Week two of the NFL felt like a Joe Theismann injury off the hit of Lawrence Taylor. All the upsets meant we did manage to go 500, which we are not proud of. It’s better than a losing week as at least we can say we treaded water. We hope for all the right picks in each match up for week 3, we are sending in the clowns to make sure we get the results we stride to do every week perched on our bar stools.

LAST WEEK RESULTS:(8-8)

SEASON STATS:

THURSDAY NIGHT GAMES: (1-1)

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: (0-1)

MONDAY NIGHT GAMES: (1-1)

SEASON RECORD: (18-14)

NFL WEEK 3 STRAIGHT PICK-EM

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

THE THURSDAY NIGHT GAME

NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (1-1) AT NEW YORK JETS (1-1)

The Patriots come back down to earth after their first loss of the season last Sunday. Then the great Aaron Rodgers earns his first W in a Jets uniform. The Patriots defense is not crisp like the days of Billy Belichick’s as they gave up some big plays to Seattle’s QB Geno Smith. Rodgers seemed to find his groove in the second half versus the Titans. If Smith can tally up 300 passing yards, Rodgers should have a big game in the Jets home opener. Look for the Jets defense to have their best game of the season versus Jacoby Brissett. Patriots should linger around like a hard booger on a dry day, but at the end Rodgers will have the Jets 2-1.

OUR PICK: JETS

THE SUNDAY SLATE

CHICAGO BEARS(1-1) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS(0-2)

The Bears and Colts right now have two young quarterbacks that are struggling right now. The Bears have found a way to notch a W with their defense/special teams landing them the win in week 1. Anthony Richardson has completed under 50% of his passes so far in two games. Caleb Williams has not yet thrown a touchdown pass and is still getting used to the speed of the game in the NFL. Williams has completed 56% of his passes. The Bears should be able to use their running game to exploit the Colts’ weakness on defense. Maybe open up some play action passes for Williams. I’m leaning more to the Bears on this game because of the head coach. Matt Eberflus had the D-Coordinator job in Indianapolis before taking the Chicago gig. Eberflus coached some of these guys who still remain on the Colts roster. I give the Bears a slight edge.

OUR PICK: BEARS

HOUSTON TEXANS (2-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-0)

Do you ride the Viking ship in week 3 with Sam Darnold reincarnated from his college days? Everyone expected the Texans to get off to a hot start with CJ Stroud who was the gem quarterback of the first round in 2023. Darnold was drafted in the first round by the Jets. He was a bust in New York & then had some moments in Carolina. He sat behind Brock Purdy in San Francisco last season. Now he has found his pro game with the Vikings. He slayed the 49ers last week. The Vikings have a solid defense with Brian Flores at the helm. We can’t forget about the fire power that the Texans have on offense. The Texans also can play some defense. This will be a close game between two undefeated teams. I like the Texans crumbling in this one with the pressure from the Vikings defense, who will get the one turnover to turn the tide of this game. Minnesota being at home will keep this Viking ship flowing down the NFL waters.

Sound the horns!

OUR PICK: VIKINGS

NEW YORK GIANTS (0-2) AT CLEVELAND BROWNS (1-1)

The Browns defense stood out in their win last week over the Jaguars. The Giants lost to the Commanders and had a better week than their first game of the season. I think this Giants offense sucks and they only scored 18 points versus a bad Commanders defense. The Browns defense should be Daniel Jones’ worst nightmare.

Jones may be skeptical around pumpkins this Halloween after facing the orange helmets of the Browns. Deshaun Watson’s offense did muster up 18 points versus the Jaguars which was enough for the win. He should be able to generate a tad more versus a pretty decent Giants defense. Not a very exciting game on the Sunday docket. The Giants will remain winless after the first three weeks of the season. Cleveland suddenly will look like they have overcome that first week’s humiliating loss to Dallas with two straight wins.

OUR PICK: BROWNS

LA CHARGERS (2-0) AT PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-0)

Seems too easy of a recipe to insert Jim Harbaugh, and then your entire franchise starts to win games. The Steelers riding Justin Fields to a 2-0 start in Pittsburgh. Fields is not why the Steelers are undefeated to this point. The Steelers defense is the reason. The Chargers have a nice defensive unit as well. The Chargers get the edge with their offense as Justin Herbert is the better Justin behind center. Herbert has an ankle sprain that could be the blood in the waters for that Steelers defense. The Chargers will be making consecutive road games to the east coast after winning in Carolina last week. I like the Steelers in this one with the home cooking and that defense facing a hobbled QB. Back to Fields, he’s not turning over the ball like he did in Chicago.

OUR PICK: STEELERS

GREEN BAY PACKERS(1-1) AT TENNESSEE TITANS(0-2)

The Green Bay Packers are well-coached as I cringe when I write this. The Titans welcome back one of their own QB’s they drafted in Malik Willis who now is starting behind center for the Packers. Well-coached as the Packers inserted Willis behind center to replace the injured Jordan Love they find a way to win last Sunday. Then Will Levis who took over the starting QB job for the Titans has made mistakes that have cost Tennessee wins. They could be 2-0. You would think 1-1. Willis did not do anything special last week versus the Colts. He did not make any mistakes to cost the Packers the game. I like Tennessee defense at home. The Titans have played much better at home than on the road. This game is a coin toss and a head scratcher at the same time because it could go either way. The Titans are loaded with offensive weapons that are ready to blow it up on the field in a good way. I think Levis has his best game so far against his former teammate. It should give him the extra motivation the front office picked him after they drafted Willis. If the Titans go 0-3, they may not be able to get themselves out of that early gigantic hole to start the season. The Packers offense just can’t right now put up a ton of points on offense. It’s more ball control to run the ball play defense. The Titans should be able to get enough points to take this one.

OUR PICK: TITANS

DENVER BRONCOS (0-2) AT TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0)

Last season, Baker Mayfield found his home in Tampa Bay with a solid season that led to a bigger contract. Now Baker, who used to live in the Browns stadium, has to have his quarters set up in the Pirate boat at Buccaneers stadium. In two games this season, Baker has completed 73.5% of his passes as he tallied up 474 passing yards with 5 touchdown passes compared to one interception. He is facing Bo Nix, a rookie QB who has only completed 59.7% of his passes and has tallied 384 passing yards. Nix has not thrown a touchdown pass yet but has 4 interceptions. The Buccaneers defense is pretty good. Baker has a permanent home. Until Sean Payton injects some of that Drew Brees blood into Nix, this game is Buccaneers all the way.

OUR PICK: BUCCANEERS

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-1) AT NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-0)

The Saints are marching with a full flock this season putting up back-to-back 40 point games. The Eagles should be 2-0 but bad coaching mistakes bit them in the rear on Monday night versus the Falcons. The Saints’ first burst of points in week one came against the junior varsity Panthers team. Then they put up another 40 against a talented Dallas Cowboys defense. The Eagles win came on a neutral site versus the Packers in week one. Before this season even started, I would tell you no way the Saints would beat the Eagles in week 3. The Eagles can’t stop the run on defense. The Saints have been marching through the opponents defense with Alvin Kamara who looks like the guy from early in his career. Derek Carr playing his best football since the Raiders day when he got them to the playoffs for first time in years. Maybe the Saints veterans hit some kind of Voodoo fountain of youth in New Orleans. I’m riding the Saints bandwagon at home this week.

OUR PICK: SAINTS

CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) AT LAS VEGAS RAIDERS (1-1)

Looks like Bryce Young could be traveling down Ryan Leaf avenue and become a first round bust. The Panthers are going with the Red Rifle in veteran quarterback Andy Dalton to spark this dormant offense. The Raiders were facing 0-2 last week with a date with the Ravens in Baltimore. Gardner Minshew has beaten the Ravens now two straight years wearing two different uniforms. The Raiders defense should be able to contain the Red Rifle in their first home game of the season. The Panthers will look better all around with the QB change but find the same result for now. Minshew is playing well to have a step back versus a Panthers team that has not played well on both sides of the football.

OUR PICK: RAIDERS

MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-1) AT SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-0)

The Dolphins were dealt a deadly blow last week losing their star quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa. The Seahawks are quietly 2-0 to this point. Can Skylar Thompson save the Dolphins season if Tua is out several weeks or he could be done for the year? The Seahawks offense is heating up and their defense has played solid so far this season. The Miami air show will not have that F-16 style of attacks for at least right now.

Thompson has started only two regular season games and has 8 total career games under his belt. He has made one start in post-season as well. Combined he is 1-2 as a starter with 2 touchdown passes to 5 interceptions. Geno Smith has found his form of 2022. The Seahawks defense will concentrate heavily on the Dolphins ground game. The flight to Seattle across country does not help the Dolphins. Very tough in general to win in Seattle when you are a road team. Skylar is not the answer right now for the Dolphins.

OUR PICK: SEAHAWKS

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-1) AT LA RAMS (0-2)

I’m shocked by both of these teams’ records to this point. The Rams were a playoff team and they don’t look right as the Cardinals blew them up last Sunday. Then the 49ers losing to the Vikings. Sam Darnold was privy to the 49ers play book last year as he was QB 2. Darnold slice and diced the 49ers defense. Both teams have a ton of injuries after two weeks. The Rams offensive line is a huge glaring weakness for LA. Even though it’s their first home game of the season, the 49ers are the better team with a deep roster. The Rams are not stopping teams. Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense mean it will be business as usual.

OUR PICK: 49ERS

DETROIT LIONS (1-1) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1)

The Lions season started off with the teams they knocked out in the playoffs last season. The Cardinals destroyed the Rams last week and gave Buffalo a battle on the road in week one. This Cardinals match up for the Lions is no easy task as they will go on the road for the first time this season. The Lions have dominated the Cardinals since 2017 with a 4-0-1 record. Then Jared Goff who played for the Rams a life time ago has dominated the Cardinals with 8-1-1 record. This is a different Cardinals team as they look like the hungry Lions of few years ago. Marvin Harrison Junior looks like the real deal. Murray looks like he has found his old self when he entered the league after making the choice of either football or baseball. This one should be a shoot out. The Cardinals will have to redefine themselves in close games they have lost a lot dating back to last year. I like the Lions because Head Coach Dan Campbell has his team bouncing back very quickly after a loss. The history sides the Lions since ’17. Lions found ways on the road to win as we can remember the first game of the 2023 season when they beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead.

OUR PICK: LIONS

BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-2) AT DALLAS COWBOYS (1-2)

The Cowboys opened up the season with a beat down of the Browns. Then the Saints gave the Boys a beat down they probably deserved. Then the Ravens lost opening night of the 2024 season to the Chiefs by a toe. Then last week they have a new nemesis named Gardner Minshew who beat them with the Colts last year & then this year last week wearing a Raiders uniform. Both teams need a win here. Watch the Ravens run the ball as their offensive line is not doing well on pass blocking. Derrick Henry may have a big day carrying the rock along with Lamar Jackson as the Cowboys were gashed with the run by the Saints last week. Teams will continue to exploit your weakness week after week until they can stop it. I like the Ravens defense to stand tall in this one and put the gauntlet down on America’s team. The Ravens are due to notch that first W of the season.

OUR PICK: RAVENS

THE SUNDAY NIGHT GAME

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-0) AT ATLANTA FALCONS (1-1)

Can the Falcons possibly win this match up versus the Chiefs at home? The Falcons have a solid running game and the Chiefs will be without their star defender, Chris Jones. Then the Chiefs lost their star running back to an injury in Isiah Pacheco. Now the Chiefs have to rely on the great white hope in the backfield.

Carson Steele, a rookie with his pet alligator, will take on the backfield duties. The Falcons were given the game last week on Monday night by the Eagles on a coaching decision. Kirk Cousins led the game-winning drive that took the wings off the birds from Philadelphia. Cousins looked better week 2 than he did in week one. The Chiefs still have the great Patrick Mahomes and he is very good in prime time games as Cousins is not.

OUR PICK: CHIEFS

DOUBLE THE FUN ON MONDAY NIGHT WITH TWO GAMES

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (0-2) AT BUFFALO BILLS (2-0)

Last year these two teams met in London, England and it was a nightmare for the Bills. They lost the game and had several injuries over the pond. The Jaguars really have owned the Bills since 2017 which also includes a playoff game between the two teams. Times have changed as the Jaguars are off to 0-2 start and lost two close games. For the Bills they are off to a solid start winning both games and scoring 30 or more points in each contest. The Bills defense, despite some injuries, handled Marvin Harrison Jr. in game one and then shut down Miami’s aerial attack last Thursday. Bills are well-rested. The Jaguars are desperate which can lead to mistakes. This is a different Bills animal since the last time they met, the offense has a new philosophy and is well-balanced. It’s not just Josh Allen. The Jaguars defense does not look like that stout unit they had the last few seasons. I like Bills to remain perfect while the Jaguars will have to look elsewhere for their first W of the season.

OUR PICK: BILLS

WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-1) AT CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2)

Washington earned their first win of the year just beating the hapless Giants. The Bengals doing their usual, dig themselves a hole in the beginning of the season and then start winning. The Bengals were victim of another Patrick Mahomes miracle that benefited the Chiefs. The call ruined the Bengals hopes of winning their first game last week. Joe Burrow had a big game last week and I see it happening again. Jayden Daniels improved from week 1 with a better performance in week 2 for the Commanders. The Commanders defense is a unit in the bottom of the league. Burrow and company should rack up points with ease. The Bengals are at home and they will send everything including the kitchen sink after the rookie QB for the Commanders. The Bengals defense can rack up sacks by the half dozens at times and being 0-2, I think they are ready to tee off on this Washington team which does not have the offense to keep up with Burrow.

OUR PICK: BENGALS