"The Stack" 9-22-17

It’s another Football Friday here and The Stack is here with a preview and predictions for week 3 in the NFL that you demand…maybe. Thursday night’s game ended up being pretty good and entertaining as the Rams beat the 49ers 41-39. Good start to the week. Will it continue? We’ll find out in “the stack” for today, Friday, September 22nd:

Baltimore Ravens @ Jacksonville Jaguars 9:30 AM ET (London) Streaming on Yahoo

Both defenses are good, but the Ravens defense is better. They have what eight interceptions so far this year? And they get to play Blake Bortles? Sold.

Prediction: Ravens 20 Jaguars 6

Denver Broncos @ Buffalo Bills 1 PM ET CBS

Trevor Siemian has been awfully impressive so far through two games. The Bills defense is good, but Siemian should have an okay day still. Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor had a difficult time on the road against the Panthers defense last week. It isn’t going to be much easier this week. Close game, but I think the Broncos get the job done.

Prediction: Broncos 23 Bills 16

New Orleans Saints @ Carolina Panthers 1 PM ET FOX

Desperate times for the Saints. 0-2 and that defense is a wreck. They are trying to run a lot more and we’ll find out if the Panthers defense is for real. They’ve only given up 6 points all year. They’ll give up more on Sunday, but the Saints will give up even more.

Prediction: Panthers 31 Saints 20

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Chicago Bears 1 PM ET CBS

The Steelers offense hasn’t been great through two weeks yet they’re 2-0. I’m guessing they’ll figure it out this week against the atrocious Bears. Bears fans once again will be clamoring for Trubisky after Mike Glennon loses another game.

Prediction: Steelers 31 Bears 10

Atlanta Falcons @ Detroit Lions 1 PM ET FOX

The only matchup this week featuring 2-0 teams. Are the Lions for real? Well they certainly played well against the Giants, but beat the defending NFC champions and people will really start believing. The Falcons are without pass rusher Vic Beasley which hurts, but they have too explosive of an offense and will do a little more to come out on top.

Prediction: Falcons 34 Lions 26

Cleveland Browns @ Indianapolis Colts 1 PM ET CBS

The Browns are actually road favorites in this one. I’ll let that sink in. I’ll wait. We good now? I can’t believe I’m going to do this, but I will take DeShone Kizer and the Browns over Jacoby Brissett and the Colts. Don’t fail me now Browns. Don’t fail America.

Prediction: Browns 23 Colts 16

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Minnesota Vikings 1 PM ET FOX

This Buccaneers teams is going to be different this year. They have an explosive offense and a pretty good defense. If Sam Bradford plays for the Vikings, I like them to win a close one. If he doesn’t play, the Bucs will win. That’s what’s going to happen. You saw the Vikings offense last week without Bradford. They need him and they need him healthy.

Prediction: Bucs 24 Vikings 20 (If Case Keenum starts) Vikings 27 Bucs 20 (If Bradford plays)

Houston Texans @ New England Patriots 1 PM ET CBS

I saw a story on ProFootball Talk (a site any football fan should go to) earlier this week that Bill Belichick has lost to a rookie quarterback five times. Granted he is 15-5, but for the great Belichick to have five losses to rookie quarterbacks is somewhat startling. Deshaun Watson is going to test them because of his legs and running ability, but the great Tom Brady will not let that happen.

Prediction: Patriots 27 Texans 17

Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets 1 PM ET CBS

I do have a feeling the Jets will keep this game close for a while as their offense hasn’t been nearly as bad as we thought it would be. The Dolphins though have too much fire power offensively and will batter the Jets later in the game.

Prediction: Dolphins 27 Jets 16

New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles 1 PM ET FOX

Carson Wentz has looked really good through two weeks. Eli Manning has not, but that has more to do the offensive line play. It’s rather poor. Unless Odell Beckham Jr. comes out in a Superman cape, I see 0-3 for the Giants.

Prediction: Eagles 24 Giants 17

Seattle Seahawks @ Tennessee Titans 4:05 PM ET FOX

The Seahawks offense has stunk through two weeks and like the Giants, the offensive line is the main culprit. The Titans defense is really good. Marcus Mariota is going to do his best Russell Wilson and scramble and the Titans will win a fist fight in Nashville.

Prediction: Titans 17 Seahawks 13

Cincinnati Bengals @ Green Bay Packers 4:25 PM ET CBS

Hmmm…the Bengals haven’t scored a touchdown yet through two games and now they have to go against the high-powered Packers offense that is probably a little ticked that they lost as bad as they did to the Falcons last week.

Prediction: Packers 30 Bengals 13

Kansas City Chiefs @ Los Angeles Chargers 4:25 PM ET CBS

The Chargers have lost a couple of heartbreakers through two weeks thanks to the foot (or lack thereof) of Younghoe Koo. They won’t need to worry about that at all because the Chiefs will be up by enough that Koo won’t have to try a potential game-tying and game-winning field goal.

Prediction: Chiefs 31 Chargers 17

Oakland Raiders @ Washington 8:30 PM ET NBC

The Raiders will know by kickoff if a win will keep pace with the Broncos and Chiefs or if a win will put them alone in first place. Their offense is too good and their defense will do enough to keep the Raiders undefeated.

Prediction: Raiders 30 Washington 20

Coming up Monday: Sunday NFL reaction plus MNF preview and prediction