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NFL Predictions: Picking Week 3 against the spread

By Michael Burke

Sep 4, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) defends during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 36-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 4, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) defends during the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Packers 36-16. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Game: San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills (-2.5)

Pick: Chargers (+2.5)

The Chargers didn’t just beat the Seahawks last week, they manhandled them. San Diego possessed the ball for 42-plus minutes and always seemed to be in control, even when Seattle twice pulled within six points. That’s impressive, even if the game was in San Diego and even if the temperature on the field did, at one point, reach 118 degrees Fahrenheit. Book it: the Chargers will beat the Bills, a team that has a very misleading 2-0 record — they have wins against the Bears (who always play down to their competition) and against the Ryan Tannehill-quarterbacked Dolphins. Sorry, I’m not impressed.

Game: Dallas Cowboys at St. Louis Rams (EVEN)

Pick: Cowboys

The Cowboys’ defense, the same one that many thought would be the worst in the league, is 13th overall in yards allowed and tied for 10th in points allowed. That’s…not bad at all. And Dallas’s offense is seventh in total yards, thanks largely to DeMarco Murray, the NFL’s leading rusher (!!!). It’s still a small sample, but maybe the Cowboys aren’t nearly as bad as everyone predicted they would be. Maybe they’re a little better than they were a season ago. And maybe the Rams are among the NFL’s worst teams. The Rams were crushed at home by the Vikings in Week 1 and hardly managed to beat the Buccaneers (who were down 56-0 at one point last night) in Week 2.

This line feels four or five points off. The Cowboys win this game, and they do so with relative ease.

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