The Baltimore Ravens likely wish the season would start as soon as possible because they keep losing guys to season-ending injuries before even taking the field against an opponent. The latest was tight end Crockett Gillmore, who hurt his knee over the weekend. Gillmore is the fourth Ravens player to suffer a season-ending injury over the last two months. He joins tight end Dennis Pitta (hip), cornerback Tavon Young (knee) and running back Kenneth Dixon (knee). Here’s a quick look at every NFL Week 3 game in 2017, with the latest NFL odds provided by MyBookie.
NFL Week 3 Picks: Early Predictions for Every Game
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Thursday, September 21st
LA Rams at San Francisco 49ers (-2)
This might be the most unwatchable prime-time game of the 2017 season. It’s also likely the only game this year the Niners will be favored – although I’m not sure they will be by kickoff. San Francisco had two wins last year and both were vs. the Rams. ATS pick: Rams.Sunday, September 24th
Baltimore Ravens at Jacksonville Jaguars (+1.5)
This NFL Week 3 game kicks off at 9:30 a.m. in London as the Jaguars annually give up a home game there. That the majority of Jacksonville players are used to the time change, etc., should be an advantage. ATS pick: JaguarsDenver Broncos at Buffalo Bills (-1)
If you are going to play in Buffalo, you prefer it in September instead of November or December when there might be a blizzard. Will it be Trevor Siemian or Paxton Lynch at QB for Denver? ATS pick: BillsNew Orleans Saints at Carolina Panthers (-3)
Carolina’s secondary was a disaster last year and doesn’t look all that much better. That definitely could be a problem vs. Drew Brees. But he’s often not quite as good outdoors. The Saints lost 23-20 in Charlotte last year. ATS pick: PanthersPittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears (+5.5)
The Bears haven’t been a good home bet in years and it’s a total mismatch here between Ben Roethlisberger and, presumably, Mike Glennon. ATS pick: SteelersAtlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions (+2.5)
The Lions often have an advantage playing in a dome, but that won’t intimidate the Falcons, who are used to it. This NFL Week 3 matchup screams potential trap game for the reigning NFC champions, though. ATS pick: LionsCleveland Browns at Indianapolis Colts (TBA)
I feel confident saying the Browns will be 0-2 entering this game. So might the Colts if Andrew Luck isn’t ready to start the season off shoulder surgery. Cleveland can win this game – it had been a 9.5-point spread – if Luck is out. ATS pick: Wait on LuckTampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings (-3)
The Bucs have won their last three contests in Minnesota, but this is a Vikings squad that still managed to go 8-8 last year without quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and (mostly) Adrian Peterson. Neither will play here, either, with Peterson now in New Orleans. ATS pick: VikingsHouston Texans at New England Patriots (-9)
New England easily handled Houston last regular season and then did it again in the AFC’s divisional round. Any reason to think it will be different in 2017 just because Brock Osweiler is gone? ATS pick: Patriots
