After a winning Week 1 with my ATS and straight-up picks, Week 2 was quite the humbling one, to say the least. I had a mediocre performance of straight up picks by going 8-8, but my Against the Spread picks were brutal, finishing 5-10-1. Hopefully, you didn't follow too many of those! As we move into Week 3, I know I need to bounce back, and I’ve been doing plenty of research over the past few days to prepare for another exciting week of football. With that, I present to you the Silcoff Selections for Week 3 of the NFL's 2024 regular season.
Records Last Week:
Straight Up: 8-8
Against The Spread: 5-10-1
Season Records:
Straight Up: 20-12
Against The Spread: 12-16-4
Thursday Night Football: New England Patriots (1-1) @ New York Jets (1-1) | Line: Jets -6
For the second consecutive week, we're getting an AFC East rivalry game to kick off a new weekend of football. Through two weeks of play, I do not think it is a hot take to say the Patriots have been more impressive than the Jets in our small sample size, but that is likely due to the expectations we had for each team going into this season. However, MetLife Stadium should be electric in what will be Aaron Rodgers' first true home game as a Jet. As he starts to shake off some of the rust after missing last season, he leads New York to their second win in four days, as the Jets pick up a victory at home on Thursday.
Prediction: Jets 20, Patriots 13
Early Sunday Slate:
New York Giants (0-2 @ Cleveland Browns (1-1) | Line: Browns -6
I owe the Cleveland Browns an apology. Last week, I thought they had no chance going up against the Jaguars, but they went into Jacksonville and secured an ugly 18-13 road win. As they return to the Dawg Pound this weekend, Myles Garrett and this Browns defense will have a field day going up against Daniel Jones and this struggling Giants offense. Deshaun Watson's ability is still a long-term concern for the Browns despite last week's much needed win, but in this game, I don't think he will have to do much anyways.
Prediction: Browns 17, Giants 7
Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) @ New Orleans Saints (2-0) | Line: Saints -2.5
Speaking of teams I owe an apology to, the New Orleans Saints are probably at the top of that list. Despite their Week 1 domination of the Panthers, I was not convinced they were serious playoff contenders. However, their 44-19 domination of the Cowboys at Jerry World in Week 2 definitely raised my eyebrows. If I were a Saints fan, what would worry me is that they are going to be one of the "sexy" teams to talk about all week, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Sunday is a letdown spot for them, especially if the Eagles come out pissed off after how Monday Night Football ended for them by giving that game away. That being said, with A.J. Brown in the lineup, I think the Saints, who have always had a strong run defense, will be able to contain Philly's run game, and the New Orleans offense will take advantage of the weak Eagles secondary. New Orleans wins and improves to 3-0.
Prediction: Saints 24, Eagles 23
Houston Texans (2-0) @ Minnesota Vikings (2-0) | Line: Texans -2.5
Both the Texans and Vikings have enjoyed strong starts to the year both sitting at 2-0, but I think the Texans will leave this game as the ones who remain undefeated. Houston’s pass defense has been one of the best in the league through the first two games, while the Vikings rank in the bottom third in that category. That doesn’t bode well for Minnesota, especially going up against C.J. Stroud and this elite Texans offense. This game remains close, but Houston escapes with a road victory.
Prediction: Texans 24, Vikings 20
Denver Broncos (0-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0) | Line: Buccaneers -6.5
In the very early parts of this season, you can make the argument that no quarterback has been better than Bucs QB Baker Mayfield, while aside from Bryce Young, there is a legitimate case that Bo Nix has been the worst. With that in mind, I can see why a lot of people will be picking the Bucs to win big on Sunday over Denver, but I think the Broncos will stay within a score but ultimately fall short. Sean Payton is familiar with many of these NFC South opponents, and after coming off a huge upset win last week in Detroit, I could see Tampa Bay coming out a bit full of themselves. The Buccaneers win, but in a tighter battle than they might be expecting.
Prediction: Buccaneers 21, Broncos 16
Green Bay Packers (1-1) @ Tennessee Titans (0-2) | Line: Titans -3
Based on this line, I am going to assume Jordan Love is poised to miss a second straight game for the Packers as he recovers from the knee injury he suffered in Week 1. If Love is out, former Titans second-round pick Malik Willis will likely be under center for Green Bay once again after last week's win over the Colts. On the Tennessee side, I am not sure if any team has been more frustrated with their QB than the Titans with Will Levis, given the costly turnovers he has had in key moments late in games over the last two weeks. However, I think this game comes down to which supporting cast does a better job of overcoming their QB play. As many mistakes as Levis makes, he does have the capability to move the ball downfield. With that, I think the Titans take down the Packers in Nashville and pick up their first win of 2024.
Prediction: Titans 22, Packers 18
Chicago Bears (1-1) @ Indianapolis Colts (0-2) | Line: Colts -1
The Caleb Williams era in Chicago has probably not lived up to some Bears fans' expectations going into the season, but that is likely because Williams has looked super uncomfortable in the pocket thus far due to the poor protection he has gotten from his offensive line. The number one pick has already been sacked a league-leading nine times, which is simply unacceptable if the Bears want to make a run at the postseason this season. In Indy, Anthony Richardson has not been good either, aside from a couple of throws showcasing his deep arm. In this true toss-up of a game, give me the more desperate team trying to avoid an 0-3 start. Colts win at home.
Prediction: Colts 23, Bears 20
Los Angeles Chargers (2-0) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) | Line: Steelers -1.5
Despite being 1.5-point underdogs, almost every article or pick I have seen online regarding this game has had the Chargers coming out on top. And honestly, I do think the Chargers are the better team, but this just feels like a weird spot for them. Throughout the first two games of the season, the Steelers' defense has not just been the best defense in football, but perhaps the best unit in football in general, as they have only allowed 76.5 yards per game. In their home opener, I think the Steelers' defense comes out firing yet again, and Justin Fields and the offense do just enough to secure the home victory and remain undefeated.
Prediction: Steelers 17, Chargers 14
Sunday Afternoon Slate
Miami Dolphins (1-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (2-0) | Line: Seahawks -4.5
With Skylar Thompson set to start this game for the Dolphins and the line only being 4.5, it is strange, and as a Seahawks fan, I cannot lie, it does concern me. Aside from the absence of Tua in the lineup for Miami, what makes me confident in the Seahawks this weekend is that when Miami traveled to Baltimore last season, Mike McDonald's Ravens defense dominated this Dolphins offense. Without their starting quarterback and with a much-improved defense in Seattle, I think the Seahawks come out on top in a surprisingly close game for some.
Prediction: Seahawks 24, Dolphins 20
Carolina Panthers (0-2) @ Las Vegas Raiders (1-1) | Line: Raiders -5.5
In what could very well be the worst game of the season, I must admit I was very tempted to pick Carolina. I do not think they will go 0-17 and would not be surprised if the benching of Bryce Young for Andy Dalton has a similar impact to when a team fires their coach and brings in an interim guy who everyone plays hard for. That being said, I just couldn’t do it. As bad as the Raiders are, they are still much more talented than the Panthers, and I think they get the win at home.
Prediction: Raiders 19, Panthers 16
San Francisco 49ers (1-1) @ Los Angeles Rams (0-2) | Line: 49ers -7.5
It's early, but we already have a contender for our "year from hell" team for 2024 in the Los Angeles Rams. Their two star receivers, Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, will be out for a long period of time with lower-body injuries, and those are just two of the notable injuries this Rams team is dealing with. For the 49ers, Deebo Samuel will be sidelined for a few weeks with an injury himself; however, I don't think that will be a factor in this one. Kyle Shanahan has owned Sean McVay for years with a record of 10-4 when their teams matchup, and with these key Rams injuries and the Niners coming off a loss, I smell a 49ers blowout in Los Angeles this Sunday.
Prediction: 49ers 28-13
Detroit Lions (1-1) @ Arizona Cardinals (1-1) | Line: Lions -3
This could very realistically be the most entertaining game of the week, but despite not being confident in it at all, I'm going with the Lions to get the win on the road in the desert. Lions pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson could very well win this game himself for Detroit as he gets set to face this shaky Cardinals offense coming off his four-sack performance last week. In this non-hostile dome environment, give me the team with the better roster.
Prediction: Lions 28, Cardinals 23
Baltimore Ravens (0-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-1) | Line: Ravens -1
Both of these teams are coming off embarrassing losses in Week 2 and will both be desperate in the marquee game of Sunday afternoon. After losing only four regular-season games in 2023, the Ravens have already lost two and head into this game looking for their first win of the season, while in Dallas, the Cowboys are looking to bounce back from a blowout loss to Derek Carr and the Saints a week ago. Last week proved that both of these teams' defenses are suspect, to say the least, so both offenses should be able to move the ball. Given the Ravens' ability to run the ball, I think they find a way to get into the win column for the first time in 2024. Not to mention, Lamar Jackson's 20-3 record against NFC teams throughout his career is a tough stat to ignore in this matchup.
Prediction: Ravens 26, Cowboys 22
Sunday Night Football: Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) @ Atlanta Falcons (1-1) | Line: Chiefs -3.5
That final drive in Philly on Monday Night from Kirk Cousins and the Falcons very much did impress me to a steal a win in that game. However, it did somewhat overshadow once again how ineffective Kirk Cousins was for most of that game coming off his torn Achilles. Also, given his history in primetime, it’s hard for me to believe that Kirk Cousins will win two stand alone games in six days, especially with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs being his next opponent. This game will be close because almost every game involving one of these two teams comes down to the wire, but the Chiefs will go on the road to Atlanta and improve to 3-0.
Prediction: Chiefs 24, Falcons 21
Monday Night Football Game 1: Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) @ Buffalo Bills (2-0) | Line: Bills -5.5
I don’t care that Trevor Lawrence is 2-0 in his career against the Bills and Josh Allen; I am done picking him to win football games unless it is either obvious or I am proven otherwise. Given the hype Lawrence had entering the league, he hasn’t been bad enough to call him a bust, but it’s fair to say we have been disappointed with his career thus far. On Monday Night in Orchard Park, give me the Bills to win and improve to 3-0, while the Jags drop to 0-3, with 0-4 potentially on the table as they travel to Houston in Week 4 on a short week.
Prediction: Bills 27, Jaguars 19
Monday Night Football Game 2: Washington Commanders (1-1) @ Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) | Line: Bengals -7.5
In the second half of the Monday Night doubleheader, we will see two LSU Heisman-winning quarterbacks duel in primetime. For the third straight year, the Bengals sit at 0-2 and find themselves in a must-win scenario entering Week 3. For the first time in a while, Joe Burrow started to look somewhat like himself in the Bengals' Week 2 loss at Kansas City. As he and the Bengals face this weak Washington defense, I think this is the game the Bengals' offense starts to get rolling this season.
Prediction: Bengals 27, Commanders 20
ATS Picks Recap:
Jets -6
Browns -6
Eagles +2.5
Texans -2.5
Broncos +6.5
Titans -3
Colts -1
Steelers -1.5
Dolphins +4.5
Panthers +5.5
49ers -7.5
Lions -3
Ravens -1
Falcons +3.5
Bills -5.5
Commanders +7.5
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