Breaking down the Week 3 NFL schedule with score predictions!
We opined Saturday morning how ruthless the college football schedule remains, even with the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, and how several teams would wake up on Sunday realizing their playoff hopes were already effectively dashed.
The NFL doesn’t work quite the same way. Slow starts can be and have been overcome.
But there is still a figurative point of no return, and for several teams around the league, Week 3 could very well take them there.
That’s right, Todd Bowles, we’re talking to you …
Bowles has been No. 1 on our NFL Head Coaches Hot Seat rankings since the offseason, and a good way to keep that position is losing to Deshaun Watson and the Cleveland Browns, which Bowles’ Tampa Bay Buccaneers did last week.
The Bucs, who missed the playoffs last season while collapsing down the stretch, have apparently started their freefall early this year with an 0-2 start (making them 2-9 in their last 11 games overall).
The state of the NFC South being what it is will keep Tampa Bay mathematically alive in the playoff picture for quite a while longer, but that might not be enough to keep Bowles on the sidelines for much longer.
He is now 35-35 in his tenure in Tampa Bay with just one playoff win in his first four seasons
On Sunday, the Buccaneers and the ghost of Baker Mayfield (the jersey still has his name on it, but the QB wearing it looks nothing like the one from 2024) host the 2-0 Minnesota Vikings, who have an exceptional defense, managed to win two games with Carson Wentz at quarterback in the year 2026 and now get starting QB Kyler Murray back from his concussion-caused absence.
Is Bowles coaching for his job Sunday?
What about the Indianapolis Colts’ Shane Steichen, who has now lost nine straight games going back to last season, is 25-28 overall and has yet to make the playoffs and unlikely to do so now in his fourth season?
Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh isn’t at risk for getting fired by the Los Angeles Chargers, but will his team ever win a game? After losing to the Arizona Cardinals and Las Vegas Raiders, the Chargers face the most ridiculous seven-game stretch imaginable.
The Houston Texans started 0-3 last season and found their way to the playoffs by eventually winning their final nine regular-season games, but do they want to have to do that again? The Texans are 0-2 heading into a road game in Indianapolis.
So, yes, Week 3 of the NFL season carries plenty of stakes even if none of the outcomes come with literal finality (unless you’re Bowles and get sent packing Monday morning after another dismal defeat …)
Here is a full look at the weekend slate with score predictions.
NFL Week 3 Schedule With Predictions
(All game times ET; all point spreads via DraftKings Sportsbook)
Sunday 1 p.m.
Los Angeles Chargers (0-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-0): It’s Madison Beer’s fiancé vs. Hailee Steinfeld’s husband! Being attached to famous significant others is about all the Chargers’ Justin Herbert and the Bills’ Josh Allen have in common these days, however. Herbert ranks 30th in passer rating (71.6) and 31st in QBR (29.2) through two games with 401 passing yards, 2 TDs and 3 INTs. The Chargers’ offensive line is a mess yet again, which is part of the problem. The Bills, meanwhile, are humming as the NFL’s highest-scoring team at 38.5 points per game while Allen is already separating himself as the favorite for the MVP, throwing for 582 yards, 5 TDs and 0 INTs while rushing for 92 yards and 4 TDs so far. The Bills are expected to have top wide receiver DJ Moore (shoulder) active after he left the Week 2 win early with the injury. Buffalo is a 7-point favorite. Prediction: Bills 31, Chargers 22
Carolina Panthers (1-1) at Cleveland Browns (1-1): Speaking of marquee quarterback showdowns everybody had circled on the schedule! The Panthers’ Bryce Young is second in the NFL in passing yards (648) and tied for first in passing TDs (6) with just 1 INT to start his fourth NFL season after an incredibly shaky start to his career. Maybe he’s ready to finally validate that No. 1 overall draft slot and remind everyone why he was a Heisman Trophy winner at Alabama. Meanwhile, Deshaun Watson played perhaps the best game of his torturous Browns career (speaking in regard to its impact on the team’s fans, that is) in the 23-19 win over the Buccaneers last week. He completed 24 of 30 passes for 238 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INTs. It was only his 10th win in his five years in Cleveland. Of course, it was only his 21st game in that time as well. On his eponymous podcast, Bill Simmons referenced an email from one of his listeners suggesting that Watson be given the nickname “Deshaun of the Dead” after the 2004 comedic horror film “Shaun Of The Dead” because he’s in zombie form at this point of his once-promising NFL career — or at least, was expected to be. It’s a brilliant nickname. Carolina is a 2.5-point road favorite. Prediction: Panthers 27, Browns 24
New York Jets (1-1) at Detroit Lions (1-1): Speaking of coaches on the hot seat, it’s hard to picture Dan Campbell still coaching Detroit in 2027. Speaking of zombies, the Lions haven’t looked the same since former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson left to take over the Chicago Bears. And it’s hard to make that direct connection because the Lions still put up plenty of yards and points, but how else to explain how they went from legitimate Super Bowl contender two years ago to missing the playoffs last year to being a missed Saints 2-point conversion away from an 0-2 start this season? Well, there are other ways to explain it — devastating injuries on the defensive side and being without their top two safeties is a part of it for sure, but nonetheless the point remains that no matter how many espresso shots Campbell has his Starbucks barista put in his morning macchiato, he seems to have lost the magic. Now he goes against his former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn, who has the rebuilding Jets looking frisky in his second season. It’s early, but the Jets lead the league in total defense, giving up just 197 yards a game so far while veteran QB Geno Smith has brought some stability to the offense. Detroit is a 6.5-point favorite. Prediction: Lions 27, Jets 20
Houston Texans (0-2) at Indianapolis Colts (0-2): The Texans are the most surprising 0-2 team as many considered them a legitimate Super Bowl contender after they reeled off 10 straight wins through the wildcard round last year, returned every key cog from one of the league’s very best defenses and upgraded on the offensive side over the offseason. Houston has had a tough schedule to start with losses to the Bills and resurgent Bengals, but the 20-6 loss to Cincinnati last week at home was certainly concerning. On the other side, the Colts are the least surprising 0-2 team in the league. They are counting on QB Daniel Jones coming back from a torn Achilles tendon (limiting the mobility that has been essential to his upside) and had a terrible offseason. That included grossly overpaying to keep Alec Pierce and miscasting him as a true WR1 when he’s never even had 50 catches in a season and celebrated his four-year, $114-million contract by having belated surgery on his left ankle/heel that kept him sidelined almost the entire offseason/preseason. Pierce has since reaggravated that injury and is now on injured reserve for at least four games. Houston is a 1.5-point road favorite. Prediction: Texans 27, Colts 17
Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) at Miami Dolphins (0-2): There’s not much to say about this one — or shouldn’t be, at least. The Chiefs are back (after a forgettable 2025 season) and even better with new running back Kenneth Walker III proving to be worth every dime of his big free agent contract. Walker has 290 rushing yards, 79 receiving yards and 2 TDs through two games. The Dolphins have lost by a combined 36 points to the Raiders and 49ers, but that’s all part of their rebuilding plan and intent on securing the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. Kansas City is a 10-point favorite. Prediction: Chiefs 31, Dolphins 16
Tennessee Titans (0-2) at New York Giants (1-1): The most intriguing storyline for this game isn’t all that intriguing — Titans OC/former Giants HC Brian Daboll and the several incredibly overpaid free agents he brought with him going against their former team. One of those former Giants is wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, who got a four-year, $70-million contract from the Titans that would only make sense if there was a ransom element involved in the negotiations. So far, Robinson has 6 catches for 47 yards through two games. It doesn’t help that 2025 No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward might be the worst quarterback in the league (at least now that Cooper Rush is no longer starting games for Atlanta). Ward has thrown for 323 yards and 1 TD (with 2 rushing TDs) combined over the first two games. The Giants lost their much more promising second-year QB Jaxson Dart to a season-ending knee injury last week and now turn to Jameis Winston moving forward. That should be interesting if nothing else. New York is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Giants 24, Titans 13
Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1): This is one of the more intriguing games on the Sunday slate. The Bengals with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and a much-improved defense (so far, at least) are looking primed to return to the playoffs for the first time in four years. The Steelers are playing out the string on the Aaron Rodgers’ retirement tour and looking lifeless offensively as a result, but their defense led by T.J. Watt is one of the better units in the league. Cincinnati is a 3.5-point road favorite. Prediction: Bengals 26, Steelers 24
Seattle Seahawks (2-0) at Washington Commanders (0-2): The Seahawks had no problem getting to 2-0 with Drew Lock filling in at quarterback and now get Sam Darnold back from his glute injury. Jaxon Smith-Njigba is outpacing even his 2025 NFL Offensive Player of the Year season with 17 catches for 277 yards and 4 TDs in two games. And the Seattle defense remains one of the best in the league. Washington, meanwhile, turns again to backup QB Marcus Mariota with Jayden Daniels out indefinitely following his latest left (non-throwing) elbow dislocation. Mariota vs. the Seahawks defense is a nightmare matchup for the Commanders. Seattle is a 7.5-point favorite. Prediction: Seahawks 26, Commanders 13
New England Patriots (1-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1): This is another of the best matchups of the day and a pivotal one for a pair of 2025’s biggest surprise teams. The main storyline here is Patriots QB Drake Maye, the runner-up for MVP last year who now looks totally lost with 386 passing yards, 1 TD and 4 INTs. After already losing star WR1 A.J. Brown indefinitely to a Week 1 ankle injury, Maye lost his right guard Mike Onwenu to a broken ankle last week, making an already shaky offensive line more vulnerable. For Jacksonville, Trevor Lawrence looked elite in Week 1 vs. the Browns with 245 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs but followed that with a dismal performance in Denver (189 yards, 0 TDs, 1 INT). Jacksonville is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Patriots 28, Jaguars 24
Sunday 4:05/4:25 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals (1-1) at San Francisco 49ers (2-0): The Cardinals came back to reality after their season-opening upset of the Chargers, losing 31-7 last week to the Seahawks. First-round pick Jeremiyah Love has just 70 rushing yards through his first two games, while former first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. has just 1 catch for 4 yards so far. The 49ers have looked like one of the more complete teams in the league, meanwhile, and Brock Purdy is coming off a dazzling performance vs. the Dolphins (20-of-22 passing for 287 yards, 2 TDs and 0 INT plus a rushing TD). WR Mike Evans is expected to play despite being questionable this week with a hip injury. San Francisco is an 8.5-point favorite. Prediction: 49ers 34, Cardinals 21
Minnesota Vikings (2-0) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2): We already covered the main storylines for this one. Murray makes his return and should give the Vikings offense a jolt after they scored just 9 points in a defensive-driven win over the Bears last week. Mayfield, meanwhile, has thrown for 398 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT with a lost fumble so far, looking like the version of himself that played through mounting injuries over the second half of last season. Minnesota is a 1.5-point favorite. Prediction: Vikings 26, Buccaneers 23
Baltimore Ravens (1-1) vs. Dallas Cowboys (1-1) in Brazil: This should be a high-scoring shootout as the two of the league’s most entertaining offenses head to South America. The Ravens are hoping to have star WR Zay Flowers back from his hamstring injury, which adds a missing dynamic back into an offense that is already daunting to defend with dual-threat QB Lamar Jackson and freight-train RB Derrick Henry. The Cowboys are coming off an offensive outburst last week as Dak Prescott threw for 279 yards, 4 TDs and 0 INTs with CeeDee Lamb catching 8 passes for 153 yards and 2 scores. Baltimore is a 3-point favorite. Prediction: Ravens 31, Cowboys 28
Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) at New Orleans Saints (1-1): Can the Raiders and Kirk Cousins keep it going as one of the pleasant surprises so far this season? Can Tyler Shough not wait until the second half to look like Drew Brees this week? The spunky Saints have been one of the league’s most entertaining teams with Shough leading the NFL in passing yards (662, with 4 TDs and 2 INTs) while leading spirited comebacks in an overtime loss to the Lions and a big win over the Ravens last week. New Orleans is a 3.5-point favorite. Prediction: Saints 27, Raiders 20
Sunday Night Football (8:20 p.m. on NBC)
Los Angeles Rams (1-1) at Denver Broncos (1-1): This is our pick for game of the week, and it’s an important one as both teams are in highly competitive divisions where a 1-2 start would be a sizeable early hole. The Rams are expected to be without star WR Puka Nacua for a second straight game. Davante Adams made up for his loss last week with 8 catches for 195 yards and 2 TDs vs. the Giants and will need to step up again for reigning MVP Matthew Stafford. Denver finally woke up from its early offensive slumber in the second quarter of a 20-13 win over the Jaguars last week, sparked by a big game from new WR addition Jaylen Waddle (8 catches for 138 yards). Los Angeles is a 2.5-point favorite. Prediction: Rams 27, Broncos 23
Monday Night Football (8:15 p.m. on ESPN/ABC)
Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) at Chicago Bears (1-1): The Bears are going to be without QB Caleb Williams for several weeks, per the latest reports on his hamstring injury. With backup Tyson Bagent working back from a concussion (though cleared to play), third-stringer Case Keenum is set to start for Chicago. That’s how fast things can change in the NFL — the Bears went from scoring 59 points in Week 1 to losing 9-3 to the Vikings to now relying on Keenum in a tough matchup with the Eagles. For Philadelphia, RB Saquon Barkley looks good to go after being limited by a neck stinger last week. Philadelphia is a 3.5-point favorite. Prediction: Eagles 26, Bears 13
