This is where the season starts to get interesting…
While it is only the third week of the NFL season, the fact that each team plays just 16 games in the regular calendar makes each win or loss incredibly significant.
It’s not uncommon to see the more successful teams taking their foot off the pedal after a good start and suffering an unexpected loss. Week 3 is the moment when a gap might just start to develop between play-off hopefuls on the long road to the Superbowl.
JOE’s NFL guest contributor Dave O’Regan takes a look at which teams are going to push on this week (and hopefully line your pockets in the process).
This week’s treble
Bengals to beat the Titans, 1/3
Patriots (-14.0) to beat the Raiders, 10/11
Saints (-10.0) to beat the Vikings, 10/11
This bet works out at just under 5/1 and features a couple of ominous point spreads, I have my reasons for both. In the first game we have a Cincinnati Bengals team playing at home following a great pair of wins over Baltimore and Atlanta, neither of those an easy feat. With a young, aggressive defense the Titans will find it hard to stay within touching distance. Granted, the Titans got a great road win in Week 1 but Kansas City are missing an offensive line and in Week 2 they lost at home to the dreadful Dallas Cowboys. Expect the Bengals to win this one handily.
Next up we have Tom Brady’s Patriots hosting the dreadful Raiders. The Patriots don’t lose many games in Foxborough and I would be very surprised to see Oakland hang on to New England’s coat-tails.
Surprisingly Derek Carr has more passing yards and TD’s than Brady thus far but this is one of those times where the stats don’t add up. The Raiders’ rush defense has been nothing short of woeful (allowing 200 yards per game!), I’d anticipate the Pats to win the battle in the air and on the ground.
New Orleans lost to a revitalized Cleveland as time expired last weekend and their offense has a big point to prove. In Drew Brees the Saints boast one of the league’s premiere players and he will be looking to set the record straight in front of a passionate home crowd. Factor in the turmoil surrounding the Vikings organisation at the moment and you have the potential for a blowout. Don’t expect The Vikes to put up much yardage on the ground without AP although they should get their fair share of passing yards.
Total points bet of the week
Detroit v Green Bay over 53.0, 10/11
53 points is a big ask, but in Matthew Stafford and Aaron Rodgers this game boasts 2 of the best quarterbacks in the game and with both teams averaging 240+ passing yards a game this could develop into a shoot-out.
Both teams have a stout defensive line (the Lions in particular are fearsome in this department but the Packers O-line are more than capable of keeping Rodgers upright) although the Packers have been having trouble stopping the run so far this season, expect the Lions to mix a lot of rushing plays in with the usual tactic of chucking the ball up to Calvin “Megatron” Johnson.
Expect the Lions to take an early lead at home but don’t discount Rodgers’ ability to reel them in. When the game is on the line there are few better than #12.
Cardinals to beat 49ers, 5/4
The 49ers boast one of the best defenses in the game, but the Cards are no slouches either. Following a 2-0 start Arizona’s confidence will be flying and they’ll relish welcoming the boys from San Fran, especially considering the 49ers form at the moment.
San Francisco are at 1-1 with a hard-fought victory over the defenceless Cowboys and a demoralising home loss to the Chicago Bears last week. The Cardinals have allowed a paltry average of 66 yards on the ground which means this game will rest on Colin Kaepernick’s arm. Home advantage counts for a lot, plump for the undefeated underdog in this one.
Our thanks to guest NFL contributor Dave O’Regan.
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