Packers @ Titans (Titans -2)
A week ago, in this segment we took the Colts over the Malik Willis led Packers – and were made to look like fools. Well, as the saying go “fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!”
There’ll be no shame here – we’re going back to that same well in this week match-up! Yes, the Packers overcame the Colts but it wasn’t because Malik Willis led them to victory. The Colts beat themselves! They gave up 3 interceptions. They allowed Green Bay to run all over them (261 total rushing yards – 151 by Josh Jacobs) and they allowed the Packers to possess the ball for over 40 minutes of the game. None of those factors will be repeated in Tennessee.
There’s no doubt the titans will load up against the run. That means you’re asking Malik Willis (a man who was on the Titans own roster until 4 weeks ago) to beat you with his arm. That isn’t happening. Last week he recorded his first game (in his 4th NFL start) where he threw for over 100 yards (122). To his credit he didn’t turn the ball over – the Achilles heel for these Tennessee Titans threw the first 2 weeks of the season.
Head Coach Brian Callahan was understandably exasperated at QB Will Levis when for the 2nd straight week, he inexplicably threw the ball to the opposition. Tennessee have lost both games 24-17 – in Chicago they literally handed the game to Chicago. Last weekend they were in position to score when they gave the ball back to the Jets.
The bottom line is, the Tennessee Titans have been beating themselves. If Will Levis was to show the same carelessness in protecting the ball for a 3rd straight week, we should expect to see changes. Levis is a talented quarterback with a cannon for an arm. He has tremendous playmaking ability – as we’ve seen in the first two weeks of the season. He will make plays where Anthony Richardson failed to do so last weekend for Indianapolis – and let’s not forget, despite that, the Colts still had the opportunity to make a game winning drive at the end of the game.
There’s too much talent, too much ability for Tennessee not to win on Sunday. Willis and the Packers got the W last weekend. Lightening won’t strike twice 2 weeks running.
PICK: Tennessee Titans -2
Chargers @ Steelers (Chargers +2.5)
The battle of the unbeaten takes place in Pittsburgh this weekend – and who would have thought we’d be saying that of this match-up heading into week 3?
The Steelers have showed character and Justin Fields has played just well enough while ensuring he does nothing to hurt his team by looking after the ball and not committing costly turnovers. Pittsburgh haven’t necessarily been impressive, but they have been effective. Their 2 wins – 18-10 in Atlanta and 13-6 in Denver. Fields throwing for just 156 and 117 yards respectively and just 1 touchdown BUT he hasn’t turned the ball over once – allowing the Steelers defense to go about it’s business. This weekend will be a different challenge.
The LA Chargers look every bit like a Jim Harbaugh team. Defensively stout but they pound opponents into submission in the run game. Already through 2 games, they’ve racked up 395 yards on the ground. JK Dobbins has 266 of those from just 27 carries – that’s a fraction shy of 10 yards per carry! The critics may point to the opponents being the Raiders and the Panthers, but Las Vegas went into Baltimore and got the win last weekend and the Chargers went into Carolina and did what good teams should do against poor teams – beat them comfortably.
Make no mistake, the Chargers will be physical, and they will put points on the board. That means the Steelers will have to respond in kind. To this point they haven’t suggested offensively they can do that and with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack bringing the pressure, Justin Fields will have be at his elusive best. So far this season, one team has shown they can put points on the board while being defensively stout, the other has made both their games look like hard work. Unless the Steelers can change that narrative this weekend, it’ll be the Chargers who remain perfect.
PICK: LA Chargers +2.5
Ravens @ Cowboys (Ravens -1)
For the first time since 2015 the Baltimore Ravens have started out the season 0-2. Whatever the turmoil is in Dallas following last weekend’s humiliating blowout loss to the Saint, you better believe it’s been just as intense in Baltimore!
The Ravens were the no. 1 seeded team in the AFC last season. They’re expected to return to the playoffs – at least – this season but history tells us only 32 of the 279 teams since 1990 who have lost their first 2 games have gone on to make the playoffs – that’s just 11.5% of them! Of course, Lamar Jackson is the reigning NFL MVP. Kurt Warner is the last reigning MVP to start 0-2 and his Rams failed to make the playoffs that season as well. So in every sense, if the Ravens are to turn the tide on history this is a MUST WIN GAME!
They may not have a better opportunity than in playing the Cowboys right now. Most alarming last week was the glaring similarity in the manner of their defeat to the Saints as when a home crowd in Arlington last saw the Cowboys play- that NFL Wild Card loss to the Packers in January. Defensively, Dallas couldn’t stop anything. New Orleans ran the ball on them at will. Alvin Kamara looked like the vintage version as he scored 4 touchdowns. The Saints scored touchdowns on each of their first 6 drives! Now here come the Ravens with one of the most mobile QBs in the NFL and a battering ram of a running back in Derek Henry. On paper this doesn’t appear to bode well for Dallas. So much so, that even with home field advantage against a winless opponent this is a coin flip game.
The Cowboys best chance of winning would appear to be for their offense to control the ball – keep Lamar Jackson off the field. That would require a strong running game of their own – a running game, which through 2 weeks, Dallas simply don’t appear to have! Zeke Elliott looks slow; Deuce Vaughn is still finding his way in the NFL and the Cowboys have shown little ability to run the ball consistently well in the opening 2 weeks. So, they need their defense to show up – the defense which smothered the Browns, not the defense which parted like the red sea for New Orleans!
In short, I still believe – despite giving up scores on the final 4 drives last week to the Raiders – Baltimore are the more balanced team. There is no more room for slip ups. They must have this game, and I expect them to take it!
PICK: Baltimore Ravens -1
