Andy Dalton faces a much easier defence this week. Gary Landers / AP/Press Association Images
Gary Landers / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL will be a battle of two 1-2 teams that could find their seasons getting away from them quite quickly.
The Dolphins were lucky to escape last week with an overtime win over Cleveland — and only did so because the Browns’ new kicker missed three field goals — but they have managed three wins out of their last five meetings in the Bengals.
The hosts go into week four with a losing record for the first time since 2011 and finally appear to be paying the price for continuously letting member of the playing (Marvin Jones/Mohamed Sanu) and coaching (Hue Jackson/Mike Zimmer) staff go off-season after off-season.
Verdict: The Bengals can look at their tough schedule for their record, the Dolphins have no such excuses. Cincinnati by 8.
Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 2.30pm, Sunday
Gus Bradley is a man under a lot of pressure. Stephen B. Morton / AP/Press Association Images
Stephen B. Morton / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
The good news for NFL fans is that the action this Sunday kicks off at 2.30pm. The bad news is that it’s the Colts and Jags in the first London game of season.
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Since America’s Game arrived in the British capital there have been 14 games, and seven of the teams involved have fired their head coach either immediately after losing the game or later in the season.
So, the likelihood is that either Gus Bradley or Chuck Pagano will get the sack this year and, if the much-hyped Jags drop to 0-4, it’s very likely to be Bradley.
Verdict: This is a badly coached team playing a team with a terrible roster and yet, the Colts will probably justify their favouritism. Indianapolis by 3+
Raiders fans will probably travel to Baltimore in numbers again. James Kenney / AP/Press Association Images
James Kenney / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
At this time of the season, records can be deceiving and all but the most die-hard Ravens fan would tell you that their team is probably the least convincing undefeated franchise remaining.
The may be 3-0 for just the third time in history (2006/2009), but those wins have come by a combined 13 points against teams that have a cumulative record of 1-8 which just goes to show how important strength of schedule is in the NFL.
This will be the Raiders’ third early away trip (it kicks off at 11am local time for Oakland) a fixture they’ve usually struggled with but are 2-0 this year as Derek Carr and his range of offensive weapons got the better of the Saints and Titans.
Verdict: This could turn into a shoot-out and that suits the Raiders as they’ve yet to prove — inept Titans aside — they can keep the score down. Oakland by 3+
Denver Broncos (-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 9.25pm, Sunday
Von Miller: Still good at football. Joe Mahoney / AP/Press Association Images
Joe Mahoney / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images
I’m not the only NFL writer that got the Broncos badly wrong in my pre-season preview. I convinced myself that losing the players on defence who helped create inside pressure would be too great a burden to bear. I was wrong. Scarily, they look even better on that side of the ball this year.
On offence too, seventh round draft pick Trevor Siemian has been an upgrade on Peyton Manning — or at least the ghost of the future Hall of Famer we got last season — and that should worry every team not named the New England Patriots in the AFC.
The Bucs started the season in great style with a win over their divisional rivals in Atlanta but wet the bed against the Cardinals in week two and then allowed the previously inept Rams score for fun last week.
Verdict: This is such a strange line, the Broncos really should be at least -4.5 favourites, even on the road. Denver by 6+
And the rest (picks against the spread in bold)
Cleveland Browns @ Washington (-7.5)
Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans (-4.5) Detroit Lions (-2.5) @ Chicago Bears Carolina Panthers (-3) @ Atlanta Falcons
Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) @ New York Jets LA Rams @ Arizona Cardinal (-7.5)
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots (-4) Dallas Cowboys (-2) @ San Francisco 49ers
New Orleans Saints @ San Diego Chargers (-4) Kansas City Chiefs @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5) New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings (-5)
The great firing of London likely as the NFL goes international in week 4
Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals (-7.5) – 1.25am, Friday
THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL will be a battle of two 1-2 teams that could find their seasons getting away from them quite quickly.
The Dolphins were lucky to escape last week with an overtime win over Cleveland — and only did so because the Browns’ new kicker missed three field goals — but they have managed three wins out of their last five meetings in the Bengals.
The hosts go into week four with a losing record for the first time since 2011 and finally appear to be paying the price for continuously letting member of the playing (Marvin Jones/Mohamed Sanu) and coaching (Hue Jackson/Mike Zimmer) staff go off-season after off-season.
Verdict: The Bengals can look at their tough schedule for their record, the Dolphins have no such excuses. Cincinnati by 8.
Indianapolis Colts (-2.5) @ Jacksonville Jaguars – 2.30pm, Sunday
The good news for NFL fans is that the action this Sunday kicks off at 2.30pm. The bad news is that it’s the Colts and Jags in the first London game of season.
Since America’s Game arrived in the British capital there have been 14 games, and seven of the teams involved have fired their head coach either immediately after losing the game or later in the season.
So, the likelihood is that either Gus Bradley or Chuck Pagano will get the sack this year and, if the much-hyped Jags drop to 0-4, it’s very likely to be Bradley.
Verdict: This is a badly coached team playing a team with a terrible roster and yet, the Colts will probably justify their favouritism. Indianapolis by 3+
Oakland Raiders @ Baltimore Ravens (-3.5) – 6pm, Sunday
At this time of the season, records can be deceiving and all but the most die-hard Ravens fan would tell you that their team is probably the least convincing undefeated franchise remaining.
The may be 3-0 for just the third time in history (2006/2009), but those wins have come by a combined 13 points against teams that have a cumulative record of 1-8 which just goes to show how important strength of schedule is in the NFL.
This will be the Raiders’ third early away trip (it kicks off at 11am local time for Oakland) a fixture they’ve usually struggled with but are 2-0 this year as Derek Carr and his range of offensive weapons got the better of the Saints and Titans.
Verdict: This could turn into a shoot-out and that suits the Raiders as they’ve yet to prove — inept Titans aside — they can keep the score down. Oakland by 3+
Denver Broncos (-3) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 9.25pm, Sunday
I’m not the only NFL writer that got the Broncos badly wrong in my pre-season preview. I convinced myself that losing the players on defence who helped create inside pressure would be too great a burden to bear. I was wrong. Scarily, they look even better on that side of the ball this year.
On offence too, seventh round draft pick Trevor Siemian has been an upgrade on Peyton Manning — or at least the ghost of the future Hall of Famer we got last season — and that should worry every team not named the New England Patriots in the AFC.
The Bucs started the season in great style with a win over their divisional rivals in Atlanta but wet the bed against the Cardinals in week two and then allowed the previously inept Rams score for fun last week.
Verdict: This is such a strange line, the Broncos really should be at least -4.5 favourites, even on the road. Denver by 6+
And the rest (picks against the spread in bold)
Cleveland Browns @ Washington (-7.5)
Tennessee Titans @ Houston Texans (-4.5)
Detroit Lions (-2.5) @ Chicago Bears
Carolina Panthers (-3) @ Atlanta Falcons
Seattle Seahawks (-2.5) @ New York Jets
LA Rams @ Arizona Cardinal (-7.5)
Buffalo Bills @ New England Patriots (-4)
Dallas Cowboys (-2) @ San Francisco 49ers
New Orleans Saints @ San Diego Chargers (-4)
Kansas City Chiefs @ Pittsburgh Steelers (-4.5)
New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings (-5)
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