NFL Odds: Week 3 picks against the spread

New Orleans Saints @ Atlanta Falcons (-3)

This New Orleans Saints team was supposed to coast into this Week 3 game against the Atlanta Falcons with two creme puff games in the bag. Instead, they lost to the Ryan Fitzpatrick led Buccaneers and was in a dog fight with the Browns.

The Falcons, on the other hand, clearly had a rough start to the season. They faced the defending champion Eagles and a playoff team in division rival Panthers. Both these teams come into this matchup with a 1-1 record.

Michael Thomas has been amazing through the first two weeks, breaking all kinds of Saints records. Julio Jones has been equally as good at times. These two teams are playing close to the same, except the Falcons played much harder opponents. That game experience, and the fact that this game is in the Georgia Dome gives the Falcons the slight edge. The Saints will be desperate, but the Falcons will have the home-field advantage.

Atlanta 35, New Orleans 31

Green Bay Packers (-3) @ Washington Redskins

It seems like the shine on the Washington Redskins wore off in front of a half-empty stadium against the Colts. Adrian Peterson wasn’t turning back the clock. Alex Smith didn’t make anyone forget about Kirk Cousins. Things were much better when the Cardinals were on the other side.

The Packers, on the other hand, are dealing with a hobbled Aaron Rodgers. Despite him not being his normal self, Rodgers is still leading his team to competition. He led a comeback against the Bears in Week 1, then last week he went toe-to-toe with the Vikings.

How this week depends on those two things. Which Redskins team will show up? How healthy is Rodgers? Even if the Packers get 50 percent of Rodgers, it should be enough to win this game if last week’s Redskins show up.

Green Bay 27, Washington 14