Recap
(Full Card At End)
Steelers @ Patriots
Rodgers Visits Foxborough in Black and Gold
After each team splits its first 2 games, the New England Patriots host Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers in the early slate. The Patriots are coming off a 33-27 victory over the Dolphins and will be attempting to win consecutive games for the first time since 2022. The Steelers lost a home game to the Seahawks 31-17 last week and have allowed at least 31 in both their games so far. Injury concerns add to coach Mike Tomlin’s problems on that side of the ball with linebacker Alex Highsmith already ruled out for the contest with 3 other starters listed as questionable. Rodgers came back down to earth after a dream week 1 debut where he tossed 4 touchdowns and no interceptions in their win over the Jets. Drake Maye and the Pats haven’t faced a good defense yet this season and that trend will continue this week as the Steelers have been surrendering points in heaps so far this year. I like the point total of 44.5 to go over in this contest with both sides boasting capable offenses and lackluster defenses. I’m also going to take a risk on a Drake Maye anytime touchdown as he had 3 red zone runs a week ago, scoring on 1, and Pittsburgh showed weakness against running quarterbacks already this season. Finally, I’m gonna take the safe bet of Rhamondre Stevenson to have more than 1.5 catches in this matchup as he has gone over that total in each of the Patriots’ 2 games.
Best Bet: Over 44.5 (-110)
Player Prop: Drake Maye Anytime Touchdown (+300), Rhamondre Stevenson Over 1.5 Receptions (-170)
Packers @ Browns
Packers Super Bowl Contenders?
The Packers are in search of their first 3-0 start since 2020 when Jordan Love and Micah Parsons travel to meet the Cleveland Browns. Parsons and the defense have been dominant not allowing a first half touchdown in either of their first 2 games. Love will face a tough test against a Myles Garrett led defense that leads the NFL in total defense allowing just 191.5 yards per game. Offensively Joe Flacco and the Browns have been a mess and in week 2 rookie Dillon Gabriel got some garbage time action, if Gabriel gets the start Parsons and company will cause him some serious issues. The Packers currently have the 3rd best odds to win the Super Bowl with bettors recognizing them as an elite team with strong performances already this year. Running back Josh Jacobs has rushed for a touchdown in 11 straight games the 2nd longest such streak since 2004.The Packers have won 6 of their past 7 meetings with the Browns, including each of their past 4 matchups and I expect that trend to continue as Green Bay covers the spread in an ugly affair.
Best Bet: Packers -7.5 (-110)
Colts @ Titans
Indiana Jones vs Cam Ward
Still the biggest surprise of this young NFL season, Daniel Jones was terrific against a strong Denver Broncos defense last week and the Colts have a great oppurtunity to move to 3-0 on the season. Through 2 weeks the Colts are yet to use their punter and star RB Jonathan Taylor has been a big reason why tallying 236 rushing yards thru 2 games good enough for 2nd in the NFL. First overall pick Cam Ward has had a rocky start to his NFL career, but last week he did throw his first career touchdown pass on an incredible throw across the width of the field. Ward has faced a pair of tough defenses so far in the Broncos and Rams with the Colts possessing a similar unit. The real problem for the Titans is protecting Ward as they have allowed 11 sacks through 2 weeks. The Colts have some injury concerns but both rookie TE Tyler Warren and CB Charvarius Ward Jr. were able to practice Friday, so I like Daniel Jones and the Colts to cover the spread in this matchup against an inexperienced Titans team.
Best Bet: Colts -4 (-110)
Jets @ Bucs
Baker’s Bucs Host Injury Depleted Jets
36 year old Tyrod Taylor gets the start in place of Justin Fields who suffered a concussion in last week’s loss to the Bills. Taylor had knee surgery in the offseason, but coach Aaron Glunn will start the veteran this Sunday. A visit to Baker Mayfield who has orchestrated 2 game winning drives in as many weeks will not help their rough patch. Rookie WR Emeka Egbuka has 3 TD catches in 2 games and caught the go-ahead score in the final minute of week 1. The Jets are looking to avoid their 3rd 0-3 start in 6 years and Glenn is still in search of his first win as an NFL head coach. Unfortunately for Glenn and the Jets they would be outmatched even when healthy and I expect them to remain winless as I like the Bucs to cover the 6.5 point spread.
Best Bet: Bucs -6.5 (-110)
Falcons @ Panthers
NFC South Showdown
The Panthers are off to their 3rd straight 0-2 start after Young had 5 turnovers in his first 5 quarters this season before nearly rallying the Panthers last week with 3 second half passing touchdowns. Although the comeback attempt came up short coach Dave Canales and the Panthers will hope to carry that momentum into this NFC South matchup. Young will face a difficult test against a Falcons defense that harassed Vikings QB JJ McCarthy relentlessly last week in an easy win. Bijan Robinson ran for 143 yards in that win and will face a Panthers run defense that allowed 200 yards rushing in 7 straight games prior to last week. The last time these 2 teams met was a week 18 shootout between Penix and Young that saw the panthers truimph, I think Penix and the Falcons get their revenge here in a convincing win. I also like Bijan Robinson to exceed his total of 110.5 total yards as he also has 125 yards receiving through 2 weeks. I also like rookie receiver Tetairoa McMillan to hit his over of 65.5 yards as the Falcons best cornerback AJ Terrell is out this week with a hamstring injury.
Best Bet: Falcons -5 (-110)
Player Prop: Robinson Over 110.5 Rushing + Receiving Yards (-115), McMillan Over 65.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
Cowboys @ Bears
Caleb Williams & Bumbling Bears Take On Cowboys
The Cowboys had a dramatic overtime win a week ago against the Giants that saw kicker Brandon Aubrey make a 64 yarder as time expired to send it to overtime and a 46 yard game winner on the final play Meanwhile, the Bears were rocked by the Lions in week 2 surrendering a whopping 52 points in the loss. The Lions did whatever they wanted to the Bears defense and Jared Goff finished with a career high 5 passing touchdowns. After blowing an 11 point lead in the 4th quarter of their week 1 contest a blowout defeat to a division rival is truly demoralizing. Cowboys defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus goes against the Bears for the first time since they fired him as head coach last November. New Bears head coach Ben Johnson made headlines this week when he called out his players’ practice habits and it remains to be seen how the Bears respond. I like the over and the Cowboys to win in this one as their offense has been scoring points for fun so far and both defenses allow big plays far too often. Look out for George Pickens in this one as he began to heat up for his new team last week and has a friendly matchup against a shaky Bears’ pass defense.
Best Bet: Cowboys ML (-120), Over 50 (-110)
Player Prop: Pickens Over 53.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
Chiefs @ Giants
A Pair of Winless Teams Meet on Primetime
Which version of Russell Wilson will show up in week 3, the week 1 version that looked like the worst QB in the NFL or week 2 where he led the league in passing yards? We know what we’re getting from the Chiefs, a grind it out offense that lacks explosiveness due to the absences of Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice. It’s significantly more surprising that the Mahomes led Chiefs will enter this game 0-2 after losses to a pair of unbeaten teams in the Chargers and the Eagles. A trip to Met Life Stadium and a matchup against a lower quality team will remedy their woes. Kansas City has been solid on defense so far and the Giants have been awful, ranked dead last in total defense allowing a staggering 455 yards per game through 2 weeks. If LT Andrew Thomas returns for the G-men they will be competitive in this one, but I expect the Chiefs to avoid a 0-3 start that would put a big dent in their playoff hopes. Take a look at Juju Smith-Schuster’s receiving yard total to go under, the ex-Steeler is 5th on the team in targets (8) through 2 weeks.
Best Bet: Chiefs -6.5 (-110)
Player Prop: Juju Smith-Schuster Under 31.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
Full NFL Card
Best Bets:
- PITvsNE Over 44.5 (-110)
- GB -7.5 (-110)
- IND -4 (-110)
- TB -6.5 (-110)
- ATL -5 (-110)
- Cowboys ML (-120)
- DALvsCHI Over 50 (-110)
- KC -6.5 (-110)
Player Picks:
- Drake Maye Anytime TD (+300)
- Rhamondre Stevenson Over 1.5 Receptions (-170)
- Bijan Robinson Over 110.5 Rushing + Receiving Yards (-115)
- Tetairoa McMillan Over 65.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
- George Pickens Over 53.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
- Juju Smith-Schuster Under 31.5 Receiving Yards (-115)
The Bookie of Eli 
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