I’m banking on the Buccaneers to respond this week against the Vikings. Even though Tampa Bay looks rough right now, I’m willing to back them in this spot.
Things also look shaky in New York with the Giants and only so-so for the Titans, which makes me wary of betting on those offenses.
Here’s how I’m playing NFL Week 3.
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Vikings at Buccaneers
Minnesota enters Week 3 at 2-0 after wins over Green Bay and Chicago. The Vikings’ defense held the Bears to just three points in that matchup, while Chicago squandered opportunities — going 0-for-3 in the red zone and losing a key fumble late. Meanwhile, Tampa Bay sits at 0-2 following losses to Cincinnati and Cleveland. The Bucs’ roster skews older, Baker Mayfield has looked off, and a new offensive coordinator has left the offense feeling a bit disjointed at times.
That said, this feels like a spot to back Tampa Bay. Everyone in that organization knows how damaging an 0-3 start can be — since the league expanded to 14 playoff teams in 2020, only one club has ever reached the postseason after beginning 0-3 — and that urgency can spark a bounce-back. Minnesota also has a quarterback returning to action after only limited snaps earlier, and it’s unclear how sharp he’ll be in his first real game back with this offense. All of this adds up to a classic scenario where an 0-2 team rallies to upset a hot 2-0 squad.
Schwartz’s pick: Buccaneers +1.5
Titans at Giants
I’m taking the Under in this game. The Giants will likely have Jameis Winston under center, and Tennessee’s offense hasn’t inspired much confidence. Add the threat of rain and gusty winds at MetLife Stadium, and heavy scoring seems unlikely.
Winston didn’t look sharp in the appearance against the Rams after Jaxson Dart’s exit, and that was in ideal conditions — doing it outdoors in poor weather won’t help. New York’s receivers and linemen have durability concerns (Malik Nabers got dinged up but returned; Andrew Thomas is banged up), while the Giants’ defensive front should make life difficult for the Titans’ offensive line and force Cam Ward into errors. Tennessee ranks poorly in yards per play and has struggled to put points on the board — they scored just 10 against the Jets and 20 versus Philadelphia, with one touchdown last week coming after a 90-yard interception return set up easy field position.
Schwartz’s pick: Under 38.5 points
Fan Take: This matters because early-season matchups like these can shift momentum and influence roster decisions, coaching strategies and betting markets as the season progresses. If underdog teams like the Bucs start finding ways to win and low-scoring games become more common, it could change how fans and analysts evaluate team trajectories and the league’s competitive balance.
Source: www.foxsports.com
