My Week 3 NFL Picks

I'm prepared to hear a lot about C.J. Spiller this weekend.

This afternoon I'm headed up to Cape Cod for The Chatham Cup. It's an event, designed by my friends, that revolves around playing golf, drinking beer, and flaunting our masculinity in the most well-structured form of chaos possible. It always takes place in mid-September, a time when everyone is giddy to have football back and hopeful for their team's chances this year (particularly the Bills faithful). I'm driving up with my friend BG, an avid Redskins fan, so I'm already setting aside two hours to figure out where RG3 ranks among the top 10 Washington quarterbacks of all-time (I'm guessing he passed Gus Frerotte sometime during the preseason).

Last Week: 8-7-1

Regular Season: 15-16-1 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Dallas Cowboys

In a game with two mistake-prone quarterbacks, I like Dallas' pass-rushing linebackers, DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer, to wreak the most havoc.

The Pick: Cowboys (-7.5)

St. Louis Rams at Chicago Bears

Something tells me that Bears wide receiver Brandon Marshall is an easy target for cornerback Cortland Finnegan's antics.

The Pick: Rams (+7)

San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings

Alex Smith had little problem with the Lions' shoddy secondary, and the Vikings' is not much better.

The Pick: 49ers (-6.5)

Detroit Lions at Tennessee Titans

After seeing how inept their offensive line has been in the run game, I am seriously regretting choosing the Titans as my sleeper division winner.

The Pick: Lions (-4)

Cincinnati Bengals at Washington Redskins

With Robert Griffin III, the Redskins are no longer one of the bottom-tier teams that the Bengals are used to beating up on.

The Pick: Redskins (-3)

Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints

Humiliated by RG3 and Cam Newton, the Saints defense will be glad to be facing a more conventional quarterback in Matt Cassel.

The Pick:Saints (-7.5)

New York Jets at Miami Dolphins

On one side, we have Rex Ryan's confusing blitzes and a healthy Darrelle Revis. On the other, we have rookie Ryan Tannehill. You connect the dots.

The Pick:Jets (-2)

Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns

I expect the Bills defensive front to have more success slowing Trent Richardson than the Browns D will have against C.J. Spiller.

The Pick: Bills (-2.5)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Indianapolis Colts

I could say that this is the first of many duels between Blaine Gabbert and Andrew Luck, but that's assuming that Gabbert is in Jacksonville after this season.

The Pick: Colts (-3)

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

They pulled off what may be the biggest upset of the season in New England, but I can't buy  into Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals just yet.

The Pick: Eagles (-3.5)

Atlanta Falcons at San Diego Chargers

Mike Smith is 5-0 when taking the Falcons to the West Coast. Atlanta defensive coordinator Mike Nolan was one of this year's most underrated offseason acquisition.

The Pick: Falcons (+3)

Houston Texans at Denver Broncos

This will be a great litmus test to see how far the Texans have come from their years as Peyton Manning's punching bag. I think he still has their number.

The Pick: Broncos (+2)

Pittsburgh Steelers at Oakland Raiders

I thought the Raiders were a rebuilding team heading into this season, and all they've done in two weeks is proven me right.

The Pick: Steelers (-3.5)

New England Patriots at Baltimore Ravens

You have to go back to 2001 to find the last time Bill Belichick started a season 1-2.

The Pick: Patriots (+2.5)

Green Bay Packers at Seattle Seahawks

Weak referees are influenced by loud crowds and big stages (see: last Monday night's game). The NFL is using some weak referees right now.

The Pick: Seahawks (+3)

Happy football, everyone.

Follow me at @PFF_Pete.

Odds found here.

Image found here.