NFL Week 3: Four Games to Watch and The Pound Pick'Em
Sports Opinion by Ethan Irish and Josh Blatt
The Pound Pick'Em Standings
Ethan: 13-14
Josh: 15-12
Ethan's Game to Watch #1:
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
The Bills and Dolphins both come into the divisional matchup as two of the three remaining undefeated teams in the AFC, Kansas City being the third. The Bills have been incredible through the first two weeks of the season blowing out the defending Super Bowl champion Rams in week 1 then followed that up with a 41-7 win versus the Tennessee Titans in week 2. It is going to be hard to predict when or who will at least slow down this Bills offense. While that may be the case on one side of the ball, the Dolphins have put up some points of their own. Scoring 28 points in the 4th quarter last week against the Ravens proved, at least for the moment, that quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is not as bad as people make him out to be. Having Tyreek Hill definitely helps.
It will be interesting to see how both teams match up with the others offense. I think it will be a high scoring game on Sunday just from what I have seen from both offenses but I think the Bills have shown more defensively that they probably a more convincing pick to win. I could easily see the Dolphins taking a win at home but I can't go against Josh Allen and that offense right now.
Winner: Buffalo Bills
Josh's Game to Watch #1:
San Francisco 49ers @ Denver Broncos
Another divisional game for our next game to watch. Obviously the NFL made this the Sunday night game for a reason, but I'm not too sure about how confident I am in this being a close game. Both teams sit at 1-1 records with a pair of unfortunate losses to the Bears (49ers) and the Seahawks (Broncos). We have yet to see 49ers tight end George Kittle play this year, but all signs point to a Kittle return-- pair that with Jimmy Garoppolo making his first start of the season, you have a much stronger offense. Garoppolo came out last week to relieve an injured Trey Lance, and he played alright-- he's just got to get loose.
I am VERY low on the coaching skills of Broncos Head Coach Nathaniel Hackett, he's a first year guy who is absolutely crumbling under any pressure whatsoever. Russell Wilson will have to be on absolute fire to be able to beat the defensive unit of San Francisco, and that's something that I just don't see happening. I've got the 49ers in a 8+ point game up in the Mile High City.
Winner: San Francisco 49ers
Ethan's Game to Watch #2:
Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I have a feeling this game is going to be quite low scoring and a defensive game to be completely honest but it has two of the best quarterbacks in Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady of all time. That alone intrigues me enough to make this game very interesting. I think this game will come down to the receivers on both sides of the ball. With Mike Evans and seemingly Chris Godwin out this week for the Bucs and the recycled point that the Packers do not have Davante Adams anymore, who is going to step up? Both defenses are top ten in passing yards allowed and the Bucs are in the top ten in rushing yards allowed, the edge seems to be in the Packers front seven. The Packers will know this obviously and with lack of options on the outside for Brady they might load the box quite a bit to slow down the Bucs rushing attack.
So who will win? Honestly, I have to go with Tampa Bay just because the rushing defense. This is going to be the toughest challenge for the Packers offense thus far and if the running back duo in Aaron Jones and A.J. Dillon can't get going I don't see how the Packers win this game.
Winner: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh's Game to Watch #2:
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
At this point, I truly and maybe even delusionally believe that the Detroit Lions will win the NFC North. For that delusion to come true-- the Lions need to be able to win divisional games. With that being said, the Lions don't have a guy like Darius Slay (anymore), so they'll have to find another way to contain Justin Jefferson's explosive route running skills. In week 1, Jefferson seemed to constantly be getting open-- a problem that young cornerback Jeff Okudah will be dealing with on Sunday. The Lions running back room has been absolutely electric all season, and with Detroit being tied for 2nd in points per game with Kansas City (only behind Buffalo, 36) at 35.5-- the Motor City seems to be surging and potentially having a legit offense. Second year receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown seems to be picking up right where he left off last season as well, he's been dynamite-- both explosive and precise, he runs some of the cleanest routes in the league and he's ONLY 22.
I see the Lions winning in a shootout against the first team that they beat last season. All of Detroit will be rapping along with Gmac Cash to the city's anthem, "Lions Won." Give me Detroit by 3+, especially if Vikings secondary players Harrison Smith and Andrew Booth Jr. are out.
Winner: Detroit Lions
The Pound Pick'Em
Sun. 1 pm EST Games
Buffalo Bills @ Miami Dolphins
Ethan's Pick: Buffalo Bills
Josh's Pick: Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals @ New York Jets
Ethan's Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Josh's Pick: Cincinnati Bengals
Las Vegas Raiders @ Tennessee Titans
Ethan's Pick: Las Vegas Raiders
Josh's Pick: Tennessee Titans
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers
Ethan's Pick: Carolina Panthers
Josh's Pick: New Orleans Saints
Baltimore Ravens @ New England Patriots
Ethan's Pick: Baltimore Ravens
Josh's Pick: Baltimore Ravens
Detroit Lions @ Minnesota Vikings
Ethan's Pick: Detroit Lions
Josh's Pick: Detroit Lions
Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Commanders
Ethan's Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
Josh's Pick: Philadelphia Eagles
Kansas City Chiefs @ Indianapolis Colts
Ethan's Pick: Kansas City Chiefs
Josh's Pick: Kansas City Chiefs (Probably by 20)
Houston Texans @ Chicago Bears
Ethan's Pick: Chicago Bears
Josh's Pick: Houston Texans
Sun. 4:05/4:25 pm Games
Jacksonville Jaguars @ Los Angeles Chargers
Ethan's Pick: Los Angeles Chargers
Josh's Pick: Los Angeles Chargers
Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals
Ethan's Pick: Arizona Cardinals
Josh's Pick: Los Angeles Rams
Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Ethan's Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh's Pick: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Atlanta Falcons @ Seattle Seahawks
Ethan's Pick: Atlanta Falcons
Josh's Pick: Seattle Seahawks
SNF: San Francisco 49ers @ Denver Broncos
Ethan's Pick: Denver Broncos
Josh's Pick: San Francisco 49ers