawks offense yet?
Pick: Bears lose by less than 15
Oakland Raiders (+3.5) at Cleveland Browns
Johnny Football! Wait, they are benching Johnny Football for Josh McCown? Who wants to see that:
Pick: Browns cover the spread
Buffalo Bills (+3) at Miami Dolphins
I'm not ready to get off the Bills bandwagon just yet! Show me what you're made of, Buffalo.; Plus Lamar Miller, Jordan Cameron, and Branden Albert are all questionable for the Dolphins, which won't make things easier for the 'Phins.
Pick: Buffalo wins outright
Denver Broncos (-3) at Detroit Lions
The Broncos aren't quite yet on track on offense, and while I think Peyton Manning is no longer the Peyton of old he's still one of the top quarterbacks in the league. They are going to be playing in a dome vs a Lions team that hasn't been overly impressive. Matt Stafford is the type of quarterback who can be forced into mistakes and the Broncos pass rush will cause a few.
Pick: Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs (+6.5) at Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers is from a different planet. What a player he is. Even without Jordy Nelson the offense is still humming right along putting up 29 points per game. The Chiefs offense is putting up a surprising 25.5 points per game. I think the Packers are definitely the better team, but the Chiefs ain't half-bad. I like teams with big point spreads on Monday night too, even though it's not the same big deal it used to be (Sunday night is now) players tend to show up in primetime I think the Chiefs have enough play makers on both sides of the ball to keep this game closer than people expect.
Pick: Chiefs lose by less than 6.5
Record Against the Spread
Week 1: 9-6-1
Week 2: 7-7
Overall: 16-13-1