NFL Week 3 Staff Picks: The Seahawks give us deja vu all over again
Each week during the NFL season, the staff at theScore will put on their prognosticator hats and offer up selections against the spread on each of the week’s top games, highlighting several marquee matchups.
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| Game | Battaglia | Bottero | Holroyd |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buccaneers at Falcons | ATL -6 | ATL -6 | ATL -6 |
| Chargers at Bills | SD +2.5 | SD +2.5 | BUF -2.5 |
| Cowboys at Rams | DAL -1 | DAL -1 | STL +1 |
| Redskins at Eagles | WSH +6.5 | PHI -6.5 | WSH +6.5 |
| Texans at Giants | HOU -2 | HOU -2 | HOU -2 |
| Vikings at Saints | MIN +10.5 | NO -10.5 | NO -10.5 |
| Titans at Bengals | CIN -7 | CIN -7 | CIN -7 |
| Ravens at Browns | BAL -1 | CLE +1 | BAL -1 |
| Packers at Lions | DET -2.5 | GB +2.5 | DET -2.5 |
| Colts at Jaguars | IND -6.5 | IND -6.5 | JAX +6.5 |
| Raiders at Patriots | NE -14 | OAK +14 | NE -14 |
| 49ers at Cardinals | SF -3 | SF -3 | ARI +3 |
| Broncos at Seahawks | SEA -5 | SEA -5 | SEA -5 |
| Chiefs at Dolphins | MIA -4.5 | MIA -4.5 | KC +4.5 |
| Steelers at Panthers | CAR -3 | PIT +3 | CAR -3 |
| Bears at Jets | CHI +3 | NYJ -3 | NYJ -3 |
Unanimous selections: Falcons -6, Texans -2, Bengals -7, Seahawks -5
Unanimous selections are 2-5 ATS for the season. Last week: 2-1 ATS.
Marquee Matchups
Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions (-2.5)
Chris Battaglia: The Packers looked vulnerable against the New York Jets in Week 2 and visit a Lions team led by Matt Stafford, who has Detroit averaging 297 passing yards through two games. Green Bay is allowing more than 175 rushing yards per contest, which is good news for Detroit running backs Reggie Bush and Joique Bell. Lions -2.5
Gino Bottero: This was a line that jumped off the page. That oddsmakers would install the Lions as favorites against the Packers shows how much the public bought into the four-letter network's lovefest with the Lions' passing attack during Week 1's edition of "Monday Night Football." The Packers are 9-0 versus the Lions in games started and finished by Aaron Rodgers. Packers +2.5
Caitlyn Holroyd: The Lions return home after a disappointing loss to the Panthers in which they committed 15 penalties and turned the ball over three times. Capitalizing early will be key for Detroit, as Green Bay allowed 180 yards and 21 points on the Jets' first three drives in Week 2. If the Lions can keep the momentum going, they have an opportunity to gain at least a share of the NFC North lead. Lions -2.5
Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks (-5)
Battaglia: The Seahawks will be happy returning home after a tough road loss to host the team they demolished to win the Super Bowl last season. Peyton Manning has the Broncos humming, but they have been unable to pull away from teams in their first two wins, allowing both the Colts and Chiefs to claw their way back within a touchdown. Any kind of sluggish start or finish against Seattle will doom Denver. Seahawks -5
Bottero: Didn't we see this movie before? The ending wasn't a happy one for the Broncos. The Seahawks let one get away on the road last week, but that's what they do sometimes. No team is better at defending its home field, and no team gets a bigger boost from its home crowd. All that noise is going to disrupt Peyton Manning's antics at the line, and the Seahawks have already shown they can handle this matchup without the added help. Seahawks -5
Holroyd: The Seahawks are coming off a mediocre Week 2 performance against the Chargers, but it's near-impossible to pass on them when they're playing at home, regardless of who their opponent is. This won't be the blowout Super Bowl XLVIII was, but Seattle should come away with the win. Seahawks -5
Pittsburgh Steelers at Carolina Panthers (-3)
Battaglia: The Steelers may have escaped with a victory against the Browns in Week 1, but their inability to score a touchdown against the Ravens last week speaks volumes. Cam Newton will be looking to activate the Panthers' running game against a Steelers defense allowing 170 rushing yards per contest. Pittsburgh thought Baltimore’s defense was stifling, but Luke Kuechly and Carolina will be even more difficult. Panthers -3
Bottero: This one has the potential to be a real stinker. The Panthers defense has been rock solid thus far, but the offense has been ordinary. Meanwhile, the Steelers laid an egg in Baltimore last Thursday, and will be playing in their second consecutive prime-time game. Pittsburgh needs this one more. Steelers +3
Holroyd: The Steelers' offense has managed just nine points in their last six quarters, while their opponents have put up 50. Things won't get any easier for them this week, as the Panthers have found ways to win both with and without their starting quarterback, and rank fifth in the NFL in total defense. You can't discount home-field advantage, either. Panthers -3
Wild Card Selections
Minnesota Vikings at New Orleans Saints (-10.5)
Battaglia: The Saints are 0-2 on the season and 0-2 against the spread, while the Vikings will have had an extra week to prepare for Adrian Peterson's absence. Even if Minnesota doesn't have enough to beat New Orleans, the game should be close with the Saints' defense stumbling over itself. Vikings +10.5
San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills (-2.5)
Bottero: The overreaction of the week has to be in Buffalo. The Bills are 2-0, but there's not a lot to like about this squad. As for the Chargers, they're in a definite letdown spot after taking down the Seahawks a week ago, but they're clearly the more talented squad here. Replacing Ryan Mathews with Donald Brown is a lateral move. Chargers +2.5
San Francisco 49ers (-3) at Arizona Cardinals
Holroyd: Despite a number of key injuries, the Cardinals find themselves at the top of the NFC West with a perfect 2-0 record. The 49ers haven't played nearly as bad as Arizona's Week 2 opponent, the Giants, but there is some cause for concern after the number of turnovers and penalties they committed against the Bears. Cardinals +3
Lines courtesy Scoresandodds.com.