Potential playoff contenders are emerging, and other teams are looking at misfortune as the injuries start to add up.  Before we look at Week 3, let's take a look at how Week 2 played out.  Congratulations to Candy Matthews of Gansevoort, while she didn't beat me, she equaled my 13-3 record.

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RICK'S PICKS - WEEK 2: 13-3
OVERALL RECORD: 26-6

Missed Games:
Seattle Seahawks at Pittsburgh Steelers: I was expecting another strong effort from the Steelers off the heels of their Week 1 win over the New York Jets, but they faltered like their special teams did when they allowed Seattle to fall on top of a ball in the end zone for a touchdown with the new kickoff rules in effect.  

Jacksonville Jaguars at Cincinnati Bengals: This is where unexpected injuries change the predicted path of a game, as Joe Burrow's turf toe took him out early and now he's going to be out for three weeks. 

Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings: This was a complete whiff.  I was expecting Minnesota to ride the momentum with J.J. McCarthy, but instead he regressed back to how he played the first three quarters against Chicago.  Now he's out for Week 3. 

WEEK 3

Miami Dolphins at Buffalo Bills, Thursday, 8:15pm on Amazon Prime

Miami is a team with dysfunction, but they also are a team that has genuine talent.  But Buffalo has had Tua's number for the last few years, including two cases where the Miami quarterback has been injured.  Speaking of injury, Josh Allen may have a nose injury, but he'll use the gap between the Thursday game and the Week 4 game to heal.  James Cook has showed in the first two games that he's worth the money.  The main question is going to be which receiver(s) will show up best on the stat sheet for the Bills?

RICK'S PICK: Buffalo

Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers, Sunday, 1:00pm 

Even if Carolina has the best yardage by a rookie receiver, Bryce Young has been iffy to start the season with his turnovers.  Michael Penix Jr. didn't look spectacular against Minnesota in Week 2, but given J.J. McCarthy's issues, he didn't have to.  While this could be a closer game, Carolina's turnover woes could be their undoing.

RICK'S PICK: Atlanta

Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns, Sunday, 1:00PM

There are going to be teams who will stop Green Bay.  I don't see Cleveland being one of those teams.  Jordan Love and the Packers are rolling.

RICK'S PICK: Green Bay

Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, 1:00PM

Houston, we have a serious problem.  The Texans' 14 points per game is a league low, and the offense is ranked among the lowest teams in yardage.  It's not much better for the defense, who struggle to get turnovers.  While Jacksonville was the beneficiary of Joe Burrow suffering his turf toe last week to neutralize the Bengals offense, they also have players who can do well.  One low spot belongs to Trevor Lawrence's interceptions, which is going to limit how well the Jaguars do this season.

Just not this Sunday.

RICK'S PICK: Jacksonville

Cincinnati Bengals at Minnesota Vikings, Sunday, 1:00PM

Welcome to the backup quarterback bowl!  Carson Wentz gets the nod for the Minnesota Vikings, who have looked lost for 7 of 8 quarters that J.J. McCarthy has led under center.  McCarthy's out with a high ankle sprain, hence Wentz's start.  But McCarthy isn't the only player missing time for the Vikings.  Aaron Jones Sr. is heading to the IR with a hamstring injury, and will be out until October 23rd at the earliest.  Jake Browning will get the nod for Cincinnati after Joe Burrow left with a turf toe injury during Week 2.  Browning was shaky, throwing 3 picks against Jacksonville, but hopefully will get more comfortable when he has a week to prepare for a start rather than being thrown to the huddle in the 2nd Quarter without time to prepare.  

RICK'S PICK: Minnesota

Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots, Sunday, 1:00PM, CBS 6 

I was not expecting the Steelers loss to the Seattle Seahawks.  That makes me 0-2 on picking the Steelers game this season, so let's make it 3 in a row now.  Drake Maye had a solid game against the Miami Dolphins so maybe the Patriots are getting their bearings on straight, but they also came close to folding to a dysfunctional Dolphins team.

RICK'S PICK: Pittsburgh

Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, 1:00PM

You got to believe the refs will be eyeing the tush push carefully to make sure false start penalties are better called after the outcry with the Kansas City game in Week 2.  Philadelphia may not feel like the best team in the NFC, but they are pretty close because of playmakers like A.J. Brown and Saquon Barkley, in addition to Jalen Hurts.  Matthew Stafford will have his hands full for the Rams.

RICK'S PICK: Philadelphia

New York Jets at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, 1:00PM, FOX 23

No Justin Fields for the Jets.  Means we'll see Tyrod Taylor taking the snaps for the Jets as they head to western Florida.  Tampa Bay has had two rather uncomfortable wins, the last being the Monday Night thriller against Houston where they scored with 9 seconds left to win 20-19.  Beating Atlanta by a field goal in Week 1 was tense, as well.  While the Week 1 against Pittsburgh was close, that Week 2 was not close by far as the Bills quickly dismantled the Jets defense.  I'm not confident in the Jets defense right now, even with Sauce Gardner.

RICK'S PICK: Tampa Bay

Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans, Sunday, 1:00PM

Daniel Jones is 2-0, who would have believed this timeline going into the season?  The Colts are wearing lucky horseshoes after getting that win against Denver last week, and maybe a little thankful that the referees called the levitating penalty on the first field goal attempt.  After the second kick was good thanks in part due to the 15 yard penalty, Daniel Jones is now 2-0 in the league.  A lot of this is on the back, figuratively and literally, Jonathan Taylor.  He's been running circles around the defense in Weeks 1 and 2 and is poised towards having another good week here in Week 3.  While the young quarterback for Tennessee is growing, he's not there yet.   

RICK'S PICK: Indianapolis

Las Vegas Raiders at Washington Commanders, Sunday, 1:00PM

This is a tough one, especially with Jayden Daniels missing action.  I'll think about this one deeper and will post my pick here in an update later. 

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