This article covers predicted NFL top 5 exciting games Week 3 and top 5 upsets. Thursday Night Football on NBC is right around the corner on 9/23/21 and that means Week 3 is starting. Time to continue with a weekly cadence of highlighting the best games to watch. Also determining the potential upsets lurking below the radar. Hard part about doing this exercise in 2021, is trying to determine if any of the 2020 trends will continue. 2020 was the season of Covid-19 impacts, no fans in the stands and a surprising post season.
2021 Week 2 Picks Recap
2021 All Picks Recap
NFL Top 5 Exciting Games Week 3
5. Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh
This bitter rivalry officially started on 1/8/06, when Kimo von Oelhloffen dove laterally at Carson Palmer and blew out his left knee during the AFC Wild Card playoff game. Steelers went on to win Super Bowl 40 and the Bengals haven’t quite recovered since. Steelers had a solid opening day win over the Bills, but couldn’t play pass coverage in a Week 2 loss to the Raiders. Joe Burrow has been solid this season after coming back from a bad left knee injury late in 2020. Helps that his college WR, Ja’Marr Chase, is getting up to game speed quickly. Ben Roethlisberger is currently questionable to start this game due to a pec injury.
Prediction: Steelers rarely lose back-to-back home games early in a season and they find a way to scratch out a 3 point victory
4. Washington vs. Buffalo
Capitals vs. Sabres in an early East Coast matchup…whoops NHL season doesn’t start until 10/13/21. Redskins have rallied around their new QB, Taylor Heinicke. Bills are now officially awake and starting to click on both sides of the ball. Chase Young will be in the backfield trying to pressure Josh Allen all game long, but Allen is a very efficient QB at avoiding contact and quick ball release. Lack of a consistent running game will hinder Washington as they try to play a game of field position.
Prediction: Entertaining game from start to finish and the Bills win by 7 points
3. Chicago vs. Cleveland
Justin Fields gets his first official start on the road at the Dawg Pound. If the Bears have any chance of winning, they need Kahlil Mack to channel the 2018 season of big plays and carry the defense single handily. Baker Mayfield and the rest of the Browns are now starting to figure out how to play a full 60 minute game. Nick Chubb is currently averaging a robust 6.8 yards/carry. Browns are on the cusp of a special season.
Prediction: Cleveland wins by 10 points with a workmen like victory
2. Green Bay vs. San Francisco
Packer fans let out a big sigh of relief when Aaron Rodgers carved up the Lions on Monday night, by throwing four touchdowns. Is it just me or are the Manning brothers doing play-by-play on ESPN2 better than cheddar bay biscuits at Red Lobster? Packers are still trying to erase the abysmal performance against the 49ers in the 2019 NFC Championship game. This game will be dictated by field position and long pass completions by both QBs (Rodgers and Jimmy Garoppolo).
Prediction: Green Bay gets a huge road win by 3 points
1. Tampa Bay vs. Los Angeles Rams
Best matchup of the week, with the offense of the Buccaneers lining up against the defense of the Rams. Defense typically beats offense in big games, but Tom Brady neutralizes aggressive defenses by hitting slant patterns and drag routes all game long. Matthew Stafford has fit into the Rams offensive scheme like a comfortable glove and this game will be an offensive shootout. The exact opposite of the 1999 NFC Championship Game. Whichever team has the ball last wins in walk off fashion.
Prediction: Buccaneers win by 7 points as Brady drives the length of the field yet again when the stakes are high
NFL Top 5 Exciting Games Week 3 for Upsets that might happen
5. Los Angeles Chargers vs. Kansas City
AFC West showdown at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, KS. Chargers have a budding QB star in Justin Herbert, but he needs to spread the ball around more. Since the 2020 NFL playoffs started, the Chiefs game plan has been for Patrick Mahomes to improvise and cross their fingers on defense. That doesn’t work in the NFL on a weekly basis and it might not work this Sunday. Chargers will push the Chiefs around for 60 minutes, similar to the Raiders road win at Kansas City in 2020 during week 5.
4. New Orleans vs. New England
Intriguing matchup of two start-stop-start teams at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, MA. Nothing against the Saints, but they will be a step slow physically and mentally due to the Covid-19 issues that have impacted their roster and coaching staff. Patriots will slip into the 1986 New York Giants offensive game plan mode and grind the clock for 60 minutes. This game is a toss up with the Patriots currently favored by 3.0 points. Saints have a chance to procure a true road win.
3. Philadelphia vs. Dallas
Monday Night Football heads to Jerry Jones’ world this week to highlight the NFC East, and I keep picking the Eagles to pull an upset each week. That trend won’t change in Week 3, as they’ll test the Cowboys with some unique offensive formations and a stout defense. If Dak Prescott continues to play at a high level after his gruesome 2020 injury, I’ll spend some time rethinking the Cowboys offense.
2. Seattle vs. Minnesota
Seahawks prevent defense in the fourth quarter kept them from winning in Week 2, when Derrick Henry started to run downhill. Vikings have a big slashing RB in Dalvin Cook, but he has an gimpy ankle for this matchup. Minnesota fans are still mad about the short missed field goal in the 2015 NFC Wildcard Game. Defensive line of the Vikings will be chasing Russell Wilson all over the field for 60 minutes due to the porous Seahawks offensive line. Vikings are due for a close home win at their Death Star stadium.
1. Atlanta vs. New York Giants
This game is close to being called The Toilet Bowl. Two proud franchises that are both 0-2 and the immediate future doesn’t look bright at all. Matt Ryan needs to channel 2008 and 2016, to get the football in the hands of new TE Kyle Pitts. Giants need to overload Saquon Barkley with carries, to see if he can get the offense out of the drainage ditch and back onto the interstate. Take the underdog Falcons (+3.0 points) and try not to watch this game until the two minute warning in the fourth quarter.
Same bat time, same bat channel next week. I’ll review the results of Pro Football Top 5 exciting games Week 3 and try again in Week 4.
Never walk away from the table when you’re on a heater in Vegas! Hope you enjoyed Pro Football Top 5 Exciting Games Week 3.
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