NFL Week 3 Preview

By Alex Lauzon from the “Course of Life” podcast

NFL Week Two: Center Stage Surprise

As Week 3 is being ushered in, it doesn't take long to scan the division-by-division standings and see some funny names stick out. We poured over the future odds and potential win totals for months this offseason, and nowhere in those provocations did we expect the Falcons, Commanders, and Buccaneers to be 2-0 out of the starting gate.  The Falcons did it with Bijan and some comeback magic, the Bucs found another shot of life in the career of Baker Bayfield and somehow, the Commanders are unbeaten with Sam Howell - you just can’t make this stuff up.

The Week 3 spreads are starting to stretch now that we’ve got two looks at every team, and there are a few double-digit favorites on the board as the week begins. As we start to declutter who’s for real and who’s fake, let’s dig into the lines that matter and get an early start on week three domination:

Games of the Week

Giants @ 49ers (-10) - 8:15 pm ET (Thursday) - The Niners are exactly as advertised last year, and proving they’re one of the top commodities in the NFC market early on. They host a Giants team that fought tough and nail to come back and get their first win in Arizona, and I get the vibe that they may have found something to keep them surprisingly pesky in this game.

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Falcons @ Lions (-4.5) - 1:00 pm ET - The Falcons have a dynamic duo at running back in Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier that is quickly gaining notoriety, and their ferocious comeback win against the Packers showed they’re a resilient bunch. They face arguably their toughest test against a Lions team looking to shake off an overtime loss.

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Broncos @ Dolphins (-7) - 1:00 pm ET - I witnessed how precise and efficient the Dolphins' offense can be on Sunday night as they tamed my Patriots yet again, and they didn’t even need any big plays to win. The speed trio of Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, and Braxton Berrios is a serious threat, and I think the Broncos' defense is not ready for what's about to be unleashed. Also, 1 p.m. starts in Miami in September are brutal on road teams.

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Colts @ Ravens (-8) - 1:00 pm ET - Anthony Richardson’s hard launch in the NFL has been decent as the Colts split their first two games. Now Richardson looks across the sideline at what he hopes to become - Lamar Jackson. The Ravens have impressed more on D so far, so I'm expecting a muddy game here in Baltimore.

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Steelers @ Raiders - 8:20 pm ET - Pittsburgh found a bit of mojo on Monday Night Football while the Raiders got steamrolled by Buffalo in week two. Jimmy G seems to be adjusting nicely to his new offense, and the biggest test for him will be avoiding the big mistake against an opportunistic Steelers defense.

Fishy Lines to Watch

Bears @ Chiefs (-12.5) - 1 pm ET - I had peer extra hard at the biggest spread on the board, and this one seemed to be throbbing for attention. There’s no way around it - the Bears look bad early, but the glimpses of hope from Justin Fields have them competitive if nothing else. So can the wildly entertaining losers go to Arrowhead and hang within two scores against the Kansas City Chiefs offense waiting to burst? It feels like a good play against the grain if the line gets to 14.

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The Splash team is all in on the Chiefs, fishy line or not. Join our Survivor Revival for Week 3, pick the Chiefs, and get your money back if they lose!

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Cowboys @ Cardinals (+12.5) - 4:25 pm ET - The other big boy favorites are the 2-0 Cowboys on the road, which is always curious to see. It doesn’t feel right giving that many points to a home team this early in the season, so I will definitely stay watching the line movement to see if the public or the sharps agree with that notion. Too many points??

The Primetime Pick

Eagles @ Bucs (+6.5) - 7:15 pm ET (Monday)  -  The Baker Mayfield Show blows up this point spread and posts pictures of it in the Bucs locker room. Absolutely zero respect for the 2-0 start in Tampa Bay as the defending NFC Champs come rolling into town. If the Bucs can dictate pace and hold on to the ball they can stay inside the number.

Week Three Plays To Watch

Lions -4.5 - A good bounce-back spot after a tough loss.

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Colts +8 - A fan QB duel of mirroring athletes on display could get feisty!

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Cardinals +12.5 - Out of the two gigantic underdogs I like this one more.

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Broncos +7 - Russ is definitely playing well enough to keep them within a score

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Bucs +6.5 - this one has a strange feeling which usually works for the underdog.