NFL 2022 Week 3 Prequel
Point spread provided by the Sporting News and all time Eastern.
Thursday, September 22, 2022, 8pm
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cleveland Browns (-4.5) — These rivals both lost at home last week, but for the Browns it was an epic meltdown. They led by 13 with 1:55 left and lost. They lost to the Jets. It is hard to trust Mitchell Trubisky, but Jacoby Brissett is no superstar either. This could be a close game, but the Steelers are the more resilient team. Upset special, Steelers win outright
Sunday, September 25, 1pm
New Orleans Saints (-3) at Carolina Panthers — These rivals both lost last week but at least the Saints gave Tampa Bay a brutal fight. The Panthers also lost a heartbreaker but they show no signs of life. The Saints have a very good defense.They flustered Tom Brady. They can handle Baker Mayfield. Saints cover
Houston Texans at Chicago Bears (-3) — Both of these teams are bad, especially on offense. Nobody knows who is coaching them. Justin Fields has more potential than Davis Mills. Throw in the home field, and the decision is reasonable. Bears cover
Kansas City Chiefs (-6.5) at Indianapolis Colts — The Chiefs are every bit as good as they have been the last few years. The Colts are bad. They are head-scratchingly bad. Frank Reich has not forgotten how to coach. Yet the team that once vowed to suck for Luck has sucked ever since Andrew Luck retired. They switch out quarterbacks with no difference. The Chiefs have too many weapons, and Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes will utilize them all. Chiefs cover
Buffalo Bills (-5.5) at Miami Dolphins — The Dolphins overcame a 35-14 second half deficit on the road to shock Baltimore. Tua Tagovailoa threw 6 touchdown passes, 4 of them in the fourth quarter. While the Dolphins may be improved, The Bills are in serious Super Bowl Mode. Josh Allen is playing lights out, and Sean McDermott’s defense is for real. The Bills beat the defending champions by 31 and last year’s AFC top seed by 34. Bills cover
Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings (-6) — Both teams won their opening home game and lost their opening road game. As bad as the Vikings looked last week on the road, Detroit tends to play badly on the road as well. It is too soon to see if Jared Goff has been revived. Trust Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson at home. Vikings cover
Baltimore Ravens (-3) at New England Patriots — The Ravens blew a 21 point second half lead in a shocking home loss. The Patriots went on the road and won a slugfest at Pittsburgh. Yet Lamar Jackson is still a human highlight reel and Mac Jones is efficient but unspectacular. John Harbaugh is one of the few coaches who consistently beats Bill Belichick. The Patriots do not have the personnel to stop Jackson. Ravens cover
Cincinnati Bengals (-5) at New York Jets — The defending AFC Champion Bengals are 0-2. Even more surprising, the Jets are not. They were down by 13 last week on the road with 1:55 to play and somehow won. This is the week that sanity returns. Joe Flacco is not going to return to his Super Bowl form from a decade ago. Joe Burrow will get his swagger back from last year. The spread is too high for a winless team going on the road. Bengals win but fail to cover
Las Vegas Raiders (-2) at Tennessee Titans — Both of these playoff teams from last year are a stunning 0-2. The Titans lost a home stunner and then got blasted by 34 points on the road. The Raiders lost a road heartbreaker and then melted down by blowing a 20 point lead at home. Derrick Henry and Josh Jacobs both have a bruising running style. The Titans have the better defense. The Raiders have better weapons on offense, but Josh McDaniels has not shown any ability to utilize them. Mike Vrabel plays smash mouth. McDaniels prefers West Coast Offense dinking and dunking, which intimidates nobody. As bad as the Titans played last week, they are at home against a team on the ropes. Upset special, Titans win outright
Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5) at Washington Commanders — The Eagles are unbeaten while the Commanders lost their first game in franchise history one week after winning their first game in franchise history. Jalen Hurts and Carson Wentz have both been unfairly maligned, The spread is too high for a road team a\playing a division rival that is well-coached.Upset special, Commanders win outright
4pm
Jacksonville Jaguars at Los Angeles Chargers (-7) — Doug Pederson will turn the Jaguars around. He will revitalize Trevor Lawrence. Yet it will take another year. The Chargers took Kansas City to the limit before falling. Justin Herbert spreads the ball around in pinball fashion. At home, the Chargers could put this game away by halftime. Chargers cover
Los Angeles Rams (-3.5) at Arizona Cardinals — The Rams nearly blew a 25 point second half lead. The Cardinals had their greatest comeback win in franchise history by overcoming a 20 point deficit at the half. Yet the Rams still have Aaron Donald wreaking havoc. Kyler murray is talented, but the Rams have more depth Sean McVay is a better offensive mind than Kliff Kingsbury. The Rams have their best array of offensive weapons since their Greatest Show on Turf days.
Atlanta Falcons at Seattle Seahawks (-2) — Neither of these teams are good, but the Seahawks have the home field and the ageless Pete Carroll. At home, Geno Smith will be a game manager. Marcus Mariota has multi-purpose weapon Cordarelle Patterson. The Seahawks are far from their Legion of Boom days, but their defense is still ornery, especially down by the goal line. Seahawks cover
Green Bay Packers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1.5) — Tom Brady has 7 Super Bowl rings. Aaron Rodgers has one, and he has not looked impressive this season after racking up two consecutive league MVP trophies. Rodgers may own Chicago, but Brady owns him. The Buccaneers have been beating the Packers in Green Bay, something unthinkable until this young decade. The Buccaneers have the better defense and the better quarterback. Buccaneers cover
8pm
San Francisco 49era (-1.5) at Denver Broncos — The 49ers know Russell Wilson well, and he knows them. Yet with Trey Lance out for the season, the 49ers may be revitalized with Jimmy Garoppolo back in the saddle. Garoppolo has more weapons. Wilson needs more help. Deebo Samuel is not easy to scheme against. The Broncos will gel at some point soon, but Garoppolo will play with a chip on his shoulder and a desperate desire to outduel Wilson. 49ers cover
Monday, September 26, 8pm
Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants (-2) — Cooper Rush is 2-0 as a starter while the Giants are a surprising 2-0 this season. The Cowboys have the superstars. The Giants have an unexplainable pair of victories over teams that are winless. This week restores sanity to the division. Upset special, Cowboys win outright