I don’t usually judge a team after just two games, but I’m beginning to think the Dolphins won’t be playoff contenders — heck, looking at their upcoming opponents, I’m starting to doubt they’ll even notch a win this season.
We’re only two weeks in, but I’m putting the Dolphins on my early 0-17 watch.
If you need proof of how brutal Miami’s start has been, consider this: through two games they still haven’t led at any point. Forget victories — they haven’t even been ahead for a single second. If you can’t hold a lead, winning games becomes impossible, and that’s how you wind up averaging zero wins in a season.
That’s a bleak outlook for Dolphins supporters, but fans of the Falcons or Chargers shouldn’t be smug — their teams have worrying issues, too.
Atlanta hasn’t run a play in the red zone yet this year. That’s almost unheard of; they’re the first team in 18 years to reach Week 3 without a single red-zone play. Maybe they’re skipping that drill in practice, because getting into the red zone is usually common early in the schedule.
And the Chargers? They’ve regressed in a way that feels prehistoric. Between their play and overall situation, it’s hard to be optimistic about their immediate future.
So did I back the Chargers, Falcons and Dolphins this week? Read on for my Week 3 picks.
Quick aside: you can see every CBSSports.com NFL expert’s weekly picks via the link I included — I jokingly say I earn 1.7 cents per click and lose 1.7 cents for every incorrect pick, so let’s see how much I “lose” this week.
NFL Week 3 picks
Texans (0-2) at Colts (0-2)
A matchup of winless teams might be one of the more interesting games this week — maybe not the top game on the slate, but still notable for two 0-2 clubs. Both squads could be better than their records suggest; the schedule hasn’t been kind.
I’m a bit more concerned about the Colts. They haven’t tasted victory since last November and lost Alec Pierce to injury in Week 2, which weakens their passing attack. This game could turn into a heavy workload for Jonathan Taylor, but that might not be ideal against a stout Houston defense.
The Texans look like they could be a top-tier defense paired with a more functional offense this year. Yes, they scored just six points last week, but that game included a missed field goal, a bad snap on another kick, and a failed short-yardage attempt in Bengals territory — small bounces could’ve flipped the result. In Week 1 they produced 31 points against Buffalo, and rookie C.J. Stroud has flown out of the gates with 627 passing yards through two games, showing smart decision-making even without Nico Collins last week.
Historically, Houston has rebounded from 0-2 starts before (they reached the playoffs following 0-2 starts in recent seasons), so expect them to respond again.
Pick: Texans 27-24 over Colts
Vikings (2-0) at Buccaneers (0-2)
My favorite weekly guessing game is trying to predict who the Vikings will start at quarterback. The NFL usually revolves around the QB, but Minnesota has proven it can win regardless of who’s under center. Remarkably, the team has now won four straight games with four different starting quarterbacks — a first in NFL history.
The list of recent starters reads like a rotating cast: Max Brosmer, J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray and Carson Wentz all started within the last year. Kyler Murray is set to return Sunday after a brief Week 1 appearance.
More than any single passer, Minnesota’s defense has been the driving force. They can grind out low-scoring contests and were solid again in Week 2.
Tampa Bay, sitting at 0-2, faces a make-or-break moment; historically, no NFC team has started 0-3 and still made the playoffs in the past three decades. The Bucs need a win to keep hope alive, and I think their desperation could produce an upset here.
Pick: Buccaneers 19-16 over Vikings
Ravens (1-1) vs. Cowboys (1-1) in Brazil
The NFL is taking a game to Rio de Janeiro for the first time, which reminds me of the time I was an extra in a movie set in Rio — a personal aside, but fun context if you like hometown trivia. On to football: I expect Baltimore’s ground attack to cause real problems for Dallas.
The Cowboys’ run defense has been porous through two games, and the Ravens are averaging a strong rushing output with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry in the backfield. Baltimore inexplicably limited Henry late in their Week 2 win, but I think the play-caller will lean on the future Hall of Famer this week. I’d bet the over on Henry’s carries.
Both teams can move the ball, so this should be an entertaining, high-scoring matchup. If the playing surface or travel becomes an issue, it could alter things, but I like the Ravens to win.
Pick: Ravens 34-27 over Cowboys
Raiders (2-0) at Saints (1-1)
This game is the most intriguing of the week because both teams remain somewhat mysterious. The Raiders have surprised me by actually winning their games, including a Week 2 showing that bucked expectations, while the Saints have been streaky.
New Orleans scores almost exclusively late — they’ve managed only six first-half points so far, tied for the fewest in the league. Tyler Shough has racked up a lot of yardage, but more than half of it has come in the fourth quarter or overtime. If teams don’t put the Saints away early, New Orleans has a tendency to come back and win late.
Las Vegas’ offense has leaned on running backs like Ashton Jeanty with success, but their team-wide rushing efficiency has been poor this year. Defensively, the Raiders have been effective getting to the quarterback, notching eight sacks in two games. The Saints have allowed several sacks and may be missing key blockers, which could spell trouble for Shough.
I think New Orleans finds a way to pull out a late win despite heavy pressure.
Pick: Saints 27-24 over Raiders
Rams (1-1) at Broncos (1-1)
This matchup feels like the Super Bowl we nearly saw last season, but both clubs haven’t matched last year’s heights yet. The Broncos’ defense has slipped from one of the best run defenses in 2025 to giving up a lot of rushing yards early this year. The Rams, meanwhile, have had an odd travel-heavy opening, including a long trip to Australia and an extra travel burden this week.
On paper the teams look even, but the Rams’ travel load and a short week after a Monday night game make me lean toward Denver. Expect a close game and give the edge to the Broncos at home.
Pick: Broncos 23-21 over Rams
Other Week 3 picks
Packers 27-13 over Falcons (Thursday)
Bills 34-24 over Chargers
Panthers 20-17 over Browns
Lions 31-24 over Jets
Chiefs 31-17 over Dolphins
Bengals 27-20 over Steelers
Giants 20-16 over Titans
Seahawks 30-13 over Commanders
Jaguars 23-20 over Patriots
49ers 24-16 over Cardinals
Eagles 23-16 over Bears (Monday)
Last week
Best pick: 49ers over Dolphins. I predicted San Francisco by exactly 22 points and it hit perfectly. That one was easy — with Miami struggling, fading the Dolphins has been a reliable strategy.
One play that illustrates Miami’s issues: they struggled to even punt properly, which speaks to how low their offensive floor has been.
I’m in a survivor pool this year and my game plan is simple: pick against the Dolphins every week.
Worst pick: Cardinals over Seahawks. I don’t know what I was thinking picking Arizona, given preseason expectations. In hindsight, I should have trusted the broad consensus — unlike my questionable candy-corn loyalty.
Picks record
Straight up Week 2: 11-5
Straight up overall: 20-12
Against the spread Week 2: 10-6
ATS overall: 16-16
Fan Take (two sentences):
The early-season struggles of established and once-respected franchises show how volatile the NFL can be from week to week, and they make every matchup meaningful for playoff positioning. For fans, these storylines matter because they force teams to adapt quickly — and the teams that do will define the league’s narrative by season’s end.
Source: www.cbssports.com
