Sports Takes Sure To Be Wrong (Although We Know The Majority Of These Will Be Right) | NFL Week 3

Welcome to “Sports Takes Sure To Be Wrong (Although We Know The Majority Of These Will Be Right)” brought to you by the great ideas you have in your head when you are stuck in traffic on the I-10, but forget the second you get home.

That noted sports philosopher Michael Joseph Jackson once sang, “When the world is on your shoulder gotta straighten up your act and boogie down.”

It is Week 3 in the NFL, and it’s not Off The Wall to think that some 0-2 teams will feel the weight of the world upon them until they finally get a win. Could this be their week?

49ers 27, Giants 20: The Giants needed a miracle comeback to beat a poor Arizona last week, but they won’t be so lucky in Santa Clara, especially without injured running back Saquon Barkley. Hint: It could be a while before the 49ers lose a game this season.

Ravens 34, Colts 17: The Ravens are back to playing physical, dominant football. The Colts have no shot.

Titans 23, Browns 20: With running back Nick Chubb out for the season with a knee injury, the hopes of the Browns offense fall upon Deshaun Watson, who has been inconsistent since signing with Cleveland. I think Tennessee will find a way to win a close game on the road.

Lions 38, Falcons 34: This pick is about my inability to picture the Falcons with a 3-0 record to start the season. I think Detroit wins a high-scoring game in the Motor City.

Packers 28, Saints 23: The Saints defense is good, but let’s be honest: It really hasn’t faced a good offensive team this season. Packers QB Jordan Love is better than expected, and their young offense is only going to improve before the season ends. Something tells me that New Orleans can’t win a high-scoring game without Alvin Kamara. I was going to make this pick even if Saints safety Marcus Maye wasn’t suspended three games for violating the NFL’s Substance Abuse Policy.

Jaguars 27, Texans 16: Jacksonville held its own against defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City in a close loss last week. Stepping down in class, the Jags should be able to take their frustrations out against a young Texans team.

Broncos 20, Dolphins 17: Sean Payton is catching some regular-season bad karma for the incendiary comments he made about the previous head coach in Denver. The Broncos got a “Hail Mary” answered last week and still lost the game! Miami has all of the momentum here while some people who were recently fired by the Broncos have all of the incentive to beat their former team. and yet I can’t see Payton coaching a team that starts the season 0-3.

Vikings 34, Chargers 32: These are two teams with the Off The Wall connection. Both teams are better than their record, but the Chargers have a history of struggling in close games that is worth considering here.

Patriots 13, Jets 10: I can’t see a Bill Belichick-coached team starting the season 0-3, especially when it is facing a team with Zach Wilson at quarterback.

Bills 27, Commanders 23: Look for another big game from Josh Allen. Although the Commanders offense is better than expected, Buffalo is just better, period.

Seahawks 27, Panthers 13: The Panthers offense is bad, and a cross-country trip to deal with the 12’s in Seattle won’t help.

Cowboys 30, Cardinals 13: The Cowboys defense is for real and not to be taken for granted. Fast starts and looking like world-beaters before a late-season fade is a Dallas tradition that should continue this season. Arizona has no chance.

Chiefs 26, Bears 18: Chicago QB Justin Fields threw his coaches under the bus this week by blaming them for his slow start, only to walk back the comments a few hours later. This could be the first sign of a Bears implosion. The Chiefs will keep Chicago winless.

Steelers 24, Raiders 17: This used to be a great rivalry – in the 1970s. The Raiders should struggle against a good Pittsburgh defense.

Eagles 22, Buccaneers 16: Who would have thought before the season that this would be one of the marquee games of week No. 3? Still, this should be a Sunday game but the NFL has diluted the Monday Night Football franchise.

Rams 33, Bengals 30: Ok, Cincinnati is officially in trouble. The Rams are playing better than most people expected.