The Raiders could go 3-0 for the first time since 2002 when they face the Redskins at FedEx Field on Sunday Night Football.
Ryan Mayer
Things have started to stabilize a bit now in the NFL as through two games, we’re starting to get a feel for how good, or bad, each team will be this season. Along with that understanding, came a better week for us picks-wise as we went 9-7 against the spread and 11-5 straight up. Not bad right? Well, we’re still striving for better and as we enter Week 3 of the NFL season that’s the hope.
If you’re new to the column, we like to separate our picks into three different tiers. They are as follows.
No way we can lose – locks of the week: As you can guess, these will be the stone-cold locks of the week. The games that I’m so confident about that I’d put my life’s savings on them if I had a life’s savings to wager.
Feeling pretty… pretty good: Not quite willing to bet the farm on this batch, but as Mr. Larry David would say, I’m feeling pretty… pretty good about these games.
Heads or tails: These are your true toss ups: they can go one way or another and you should pick with caution even after heeding my expert advice.
Now, we haven’t been great on our locks of the week so far (4-4 overall ATS, but 3-1 last week) so, we’re going to continue to try and improve those just in case you know, you’ve decided to bet a few cookies on these locks of the week.
Off we go! All lines courtesy of CBSSports.com.
Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers (+2.5), Thursday 8:25 p.m.
ATS & Straight Up: Rams
Confidence Level: Feeling Pretty….. Pretty Good
The Rams have looked…surprisingly competent in their first two games of the season. After a terrible start to last year (particularly on offense) that ended with Jeff Fisher being fired, Sean McVay has come in and made this offense look at least average. That may not seem like a huge compliment but, considering the fact that Jared Goff didn’t look like an NFL QB last year and now he does, it’s quite an improvement. The defense was always going to be nasty and with Wade Phillips at the helm, they’ve been good.
That said, they did get gashed by the Redskins on the ground last week and that’s the one thing the 49ers can actually do on offense. Carlos Hyde is an effective back who can run on even the best defenses (evidenced by last week’s 124 yards against the Seahawks), so he could have a big day. That said, the 49ers offense outside of Hyde has been horrible (no touchdowns this season) and the defense has been just okay. I’ll take the Rams on the road by at least a field goal.
Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets (+6), Sunday 1:00 p.m.
ATS & Straight up: Dolphins
There’s a theme starting to emerge with the Jets this season; one that shouldn’t surprise you based on the team’s expectations coming into the year. They’re going to lose a lot of games. So, picking against them straight up will be pretty fruitful. But, against the spread, they are technically 0-1-1 since they pushed in the first game against the Bills by losing by exactly nine points.
That all said, the Jets looked awful last week against a good Oakland team. The Dolphins, on the flip side, looked pretty good against a solid Chargers team. Jay Cutler still concerns me, but at this point, if the line against the Jets is anything less than a touchdown, I’m highly considering it. In this case, give me the Dolphins.
Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills (+3), Sunday 1:00 p.m.
ATS & Straight up: Broncos
I’ve seen nothing to suggest that Denver’s defense will have any trouble stopping the Bills, particularly considering what they did to a usually dominant Cowboys offense last week. Trevor Siemian isn’t going to throw for four touchdowns, but the Bills scored three points last week against the Panthers. Yeah, I’ll take Denver.
Oakland Raiders @ Washington Redskins (+3), Sunday 8:30 p.m.
ATS & Straight up: Raiders
The Raiders have looked every bit the AFC contender that people were expecting them to be coming into the season. Even the defense has looked solid, though they did give up 20 points to the lowly Jets last week. The Redskins, meanwhile, are still searching for their rhythm in the passing game, but they did manage a highly efficient running game last week against the Rams.
This seems dangerous to continue picking favorites. If this game was earlier in the day, with the Raiders flying cross-country, I might expect a little sluggishness. But, on prime-time, with a chance to really plant their flag as contenders after a 3-0 start, I think the Raiders will show out, taking this one by a touchdown, maybe more.
Seattle Seahawks @ Tennessee Titans (-2.5), Sunday 4:05 p.m.
ATS & Straight up: Titans
I picked against the Seahawks against the spread last week because of their offensive line. I’m going to continue doing that here. Last week, they were at home, facing the lowly 49ers, and it still took them until the fourth quarter to score their first touchdown of the season. They escaped with a 13-9 victory.
Now, they fly into a couple time zones over to face a Titans team that found its stride in the second half against the Jaguars last week. The Seahawks gave up 124 yards rushing to Carlos Hyde and San Francisco last week, which likely has DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry licking their chops this week. Additionally, Jurrell Casey, Brian Orakpo and Derrick Morgan are probably pretty excited at facing the offensive line that has done things like this in the first two weeks.
Seahawks offensive line looking good this year pic.twitter.com/n6ipyQFHNF
— Jack Gaydos (@JackGaydos) September 11,2017
Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars (+3.5), Sunday 9:30 a.m.
ATS & Straight up: Ravens
Our first London game of the year! Get excited!
Anybody?
Bueller?
Okay, okay, you’re right, the London games are usually terrible and this one’s not even on regular TV. It’s streaming for free on Yahoo. Ignoring the early 9:30 a.m. start time and just looking at the two teams, the Ravens defense has looked dominant in the first two weeks while the Jaguars looked much improved in Week 1 before coming back down to Earth in Week 2.
The biggest problem for the Jags will continue to be Blake Bortles, especially against a Ravens defense that has already racked up eight turnovers this year. It will likely be your typical sloppy football game, but I still expect the Ravens to cover.
New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles (-6), Sunday 1:00 p.m.
ATS: Giants
Straight up: Eagles
The Giants offensive line seems to be in a race with the Seahawks for which group can get their quarterback hurt first. Ereck Flowers alone gave up three sacks on Monday night against what is not exactly a ferocious pass rush in the Detroit Lions. This Eagles front has proved to be one of the league’s best through the first two weeks, tied for 4th in the league with eight sacks.
But, while the Eagles defense may be able to get to Eli Manning, the recent history between these two games suggests a close game. Each of the last three meetings have been decided by five points. That, combined with a Giants defense that should give the Eagles offense some problems, is why I’m taking the Giants, despite their issues, against the spread, with the Eagles winning.
New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers (-5.5), Sunday 1:00 p.m.
ATS: Saints
Straight up: Panthers
The Panthers defense has looked like the real deal in the first two weeks allowing just three points in each of their games. But, it’s worth noting that those two games have come against two of the league’s worst scoring offenses in the Bills (25th) and the 49ers (31st).
The Saints aren’t either of those offenses and should be able to score some points in this one. The question is whether their defense will be able to stop the Panthers. The good news for me in picking the Saints ATS is that the Panthers lost a major offensive weapon when Greg Olsen broke his foot last week. The reliable tight end has been Cam Newton’s safety blanket over the years and now Newton, who hasn’t looked full strength yet, will have to go it without him. Both teams score in the 20’s, the Panthers come out on top, but the Saints are within a touchdown.
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Chicago Bears (+7), Sunday 1:00 p.m.
ATS & Straight up: Steelers
I’m hesitant about this pick. The Steelers offense still hasn’t looked right, even in putting up 26 points against the Vikings last week. They did get a big day out of Martavis Bryant, which was nice to see, but Le’Veon Bell still hasn’t exploded the way we’re used to. Missing all of preseason seems to be hurting him at the moment. The other problem I have here is Ben Roethlisberger. His home/road splits over the past couple years have been dramatically different.
