NFL - Week Three Preview

The action gets started tonight in the Thursday night tilt when the New England Patriots host the
Houston Texans in a battle of unbeaten teams.
The Patriots will be starting third string quarterback Jacoby Brissett in the wake of the injury to number-two QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who was starting while Tom Brady serves his four-game suspension.
Got all that?
Meanwhile, the Texans have held opponents to 13 points per game in their 2-0 start while giving up just under 275 total yards in offense. Houston's offense has sputtered so far, but they do what it takes to win, just like the Patriots.
Some of the other action this weekend includes Denver (2-0) at Cincinnati (1-1) which features two playoff teams from last season while the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles will have the "battle for Pennsylvania" in the city of Brotherly Love on Sunday.
All in all, the season is just getting going as Week Three unfolds and the season of Autumn begins.

For a closer look at all of the games on tap this week, the following offers the 'capsule style' previews along with the Heftyinfo picks for this weekend.


Houston (2-0) at New England (2-0) - Jacoby who?  Can the Pats find a way to beat one of the top defensive teams in the NFL with so many top players injured?

Arizona (1-1) at Buffalo (0-2) - Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan is feeling the heat.

Oakland (1-1) at Tennessee (1-1) - The Raiders got humbled last week in their home opener.

Cleveland (0-2) at Miami (0-2) - The Dolphins cannot lose at home to the Browns, can they?

Baltimore (2-0) at Jacksonville (0-2) - The Jags, the up and coming team in 2016,  could be 0-3 after this game.

Detroit (1-1) at Green Bay (1-1) - Both of these teams looking rather ordinary through first two games.

Denver (2-0) at Cincinnati (1-1) - This could be the game of the week.

Minnesota (2-0) at Carolina (1-1) - The Vikings without Adrian Peterson and Teddy Bridgewater are still 2-0 ... Carolina (Charlotte protests) is very tense right now.

Washington (0-2) at NY Giants (2-0) - Upset alert?  Nope. Take the Giants.

Los Angeles (1-1) at Tampa Bay (1-1) - The Bucs should win this game at home.

San Francisco (1-1) at Seattle (1-1) - What's up with the Seahawks offense?  15 points scored in two games.

NY Jets (1-1) at Kansas City (1-1) - This game could go down to the wire.  Take the Chiefs.

San Diego (1-1) at Indianapolis (0-2) - Colts are in desperate need of a victory ... Chargers QB Philip Rivers is the AFC's top rated passer through first two weeks.

Pittsburgh (2-0) at Philadelphia (2-0) - Can the Eagles soar again?  Not against the Steelers.

Chicago (0-2) at Dallas (1-1) - The Cowboys should roll the Bears in the SNF game.

Atlanta (1-1) at New Orleans (0-2) - These two teams always provide a very entertaining football game when they meet. This time it's on Monday night.

The Heftyinfo picks for Week Three . . .  (Home teams are listed in BOLD;  Lock of the Week is listed in BOLD CAPS.)

Houston over New England
Arizona over Buffalo
Tennessee over Oakland
Miami over Cleveland
Baltimore over Jacksonville
Green Bay over Detroit
Cincinnati over Denver
Carolina over Minnesota
NY Giants over Washington
Tampa Bay over Los Angeles
Seattle over San Francisco
Kansas City over NY Jets
Indianapolis over San Diego
Pittsburgh over Philadelphia
DALLAS over Chicago
New Orleans over Atlanta

Last Week's Record:  9-7

SEASON RECORD:  19-13

Lock of the Week Record:  2-0