Last week, we saw Lamar Jackson outplaying Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Rodgers getting back on the track, and the Cowboys winning a game. Unfortunately, injuries marred the slate last week with QBs Tyrod Taylor, Tua Tagovailoa, and Andy Dalton all leaving the game and not returning. However, it was still a packed week of action that began with a fun Thursday Night Football game. This week could be even better with a couple of top-notch matchups. Here are the top three games for week three in the NFL.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams
This could be a potential NFC Championship preview as the Bucs and Rams certainly look to be the two strongest teams in the NFC through two weeks of play. Tom Brady appears to be getting better with age and the change of scenery is working out so far for Matthew Stafford. The Bucs lost this game last year at home 27-24. Former Rams QB Jared Goff passed for 376 yards and three touchdowns against a Bucs defense that had not yet found its footing. Tampa Bay is riding a 10-game winning streak, counting the playoffs. That can be a good and bad thing, as ultimately all winning streaks do come to an end. The Rams will look to attack a weak and injured Bucs secondary, and a shootout may be in the works in Hollywood. If the season does pan out how I see it, expect lots of notes to be taken from this game to be used at a later date. Prediction: Rams
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
Anytime Aaron Rodgers has a shot at defeating his hometown team that passed on him in the draft, count me in as a viewer. After a horrendous week one, the Packers looked like their usual selves in a big win over the Lions. The Packers defense showed up and Rodgers and Aaron Jones made the Lions defense look like a high school squad. The Packers still have question marks, and I am not sure their secondary can be trusted, but last week was a big step forward. For San Fran, two wins in two weeks is what they must focus on, but they weren’t the cleanest or prettiest of W’s. Injuries are plaguing the Niners for the second season in a row and they’ve already lost three running backs due to injury. The Niners are favored in this game, but something tells me Rodgers will play spoiler. Prediction: Packers
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
I am not really sure why I am even including this game on the list considering I have sworn to myself that I will no longer watch NFC East matchups, but here we are. The Eagles looked horrible in week two as their offense sputtered and putting the ball in the endzone seemed impossible. The Cowboys are coming off a gritty win against the Chargers just a week after nearly upsetting the Bucs on opening night. I think Dallas is the far better team and they should be the favorites to win the division, but their defense will need to continue playing how they did in week two and avoid a week one fiasco where the Bucs torched them when they needed a big time stop. Prediction: Cowboys