NFL Week 3 Preview
Dolphins @ Jaguars
This was written before the game took place. Gardner Minshew has been one of the best players in the entire NFL through two weeks. Miami has been underwhelming in their first two games and I expect Minshew to be magnificent. I believe this is a battle of two of the best uniforms in the league. CJ Henderson has been one of the best rookies through two weeks and I expect him to bate Ryan Fitzpatrick into at least one interception. A bright spot for Miami has been Mike Gesicki. While he's not the best blocker in the league, he's been everything Miami has wanted in the receiving game. I like Jacksonville in a coming out party for Gardner Minshew.
Player of the Game: CJ Henderson CB Jaguars
Final Score: Dolphins 24 Jaguars 27
49ers @ Giants
This is a really difficult game for me. The 49ers were my super bowl pick before the season, but they've been through so much and it's just week 2. The Giants have also been through a lot with Saquon Barkley going down for the year and Sterling Shepard out for today. With Barkley out, expect Devonta Freeman to get a handful of carries today. For San Francisco, I expect Nick Mullens to get really friendly with Jerick McKinnon and have a ton of check downs to Jet. I think the 49ers will rally on Sunday and get a gritty win out in MetLife Stadium. The good news I have for San Fransisco is that I expect them to have Jimmy Garoppolo, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel back after this week. I think the lack of weapons in New York will give the Giants a hard time to get hot this week.
Player of the Game: Jerick McKinnon RB 49ers
Final Score: 49ers 23 Giants 20
Washington FT @ Browns
The Washington Football Team had an amazing first game, but I still have my doubts in Dwayne Haskins. I don't think Haskins is capable of putting a team on his back. But I have good news for Washington, Terry McLaurin is capable of exactly that. Baker Mayfield struggles against a good defensive line and it forces him to make fast irrational decisions. Cleveland is well rested. They're coming off of a huge divisional win and I expect them to come out with a lot of energy. It seems like we finally saw what the Kareem Hunt-Nick Chubb tandem is capable of and I'm looking for Kevin Stefanski to build off of what he did last week. This will be a defensive line showdown led by Chase Young and Myles Garrett. I'm giving Cleveland the edge because of their mini bye week from the Thursday Night Football Game.
Player of the Game: Nick Chubb RB Browns
Final Score: WFT 17 Browns 28
Bengals @ Eagles
Both of these teams are 0-2, but there are two very different vibes for Cincy and Philly. The Bengals should be excited, Joe Burrow has looked awesome in his first two games. Even though Joey B has looked great, his surrounding pieces haven't. His receivers haven't been able to gain separation and his offensive line is atrocious. In Philadelphia, Carson Wentz is under a lot of scrutiny. With Jalen Reagor done for a few weeks, a receiver needs to step up for the Eagles. I think they're going to lean on Miles Sanders and make him the focal point of this offense. Carson Wentz is playing with a chip on his shoulder and I think he'll bounce back and silent the haters for a little while on Sunday.
Player of the Game: Carson Wentz QB Eagles
Final Score: Bengals 27 Eagles 30
Raiders @ Patriots
This is going to be a sneaky good game. Each of these teams looked like playoff teams in week 2. Both offenses are built around the running game and the usage of heavier personnel packages. Cam Newton has unveiled his true colors and is playing some of the best football in his entire career. Darren Waller has stepped up and has carried Derek Carr on his back. Johnathan Abram has been playing like a madman and is proving why he was my favorite player in the 2019 NFL Draft. I expect New England to win this game because of how Bill Belichick coaches. He's going to take away your best pieces on offense. He's going to try and eliminate Darren Waller as a receiver and Josh Jacobs in the running game. He's going to make Derek Carr win this game and I don't think he's capable of that. I have the Patriots winning in a double digit fashion.
Player of the Game: Stephon Gilmore CB Patriots
Final Score: Raiders 16 Patriots 27
Bears @ Falcons
This is a matchup of the very good vs the very good and the very bad vs the very bad. By that I mean the Bears defense against the Falcons offense and the Bears offense against the Falcons defense. I'm still not buying into Mitchell Trubisky. He didn't score a single point in the second half and I'm just not buying it. I don't love Atlanta either. AJ Terrell is going to play which opens up even more opportunities for Allen Robinson. This defense hasn't been able to stop anything the past two weeks and right now it isn't very fun to be a Falcons fan. Offensively, this is one of the best teams. They have two number one receivers and even if Julio Jones can't play, I expect Calvin Ridley to have a big game. I'm taking the Falcons because if they do put up 27+ points, Mitchell Trubisky won't be able to match that.
Player of the Game: Calvin Ridley WR Falcons
Final Score: Falcons 24 Bears 16
Rams @ Bills
Now this game is awesome. Two very different 2-0 teams and I love how each team is doing it. Sean McVay is one of the best offensive minds in the NFL and Sean McDermott is one of the best defensive minds in the game. Brian Daboll is looking like a future head coach and Josh Allen is looking like Cam Newton when he was in his prime. A big factor in this game is the health of Buffalo's linebackers. They're in good shape if Tremaine Edmunds and Matt Milano are good to go. The Rams offense is all about pre-snap motion and movement. The Bills need athletic linebackers to match that. I'm leaning towards Buffalo in this matchup because of Josh Allen. I think he'll utilize Devin Singletary a lot in this matchup and be accurate like he was in Miami.
Player of the Game: Josh Allen QB Bills
Final Score: Rams 24 Bills 30
Texans @ Steelers
The Steelers have one of the best defenses that I've seen in the past five years. TJ Watt is swarming and is going to dominate today against his brothers team. Joe Haden has been putting the strap on each team's number one receiver and Minkah Fitzpatrick looks like the best free safety in the NFL. The Texans are exactly who I thought they were. While I love Deshaun Watson, he just doesn't have the proper weapons or coaching staff around him. This defense is going to bully Houston's offense and I see the Steelers winning big this weekend.
Player of the Game: TJ Watt OLB Steelers
Final Score: Texans 20 Steelers 31
Titans @ Vikings
This is a must win for the Vikings. I hate to say this so early in the season, but if the Vikings start 3-0, it's going to be really hard for them to catch up with the Packers at the pace they're going. Kirk Cousins has looked like one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL this year and Ryan Tannehill is once again proving the doubters wrong. Since coming in for Marcus Mariota 12 games ago, Tannehill has a 32 touchdown to 5 interception ratio. I'm looking for Derrick Henry to get going this week and I think Tennessee blows Minnesota out this week. I have a big win for the Boys in Nashville this week.
Player of the Game: Jonnu Smith TE Titans
Final Score: Titans 27 Vikings 13
Panthers @ Chargers
Justin Herbert looked like the franchise last week. Sure there were a few mistakes, but he played awesome. Herbert looked like a top 10 pick and needs to perform to secure the starting job. I feel terrible for Tyrod Taylor, but this is Justin Herbert's team. They're playing the Panthers without Christian McCaffrey and a struggling defense. I don't see the Panthers being able to stop Joey Bosa even though Melvin Ingram isn't playing. I expect Joey Bosa to dominate in SoFi stadium and help Justin Herbert take down the Carolina Panthers.
Player of the Game: Joey Bosa DE Chargers
Final Score: Panthers 16 Chargers 24
Jets @ Colts
I'm not going to spend too much time talking about this game. I expect Indianapolis to run all over the Jets. New York looks like the worst team in the league, but they do have two bright spots on their team. Their past two first round draft picks looked awesome last week and those are two pieces they can build around for the future. I see Jonathan Taylor getting busy this week and having the best game of his young game. My bold prediction for the day is that Jonathan Taylor finishes in the end zone three times today. I'm picking the Colts to win big today.
Player of the Game: Jonathan Taylor RB Colts
Final Score: Jets 9 Colts 34
Cowboys @ Seahawks
Both of these teams played in the two best games of last week. The Cowboys had Dak Prescott's most impressive win of his career last week and were able to gain momentum. Russell Wilson looks like the best player in the NFL right now and it's not even close. He's playing at another level. Brian Schottenheimer looks so much better and he has been letting Russ Cook. Dak Prescott on the other hand was playing at another level last week. They had some early mistakes and fumble issues in the beginning of the game, but they were able to put it all together. Jamaal Adams also has been playing at a defensive player of the year level. I think this game will be a shootout, but I see Dallas pulling off the upset. The Seahawks haven't been able to generate pressure and Dak Prescott is going to have all day to throw. I see Amari Cooper having a big game on Sunday.
Player of the Game: Amari Cooper WR Cowboys
Final Score: Cowboys 31 Seahawks 30
Lions @ Cardinals
I see Kyler Murray going off on Sunday. This may be his MVP year and he's on fire right now. The Lions have struggled the past two weeks and Kyler Murray is playing out of his mind. I think Kenyan Drake is going to have a big game and I don't see the Lions having an answer for him. I see Patrick Peterson laying the strap on Kenny Golladay and this will be the game that Isaiah Simmons comes into his own. I see the Cardinals putting up a lot of points against the Lions this week.
Player of the Game: Kenyan Drake RB Cardinals
Final Score: Lions 16 Cardinals 27
Buccaneers @ Broncos
Tom Brady has struggled in the past in Denver, but with all of the Broncos' injuries I can't see them losing. Denver is going to lean a lot on Melvin Gordon today, but it's going to be hard to stop the Bucs today. I'm looking for Tom Brady to gel with his receivers better. We know how much he loves throwing to his running backs and tight ends, but I'd love to see both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin in the end zone today. I hate to toot my own horn, but Antoine Winfield Jr. has looked like the best safety in this draft class so far. I love Winfield coming out of the draft and I see him with the ball in his hands today. I'm not sure if it's a fumble or pick, but he's going to be a beast today.
Player of the Game: Antoine Winfield Jr. S Buccaneers
Final Score: Buccaneers 24 Broncos 13
Packers @ Saints
Greatness. That's what we will be seeing on Sunday Night. Drew Brees has looked like a shadow of himself this year and without Michael Thomas, it will be hard to dethrone Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers looks even better this year than he did last season and is playing really good football. All week I was leaning towards New Orleans, but I'm going to change that pick to Green Bay. I still see Alvin Kamara running all over this defense, but I think Aaron Rodgers' greatness elevates him in week 3. This is going to be a fun game to watch, but without the "Who Dat" Nation in the building, I think Aaron Rodgers will show out on Sunday Night Football. I like Green Bay in a close game.
Player of the Game: Aaron Rodgers QB Packers
Final Score: Packers 28 Saints 24
Chiefs @ Ravens
Holy smokes. This game is going to be unreal. I wish they saved it for later in the season, but I'm happy we get to watch this on Monday Night Football. Lamar Jackson has been playing unbelievable football and he's really stepped up in the passing game. He looks like one of the best throwers in the NFL and his offseason work has shown. Mahomes on the other hand had another "Mahomes type of throw" last week. This is a showdown of arguably the two best teams in the NFL. I see the Ravens running hard on the Chiefs defense while Mahomes will take advantage of Baltimore's inexperienced safeties. This is going to be an awesome game, but I think Mahomes comes in and pulls of the upset.
Player of the Game: Patrick Mahomes QB Chiefs
Final Score: Chiefs 33 Ravens 30
