Two weeks in and still a lot of storylines yet to unroll.\u00a0 But, for right now, the narrative is dominated by the surprises of the Vikings and Bills at 2-0 and the Broncos, Jets, Panthers, and Cowboys at 0-2.<\/p>\n
N.Y. Giants (2-0) at CAROLINA (0-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Panthers -1 St. Louis (1-1) at CHICAGO (1-1)<\/span> – Vegas: Bears -7.5 Buffalo (2-0) at CLEVELAND (0-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Bills -1 Tampa Bay (1-1) at DALLAS (0-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Cowboys -9 N.Y. Jets (0-2) at MIAMI (1-1)<\/span> – Vegas: Dolphins -1 San Francisco (1-1) at MINNESOTA (2-0)<\/span> – Vegas: 49ers -5.5 Kansas City (1-1) at NEW ORLEANS (2-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Saints -7 Cincinnati (1-1) at WASHINGTON (0-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Redskins -1.5 Detroit (1-1) at TENNESSEE (0-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Lions -1 Jacksonville (0-2) at INDIANAPOLIS (0-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Colts -3.5 Philadelphia (2-0) at ARIZONA (1-1)<\/span> – Vegas: Eagles -3.5 Atlanta (1-1) at SAN DIEGO (2-0)<\/span> – Vegas: Chargers -3.5 Houston (2-0) at DENVER (0-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Pick ’em Pittsburgh (2-0) at OAKLAND (0-2)<\/span> – Vegas: Steelers -3 New England (2-0) at BALTIMORE (1-1)<\/span> – Vegas: Patriots -1.5 Green Bay (2-0) at SEATTLE (1-1)<\/span> – Vegas: Packers -6 NFC EAST:<\/span> NFC NORTH:<\/span> NFC SOUTH:<\/span> NFC WEST: AFC EAST:<\/span> AFC NORTH:<\/span> AFC SOUTH:<\/span> AFC WEST: Two weeks in and still a lot of storylines yet to unroll.\u00a0 But, for right now, the narrative is dominated by the surprises of the Vikings and Bills at 2-0 and the Broncos, Jets, Panthers, and Cowboys at 0-2. Thursday … Continue reading
\nI think the Giants are a considerably better team than Carolina.\u00a0 However, I think this is a pretty tough spot for them.\u00a0 First of all, as fellow BSB contributor, Gross often points out, Thursday night games seem to disproportionately favor the home team because of the short week and the lost day of practice due to travel.\u00a0 Plus, the Giants have a huge showdown with the Eagles in Week Four, so they may have a slight eye on that one, which would exaggerate the difficulties in playing on Thursday night.\u00a0 Now, the Giants do match up really well against the Panthers offense because the d-line is good enough to contain Cam, but this seems like a bit of a trap game for Big Blue, and Vegas even agrees.\u00a0 Panthers (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Early Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nThe Bears have 10 days to prepare for a home game against a bad Rams team.\u00a0 The fact that Vegas is only giving 7.5 here gives me a little\u00a0pause, but it could just be a bad line.\u00a0\u00a0The Bears should roll.\u00a0 Bears (easy)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe 2-0 Bills get to play a Cleveland team that is still getting to know one another on offense.\u00a0 But, things are rarely easy in the NFL.\u00a0 The Bills might be smelling themselves\u00a0a bit by now, and may also be looking ahead to a showdown with the Pats next week.\u00a0 Cleveland isn’t the easiest place to come in and get a W.\u00a0 I think the Brownies should be able to steal one here.\u00a0 Browns (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nAfter two tough losses, the ‘Boys should be able to take out\u00a0some frustrations at home on an inferior Tampa team.\u00a0 Then again, if Witten, Bryant, and Austin are still banged up, this game looks tougher.\u00a0 Cowboys (moderate)<\/strong>\u00a0<\/p>\n
\nThe ‘Phins could be sneaky this year.\u00a0 And, things can snowball in New York.\u00a0 With the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets losing their first two games, this trip to Miami could be a tipping point in their season.\u00a0 It should be interesting to see how 0-3 is handled on the back pages.\u00a0 Dolphins (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe 2-0 Vikings are the talk of the NFL, but not for long.\u00a0 The Niners should be able to bring the Vikes\u00a0back to reality here, whether or not Adrian Peterson is ready to go.\u00a0 49ers (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nThe tough offseason for the Saints may cause problems, but nothing a relatively soft early schedule can’t hide.\u00a0 I actually really like the Chiefs this year as a potential sleeper in the AFC, but a trip to the Big Easy is never fun for a team that struggles to score.\u00a0 You know Brees & Company will get their, and the Chiefs probably can’t keep pace.\u00a0 Saints (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nOne of these teams went to the playoffs last year, while the other finished in last place at 5-11, and you might be hard-pressed to know which is which if you listened to public opinion on the two teams.\u00a0 Everyone is buying the Redskins, while, at the same time, seemingly forgetting just how good the Bengals were last year.\u00a0 Well, I think Cincy is a much better team than Washington and should only be getting better.\u00a0 RG3 still has some growing up to do, while Andy Dalton could be ready to really step up in Year 2.\u00a0 I am going to take the better football team here, even on the road, because I just can’t find a reason not to.\u00a0 Bengals (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nBoth teams are coming back from long unsuccessful trips to the West Coast in Week Two.\u00a0 But, at least the Titans got to play an afternoon game, as the Lions were the Sunday Night game in San Fran.\u00a0 Now, they go on the road.\u00a0 I expect this to be a very heavy Chris Johnson day, as he could TEAR up the Detroit defense and keep that potent offense on the sidelines all day.\u00a0 It won’t be pretty, but I’ll take the home team here.\u00a0 Titans (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nBoth teams are really, really bad on offense, but only one of these teams is even worse on defense, and that is Indy.\u00a0 The Colts defense is very, very bad, while Jacksonville’s is actually somewhat decent.\u00a0 Unless Blaine Gabbert flat-out loses this game, I actually like the Jags, on the road here, to pull the upset.\u00a0 This is another interesting spread where I would consider taking the points right now.\u00a0 Jaguars (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday, Late Afternoon<\/h1>\n
\nThe last two times the Eagles visited Glendale were borderline tragic.\u00a0 The 2010 NFC Championship Game debacle followed by last year’s utter collapse in a regular season loss that still haunts Eagles fans to this day.\u00a0 PARKER JUMPED!\u00a0 PARKER JUMPED!\u00a0 HE JUMPED EARLY – EAGLES LOSE!\u00a0 Anyway, I do not see the Eagles losing two years in a row – not with this roster.\u00a0 Eagles (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nIf the Falcons weren’t coming off a short week after a tough Monday Night game against the Broncos only to have to fly 3,000 miles for this one, I might consider picking an upset here, but with that working against them, I do not see them going into San Diego and stealing one.\u00a0 Chargers (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nCan Peyton Manning really start 0-3 with his new team?\u00a0 Imagine the hysteria on every highlight show in America.\u00a0 Well, I think they can and will, as the Texas are a very, very good team.\u00a0 And, I think it might take a little while for the Denver offense to click.\u00a0 Unfortunately, with this schedule, they don’t have that kind of time.\u00a0 Put me down for an 0-3 Broncos start…anyone wanna take a bet on that?\u00a0 Texans (close)<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nPittsburgh is coming off of a tough game with the Jets, but the Raiders are coming back from a long trip to Miami.\u00a0 The Steelers are a veteran team, who should not be bothered by the travel.\u00a0 Give me the Stillers on the road, entering their bye week.\u00a0 Steelers (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\nSunday Night<\/h1>\n
\nPrime time is when the Ravens usually show up.\u00a0 At home, against the hated Patriots.\u00a0 The only question is – do they have the horses this year?\u00a0 I’m not really sure.\u00a0 This is a very tough game to pick here, but I think that this might be the year where Ray Lewis and Ed Reed show their age without being covered up by the great Terrell Suggs.\u00a0 This could actually be a shootout, which favors the Pats.\u00a0 Plus, the Ravens are coming off two tough games in 6 days, and have to do it all over again this coming Thursday.\u00a0 I wouldn’t put it past this group of winners, but it would take quite the effort, even at home.\u00a0 Patriots (close)<\/strong><\/p>\nMonday Night<\/h1>\n
\nThe Seattle homefield advantage is more than just about anywhere else, but the best quarterback on the planet with 11 days to prepare for an underrated, but still developing defense makes it somewhat hard to really make the case for the ‘Hawks here.\u00a0 Packers (moderate)<\/strong><\/p>\nStandings After Week Three<\/h1>\n
\nThe\u00a0Eagles go a game up on the Giants in preparation for their huge showdown on Sunday Night<\/em>
\n3-0 Eagles
\n2-1 Giants
\n1-2 Cowboys
\n0-3 Redskins<\/p>\n
\nThe Pack is expectedly 3-0, but the Lions in last place is a tough site for fans who thought last year was a turning point
\n<\/em>3-0 Packers
\n2-1 Bears
\n2-1 Vikings
\n1-2 Lions<\/p>\n
\nThe Saints are a full 2 games up on the entire rest of the division through just 3 games – couldn’t have asked for a better start
\n<\/em>3-0 Saints
\n1-2 Bucs
\n1-2 Falcons
\n1-2 Panthers<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>The Niners probably take the lead in the division for good…
\n<\/em>2-1 49ers
\n1-2 Cardinals
\n1-2 Rams
\n1-2 Seahawks<\/p>\n
\nThe Pats get another huge win, while the 0-3 Jets are dominating the headlines in New York; nice 2-1 starts for the other two teams
\n<\/em>3-0 Patriots
\n2-1 Bills
\n2-1 Dolphins
\n0-3 Jets<\/p>\n
\nThe Ravens have now spotted Pittsburgh two games – could be tough to make up
\n<\/em>3-0 Steelers
\n2-1 Bengals
\n1-2 Browns
\n1-2 Ravens<\/p>\n
\nHouston continues to roll with a nice win in Denver; the Jags and Titans are both on the board with their first Ws
\n<\/em>3-0 Texans
\n1-2 Jaguars
\n1-2 Titans
\n0-3 Colts<\/p>\n
\n<\/span>The Chargers are off to a terrific start in the division, as they are 2 games clear of KC and 3 games of the other two…wow
\n<\/em>3-0 Chargers
\n1-2 Chiefs
\n0-3 Broncos
\n0-3 Raiders<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"