NFL picks, predictions for Week 3: Ravens edge Lions on MNF, Cowboys drop Bears to 0-3

Wait 5 sec.

The Buffalo Bills beat the Baltimore Ravens 41-40 on Sunday Night Football in Week 1. Two weeks later, it's not a stretch to say the Ravens and the Detroit Lions could approach those same numbers. Baltimore leads the NFL with 40.5 points per game through two weeks. Detroit averages 32.5 points and ranks third. It's an aggressive coaching matchup between John Harbaugh and Dan Campbell. The loser will be 1-2. Harbaugh is 15-7 on Monday Night Football, and that includes five straight victories with Lamar Jackson. The Lions are 2-1 on Monday Night Football under Campbell, and they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the same situation in Week 7. This is the marquee game on a fun Week 3 schedule. MORE: NFL power rankings: Packers, Rams keep it up as Broncos, Steelers fadeThe Bills are on Thursday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins, and the Kansas City Chiefs are looking for their first win on Sunday Night Football against the New York Giants. Here is a look at our track record through two weeks after a tough Week 2: Straight up: 20-10 (9-5 in Week 2) Against the spread: 11-17-2 in (4-10 in Week 2) Here are our straight-up picks for Week 2. Odds according to Caesars. Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills (-12.5) Thursday, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video  Mike McDaniel's hot seat will be a topic of conversation here, but the issue at Buffalo will be generating a running game. Miami ranks 29th with 69.5 rushing yards per game – and that comes with a -4 turnover ratio. That's not a recipe for success against Buffalo – which averages 35.5 points per game. The Bills have won the last four regular-season meetings by 14.8 points per game. Pick: Bills 34, Dolphins 15 Green Bay Packers (-8.5) at Cleveland Browns Sunday, 1 p.m., FoxThere is premature 17-0 talk with Green Bay after two games — and that's dangerous heading into the first road game. The Browns' best bet? Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz needs to turn up the pressure with Myles Garrett on Jordan Love, who is 6 of 18 for 86 yards in that situation in 2025. Joe Flacco is a high-volume passer, too, and that means Micah Parsons will get some chances to force turnovers. The Browns are 3-4 ATS as a home underdog since last season. Pick: Packers 25, Browns 18 MORE: Breaking down NFL contenders and pretenders among 2-0 and 0-2 teamsIndianapolis Colts (-3) at Tennessee TitansSunday, 1 p.m., CBSThe Colts have emerged as the early surprise team of 2025. Jonathan Taylor leads the NFL with 236 rushing yards, Daniel Jones has a 71.4% completion percentage and the team has a +4 turnover ratio. If all of those trends continue at Tennessee – which is still learning with rookie quarterback Cam Ward – then Indianapolis will be 3-0. Ward has taken 11 sacks through two games, and Indianapolis has won seven of the last eight meetings in Tennessee. Pick: Colts 21, Titans 16Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings (-2.5) Sunday, 1 p.m., CBSThe Bengals lost Joe Burrow (toe) for three months, but Jake Browning is a capable backup who led Cincinnati to a 27-24 victory against Minnesota in 2023. Rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy (ankle) is out too, meaning Carson Wentz gets the start. LSU teammates Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson will make plays, but it will come down to who wins the turnover battle. Pick: Bengals 24, Vikings 21MORE: Redrafting the 6 first-round quarterbacks in 2024 NFL DraftPittsburgh Steelers (-1) at New England Patriots Sunday, 1 p.m., CBSThe Steelers have been all over the place through two weeks, but an inability to run the ball hasn't helped. Aaron Rodgers should have success against a New England defense that has allowed a league-high 315 passing yards per game. On the other side, Pittsburgh's run defense has not been good. Which teams will patch that up enough in a toss-up game? Pick: Steelers 27, Patriots 20Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles (-4) Sunday, 1 p.m., FoxThis is a potential NFC championship preview. The Rams bring a top-five defense on the road that will challenge Saquon Barkley, who has 148 rushing yards and two TDs through two games. Barkley had 205 yards and two TDs in the 28-22 victory against Los Angeles in the NFC divisional playoff matchup last season. The Eagles are 6-6 ATS at home since last season, and the Rams will make this a tight game. Pick: Eagles 28, Rams 21New York Jets at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-7) Sunday, 1 p.m., FoxThe Buccaneers are on a short week, but Baker Mayfield will test Aaron Glenn's defense. Justin Fields has an 80.9 career passer rating on the road, but New York should be able to get enough on the ground with Breece Hall to hang around. The last three meetings between these teams have been decided by a combined total of 10 points. Pick: Buccaneers 33, Jets 27MORE: Ranking NFL's 6 best new QB-WR duosLas Vegas Raiders at Washington Commanders (-6) Sunday, 1 p.m., FoxThe Commanders are coming off a long break from Thursday Night Football, and the Raiders are on a short week. Jayden Daniels is in line for a bounce-back game, but Geno Smith has been solid through two games. The Commanders are 7-2 ATS as a home favorite since Daniels took over, and this one will fall right on that line. Pick: Commanders 28, Raiders 21Atlanta Falcons (-3.5) at Carolina Panthers Sunday, 1 p.m., FoxThe Panthers are showing improvement under second-year coach Dave Canales with Bryce Young, but they have been outscored 20-3 in the first half in each of their first two games. Atlanta is improving with second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., but they need to improve in the red zone. Bijan Robinson averages 146 all-purpose yards per game. Can the Panthers slow him down? Pick: Falcons 28, Panthers 17Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars (-1.5)Sunday, 1 p.m., CBSC.J. Stroud and Trevor Lawrence will renew an AFC South rivalry defined by close games. The Texans have won three of the last four meetings, including a pair by four points or less last season. Stroud has 7 TDs, 0 interceptions and a 110.1 passer rating against the Jaguars. Pick: Texans 22, Jaguars 19MORE: Ranking the best QBs in 2025 season New Orleans Saints at Seattle Seahawks (-7.5) Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBSThe Saints are hanging in games with first-year coach Kellen Moore, and Spencer Rattler's improvement continues. New Orleans has just one turnover. Seattle will be able to attack New Orleans with the tag-team of Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, and if Sam Darnold is on point, the Seahawks will improve to 2-1. Seattle will not lose two straight home games. Pick: Seahawks 27, Saints 17Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers (-2.5) Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBSThe Chargers are coming off a short week, and the Broncos missed an opportunity at Indianapolis. Los Angeles beat Denver in a pair of one-score games last year. Justin Herbert averaged 260.5 yards with three TDs and one interception in those two games. Los Angeles is 5-1 ATS as a home favorite under Jim Harbaugh. Pick: Chargers 21, Broncos 18Dallas Cowboys (Pick 'em)  at Chicago BearsSunday, 4:25 p.m., FoxWill the Bears fall to 0-3? Chicago gave up 511 yards and 52 points in Week 2. The Cowboys gave up 506 yards and 40 points to the Giants. That means at minimum this shootout between Caleb Williams and Dak Prescott will be fun, perhaps with another walk-off field goal by Michael Aubrey. Pick: Cowboys 32, Bears 29 Arizona Cardinals (-1) at San Francisco 49ers Sunday, 4:25 p.m., FoxBrock Purdy (toe) could miss another week, but Mac Jones proved a capable backup with 279 yards and three TDs in Week 2 against the Saints. The Cardinals have been hot through two weeks. Kyler Murray is 4-4 S/U against San Francisco, and six of those games have been decided by a TD or less. San Francisco is .500 ATS as a home underdog under Kyle Shanahan. This is a by-definition toss-up game, so expect another heavy workload for Christian McCaffrey. Pick: 49ers 24, Cardinals 20 Kansas City Chiefs (-5.5) at New York Giants Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBCThe Chiefs are trying to claw out of a 0-2 start, and it would help to generate some run support. Kareem Hunt and Isiah Pacheco have 47 rushing yards each through two games. That's not going to help Patrick Mahomes. Russell Wilson is coming off a 450-yard, three-TD performance in the 40-37 loss to the Cowboys. Kansas City finally gets back on track here – but don't be surprised if it is yet another one-score game. MORE: 16 NFL stars you never knew were also drafted by MLB teamsPick: Chiefs 31, Giants 24Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens (-6) Monday, 8:15 p.m., ABC/ESPNFinally, a great Monday Night Football matchup. Baltimore beat Detroit 38-6 in their last meeting in 2023. We expect the offenses to put on a show, and the coaches will be on the spot for a few fourth-down decisions. The Lions are 4 of 5 on fourth down this season. Still taking the home team in a close one. The Ravens are 6-3-1 ATS as a home favorite since last season. Pick: Ravens 34, Lions 31