Houston Texans (-1.5) @ New England Patriots – 1.25am, Friday
Jacoby Brissett talks to Julian Edelman during last week's game. Winslow Townson / AP/Press Association Images
Winslow Townson / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
THERE ARE ONLY eight remaining undefeated teams in the NFL and — barring a tie — that will be down to seven by the time you wake up tomorrow as the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans.
Despite New England winning 27 of their last 30 home games (regular season and playoffs), it is the Texans and their third-ranked defence — not to mention their league-leading nine sacks — that go into tonight’s game as favourites as the Patriots start a rookie, Jacoby Brissett, at quarterback for the first time since 1993.
However, while this is a chance for the Texans to produce a statement victory, you can’t help but feel this is the sort of game that Bill Belichick and his offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will relish. The key to beating any good pass rush is screens and quick, short passes which is exactly what an good OC would do with a rookie QB anyway.
Verdict: Brock Osweiler has won his only game against the Patriots and while New England are fast running out of key players, they’re already playing with house money after going 2-0 without Tom Brady. It’ll be a low-scoring affair but the Patriots, just.
Washington @ New York Giants (-4.5) – 6pm, Sunday
Kirk Cousins has not enjoyed his start to the season. Nick Wass
Nick Wass
It’s safe to assume that almost everyone expected the Giants and Saints to combine for 15 touchdowns and more than a hundred points last week so the 16-13 borefest came as something of a surprise until you remember Eli Manning is capable of under-performing four to five times a season.
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Washington comes into the game on the back of a loss to another NFC East rival and will fall three games back on Big Blue if they come out of this Sky Sports game without the win. Particularly worrying for last year’s surprise playoff team has been the poor performance of Kirk Cousins, throwing just one touchdown to three interceptions while completing just 65% of his passes.
And it’s not like the quarterback can blame poor offensive line play for his troubles as he’s faced the second least amount of pressure of any quarterback (on 14% of dropbacks) but faces a front seven that the Giants spent a lot of money on this week so that could well change.
Verdict: Everything we’ve seen this season points towards a Giants win but must-win divisional games are a coin-toss at best. For that reason (much like picking the Rams to beat the Seahawks last wee), I’m going with Washington by 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) @ Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday 9.25pm
Jordan Matthews and the Eagles receivers need to avoid big drops this week. Charles Rex Arbogast / AP/Press Association Images
Charles Rex Arbogast / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
Irish NFL fans will get a first chance to watch Carson Wentz in our prime time as the rookie quarterback faces his first real test after comfortable wins over the Browns and the Bears, two of the worst teams in the league.
The Steelers defence has not been great this year, giving up 695 yards through the air, and if the Eagles can sort out the drops that plagued them against Chicago, they could provide Pittsburgh with a real test on Sunday night.
The Eagles defence has been steadily impressive through two games, not giving up a passing touchdown yet, but what are the chances that Antonio Brown — by some distance the best receiver in the league — has back-to-back quiet games?
Verdict: This is very unlikely to turn into a shootout and the Steelers are better equipped to win the game on the ground through DeAngelo Williams. Pittsburgh by 5.
Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys (-7.5) – 1.30am, Monday
Ezekiel Elliott will look to add to his two touchdowns this week. Michael Ainsworth
Michael Ainsworth
Dear NFL schedule makers. Inflicting the Bears on us once is bad enough, but to do it twice in one of the big set-piece games twice in the space of eight days is all too much.
At 0-2, the season already looks dead for the Bears and, with Brian Hoyer starting at quarterback, it’s not even clear how it could improve.
The Cowboys have been nothing more than okay in their opening two games and while Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott have shown glimpses of their promise, neither has yet to sparkle. Against Chicago however, that could all change.
Verdict: The only question here is will ‘America’s Team’ cover the spread. Probably. Cowboys by 10.
And the rest (picks against the spread in bold)
Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) @ Buffalo Bills Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans (-1.5)
Cleveland Browns @ Miami Dolphins (-10)
Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (-8) Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3) Minnesota Vikings @ Carolina Panthers (-7)
LA Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5) San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks (-9.5) New York Jets @ Kansas City Chiefs (-3)
San Diego Chargers @ Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints (-3)
Big tests for rookie quarterbacks in week 3 of the NFL
Houston Texans (-1.5) @ New England Patriots – 1.25am, Friday
THERE ARE ONLY eight remaining undefeated teams in the NFL and — barring a tie — that will be down to seven by the time you wake up tomorrow as the New England Patriots host the Houston Texans.
Despite New England winning 27 of their last 30 home games (regular season and playoffs), it is the Texans and their third-ranked defence — not to mention their league-leading nine sacks — that go into tonight’s game as favourites as the Patriots start a rookie, Jacoby Brissett, at quarterback for the first time since 1993.
However, while this is a chance for the Texans to produce a statement victory, you can’t help but feel this is the sort of game that Bill Belichick and his offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will relish. The key to beating any good pass rush is screens and quick, short passes which is exactly what an good OC would do with a rookie QB anyway.
Verdict: Brock Osweiler has won his only game against the Patriots and while New England are fast running out of key players, they’re already playing with house money after going 2-0 without Tom Brady. It’ll be a low-scoring affair but the Patriots, just.
Washington @ New York Giants (-4.5) – 6pm, Sunday
It’s safe to assume that almost everyone expected the Giants and Saints to combine for 15 touchdowns and more than a hundred points last week so the 16-13 borefest came as something of a surprise until you remember Eli Manning is capable of under-performing four to five times a season.
Washington comes into the game on the back of a loss to another NFC East rival and will fall three games back on Big Blue if they come out of this Sky Sports game without the win. Particularly worrying for last year’s surprise playoff team has been the poor performance of Kirk Cousins, throwing just one touchdown to three interceptions while completing just 65% of his passes.
And it’s not like the quarterback can blame poor offensive line play for his troubles as he’s faced the second least amount of pressure of any quarterback (on 14% of dropbacks) but faces a front seven that the Giants spent a lot of money on this week so that could well change.
Verdict: Everything we’ve seen this season points towards a Giants win but must-win divisional games are a coin-toss at best. For that reason (much like picking the Rams to beat the Seahawks last wee), I’m going with Washington by 3.
Pittsburgh Steelers (-3.5) @ Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday 9.25pm
Irish NFL fans will get a first chance to watch Carson Wentz in our prime time as the rookie quarterback faces his first real test after comfortable wins over the Browns and the Bears, two of the worst teams in the league.
The Steelers defence has not been great this year, giving up 695 yards through the air, and if the Eagles can sort out the drops that plagued them against Chicago, they could provide Pittsburgh with a real test on Sunday night.
The Eagles defence has been steadily impressive through two games, not giving up a passing touchdown yet, but what are the chances that Antonio Brown — by some distance the best receiver in the league — has back-to-back quiet games?
Verdict: This is very unlikely to turn into a shootout and the Steelers are better equipped to win the game on the ground through DeAngelo Williams. Pittsburgh by 5.
Chicago Bears @ Dallas Cowboys (-7.5) – 1.30am, Monday
Dear NFL schedule makers. Inflicting the Bears on us once is bad enough, but to do it twice in one of the big set-piece games twice in the space of eight days is all too much.
At 0-2, the season already looks dead for the Bears and, with Brian Hoyer starting at quarterback, it’s not even clear how it could improve.
The Cowboys have been nothing more than okay in their opening two games and while Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott have shown glimpses of their promise, neither has yet to sparkle. Against Chicago however, that could all change.
Verdict: The only question here is will ‘America’s Team’ cover the spread. Probably. Cowboys by 10.
And the rest (picks against the spread in bold)
Arizona Cardinals (-3.5) @ Buffalo Bills
Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans (-1.5)
Cleveland Browns @ Miami Dolphins (-10)
Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars
Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers (-8)
Denver Broncos @ Cincinnati Bengals (-3)
Minnesota Vikings @ Carolina Panthers (-7)
LA Rams @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-5)
San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks (-9.5)
New York Jets @ Kansas City Chiefs (-3)
San Diego Chargers @ Indianapolis Colts (-2.5)
Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints (-3)
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