Week 3 predictions

If there is anything I've learned through the first two weeks of the season it's that I don't know what to expect out of some teams. Dallas at 0-2 is a little unexpected, but I'm overjoyed, of course. The Lions haven't posted a win yet, but they've been close each time, Seattle fell back to earth and the Chargers looked like who I thought they'd be in Week 2. Road teams have not fared well yet this season, so of course I'm picking a host of road-dogs this week.

Last Week: 7-9  straight up (18-14 to date)

                     6-9-1 vs. the spread (16-15-1 to date)

My predicting might not be so great, but on the bright side I'm 2-0 in three of my FF leagues, 1-1 in another and 0-2 in the one in which my players were picked by the computer.

Dallas Cowboys at
Houston Texans
Line: Texans -3
The Texans squeaked by the Redskins last week, but now they’re back at home. Matt Schaub tears apart the Cowboys defense and the Cowboys’ struggling offense can’t keep up even though the Texans have been giving up bunches of yards and points. It’s much like the preseason mismatch. The dream of a home Super Bowl dies this week. Texans: 34-20

Buffalo Bills at
New England Patriots
Line: Patriots -14
Back in the friendly confines of Foxboro, The Patriots shake off their loss to the Jets with the sad Bills in town. Ryan Fitzpatrick is slated to start at QB for the Bills, but the outcome is the same as it has been this season. Patriots 28-13

Cleveland Browns at
Baltimore Ravens
Line: Ravens -10.5
The Browns have been close this year, but the hometown crowd gets Joe Flacco on track and he responds with a big game. Ravens:27-6

Atlanta Falcons at
New Orleans Saints
Line: Saints -4
The Saints haven’t looked that impressive, but you can’t argue with 2-0. Jason Snelling gets the call again with all the other running backs injured for the Falcons, but these aren’t the Cardinals. Saints: 33-17

Tennessee Titans at
New York Giants
Line: Giants -3
Will Vince Young start-will Vince Young finish? Eli Manning gets on a roll and that opens the door for Ahmad Bradshaw and the running game. Giants: 21-17

Cincinnati Bengals at
Carolina Panthers
Line: Bengals -3
The Bengals’ D surrenders an average of 24 points a game, but the Panthers score an average of 12.5 ppg. The Panthers will need a running game to keep the Bengals off newbie Jimmy Claussen. It won’t happen. Bengals:24-12

San Francisco 49ers at
Kansas City Chiefs
Line: 49ers -2.5
The Chiefs need to hope it rains again with the 49ers coming in off improved play against the Super Bowl champs. Frank Gore is too much for the Chiefs to handle and Patrick Willis introduces himself to Matt Cassel. 49ers: 24-20.

Pittsburgh Steelers at
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Line: Steelers -3
The Steelers have been underdogs the first two weeks and won both. Charlie Batch looks to get his first start under center and did well in the past in relier work. The Bucs are 2-0 but haven’t faced a team the caliber of the Steelers yet. Steelers: 27-9

Detroit Lions at
Minnesota Vikings
Line: Vikings -11
The Lions haven’t won at Minnesota in over a decade, but 11 points is optimistic for a Vikings team that has struggled offensively. The Vikings get their first win of the season, but the Lions easily cover the spread for the third-consecutive time this year. Vikings:20-17

Washington Redskins at
St. Louis Rams
Line: Redskins -3.5
The Redskins came alive against the Texans with three touchdowns while the Rams’ offense sputtered. If the Redskins’ defense keeps the heat on, Sam Bradford has a day to forget and Steven Jackson will be neutralized. Redskins:30-17

Philadelphia Eagles at
Jacksonville Jaguars
Line: Eagles -3
The Eagles decided Kevin Kolb is not the QB of the future with the start of Michael Vick. It’s the right week to make a change as the Jags come off a beatdown from the Chargers. The Jags shut down the running game, but Vick makes enough plays to pull the Eagles through. Eagles: 21-17

San Diego Chargers at
Seattle Seahawks
Line: Chargers -5
The line must only be at –5 with the Seahawks at home. The Chargers put up 38 points against the Jaguars and shouldn’t get much less than that against the Seahawks who surrendered 31 points to the Broncos. It’s another ugly week for the Seahawks. Chargers: 31-10

Oakland Raiders at
Arizona Cardinals
Line: Cardinals -4.5
Ugly game of the week with teams that are evenly matched on paper. It won’t matter who the Raiders start at quarterback as the Cardinals’ offense gets untracked. Cardinals:24-13

Indianapolis Colts at
Denver BroncosLine: Colts -5.5
The Colts got their running game in gear against the Giants in Manning Bowl II last Sunday night, but Peyton and Reggie Wayne take care of business even though they’ll be pushed by an improved Broncos squad. Colts:31-20

New York Jets at
Miami Dolphins
Line: Dolphins -2
I had no faith in Mark Sanchez last week and he pulled it out, but now after splitting their first two games at home, Sanchez struggles on the road against the Dolphins in a key AFC East game. Was Braylon Edwards chasing Ines Sainz when he was pulled over? Dolphins: 17-14

Green Bay Packers at
Chicago Bears
Line: Packers -3
Another score for MNF as the 2-0 Packers face the 2-0 Bears in a NFC North battle. The Bears got a break in week 1, got a break in week 2 (facing the Cowboys) but the breaks end there. Packers: 24-20