Ramblin’ Fan’s NFL Picks and Predictions: Week 3

Week 2 of the regular season is in the books and its time to review our record from last weeks NFL picks, as well as make our NFL picks and predictions for Week 3. Last week was a pretty successful week of NFL picks for us here at Ramblin’ Fan as we went 12-4, hopefully we can keep it going. Last week we missed on a few “coin toss” games, and also called some mild upsets (Chiefs and Cardinals victories). The game where we really went against our instinct was on the Sunday Night Football game between NFC West powerhouses the San Francisco 49ers and the Seattle Seahawks. There seems to be something about Century Link Field that completely changes the 49ers, because they completely rolled over for the second straight trip to the Pacific Northwest. I expect that the NFC West will post a pretty respectable record this weekend as I have predicted all but the Arizona Cardinals will win their week 3 game, and if the Cardinals had been playing at home I may have been tempted to make them an upset pick. Lets get to this weeks NFL picks and predictions, again the NFC West games have been put in bold font in the table to make them easier to find. Thanks for reading and as always Go Rams!!!

Kansas City Chiefs @ Philadelphia Eagles (TNF). Andy Reid and the Chiefs will take their perfect record on the road to take on Chip Kelly and the Eagles. One team is a ball control offense that doesn’t beat themselves, the other team is an up tempo, high-flying team with a penchant for big plays and turnovers. I am going to go with the team that tends to take care of the ball. Chiefs win 20 – 13.

St. Louis Rams @ Dallas Cowboys. The Rams will hit the road to take on Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys in monstrous Cowboys Stadium. The new Cowboys stadium hasn’t exactly been a huge homefield advantage since opening, and the Rams need to pick up some non-conference road wins to have any playoff hopes in the tough NFC West. If the Rams D-line can continue to slow down the run and get after the quarterback they should be in good shape. Someone on the defensive staff needs to identify the other teams best player (Dez Bryant) and gameplan a way to take them out of the game (unlike Larry Fitzgerald and Julio Jones), forcing other players to make the big plays. The Rams need to come out on the plus side of the turnover margin to win this game, finding a running game would be nice but if Sam Bradford can avoid a third consecutive game with a pick-6 it wont be necessary. Rams win 27 – 20.

Green Bay Packers @ Cincinnati Bengals. Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers will head to Cincinnati to take on the Bengals in a battle of two teams with playoff aspirations and 1-1 records. It is tough not to take the home team Bengals in this one as they are a very tough team, but when in doubt take the team with the better QB and there is no one better than Rodgers right now. Packers win 24 – 21.

San Diego Chargers @ Tennessee Titans. The Chargers will head to Tennessee to take on the Titans in a battle of two AFC teams hoping to be surprise playoff teams in 2013. The new coaching staff has given the Chargers a jolt of energy and they would be 2-0 if it weren’t for an impressive late game rally by the Houston Texans in week 1. So far the Chargers have been slightly more impressive. Chargers win 28 – 20.

Cleveland Browns @ Minnesota Vikings. In a matchup of winless teams the Cleveland Browns will travel to the midwest to take on Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings. Many had the Browns as a “sleeper” pick for a surprise season, while the Vikings are coming off of a playoff appearance in 2012. It is a mild surprise that these two teams meet without a win between them, although looking at Christian Ponders TD/INT Ratio (2/4) does offer some insight as to why. If the Vikings realize that they have arguably the best player in the NFL at running back (and one of the worst starting QBs) they should take this one at home. Vikings win 21 – 13.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New England Patriots. The 0-2 Bucs will travel to Foxborough to take on Tom Brady and the 2-0 Patriots. No matter the opponent it is tough to pick against Belichick and Brady at home. Patriots win 27 – 21.

Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints. The Cardinals are going to surprise some people this year, the “upset” over the Detroit Lions was no fluke. Bruce Arians and Carson Palmer has completely changed the Cardinals offense, which coupled with their stingy defense will allow them to be competitive in nearly every game they play. The Saints seem to be firing on all cylinders since the return of Sean Payton, and the homefield advantage should be enough for them to secure the victory. Saints win 31 – 27.

Detroit Lions @ Washington Redskins. The Lions will travel to the nation’s capital to take on RGIII and the Redskins. In each of their first two games the Redskins have been sluggish early, only to have their comebacks fall short. If the Redskins can get off to a decent start they should be able to win this game, but if they fall behind early they likely wont be able to catch up to the Lions and their dynamic aerial attack. Redskins win 30 – 28.

New York Giants @ Carolina Panthers. Neither of these teams has been able to get out of their own way as they have both stumbled to 0-2. The Giants have given the ball away an astounding 10 times in their first 2 games, while Cam Newton has had a surprisingly sluggish start to the 2013 season. The Panthers have an under rated defense, but it likely wont be enough to slow down Eli Manning and the Giants. Giants win 24-20.

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens. The Texans will travel to Baltimore to take on the defending champs. After surviving a dog fight in San Diego in week 1 the Texans again had to fight off an underdog late as the Titans pushed them to the limit in overtime. The Texans wont find life much easier against Joe Flacco and the Ravens, but at least the dynamic Jacoby Jones wont be active for the Ravens. Texans win 27 – 21.

Atlanta Falcons @ Miami Dolphins. The Atlanta Falcons will hit the road to take on the surprisingly undefeated Dolphins without the services of Rams legend Steven Jackson. The Falcons have been hit hard by the injury bug early this season, but Julio Jones showed just how dominant he can be against the Rams in week 2. Matt Ryan will have to beware the pass rush of Cameron Wake and Dion Jordan, but if he can manage to stay upright he should have some success downfield. Falcons win 21 – 14.

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets. The Bills could easily be undefeated in 2013 if it weren’t for a heroic performance by Danny Amendola in week 1. The Jets on the other hand were gift wrapped their first victory of the Geno Smith era against the Bucs. This game will feature a showdown of highly touted rookie quarterbacks in Smith and EJ Manuel. Manuel has been efficient and careful with the football in his first two starts, while Smith has completed less than 60% of his passes while throwing 1 TD to 4 interceptions. When in doubt go with the better quarterback, and so far the Bills have the better of the 2 young signal callers. Bills win 20 – 10.

Indianapolis Colts @ San Francisco 49ers. The Colts will show off their newest acquisition in the ground game, as Trent Richardson will try to find running room against a tough 49ers defense. The 49ers will be looking to redeem themselves after their embarrassing defeat at the hands of the division rival Seattle Seahawks. 49ers win 30 – 16.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Seattle Seahawks. Seattle boasts one of the best homefield advantages in all of professional sports, while the Jaguars have one of the worst football teams in the NFL. This could get ugly in a hurry, and Pete Carroll has never been afraid to run up the score on an inferior opponent. Perhaps it will be different this time as he will be facing off against Gus Bradley, his former defensive coordinator, for the first time. Seahawks win 35 – 10.

Chicago Bears @ Pittsburgh Steelers (SNF). The undefeated Bears will head to the Steel City to take on Ben Roethlisberger and the winless Steelers. The Steelers have all the appearance of an over the hill group, while the Bears seem to be rejuvenated under Marc Trestman. Perhaps a primetime game on their home field will put a little fire into the Steelers, but the Bears will likely pull this one out. Bears win 24 – 17.

Oakland Raiders @ Denver Broncos (MNF). The Denver Broncos have one of the games all-time greatest players under center, playing some of the best football of his storied career. Raiders fans have a reason to tune in as Terrelle Pryor has added a spark that has been missing from the Raiders for far too long. While I fully expect this to be a blowout on Monday Night Football, I highly recommend tuning in to see what Pryor can do. Broncos win 31 – 21.

NFL Week 3 Matchups                                            Picks

Chiefs @ EaglesChiefs

Rams @ Cowboys

Rams

Packers @ BengalsPackersChargers @ TitansChargersBrowns @ VikingsVikingsBucs @ PatriotsPatriots

Cardinals @ Saints

Saints

Lions @ RedskinsRedskinsGiants @ PanthersGiantsTexans @ RavensTexansFalcons @ DolphinsFalconsBills @ JetsBills

Colts @ 49ers

49ers

Jaguars @ Seahawks

Seahawks

Bears @ SteelersBearsRaiders @ BroncosBroncosLast Weeks Record12-4Overall Record21-11