NFL Picks Week 3: Follow The Yellow Flag Road

After two weeks, the New Orleans Saints find themselves with a 1-1 record which, like last year, represents the best start the team has had over the first two weeks since 2013. That’s about where the good news ends. The Saints are without future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees for the foreseeable future, and the team is coming off an embarrassing loss in Los Angeles. Things certainly won't get any easier with a trip to the Pacific Northwest, where the Sean Payton’s Saints are 0-3 against Pete Carroll’s Seattle Seahawks.

A week after being endlessly berated with penalty flags, the Saints need only follow the path those flags have laid, as the “Yellow Flag Road” takes them up the West Coast to the Emerald City, where the Saints’ wishes have died ugly and wicked deaths in their last three visits there. It’ll take more than smarts, heart, and courage to find their way home from Seattle with a victory.

Last week I went 9-7

I told you so: Seahawks over Steelers!

What do I know: Saints over Rams?

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WEEK 3

Thursday, September 19th - Thursday Night Football

Titans(1-1) at Jaguars(0-2)

Tennessee will lean on their defense and ground game to squeeze out the Jags. Turnovers will make it worse for Jacksonville. Tennessee wins 30-6.

Pick: Titans

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Sunday, September 22nd - Early Games

Bengals(0-2) at Bills(2-0)

Buffalo will have a big game through the air at home in this one. Buffalo wins 21-13.

Pick: Bills

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Lions(1-0-1) at Eagles(1-1)

Neither defense has been as good as they should be so far this season, and that will continue for both teams in this shootout. Philadelphia wins 30-27.

Pick: Eagles

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Jets(0-2) at Patriots(2-0)

New England will run the ball with ease all over the Jets, grinding them into the Foxboro turf. New England wins 32-10.

Pick: Patriots

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Raiders(1-1) at Vikings(1-1)

Minnesota will steamroll Oakland on the ground in this one. Minnesota wins 28-13.

Pick: Vikings

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Ravens(2-0) at Chiefs(2-0) - Game of the Week

Baltimore is as well-equipped as any team to beat Kansas City this season, but if they don't do it, the Chiefs are likely to run the table until their early December trip to New England. Baltimore will pull it off though, by stopping KC’s running game, forcing them to become one-dimensional, now KC is GREAT at that dimension, but the Ravens defense is up to the task. On the other side, Baltimore’s offense will control the clock with balance and efficiency. This will definitely be one of the AFC’s best matchups of the season. Baltimore wins 24-20.

Pick: Ravens

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Falcons(1-1) at Colts(1-1)

Indy’s inability to attack Atlanta’s defense through the air will be their undoing. This should be an easy one for the Falcons. Atlanta wins 26-16.

Pick: Falcons

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Broncos(0-2) at Packers(2-0)

Aaron Rodgers comes through with his best game of this early season in this one. Green Bay wins 30-26.

Pick: Packers

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Dolphins(0-2) at Cowboys(2-0)

This laugher of a contest will be done by the time the first series of the game is complete. Dak and Zeke will be on the bench, resting up for Week 4 long before the 4th quarter arrives. Dallas wins 51-9.

Pick: Cowboys

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Sunday, September 22nd - Late Games

Giants(0-2) at Buccaneers(1-1)

Daniel Jones will have a decent game in his first career start for the Giants, but their defense will struggle against Bruce Arians’ offense in this one. Tampa wins 31-26.

Pick: Buccaneers

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Panthers(0-2) at Cardinals(0-1-1)

Carolina’s offense gets just the break they've been looking for, against Arizona’s terrible defense. Carolina will benefit greatly from costly Arizona turnovers. Carolina wins 35-17.

Pick: Panthers

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Steelers(0-2) at 49ers(2-0)

Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph will have a rough go against the Niners in his first start in place of Big Ben. San Francisco wins 28-14.

Pick: 49ers

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Texans(1-1) at Chargers(1-1)

This will be a very entertaining matchup with both teams slugging it out until the end. The key will be Los Angeles bottling up Houston’s running game when they need it the most. Los Angeles wins 26-22.

Pick: Chargers

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Saints(1-1) at Seahawks(2-0)

Even before the Brees injury, this game was one many had penciled in as a loss, present company included, considering the Saints’ historical troubles in Seattle when Payton’s teams face Carroll’s in their stadium. Now, Teddy Bridgewater gets his chance to do what Brees has not been able to do in the Saints’ last three consecutive tries in Seattle; win. The Seattle pass rush will be a big problem, and the Saints offensive line will need to play significantly better than they did last week to give Bridgewater, and the Saints offense a chance. Teddy also needs to do a much better job of getting the ball out quickly, or he may be in for a very long afternoon. The Saints are certainly better than they have shown, and the Seahawks haven't exactly played the best competition in their narrow victories over Cincy and a Big Ben-less Pittsburgh, but homefield, and a Saints team in emotional transition will be key to another Seattle victory. Seattle wins 27-17.

Pick: Seahawks

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Sunday Night Football

Rams(2-0) at Browns(1-1)

Browns upset the Rams. Why? Because that’s exactly the type of thing that would happen following last week’s game, wouldn't it? Somebody please get me some aspirin. Cleveland wins 21-12.

Pick: Browns

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Monday, September 23rd - Monday Night Football

Bears(1-1) at Redskins(0-2)

Washington simply will be unable to pass the ball against the dominant Chicago defense, leaving them defenseless against the Bears. Chicago wins 20-7.

Pick: Bears

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That’s how I see it, tell us how you see Week 3 playing out. Leave your comments and insight below!