NFL 2025 Week 3 Prequel
Thursday, September 18, 2025, 8pm
Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (-11 1/2) — The Bills are that good. The Dolphins are that bad. Forget the high spread. This game could be over by halftime. There could be big changes in Miami, especially since Dolphins owner Stephen Ross gave his coach and general manager the dreaded vote of confidence. Josh Allen will shred the Dolphins. Bills cover
Sunday, September 21, 1pm
Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings (-2 1/2) — Despite being 2-0, the loss of Joe Burrow will wreck the Bengals. JJ McCarthy looked awful for three quarters against Chicago and looked worse against Atlanta at home for all four quarters. If the Vikings lose at home again to fall to 1-2, there will be some serious grumblings. Kevin O’Connell is a better coach than Zac Taylor. Go with the home crowd and the better coach against a wounded Bengals squad. Vikings cover
Pittsburgh Steelers (-1 1/2) at New England Patriots — Mike Vrabel got his first win as the Patriots coach, while Mike Tomlin has been doing it since Vrabel was a player. Both men like hard-nosed defense, but Tomlin has the better personnel for it. Aaron Rodgers has settled in, despite his receivers inexcusably dropping catchable balls. Drake Maye has less to work with. This is just a case of one team being more talented. Steelers cover
Indianapolis Colts (-4 1/2) at Tennessee Titans — Daniel Jones has been revitalized. Cam Ward has little to work with, but he has shown flashes of promise. Given that the Titans fight hard and do not go down easy, the spread might be a bit high for a road team. Also, the two teams the Colts beat were the bottom of the barrel. Colts win but fail to cover
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1 1/2) — Both teams suffered gut-wrenching losses in the final seconds last week. The Texans have the better defense while both quarterbacks are solid. There is not much of a home field advantage in Jacksonville, Go with the better defense, despite last week’s meltdown. Upset special, Texans win outright
Atlanta Falcons (-5 1/2) at Carolina Panthers — Michael Penix might be the real deal, especially after Atlanta went into Minnesota and humiliated them. Carolina is not good at all, but Bryce Young is not a scrub. The spread is too high for a road team coming off of an emotional road win last week. The Falcons are not elite yet, so a garbage touchdown is very possible. Falcons win but fail to cover
Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles (-3 1/2) — The Rams have a very good defense, but the Eagles are more physical. The Eagles are coming off a big emotional win over Kansas City, but do not expect a home letdown. Last year in the snow, the Rams gave the Eagles all they could handle. Yet Matthew Stafford is a year older and the Rams offense is not as explosive as in years past. It is hard to count out Sean McVay, but nick Sirianni’s Eagles should cover at home with Saquon Barkley being key. Eagles cover
New York Jets at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6 1/2) — Baker Mayfield showed heart and guts in a stirring comeback win against Houston. The Jets need time to learn how to win. The Jets defense is not what it was in recent years. Expect Mayfield to get the job done at home, but not in a cakewalk. The Buccaneers do not win easy. Buccaneers win but fail to cover
Las Vegas Raiders at Washington Commanders (-3 1/2) — The Commander will be angry after a loss at Green Bay. They get to take out their frustrations on a Raiders team lacking quality on the offensive line. Pete Carroll and Dan Quinn both presided over the Legion of Boom, but the Raidersare a year away from being competitive. Jayden Daniels is better than Geno Smith. Commanders cover
Green Bay Packers (-7 1/2) at Cleveland Browns — The Packers are 2-0 and winning in impressive fashion. The Browns are 0-2 and looking nearly as bad as the squad that went 0-16. Joe Flacco can still sling it, but he needs help. Jordan Love has plenty of help. The spread is high for a road tea. Give the Browns the chance to get a garbage touchdown before giving up on them for good this year. Packers win but fail to cover
4pm
Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-2 1/2) — The Chargers are 2-0, while the Broncos gave away a win last week due to a mind-numbingly boneheaded leverage penalty on a 60 yard field goal try. Bo Nix is throwing interceptions. The Charges now have a defense to complement dustin Herbert. This team is built Harbaugh tough. Trust in Harbaugh until proven otherwise. Chargers cover
New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks (-7 1/2) — The Seahawks looked very impressive in a road win at Pittsburgh. The Saints are just bad. Trust Sam Darnold over Spencer Rattler. This one could get ugly. Seahawks cover
Arizona Cardinals at Sam Francisco 49ers (-2 1/2) — Yes, the Cardinals are 2-0, but they have not beaten anyone impressive. The 49ers have more talent. Brock Purdy can still get the ball to George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey. Go with the more experienced team that has proven winners. 49ers cover
Dallas Cowboys (-1 1/2) at Chicago Bears — The Cowboys were so close to being 0-2 before winning a shootout for the ages. The Bears are 0-2 again and showing an inability to close out games. The Cowboys are not the special, but last week’s win will be a confidence boost. The Bears do not get the benefit of the doubt until they earn it. Dak Prescott has more weapons than Caleb Williams. Cowboys cover
8pm
Kansas City Chiefs (-6 1/2) at New York Giants — Both teams are 0-2, but the Giants are the Rodney Dangerfield of the NFL. Had they not blown their game at Dallas that might have changed. Russell Wilson was lights out in throwing for 450 yards, but it was not enough. The Chiefs are 0-2, but it is way too soon to hit the panic button. loss to the Giants would have the entire midwest panicking. It’s tempting to say this is the week the Chiefs explode, but the spread is high for an 0-2 road team playing another team also starving for a win. Patrick Mahomes has not forgotten how to play football. Chiefs win but fail to cover
Monday, September 22, 8pm
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens (-4 1/2) – The Lions got blasted by the Ravens 38-6 in 2023. Both teams have very good offenses. The Lions got back to their winning ways last week while the Ravens just keep rolling along. Go with the home team, with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry taking care of business. Ravens cover