Week 3 of the NFL season could be a pivotal one for several NFL teams.
Will some 0-2 teams get a much-needed win? Will some 1-1 teams go above .500? Will some 2-0 teams improve to 3-0?
Here are The Arizona Republic's picks for each game in NFL Week 3, beginning with Thursday Night Football's Carolina Panthers vs. Houston Texans game and ending with Monday Night Football's Philadelphia Eagles vs. Dallas Cowboys showdown.
Click on each game for picks and predictions for that game from other sites. All times MST.
More NFL Week 3 picks, predictions:
- Panthers vs. Texans | Colts vs. Titans | Falcons vs. Giants
- Chargers vs. Chiefs| Bengals vs. Steelers | Bears vs. Browns
- Ravens vs. Lions | Saints vs. Patriots | Cardinals vs. Jaguars
- Washington vs. Bills | Jets vs. Broncos | Dolphins vs. Raiders
- Seahawks vs. Vikings | Buccaneers vs. Rams | Packers vs. 49ers
- Eagles vs. Cowboys | Week 3: TV | Odds, lines | Power rankings
Thursday Night Football
Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans, 5:20 p.m., NFL Network
Sam Darnold and the Panthers are 2-0, but it's the defense for Carolina that has really impressed. It will keep impressing teeing off against Texans quarterback Davis Mills in his first NFL start.
Prediction: Panthers 28, Texans 13
More:NFL Week 3 schedule, TV information for all 16 Week 3 NFL games
Sunday early games
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans, 10 a.m., CBS
Derrick Henry is like a Trane. He's very hard to stop. Containing him is the key for the Colts, but Ryan Tannehill can also beat teams throwing to A.J. Brown and Julio Jones.
Prediction: Titans 31, Colts 23
Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants, 10 a.m., Fox
Both of these teams are 0-2, but the Giants have looked better through two games. Atlanta has allowed 80 points in two games and will struggle to stop New York in this one.
Prediction: Giants 24, Falcons 14
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs, 10 a.m., CBS
The Chiefs got an early-season wake-up call in their loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. That's not good for the Chargers. This one could be a shootout.
Prediction: Chiefs 38, Chargers 31
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers, 10 a.m., CBS
Will Ben Roethlisberger be able to lead the Steelers past the Bengals? We're not counting on it this week. Joe Burrow will win the matchup at QB, and the game.
Prediction: Bengals 21, Steelers 17
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns, 10 a.m., Fox
Justin Fields is making his NFL starting debut in this one. He'll have some electric moments, but the Browns are simply too good all-around to drop this one.
Prediction: Browns 27, Bears 17
Baltimore Ravens at Detroit Lions, 10 a.m., CBS
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens finally beat the Chiefs last week and should beat the Lions this week. Jared Goff, however, will make Baltimore work for the victory.
Prediction: Ravens 31, Lions 24
New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots, 10 a.m., Fox
After looking so good in the opener, the Saints looked the opposite in Week 2. Something tells us they will be somewhere in-between in this one, but not good enough to beat the Patriots.
Prediction: Patriots 24, Saints 21
Arizona Cardinals at Jacksonville Jaguars, 10 a.m., Fox
The Cardinals are 2-0 thanks to a missed field goal at the end of their win over the Minnesota Vikings. They might start slow in this one, but Kyler Murray and company will pull away from the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
Prediction: Cardinals 35, Jaguars 21
Washington Football Team at Buffalo Bills, 10 a.m., Fox
Josh Allen and Buffalo looked like the contender everyone seemed to think they will be in Week 2. That won't change in Week 3 against Washington.
Prediction: Bills 24, Washington 14
More:NFL Week 3 odds: Money lines, point spreads, over/under for every game
Sunday late games
New York Jets at Denver Broncos, 1:05 p.m., CBS
Zach Wilson's tough start to his NFL career won't get any easier against the Broncos and their defense. Teddy Bridgewater just gets the job done for Denver.
Prediction: Broncos 27, Jets 13
Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders, 1:05 p.m., CBS
The Raiders are among the NFL's surprise 2-0 teams. After this week, they'll be among the league's surprise 3-0 teams. Miami won't be able to slow down Derek Carr and company.
Prediction: Raiders 31, Dolphins 21
Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings, 1:25 p.m., Fox
The Vikings lost a thriller to the Arizona Cardinals last week, while the Seahawks lost a thriller to the Tennessee Titans. Both of these teams have issues on defense, but Minnesota gets the edge playing at home.
Prediction: Vikings 28, Seahawks 27
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams, 1:25 p.m., Fox
Many are touting this game as a possible preview of the NFC Championship Game. It's probably too early to declare that, but the winner will have an early edge in the postseason race.
Prediction: Buccaneers 31, Rams 28
More:NFL power rankings: Arizona Cardinals climb after Week 2 win over Minnesota Vikings
Sunday Night Football
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers, 5:20 p.m., NBC
The 49ers are favored at home in this game, but the Packers seemed to rediscover some lost mojo with Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and Aaron Jones last week. They could steal a win on the road.
Prediction: Packers 27, 49ers 24
Monday Night Football
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, 5:15 p.m., ESPN
Jalen Hurts in doing some impressive things as the QB for the Eagles. Winning in Dallas on Monday Night Football would be impressive, but he'll get some help from his defense.
Prediction: Eagles 24, Cowboys 21
More:2022 Super Bowl odds for every NFL team: Who will win Super Bowl 56?
Reach Jeremy Cluffat jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com.Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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