NFL Week 3 Picks (2011)

The NFL season is three weeks old and there are a couple of good games this week. Last week saw a surprise good game in Buffalo, as Ryan Fitzpatrick threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Steve Nelson in a 38-35 shootout win over Oakland. This week, the unbeaten Texans travel to the Superdome to play the Saints, and on Monday night, the Redskins travel to play their rivals, the Cowboys, among the 16 games this week.

BIG GAME THIS WEEK:
Houston Texans (2-0) at New Orleans Saints (1-1)
The Texans are a surprising 2-0, and are atop the AFC South, which is not a surprise, but was expected, given the struggles of perennial AFC South champs Indianapolis. The Texans travel down I-10 to play the Saints in the Superdome.
Pick: New Orleans 31, Houston 14

UPSET PICK THIS WEEK:
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (both 1-1)
Michael Vick's return to Atlanta was cut short due to an injury in a 35-31 Falcons win. The Giants could have a big game on a short week of practice, following their 28-16 win over St. Louis on Monday Night.
Pick: NY Giants 27, Philadelphia 20

CONTENDER vs. PRETENDER:
New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills (both 2-0)
Ryan Fitzpatrick IS the man at Buffalo, leading the Bills to a 2-0 start. However, reality will set in as the always red hot Tom Brady and the always red hot Patriots crash the party at Ralph Wilson Stadium.
Pick: New England 37, Buffalo 10

CLASS OF '95 BOWL:
Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) at Carolina Panthers (0-2)
Cam Newton in only two games has thrown for 894 yards (an average of 447 yards a game). You'd think the Panthers would be scoring 50 or 60 points a game and be 2-0, right? Wrong. However, Jacksonville is starting fellow rookie Blaine Gabbert as quarterback as the Jets crashed the Jags 32-3 at MetLife Stadium last week. The third time's the charm for Newton in this battle of the 1995 Expansion teams.
Pick: Carolina 35, Jacksonville 0

SUPER BOWL REMATCH:
San Francisco 49ers at Cincinnati Bengals (both 1-1)
Tough one: You have an inexperienced quarterback on one side, and then a West Coast team traveling across the country for an early game with a new coach. The 49ers beat the Bengals in 1981 in the regular season and once again in Super Bowl XVI. The 49ers scored the game-winning touchdown with 34 seconds left in Super Bowl XXIII. The Bengals have only beaten the 49ers twice since their first meeting in 1974, and both of those times were in Cincinnati (1999 and 2003). The difference between the 49ers of old and the 49ers since then is that Alex Smith is far from Joe Montana or Steve Young in talent.
On the other side of the ball, word on the street is running back Cedric Benson will be suspended for three games, and if he appeals the suspension, he might be a factor in the outcome of this game. Andy Dalton had a big game on the short side of the stick in Denver. He could have a big day in the Bengals home opener against this resurgent 49ers team.
Pick: San Francisco 24, Cincinnati 20

SUNDAY NIGHT LIGHTS:
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) at Indianapolis Colts (0-2)
Not...even...close. Pittsburgh shut Seattle up last week, and with no Peyton Manning, the Steelers defense will show Kerry Collins no mercy.
Pick: Pittsburgh 27, Indianapolis 6

MONDAY NIGHT RIVALRY:
Washington Redskins (2-0) at Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
The Redskins are turning heads with their 2-0 start. But can the Skins make it last? And can they do it in their biggest rivals' home turf?
Pick: Dallas 31, Washington 24

OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:
Miami Dolphins (0-2) at Cleveland Browns (1-1)
Pick: Cleveland 30, Miami 3

Detroit Lions (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-2)
The Vikes blew a 17-0 lead and crashed and burned late in the game against the Bucs last week. The Lions showed Kansas City no mercy last week. Are the Lions for real? Can Matthew Stafford stay healthy? Can Donovan McNabb and the Vikes step up their game? Find out on Sunday.
Pick: Detroit 20, Minnesota 15

Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans (both 1-1)
Pick: Tennessee 19, Denver 16

Baltimore Ravens (1-1) at St. Louis Rams (0-2)
Pick: Baltimore 24, St. Louis 13

New York Jets (2-0) at Oakland Raiders (1-1)
The Raiders will capitalize on the absence of Nick Mangold in the rematch of the Heidi Bowl.
Pick: Oakland 27, NY Jets 14

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at San Diego Chargers (1-1)
Pick: San Diego 35, Kansas City 3

Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (both 1-1)
Pick: Tampa Bay 34, Atlanta 21

Arizona Cardinals (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (0-2)
Pick: Arizona 28, Seattle 6

Green Bay Packers (2-0) at Chicago Bears (1-1)
The Pack have the edge in this rematch of last year's NFC Championship game.
Pick: Green Bay 31, Chicago 16