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Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season includes a plethora of attention-grabbing matchups and divisional tilts. The week begins off on Thursday night time with an AFC East battle between the New England Patriots and New York Jets from MetLife Stadium.
On Sunday, the Dallas Cowboys look to bounce again from a disappointing defeat by the hands of the New Orleans Saints, welcoming the Baltimore Ravens to Arlington. Within the Sunday night time prime-time recreation, Patrick Mahomes and the 2-0 Kansas City Chiefs hit the street to face the Falcons in Atlanta.
Monday night time options the primary prime-time doubleheader of the season as Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars tackle Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN) and rookie Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders face Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals (8:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+).
Our betting analysts take an early take a look at Week 3 strains to seek out some worth earlier than issues transfer nearer to the video games.
Odds present as of publish time, courtesy of ESPN BET
Joe Fortenbaugh’s first guess: Arizona Cardinals–Detroit Lions over 52.5 factors (-105)
I earmarked Arizona as an early season “over” group in August based mostly on essentially the most rudimentary evaluation possible: Good offense, unhealthy protection. Properly, by means of two video games, Kyler Murray & Co. are 2-0 to the over. Search for Detroit’s offense to bounce again in an enormous manner after scoring simply 16 factors on 463 complete yards of offense in Week 2. However that is what occurs whenever you go 1-for-7 within the purple zone. Count on some constructive regression in that division.
Tyler Fulghum’s first guess: Cleveland Browns–New York Giants below 38.5 factors (-110)
I can see this complete dropping some extent or two so I need to leap on it now. The Giants are averaging simply 12.0 PPG this season and Daniel Jones has seemed lower than spectacular. Now, they get one of many hardest assignments in soccer, going through the Browns protection in Cleveland. On the opposite facet, Deshaun Watson is not significantly better. The Giants have a formidable sufficient line of defense to assist maintain him in examine. This profiles as an unsightly recreation in Cleveland the place the successful group doubtless solely wants 17-20 factors.
Anita Marks and Pam Maldonado’s first guess: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7) vs. Denver Broncos
The Bucs have began the season robust, beating the Washington Commanders by 17 factors and pulling off an enormous upset in opposition to the Lions on the street with a banged up secondary. Baker Mayfield is exhibiting why he was chosen No. 1 general in 2018, tossing 5 TDs, and just one INT by means of two video games. Rookie QB Bo Nix and the 0-2 Broncos head to Tampa with simply 1 TD this season, coming off a bodily recreation in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. I might leap on this quantity now earlier than it strikes to 7.5. — Marks
The Buccaneers’ potent offense, led by Baker Mayfield (tied for first with 5 touchdowns, second in yards per try), places the Broncos in a probable play-from-behind state of affairs. Can rookie quarterback Bo Nix maintain tempo? The reply is a convincing no. Nix is scuffling with studying and reacting to NFL defenses. His efficiency displays that, having but to throw a landing cross with 4 interceptions in two video games. The Broncos additionally rank twenty ninth in third-down conversions. Denver’s offensive inefficiency makes it difficult for them to maintain up with Tampa Bay’s scoring. — Maldonado
Ben Solak’s first guess: New England Patriots (+6.5) at New York Jets
By means of two weeks, the Patriots’ formulation has been as anticipated: play stifling protection, run the soccer properly, and maintain video games shut. With a turnover or a fortunate bounce, you may even win it. As such, getting nearly a full landing in opposition to the Jets is simply too good to cross up. The Jets’ offensive line hasn’t been pretty much as good as anticipated after the revamp, and their run protection has query marks as properly. Count on the Patriots to win within the trenches and make this rock combat land inside 6.5 factors.
Seth Walder’s first guess: New York Giants (+7) at Cleveland Browns
Hear, I am no believer within the Giants (although they have been fairly presumably a wholesome kicker away from successful in Week 2) and I’ve lengthy been complimentary of the Cleveland roster general. However getting a full seven factors from any group with a severe weak spot at quarterback positive looks like too many. And that is precisely what Deshaun Watson is at this level: a severe weak spot. Getting into the Sunday night time recreation, Watson ranks second-to-last in QBR forward of solely Bryce Young.
Andre Snellings first guess: New Orleans Saints (+2.5) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (-110)
The Saints have been, by far, essentially the most spectacular group within the NFL by means of two weeks. Their +62 scoring differential is 27 factors higher than the second-best differential within the league, and it is much more absurd whenever you think about {that a} good chunk of it got here on the street in opposition to a presumed elite Dallas Cowboys group. New Orleans has vaulted as much as sixth within the FPI rankings and are at the moment projected by FPI as 0.5-point favorites over the Eagles in Week 3 with a 50.6% probability to win. These numbers may change after Philadelphia performs on Monday night time, however that additionally implies that the Eagles will likely be going through the Saints, on the street, after a brief week. I will take this Saints squad with the factors.
