There are four surprise unbeaten teams in the NFC heading into Week 3 of the NFL season.
We expected San Francisco, Philadelphia and Dallas. We did not think Atlanta, Tampa Bay, New Orleans and Washington would be in that discussion.
After back-to-back 7-10 seasons, Atlanta might be ready for something more with third-year coach Arthur Smith. The comeback victory against Green Bay was impressive, and now they travel to Detroit in Week 3.
Washington has benefitted from the return of Chase Young on defense – the Commanders have 10 sacks in two games. New offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy has received high marks for an offense where Sam Howell and Brian Robinson have been early stars. Washington hosts Buffalo in Week 3.
New Orleans improved to 2-0 with new quarterback Derek Carr, and the Saints face Green Bay in Week 3. Perhaps the Saints are the team to beat in the NFC South.
POWER RANKINGS: Cowboys, Dolphins join elite tier; Patriots, Broncos, Bears drop for Week 3
Then there is Tampa Bay, where life without Tom Brady hasn’t been as difficult as expected so far. Baker Mayfield has done the most with another chance at being a starting quarterback, and feeding Mike Evans targets has not hurt. Tampa Bay faces the Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Will any of the surprise unbeatens pull off an upset in Week 3?
Each week, Sporting News will pick the games straight up and against the spread. Here is a look at our record this season:
- Straight up: 19-13 (10-6 in Week 2)
- ATS: 15-17 (6-10 in Week 2)
If our Week 3 picks are accurate, then there will only be five unbeaten teams after three weeks. Here are our straight-up picks for Week 3 (lines courtesy of BetMGM):
NFL picks, predictions for Week 3
- New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers (-10)
Thursday, 8:20 p.m., Prime Video
The Giants pulled off an incredible 21-point comeback in Week 2 against Arizona, but Saquon Barkley (ankle) might not be ready on a short week – and the 49ers have the league’s best rushing defense through two weeks (41.0 ypg.). If Barkley is unable to go, then San Francisco’s pass rush will impact Daniel Jones. Look for San Francisco’s offense to do the rest – even if that 10-point seems risky.
Pick: 49ers 31, Giants 17
- Tennessee Titans at Cleveland Browns (-4.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Mike Vrabel, an Ohio native, is 1-1 as a head coach against the Browns. Tennessee beat Cleveland 43-13 in their last visit to FirstEnergy Stadium in 2018 – and the Titans will rely on Derrick Henry and Tyjae Spears against a tough Cleveland defense. If Ryan Tannehill can protect the football, then Tennessee should be able to steal one against a Browns’ team coming off a short week and back-to-back divisional games, without Nick Chubb.
Pick: Titans 23, Browns 20
- Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions (-4.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
The Falcons have a chance to improve to 3-0, and rookie Bijan Robinson is a problem for opposing defenses. He had 172 total yards against the Packers in Week 2. The last four meetings between these teams have been decided by a combined total of 12 points, including two one-point games. There is a little more pressure on Detroit here knowing they can’t lose back-to-back home games with the Thursday Night Football matchup at Green Bay looming in Week 4.
Pick: Lions 31, Falcons 24
- New Orleans Saints at Green Bay Packers (-1.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
The Packers are going to play a lot of close games this season – and the fourth-quarter collapse against Atlanta was a missed opportunity. That said, Jordan Love leads the NFL in passer rating (123.2) and should get Aaron Jones and Christian Watson back from nagging hamstring injuries. New Orleans will be tested in a short week, but look for Love to win his first start at Lambeau Field.
Pick: Packers 28, Saints 23
- Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins (-7)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Broncos are in real danger of slipping to 0-3 under first-year coach Sean Payton, especially after considering Tua Tagovailoa is 15-4 at home as a starter. Tagovailoa has taken just one sack through two games. Russell Wilson, meanwhile, has taken nine sacks through two games. Miami is 4-2 ATS as a home favorite under Mike McDaniel.
Pick: Dolphins 28, Broncos 20
- Los Angeles Chargers (-1.5) at Minnesota Vikings
Saturday, 1 p.m., Fox
This is a battle of two desperate 0-2 teams that made the postseason in 2022. The Vikings had a long week after the Thursday Night Football loss to the Eagles. The Chargers lost an overtime heart-breaker to the Titans. Los Angeles’ losses are by a combined total of five points, and the Vikings are no stranger to one-score games. A small upset here puts more heat on Chargers coach Brandon Staley.
Pick: Vikings 31, Chargers 28
- New England Patriots (-2.5) at New York Jets
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Patriots haven’t had a 0-3 start since Bill Belichick’s first season in New England in 2000 when they opened the season with four straight losses. The tenor of the Jets’ season changed with Aaron Rodgers’ injury, and Zach Wilson already has a league-high four interceptions. It’s a road test for New England and Mac Jones. The Pats win a tight, ugly one-score game to avoid that 0-3 conversation.
Pick: Patriots 20, Jets 16
- Buffalo Bills (-6.5) at Washington Commanders
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
The Commanders have been better with the improved pass rush and offense behind Sam Howell, and this is a chance to make a statement against an AFC playoff contender. When Josh Allen plays clean – which he did in Week 2– the Bills are in business. Dating back to last season, Allen has eight interceptions in his last five road starts – and Buffalo is 3-2 S/U in those games. Washington can make this interesting.
Pick: Bills 27, Commanders 21
- Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-9.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., Fox
Rookie C.J. Stroud passed for 384 yards in Week 2, but the Texans still lost to the Colts. There could be a similar theme in Week 3. Stroud should have some success against a Jacksonville defense that allows 256.5 yards per game, but Trevor Lawrence will return the favor. That spread is a little high knowing Jacksonville is 0-3 ATS a home favorite since last season.
Pick: Jaguars 31, Texans 24
- Indianapolis Colts at Baltimore Ravens (-8.5)
Sunday, 1 p.m., CBS
Colts rookie quarterback Anthony Richardson totaled 263 yards and two TDs in Week 2 to earn his first victory as a starter, and he has enjoyed an encouraging start. Still, he took four sacks last week and Baltimore has six different players with a sack through two weeks. Lamar Jackson also has a 74.5% completion percentage and averages 46 rushing yards per game.
Pick: Ravens 33, Colts 19
- Carolina Panthers at Seattle Seahawks (-4.5)
Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS
The Seahawks pulled out an impressive overtime victory against the Lions on the road, and they will need Kenneth Walker III to be effective against a Carolina run defense that has struggled through two weeks. This won’t be an easy road start for No. 1 pick Bryce Young either. Geno Smith has another efficient day, and the Seahawks cruise ato a home victory. The Panthers are 2-6 ATS as an away underdog since last season.
Pick: Seahawks 28, Panthers 17
- Dallas Cowboys (-12.5) at Arizona Cardinals
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., Fox
The Cowboys have been dominant in two home games. Dallas is allowing just 10 points per game, and they have 10 sacks this season. Micah Parsons – who has three sacks – continues to be a game-changer. Arizona quarterback Joshua Dobbs has taken just three sacks with no interceptions, and despite last week’s second-half collapse against the Giants this still is a home game. Arizona hangs around into the third quarter before Dak Prescott puts the game away with a TD pass to CeeDee Lamb to push Dallas out to a 3-0 start.
Pick: Cowboys 26, Cardinals 14
- Chicago Bears at Kansas City Chiefs (-12.5)
Sunday, 4:25 p.m., Fox
The other game with a 12.5-point spread. The Chiefs bounced back in Week 2, and Travis Kelce had four catches for 26 yards and a TD in his return. Kansas City averages 18.5 points per game through two weeks, but the Bears have struggled with turnovers and they are facing Patrick Mahomes II at the wrong time. Look for the Chiefs to pull away in the second half, where the Bears have been outscored 42-21 through two weeks.
Pick: Chiefs 31, Bears 15
- Pittsburgh Steelers (-1.5) at Las Vegas Raiders
Sunday, 8:20 pm., NBC
The Steelers are a road favorite – and they are 6-3 ATS on the road the last two seasons. The Raiders have won four of the last six meetings in this classic AFC rivalry. Jimmy Garoppolo hasn’t been sacked through two games, but he’s thrown three interceptions. Pittsburgh is on a short week, but the team that cashes in on turnovers wins here. Kenny Pickett takes advantage.
Pick: Steelers 24, Raiders 21
- Philadelphia Eagles (-6.5) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Monday, 7:15 p.m., ABC
The Buccaneers are off to a surprising 2-0 start with Baker Mayfield, who has a 69.1% completion percentage and has not thrown an interception. The Eagles, however, had extra rest coming off a Thursday Night Football victory. Philadelphia has just four sacks through two weeks. Still, Jalen Hurts should be even better with the emergence of D’Andre Swift in the backfield. Philadelphia keeps it rolling on the Monday Night Football spotlight.
Pick: Eagles 27, Buccaneers 17
- Los Angeles Rams at Cincinnati Bengals (-5.5)
Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN
The Bengals are in danger of falling to 0-3, and Joe Burrow’s status is in question after he aggravated a right calf strain in Week 2 against Baltimore. For now, we’re operating as if Burrow will play against the Rams in a Super Bowl LVI rematch. This is the third straight week the Rams are an underdog, and they’ve covered both times. We’ll stick with the Bengals as the winner but will re-evaluate if Burrow does not play.
Pick: Bengals 26, Rams 23