The Silcoff Selections: NFL Week 3 Predictions – Straight Up & Against the Spread Picks

The Silcoff Selections are here for Week 3 of the 2026 NFL Season! Below are my records for my straight up and against the spread picks for the season thus far.

Records Last Week:

Straight Up: 11-5 (+2.24 units)

Against The Spread: 9-7 (+1.19 units)

Season Records:

Straight Up: 22-10 (+4.44 units)

Against The Spread: 17-15 (+0.47 units)

Thursday Night Football: Atlanta Falcons (0-2) @ Green Bay Packers (1-1) I Line: Packers -4.5

The Atlanta Falcons get a real quarterback for the first time this season, as Michael Penix Jr. returns from injury to make his season debut. As bad as the Falcons have been, I do somewhat like them in this game. I think they’ll have a shot and the offense will be able to move the ball on this suspect Packers defense. Not to mention, Green Bay itself just hasn’t been a good team for almost half a season if you go back to last year after Micah Parsons got hurt. The Packers do historically do well in their home openers, though, so I’ll give them the edge here, but I do think this will be a lot closer than Packers fans would like.

Score Prediction: Packers 21, Falcons 20

ATS Pick: Falcons +4.5

Early Sunday Slate

Los Angeles Chargers (0-2) @ Buffalo Bills (2-0) I Line: Bills -7

This is a kitchen sink game for the Chargers after dropping their opening two games at home to what were supposed to be two of the worst teams in the league in the Cardinals and Raiders. I think LA will come out and fight, but I just don’t think they’re talented enough to hang with Buffalo. Josh Allen is looking like a man on a mission this year, and the Bills will have had 10+ days to rest after their win last Thursday night. Buffalo pulls away late, wins at home and the Chargers’ season might be done before we even get to October.

Score Prediction: Bills 28, Chargers 20

ATS Pick: Bills -7

Carolina Panthers (1-1) @ Cleveland Browns (1-1) I Line: Panthers -2.5

The improvement of Bryce Young has been one of the better stories of this NFL season. Through two weeks, he’s shown plenty of signs of improvement, but those games came against two fairly bad defenses in the Bears and Falcons. I still believe in his Carolina offense, but this will be a much tougher test. Deshaun Watson is playing his first home game in Cleveland since being booed by the fans in the preseason, but he’s coming off his best game as a Brown in their Week 2 win in Tampa. In terms of this game, while it gets rocky for the Browns to start, I just think this Cleveland defense will make Bryce Young fairly uncomfortable. Head coach Todd Monken seems to have some energy that gets this team going, and I think in their home opener, Quinshon Judkins will have his best game of the year to get the run game going. Cleveland somehow finds a way to win their second straight and gets above .500. It would be crazy to see, but it’s just a gut feeling. I think Cleveland wins.

Score Prediction: Browns 19, Panthers 17

ATS Pick: Browns +2.5

Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) @ Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) I Line: Bengals -3.5

In New England last week, Aaron Rodgers looked like an absolute shell of himself for the Steelers. There were multiple times where he just looked scared to get hit, and even though this is an AFC North battle and I typically do like to grab a home underdog, I’ve just been fairly impressed with this Bengals team, especially that defense. They brought in Dexter Lawrence, Boye Mafe, and others, and they’ve already made a huge difference for this team. I expect the offense and Joe Burrow to get better throughout the year, and as long as this defense can keep it up, the Bengals will be a Super Bowl contender. Give me Cincinnati to go on the road in a tight AFC North battle that comes down to one possession. I’ll take the team I trust more right now. Cincy goes to 3-0.

Score Prediction: Bengals 21, Steelers 14

ATS Pick: Bengals -3.5

Houston Texans (0-2) @ Indianapolis Colts (0-2) I Line: Texans -2.5

We have an AFC South battle between two 0-2 teams, and this also feels like a kitchen sink game for both these teams. I was really impressed with Daniel Jones last week against the Chiefs, taking them to overtime, and Shane Steichen is a coach I am more impressed with every time I watch. It’s just been a brutal start schedule wise for them, and this is once again a brutal matchup. C.J. Stroud wasn’t good last week, but he was good in Week 1, so I expect somewhere in the middle here. I think this Houston defense will have their best game of the year, and Daniel Jones in his third game back from an Achilles tear could have some problems. It will be close, but the Texans win and avoid going 0-3 for a second straight year. For the Colts, it could get late very early for multiple people in that organization who are fighting for their jobs going forward.

Score Prediction: Texans 20, Colts 16

ATS Pick: Texans -2.5

Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) @ Miami Dolphins (0-2) I Line: Chiefs -11.5

Patrick Mahomes looks like he’s back. The Chiefs’ offense looked great last week against the Colts, and Kenneth Walker currently leads the NFL in rushing. I expect Patrick Mahomes to get better every game, but I do have some questions about the wide receivers. This could be a good get-right spot for them against a Dolphins team that has looked just straight-up awful. I don’t think this will be close throughout the game, but in terms of the spread, I think there’s some late touchdown potential for Miami to cover. Kansas City wins and wins fairly easily.

Score Prediction: Chiefs 31, Dolphins 20

ATS Pick: Dolphins +11.5

New England Patriots (1-1) @ Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) I Line: Jaguars -3

Classic Patriots playing in Florida in September. I just have a bad feeling about this one for New England. Drake Maye has not been good to start the year, and while Trevor Lawrence was awful in the second half last week, I really trust him under Liam Coen, who has turned around his career in Jacksonville. After blowing a game last week in Denver, I think the Jags bounce back at home. The Patriots will again be without A.J. Brown, and I just don’t think they’ll have the requisite weapons to keep up with this Jaguars team. Give me Jacksonville to win at home.

Score Prediction: Jaguars 23, Patriots 17

ATS Pick: Jaguars -3

New York Jets (1-1) @ Detroit Lions (1-1) I Line: Lions -6.5

Jets-Lions, I think this is going to be one of those games that is just unbelievable to watch because I think it’s going to be so much fun. Two teams that don’t have great defenses, but their offenses can move the ball. I think it’s going to be a shootout. Detroit is at home coming off a loss, and Aaron Glenn makes his return to Detroit after being the defensive coordinator there, now in his second year with the Jets as their head coach. I think Dan Campbell and company will be able to move the ball on this Jets team and put up points. Lions win in what will be a close game, though I expect the Jets to put up a fight.

Score Prediction: Lions 31, Jets 24

ATS Pick: Lions -6.5

Seattle Seahawks (2-0) @ Washington Commanders (0-2) I Line: Seahawks -7

We don’t know if it’s Drew Lock or Sam Darnold for the Seahawks, but it really doesn’t matter because the Commanders will be without Jayden Daniels. Marcus Mariota will be starting for them, and the Seahawks defense just looks like it is better than ever. They lead in every major statistical category on defense to start the year, Mike Macdonald is 16-2 on the road as Seahawks coach, and going up against a backup quarterback, I think this will be scary for Washington, especially with that awful offensive line. In Darnold's absebce, Lock has been playing good football for the Seahawks, and as a fan, I hope they rest Darnold for another game just to make sure he’s right for Week 4 when the Chargers come to town. Give me the Seahawks in a blowout. I haven’t even been that confident in them in their previous two games as I am in this one.

Score Prediction: Seahawks 27, Commanders 10

ATS Pick: Seahawks -7

Tennessee Titans (0-2) @ New York Giants (1-1) I Line: Giants -2.5

Any high expectations the Giants had going into this year are done now with Jaxson Dart being done for the year after knee surgery for an injury he suffered on Monday Night Football this week. While the Titans are not a great team, and I do think the Giants have a better overall roster, Tennessee can't afford to fall to 0-3 if they want to make anything out of this season. They showed some fight against the Eagles last week, and I do think there can be an emotional letdown for the Giants after losing their quarterback for the season after having such high hopes following Week 1. Give me the Titans to go on the road and win, especially after how bad Jameis Winston looked on Monday, and now he’s QB1 going forward for New York.

Score Prediction: Titans 19, Giants 13

ATS Pick: Titans +2.5

Sunday Afternoon Slate

Minnesota Vikings (2-0) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2) I Line: Vikings -1.5

There may not be a worse loss this season than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers blowing a double-digit lead to the Cleveland Browns at home, then having two hours to dial up a two-minute drill to go in the game because of a rain delay in the fourth quarter last weekend. That was just bad. Going back to last season, you just can’t ignore it with Tampa. They find a way to lose games. I don’t think they’re a good football team, and I already regret picking them to win the NFC South.

The Vikings, meanwhile, have had two impressive wins to start the year. They came back in the fourth quarter against the Packers in Week 1 and then went on the road and won that slugfest against the Bears without giving up a touchdown. I picked Minnesota to make the playoffs coming into the season, and I really like what I’ve seen so far. Kyler Murray will hopefully get to play a full game now that he’s cleared the concussion protocol, and I think Justin Jefferson will eat against this Tampa secondary. If the Bucs lose this game like I expect them to, I wouldn’t be shocked if we see Todd Bowles fired on Monday. At some point, you just need to get a spark in the organization for a Buccaneers team that seems to be floundering.

Score Prediction: Vikings 23, Buccaneers 19

ATS Pick: Vikings -1.5

Baltimore Ravens (1-1) vs Dallas Cowboys (1-1) I Line: Ravens -3.5

Ravens-Cowboys from Brazil is just going to be great TV. We saw the Cowboys’ offense finally get back on track last week, dominating Washington, with CeeDee Lamb looking unstoppable for the first half of that game. The Ravens started off hot, but like I told you in last week's post, they always find weird ways to lose. They lose these weird games, especially at home or early in the season, which is why I picked the Saints to win that game as my upset of the week.

But I love the Ravens here. I think Dallas will have plenty of trouble stopping Derrick Henry, and I wouldn’t be shocked if this is a two or three-touchdown game from him. Even if we don’t know if Zay Flowers is playing, I think Derrick Henry will dominate the time of possession for Baltimore. Lamar has typically owned the NFC, even if that wasn’t the case last week against New Orleans, and I think Jesse Minter will have that defense ready to go and give Dallas a bit more of a challenge. Give me the Ravens to win this one.

Score Prediction: Ravens 31, Cowboys 26

ATS Pick: Ravens -3.5

Arizona Cardinals (1-1) @ San Francisco 49ers (2-0) I Line: 49ers -8.5

I don’t have much on this one. The 49ers’ offense looks unstoppable right now, and while the Cardinals had a good Week 1, we can now see that the Chargers might not be a good football team. Once Arizona faced a real team last week against the Seahawks, it was a mismatch. The 49ers are going to dominate this one.

Score Prediction: 49ers 33, Cardinals 14

ATS Pick: 49ers -8.5

Las Vegas Raiders (2-0) @ New Orleans Saints (1-1) I Line: Saints -3

Who would've thought a game between the Raiders and Saints would be considered a fun one in the late afternoon slate, but it is. The Raiders are off to a 2-0 start, while the Saints are really starting to grow on me as one of my favourite teams to watch already this year. I love Tyler Shough so much that I've already made him my QB1 in fantasy, and I’ve just been really impressed with the Saints’ ability to fight and come back in games. Even though they lost in Week 1, they rallied back from 21 down to get it to overtime, and then last week they completed the fourth-quarter comeback in Baltimore to get the job done late.

The Raiders are expecting Brock Bowers to make his season debut this week, but I think New Orleans has the better roster from top to bottom. Give me the Saints to win at home in their first game of the year.

Score Prediction: Saints 24, Raiders 14

ATS Pick: Saints -3

Sunday Night Football: Los Angeles Rams (1-1) @ Denver Broncos (1-1) I Line: Rams -2.5

On Sunday Night Football, we have what I thought was going to be the Super Bowl a few weeks ago when I predicted the Rams and Broncos to meet in February. So who knows, maybe this is the first of two matchups this year. I haven't been impressed with what I've seen from either team. Obviously, in Week 1, they both looked awful. For the Rams, that was more because of their bad planning to go to Australia, while the Broncos just looked like a bunch of boys against men when they traveled to Arrowhead to play the Chiefs. Week 2 was a bit better. The Broncos started off a bit cold against the Jags, but they rallied back to win, much like they did all last year. They also got the ball to Jaylen Waddle a lot more.

For the Rams, it's tough to judge because they were playing against a team that had Jameis Winston as QB1, but their offense looked good even without Puka Nacua, and Matthew Stafford was great.

So as far as picking this game, I've got to go with the better coaching and quarterback. I don't think the Broncos will be able to fall behind like they do in most of their games and be able to complete a comeback against this Rams team. Denver's slow starts are just too much to overcome against a team like this. Give me the Rams to go on the road and win.

Score Prediction: Rams 23, Broncos 20

ATS Pick: Rams -2.5

Monday Night Football: Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) @ Chicago Bears (1-1) I Line: Eagles -4.5

I'm worried about how bad this Monday Night Football game is going to be just as a consumer. The Eagles' offense, we know how bad it can be at times, and the Bears could be without Caleb Williams this week. Now their backup quarterback, Tyson Bagent, is in concussion protocol, so they could already be going to their third-string quarterback, Case Keenum. Going to a third-string quarterback in a primetime game this early in the year is just ridiculous.

I just think the Bears won't be able to move the ball against this Eagles defense, and the Bears defense still isn't good. I don't care what they did last week. I chalk that up more to the weather. Give me the Eagles to be able to run the football on them, control the time of possession, and have this Eagles defense force a lot of three-and-outs against the third-string quarterback. Philly wins on the road.

Score Prediction: Eagles 21, Bears 10

ATS Pick: Eagles -4.5

Straight Up/Moneyline Picks:

• Packers

• Bills

• Browns

• Bengals

• Texans

• Chiefs

• Jaguars

• Lions

• Seahawks

• Titans

• Vikings

• Ravens

• 49ers

• Saints

• Eagles

Picks ATS:

• Falcons +4.5

• Bills -7

• Browns +2.5

• Bengals -3.5

• Texans -2.5

• Dolphins +11.5

• Jaguars -3

• Lions -6.5

• Seahawks -7

• Titans +2.5

• Vikings -1.5

• Ravens -3.5

• 49ers -8.5

• Saints -3

• Eagles -4.5