NFL Week Three Predictions
Srikar Kalapala & Josh Xue
The first two weeks have been crazy so far this year. Week two featured some amazing “come from behind” victories from teams desperately needing wins, and week three will feature some big-time matchups. Here are our predictions for what it might entail.
Cleveland Browns (1-1) vs Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1)
Steelers. This might be the toughest game to call this week as both teams love to keep games down to the wire being that both have won and lost by no more than 3 points. The Steelers take this game on a last-second field goal.
–Josh Xue
Browns. The Browns are coming off a disgusting loss against the Jets, in which they gave up two touchdowns in the last minute and a half of the game. The Steelers went through a slugfest last week against the Patriots and came out on the wrong end. I like the Browns secondary against the Steelers passing offense despite their letdown last week. I think the Browns can squeak out a win, where the Steelers desperately miss TJ Watt.
–Srikar Kalapala
Miami Dolphins (2-0) vs Buffalo Bills (2-0)
Bills. The Bills are coming off a game in which there was barely any doubt of who was going to win. The Titans could not get anything going against the Bills defense, and it showed in the blowout. The Bills have a history of crushing the Dolphins, and despite Tua’s Dolphins coming back against the Ravens last week (in crazy fashion), the Bills will cruise to a win.
–Srikar Kalapala
New York Jets (1-1) vs Cincinnati Bengals (0-2)
Bengals. In this matchup last year, backup quarterback Mike White tore up this Bengals defense. This time, the Bengals will face Super Bowl champion Joe Flacco, who may have shown that he is “elite” in that final minute and a half last week against the Browns. The Bengals are now 0-2 after a crushing loss against Cooper Rush and the Cowboys, but there is no way the defending AFC champions will be 0-3 to start the season… right?
–Srikar Kalapala
Tennessee Titans (0-2) vs. Las Vegas Raiders (0-2)
Raiders. The Titans are looking really bad right now, and despite the talent they have on both sides of the ball, I can’t pick them while they are in a funk. The Raiders are coming off a game they should have won, and will be looking for a bounce-back game.
–Srikar Kalapala
Carolina Panthers (0-2) vs. New Orleans Saints (1-1)
Saints. Carolina’s game last week was a slugfest, and the Giants proved to be a better team. The Saints are coming off a game in which it looked like they were going to win, as they completely shut down Brady and the Bucs offense. But after the fighting commenced and Evans & Lattimore got ejected, it seemed to spark the Bucs, and anytime you turn the ball over numerous times against the GOAT, you are asking for defeat. I think the Saints are still a decent team, and they should beat the Panthers at home.
–Srikar Kalapala
Baltimore Ravens (1-1) vs. New England Patriots (1-1)
Ravens. The Baltimore Falcons Ravens are coming off a heartbreaking loss in Miami as they gave up 28 points in the 4th quarter! Lamar Jackson played a near-perfect game as he was 21/29 for 318 yds and 3TDs through the air and 119 yds and 1TDs on the ground. The Ravens take this at Foxborough.
–Josh Xue
Ravens. The Ravens, despite an MVP-caliber performance from Lamar Jackson, gave up 6 touchdowns and nearly 500 yards of passing to Tua Tagovailoa, and nearly 400 of those yards went to Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill. I think they can bounce back against a Patriots team that looks like the definition of average.
–Srikar Kalapala
Minnesota Vikings (1-1) vs. Detroit Lions (1-1)
Vikings. The Vikings came back down to Earth last week against the Eagles, and Kirk Cousins’ MNF struggles continue. The Lions look like they are making a huge stride this year, but I don’t think their defense can hold up against this revamped scheme of Minnesota.
–Srikar Kalapala
Washington Commanders (1-1) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)
Eagles. The Eagles are starting to look legit through the first two weeks of the season. They dominated a Vikings team that has playoff aspirations and completely shut down Justin Jefferson. It looked like Kirk Cousins thought he played for the Eagles with the number of times he threw directly at Darius Slay. He could have had 10 picks. Meanwhile, the Commanders are coming off a loss to the Lions, in a game where the Lions were favored for the first time in over 20 years. Yikes.
–Srikar Kalapala
Indianapolis Colts (0-1-1) vs. Kansas City Chiefs (2-0)
Chiefs. The Colts actually managed to go winless through the first two weeks, and will now face the Chiefs, who are coming off one of their luckiest wins against the Chargers. The Chiefs should roll against a team that looks awful right now. Also, the JAGUARS actually look like the best team in the AFC South through two weeks.
–Srikar Kalapala
Chicago Bears (1-1) vs. Houston Texans (0-1-1)
Bears. For the sake of all the Bears fans out there I hope the NFL doesn’t put Bears-Packers as SNF until Rodgers retires; the Bears have been embarrassed nationally by the Packers far too many times. On a different note, the Texans are showing improvement, and could upset any team on any given Sunday, but I think the Bears have enough to beat the Texans at home.
–Srikar Kalapala
Los Angeles Chargers (1-1) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1)
Chargers. If the Chargers have Justin Herbert, which they might, I think they should be able to beat a Jaguars team that is riding high right now. If they don’t, the Jaguars could pull off the upset at LA.
–Srikar Kalapala
Arizona Cardinals (1-1) vs. Los Angeles Rams (1-1)
Rams. The Arizona Cardinals beat the Raiders in dramatic “come from behind” fashion, as they recovered a fumble for the go-ahead touchdown in overtime. The Rams had a little bit of a get-right game against the Falcons last week, and I think the defending Super Bowl champs can get their business done against their rivals.
–Srikar Kalapala
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) vs. Green Bay Packers (1-1)
Packers. The Packers dominated the Bears on SNF last week and were able to get Aaron Jones and AJ Dillon going against the Bears run defense. I wish the Packers started to draw up some plays for Romeo Doubs and Christian Watson once it was clear the game was over because that is when they can develop more on-field chemistry with Aaron Rodgers. On the other hand, Brady and the Bucs are coming off a win against their division foe in the Saints. Brady finally got his first regular-season win against the Saints in a Bucs uniform. He didn’t have to do much to get the win, as the defense forced numerous turnovers in the second half. I think with the suspension of Mike Evans, and not knowing if Godwin or Julio can play, the Packers might have a chance if Bakhtiari comes back.
–Srikar Kalapala
Buccaneers: I just want to apologize to all Packers Fans before making this pick, but I don’t see how the Packers can go into Tampa Bay and grind out a win. The Packers have had a shaky start to the season. I’m not convinced by the Bears win either. Buccaneers have all the tools to beat the Packers. Expect the Buccaneers to shut down Jones & Dillon and force Rodgers into mistakes by making him throw to his receivers. Buccaneers move to 3-0.
–Josh Xue
Seattle Seahawks (1-1) vs. Atlanta Falcons (0-2)
Falcons. The Falcons showed some promise last week against LA, especially rookie wide receiver Drake London. The Seahawks are the definition of a bipolar team: they can beat the best team in the league one week, and lose to the worst team in the next. I think the Falcons can get their first win against a suspect Seahawks defense.
–Srikar Kalapala
Denver Broncos (1-1) vs. San Francisco 49ers (1-1)
49ers. With Jimmy G back at the helm, this is a Super Bowl contender again, and I think the 49ers can take advantage of a Broncos team that is undisciplined and is making way too many mental errors.
–Srikar Kalapala
New York Giants (2-0) vs. Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
Giants. Cooper Rush actually looked legit last week against the Bengals, but I like the Giants riding high after their first 2-0 start since 2016.
–Srikar Kalapala
