Week 3 might go a great distance towards figuring out how groups will end this season.
At dwelling, the Dallas Cowboys — thrashed by the New Orleans Saints in Week 2 — will face the determined Baltimore Ravens, who cannot afford to begin 0-3. In the meantime, the 0-2 New York Giants and 0-2 Los Angeles Rams look like at a season’s crossroads already, too.
Forward of Week 3, Yardbarker NFL writers supply a prediction for each NFC staff.
NFC East
DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1) | Dak Prescott will throw a number of TD passes | Prescott has two touchdowns in two video games however ought to do significantly better at dwelling in opposition to a Ravens staff permitting a league-worst 257 passing yards per recreation. Offensively, Baltimore is averaging a league-best 417.5 yards per recreation, and in a recreation projected for the second-highest point total (49.5) of the week, Dallas’ $240M quarterback will want a couple of landing move to beat a determined 0-2 staff reminiscent of Lamar Jackson’s Ravens.
NEW YORK GIANTS (0-2) | Daniel Jones hits the century mark | Devin Singletary ran for 95 yards and a landing in Week 2, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to beat a Commanders staff that couldn’t rating a landing. Jones hasn’t rushed for 100 yards in a recreation since 2022, however he may very well be scrambling throughout on damaged performs on the highway in opposition to a Cleveland protection that sacked Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence 4 occasions and restricted him to 14 completions in Week 2.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-1) | Devin White performs his first recreation of 2024 | Philadelphia didn’t give the 26-year-old linebacker, a wholesome scratch in Week 2, a $4M deal to sit down on the bench. The Eagles protection has allowed the third-most yards per recreation (399.5), and in a 22-21 Week 2 loss in opposition to Atlanta, QB Kirk Cousins had all day to throw. White gained’t begin over Nakobe Dean, who had seven tackles (5 solo) in opposition to the Falcons, however with out higher choices, the Eagles must see if the previous Professional Bowler has something left on the highway in opposition to New Orleans’ league-leading offense.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS (1-1) | Protection permits an ideal recreation | One week after Arizona’s Kyler Murray posted an ideal quarterback ranking (158.3), Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow will do the identical at dwelling in opposition to a Washington protection permitting the fourth-most factors per recreation (27.5). Extremely motivated by a uncommon loss at Arrowhead Stadium and Cincinnati’s 0-2 file, Burrow might even prime the 400-yard mark for the primary time since Week 7 of 2022. — Bruce Ewing
NFC West
ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1) | Budda Baker lastly will get an interception | Baker is Arizona’s finest defensive participant, however he’ll enter Sunday’s dwelling recreation in opposition to the Detroit Lions using a 23-game interception drought courting to the 2022 season. He’ll finish that drought and assist the Cardinals pull off a shocking upset in opposition to the Lions.
LOS ANGELES RAMS (0-2) | Kyren Williams units career-high in touches | The offense is in bother with prime large receivers Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp sidelined due to accidents. That ought to set the stage for dual-threat working again Williams to get loads of work from home in opposition to the 49ers. Count on him to interrupt his earlier profession excessive of 32 touches in a recreation.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (1-1) | Jordan Mason makes it 3-for-3 in 100-yard video games | With Deebo Samuel sidelined for a number of weeks due to a calf damage, the working recreation will take middle stage once more, particularly on the highway in opposition to a Rams protection that’s permitting 197 yards per recreation speeding. Given Mason’s manufacturing (247 yards speeding) with Christian McCaffrey out in Weeks 1 and a pair of, he’ll rush for 100-plus yards for the third straight recreation.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (2-0) | They don’t permit a landing | Retaining a completely wholesome Miami Dolphins staff out of the tip zone would usually be an almost not possible activity. However with QB Skylar Thompson getting the beginning for the Dolphins over sidelined Tua Tagovailoa, and with Miami making the longest highway journey within the NFL, the improved Seahawks protection may have one in every of its finest days of the season on Sunday. — Adam Gretz
NFC North
CHICAGO BEARS (1-1) | RB D’Andre Swift hits 150 yards speeding | The Bears journey to Indianapolis on Sunday, and happily for them, the Colts have the worst speeding protection within the NFL (237 yards allowed per recreation). A part of why rookie QB Caleb Williams has struggled via his first two video games is as a result of he hasn’t had a lot assist from his run recreation. That adjustments this week.
DETROIT LIONS (1-1) | QB Jared Goff has a three-TD passing recreation | The passing offense hasn’t appeared proper the primary two weeks, nevertheless it’s powerful to think about the Lions struggling for 3 weeks in a row. The Cardinals secondary isn’t significantly dangerous; it simply has the unlucky luck of taking part in at dwelling in opposition to a reeling Lions staff coming off a foul loss to the Bucs. Detroit’s trio of offensive stars (Goff, WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, TE Sam LaPorta) are extremely motivated to place up large numbers.
GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1) | QB Malik Willis has a career-worst day in return to Tennessee | As soon as the Titans drafted Will Levis within the second spherical of the 2023 draft, Willis — who has a middling 58 completion share within the NFL — was all however on his manner out the door. The third-round decide by no means developed into the beginning QB the Titans hoped he’d be, and his efficiency Sunday at Tennessee will present why the Titans made the precise name.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-0) | Danielle Hunter has a three-sack recreation in opposition to his former staff | The Texans and Vikings basically swapped pass-rushers this offseason, as Hunter joined the Texans and Jonathan Greenard signed with the Vikings. Whereas Greenard isn’t any slouch, Hunter is extra achieved, and sadly for Vikings QB Sam Darnold, he’s going to be extremely motivated on the highway to make his former staff remorse letting him stroll in free company. — Michael Gallagher
NFC South
ATLANTA FALCONS (1-1) | Working again Bijan Robinson held below 100 yards | Depend on Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo to have a recreation plan on the highway to include Atlanta’s finest offensive weapon. Per Pro Football Reference, Kansas Metropolis (2-0) has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy factors to working backs via two video games, with backs speeding 30 occasions for 114 yards (57 yards per recreation).
CAROLINA PANTHERS (0-2) | Panthers “explode” for 2 offensive touchdowns | After mustering one landing in its first two video games, Carolina will explode for 2 TDs with Andy Dalton at quarterback on the highway in opposition to the Raiders (1-1). Sadly for Carolina, simply because the Panthers offense will get sizzling, proprietor David Tepper will spill his drink on it, inflicting it to short-circuit.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-0) | WR Rashid Shaheed scores one other lengthy landing | Since bursting on the season with two touchdowns on his first two offensive touches in 2022, Shaheed has grow to be the NFL’s finest deep risk not named Tyreek Hill. Seven of his 11 profession touchdowns have gone for greater than 40 yards (he additionally had a 39-yard landing), together with 59- and 70-yarders in 2024. Shaheed will add an eighth at dwelling in opposition to the Eagles (1-1).
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (2-0) | Bucs rating extra factors than the price of some recreation tickets | Followers at Sunday’s dwelling recreation in opposition to the Broncos (0-2) will get their cash’s price. Per Vivid Seats as of Wednesday, tickets for the Week 3 intraconference recreation are going for as little as $29, a determine Tampa Bay will eclipse on the scoreboard. — Eric Smithling
