Announcement

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:25 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Steelers at Bears
September 21, 2017

PITTSBURGH STEELERS (2-0) AT CHICAGO BEARS (0-2)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Soldier Field. TV: CBS, Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Jamie Erdahl (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 27th regular-season meeting. Bears lead series, 17-8-1. The Bears have won the past two meetings, including a 40-23 win at Heinz Field in 2013. The Bears are 11-1 in games played in Chicago. The only time the Steelers beat the Bears in Chicago was 1995. They won, 37-34, in overtime en route to an AFC championship.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Steelers established a running game against the Vikings and that opened up some one-on-one matchups in the passing game that they were able to take advantage of for big plays. Look for a similar approach in Chicago. Le'Veon Bell, who had 87 yards rushing last week, said he is close to breaking out, and the passing game has been efficient, if not spectacular.

On defense, the Steelers have to pressure Bears quarterback Mike Glennon. He is coming off a game against the Buccaneers when he finished with a quarterbacking rating of 23.2. The Steelers have nine sacks through two games and will look to get a few more against Glennon.

Considering Pittsburgh's defense has allowed only 237 yards in each of the first two games, the Bears' own defense can't afford to take many risks. They've got to play it as close to the vest as possible in order to keep the game close and have a chance to win at the end.

Offensively, there needs to be a commitment and emphasis on getting the ball downfield at least a few times early to loosen up the defense. The Bears need to also counter with quick slants or skinny posts on short drops to keep Pittsburgh's blitz from loading up.

The Bears want to run Jordan Howard, but the Steelers are going to have eight or nine in the box like previous defenses. Throwing passes in the flat to Tarik Cohen won't keep anyone off the line of scrimmage. It will only fuel Pittsburgh's desire to blitz. The running game may have to alter its preferred slow-developing outside run blocking scheme to try to punch holes for quick gainers inside against a blitzing defense.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Bears RB Tarik Cohen vs. Steelers LB Ryan Shazier. Cohen has been Chicago's most productive offensive player through two weeks with 181 yards from scrimmage (79 rushing yards and 102 receiving yards). Shazier is one of the Steelers' most athletic defenders and will be charged with limiting Cohen, especially in the passing game.

--Steelers WR Antonio Brown vs. Bears S Quintin Demps. Demps has nine tackles and no passes defended. Brown has 16 catches for 244 yards. On film, the Steelers see Demps cheating to one side of the field deep against Atlanta on the key long TD scored by the Falcons. Demps will be tested. The Steelers will challenge the Bears deep with Brown, who can line up on either side of the formation or in the slot. Demps can be physical. Whether he can go vertical well enough to stay with Brown remains to be seen. The Bears allowed only one catch longer than 20 yards against Tampa Bay after yielding four at least that long in the opener, and Demps' layer of security over the top will be key in making sure Brown doesn't pile up deep yardage.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Bears TE Zach Miller. Although the Bears want to get Markus Wheaton involved for the first time, his full participation seems unlikely because he has had little practice time. Miller has averaged 8.1 yards a catch and is starting to find his way back into the attack after a foot injury led to injured reserve last year. His ability to get downfield or beat man-to-man coverage as a hot receiver against the blitz will be important. The Bears likely will target him or Kendall Wright the most.

FAST FACTS: Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger owns a 33-15 career record against NFC opposition and has averaged 299.4 yards per game in his last five meetings against NFC teams with 10 TDs and three INTs. ... Steelers rookie LB T.J. Watt is one of three NFL players with at least two sacks and an interception through two weeks. ... Bears QB Mike Glennon threw for 301 yards and a TD last week in a 29-7 loss at Tampa Bay. In his last three games against AFC teams, Glennon is averaging 292 yards per game with six TDs. ... Bears rookie S Eddie Jackson notched a team-high eight tackles last week.

PREDICTION: Chicago could really use a soft touch right now. But it doesn't get one until a date with New Orleans in late October. Pittsburgh's early schedule has been cushy with Cleveland, Minnesota minus Sam Bradford and now the Bears. These teams continue to head in different directions.

OUR PICK: Pittsburgh, 24-14.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:27 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Seahawks at Titans
September 21, 2017

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (1-1) AT TENNESSEE TITANS (1-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET, Nissan Stadium. TV: FOX, Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 16th regular-season meeting. Seahawks lead series, 10-5. This series has not had many meetings, especially since the Seahawks moved to the NFC. One of the most memorable moments came in 2009 in Seattle, where Chris Johnson broke the 2,000-yard mark in the season finale that year.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Seahawks will focus on containing the rushing attack of DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry and Marcus Mariota. Seattle's linebackers and secondary match up well against Tennessee's passing attack and will need to control the running game to force tougher throws in the passing game.

Offensively, Seattle will need to build upon an encouraging rushing performance last week against the 49ers. Get Chris Carson involved early to help create play-action opportunities for Russell Wilson.

The Titans re-established the run game against Jacksonville, and they will need it to be effective this week when the Seahawks come to town. The Legion of Boom will be gunning for Mariota, and the Titans will need a strong rushing attack to help offset the Seahawks' play-making secondary.

Defensively, the Titans will have to contain Wilson. The Seahawks struggle to run the ball, putting the onus on Wilson to drive the offense. But the Titans will have to be disciplined and stay in their rush lanes.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Seahawks RG Mark Glowinski vs. Titans NT Jurrell Casey. Glowinski has struggled in Seattle's first two games and Casey brings another imposing interior lineman for him to deal with. While Casey will mostly draw C Justin Britt, he'll occasionally get matchups on Glowinski as well, which could cause issues for Seattle's offense. It is possible the Seahawks will start Oday Aboushi in place of Glowinski.

--Titans WR Rishard Matthews vs. Seahawks CB Richard Sherman. Some say Sherman has lost a step and isn't quite the shutdown corner he was a couple of years ago. He's dealing with a hamstring injury that was deemed serious enough to almost sideline him last week. Despite all of the additions, Matthews is still the Titans' best wide receiver and the one Marcus Mariota looks to in clutch situations.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Titans RB Derrick Henry. With DeMarco Murray iffy due to a hamstring injury, Henry could be in line to get his first start of the season on Sunday against the Seahawks. Henry came off the bench and had a 92-yard game on 14 carries, including a 17-yard TD run, in Week 2.

FAST FACTS: Seahawks QB Russell Wilson has been death on AFC opponents, compiling an incredible 127.9 QB rating while averaging 297.6 yards per game with a 22-1 TD-INT ratio. ... Seahawks CB Richard Sherman had an interception the last time these teams played in 2013, one of an NFL-high 26 he has notched in the last five years. ... Titans QB Marcus Mariota loves playing against NFC teams, rolling up a 121.4 QB rating in seven games with an 18-3 TD-INT ratio. ... Titans LB Wesley Woodyard is one of four players with at least 15 sacks (17.5) and seven interceptions since the start of the 2012 season.

PREDICTION: Given the Seahawks' great defense and their offensive line's great struggles to block anyone, it might not take much offense to win this one. A win here would stamp the Titans as the favorite in a weak AFC South. If they can run the ball decently enough and not have to throw more than about 25 times, they will prevail.

OUR PICK: Titans, 17-13.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:29 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Saints at Panthers
September 21, 2017

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (0-2) AT CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-0)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Bank of America Stadium. TV: FOX, Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber, Kristina Pink (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 45th regular-season meeting. Panthers lead series, 24-20. The Panthers are 12-10 at home against the Saints, having won the last two. Carolina has won four of the last five overall.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Saints have to play better pass defense than they have during the first two games if they are going to have a chance. They rank last in the NFL in pass defense and defensive pass efficiency after the Vikings' Sam Bradford and the Patriots' Tom Brady were close to flawless in the first two games.

New Orleans has to slow down a Carolina offense that has enabled the Panthers to have a time-of-possession advantage of 59:06 to 30:54 in the last six quarters.

Drew Brees and the Saints are third in the NFL in yards (386.5 per game) but are not getting into the end zone (19.5 points per game). They will have to sustain drives better against Carolina's defense, which leads the league in points (six total) and yards (196.5 per game) through two games.

The Panthers will need to generate more offense in this game, so expect to see an expansion of the playbook. As good as the Panthers have been defensively, they're bound to have to score more than nine points to beat Brees and the Saints.

Protecting QB Cam Newton is one of the keys. He has been pressured heavily this season and that might account for some of his erratic throws. The Panthers must find ways to make their quarterback comfortable again so he has time to take advantage of the defenses he faces.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Saints running backs vs. Panthers MLB Luke Kuechly. The Saints have yet to establish a consistent run game and Kuechly has been the most prolific tackler in the NFL since entering the league in 2012. RBs Mark Ingram and Alvin Kamara are among New Orleans' top five receivers and Kuechly has more interceptions than any other linebacker in the NFL since 2012.

--Panthers running backs vs. Saints LB A.J. Klein. The Panthers want their running backs, particularly rookie Christian McCaffrey, to find room in space. This can come as part of the passing attack, so it will be noteworthy to see whether Klein, who played for the Panthers his entire career until going to the Saints in the offseason, recognizes the schemes. However, he won't have even practice experience in dealing with McCaffrey.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Panthers LB Thomas Davis. The veteran linebacker still enjoys a good rivalry and the Saints provide one of those for the Panthers in the NFC South. Davis seems determined to show he isn't slowing down in his 13th NFL season. He's coming off a team-high seven-tackle performance against the Buffalo Bills.

FAST FACTS: Saints QB Drew Brees threw for 356 yards and two TDs in Week 2. In his past three vs. Carolina, he has 1,032 passing yards (344 per game), nine TDs and three INTs (104.3 rating). ... Saints WR Michael Thomas led the team with five receptions for 89 yards last week. He has 10 catches for 146 yards and a TD in the past two meetings. He has averaged 94.2 yards per game, with three TDs in five games, vs. the division. ... Saints WR Ted Ginn Jr. spent three seasons with Carolina (2013, 2015-16) and scored 19 TDs. ... Carolina QB Cam Newton has passed for 507 yards, three TDs and no INTs in the past two home meetings. He also has four rushing TDs in the past six games vs. the Saints. ... Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart has four rushing TDs in the past three meetings. He has 6,743 career rushing yards and needs 104 to become the team's all-time leader (DeAngelo Williams gained 6,846).

PREDICTION: The Saints are giving up 32.5 points per game, a number even Brees can't overcome on a weekly basis. The Panthers aren't as prolific on offense, but the Saints will make them look better than they are.

OUR PICK: Panthers, 24-20.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:31 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Raiders at Redskins
September 21, 2017

OAKLAND RAIDERS (2-0) AT WASHINGTON REDSKINS (1-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 8:30 p.m. ET, FedEx Field. TV: NBC, Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 13th regular-season meeting. Raiders lead series, 7-5. Oakland hasn't played in Washington since 2005 thanks to a schedule quirk between the NFC East and AFC West teams. The Redskins outscored the Raiders 58-27 in wins in Oakland in 2009 and 2013. The teams met in Super Bowl XVIII, with the Raiders winning in a blowout, 38-9.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Raiders' plan seems simple enough -- choke off the run and force Kirk Cousins to throw the ball on their terms. Washington's passing game has yet to take off after the losses of Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson and could well be without Jordan Reed. Under those circumstances, the Raiders would hope to have Cousins forced into the air on third-and-long.

Offensively, the Raiders have stressed balance through their first two games, working the clock effectively in the fourth quarter through use of the running game. The more the Raiders don't have to rely on Carr's ability to deliver in the fourth quarter, the better they'll be.

The Redskins ran the ball right at a good defensive front in Los Angeles last week. Other than a shaky third quarter, not even an injury to starter Rob Kelley could slow them down much.

Washington has never sustained games like that under Jay Gruden, but there might be a more concerted effort this season, with Cousins still adjusting to new receivers Terrelle Pryor and Josh Doctson. So far, the chemistry has been noticeably off. But they may have to turn back toward the pass against Oakland, which presents multiple fronts on a big defensive line and is willing to bring pressure from all over, including safety. Don't expect 30-plus running plays in this one.

Meanwhile, the Redskins' defense must deal with Carr and some talented receivers. The real test will be up front. Washington's defensive line has played much better than expected, with rookie Jonathan Allen making an immediate difference and second-year pro Matt Ioannidis improving. But Oakland's offensive line is stellar and will provide a tough test for the revamped Redskins defense.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Raiders DE Khalil Mack vs. Redskins RT Morgan Moses. Mack is one of the game's best pass rushers -- though he has just one sack in two games. He's still made an impact stopping the run and even has a pass defended. Look for Oakland to line him up on the right side. No need to make him tangle with five-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams. Instead, Mack will try to take advantage of a hobbled Moses. Moses earned a nice contract extension this summer for his play the past two seasons -- he hasn't missed a game since 2014. But his ankle injury is a concern.

--Raiders RT Donald Penn vs. Redskins OLB Preston Smith. Smith is off to a nice start after a frustrating second season in which his sacks dropped from eight to 4.5. Smith already has two in two weeks and has looked good setting the edge and helping Washington improve its run defense. He'll face a tough challenge this week in Penn, a big body at 6-foot-4 and 315 pounds and a veteran who plays with an edge and will try to maul the smaller Smith (6-5, 265).

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Redskins CB Josh Norman. Norman suffered an AC sprain vs. the Rams on Sunday and is in a lot of pain. But his presence is critical if the Redskins want to slow Oakland's offense, led by quarterback Derek Carr. Amari Cooper is a physical receiver at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, but Norman is usually OK with that style of play. Will the shoulder sprain be an issue, though? Norman conceded on Wednesday that he likely won't be able to punch at the football the way he does when wrapping up a tackle. Few are better at it. If Norman suffers a setback and can't play, keeping Cooper in check (nine receptions, 95 yards, touchdown) will be near impossible.

FAST FACTS: Raiders QB Derek Carr will make 50th career start. He needs four TD passes to become the fifth QB in NFL history with 90 in his first 50 games. He threw three TD passes and no interceptions last week and has eight TDs and no INTs in his past three games. ... Oakland WR Michael Crabtree had 80 receiving yards and three TD catches last week, his second career game with three. He has 20 TD catches since 2015, tied for fourth most in the NFL. ... Redskins RB Chris Thompson had 106 scrimmage yards and two TDs in Week 2 and has scored five times (three rushing, two receiving) in his past four games. ... Redskins LB Ryan Kerrigan had a sack and forced fumble in Week 2. He has 8.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception in his past 11 home games.

PREDICTION: Unless the Redskins can keep the ball away from Carr for much of the game or force some turnovers, they probably don't have the firepower to beat the Raiders.

OUR PICK: Raiders, 31-17.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:33 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Giants at Eagles
September 21, 2017

NEW YORK GIANTS (0-2) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (1-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Lincoln Financial Field. TV: FOX, Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 165th regular-season meeting. Giants lead series, 83-79-2. The Giants have lost their last three regular-season games at Lincoln Financial Field by a combined score of 78-26, with a shutout loss (27-0) leading off the three-game road losing streak at Philadelphia.

KEYS TO THE GAME: With expectations extremely high going into the season, an 0-2 start leaves room for plenty of blame with the Giants. And this time it is by more than the infamous tabloid headlines. Even coach Ben McAdoo took a snippy shot at quarterback Eli Manning, allegedly for taking an unnecessary delay-of-game penalty. Manning could, but didn't, blame it on old-fashioned fear of what happened after he took the snap behind an incompetent offensive line. Before the loss to Detroit on Monday night, the loss of injured wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was the excuse. But he played in the loss to the Lions -- albeit sparingly -- and the team still did not seem in gear. There is talk about McAdoo handing off the play-calling, but if the O-line can't block, the plays aren't the problem.

On the other side of the ball, the Eagles' offensive line has had its share of struggles as well. Like the Giants, they have allowed eight sacks through two games. The difference is they have been able to run the ball, rushing 41 times for 165 yards, and they have had success getting rid of the ball quickly -- most often to tight end Zach Ertz, their leading receiver.

Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is second all-time in pass attempts by a quarterback in his first 18 games (692), just one shy of Andrew Luck of the Colts. Said McAdoo of Wentz: "He's a dangerous player whether in or out of the pocket and he has some big players around him, some big skill players who can make some plays for him -- whether it's (Zach) Ertz or the two new receivers they brought in."

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Giants LT Ereck Flowers vs. Eagles RDE Vinny Curry. The Giants' embattled left tackle still has the full support of coach Ben McAdoo despite the third-year pro's rough night Monday against Lions defensive end Ziggy Ansah. Given the lack of depth at the position, which is further compounded by the ankle injury right tackle Bobby Hart is nursing, the Giants really don't have many options other than to stick with Flowers and to give him as much help as possible against Curry, who is looking for his first sack of the 2017 season.

--Eagles WR Alshon Jeffery vs. Giants CB Janoris Jenkins. Jeffery's chemistry with Carson Wentz is still a work in progress, but he caught seven passes for 92 yards and a TD vs. the Chiefs. Jenkins, the Giants' best corner, missed last week's game with hand and ankle injuries.

--Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. vs. Eagles CB Rasul Douglas. With Ronald Darby and Jaylen Watkins both out with injuries, Douglas saw his first action last week and played well against the Chiefs. But the rookie has never had to cover a wideout like OBJ. He'll play a lot of off-coverage and try to limit OBJ's yards after catch.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Eagles RB Corey Clement. With the Eagles' run game floundering, Clement, an undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin, is expected to get some significant snaps against the Giants. He has proven to the coaching staff that he can pass-protect well enough when he's in the game to keep quarterback Carson Wentz safe.

FAST FACTS: Giants QB Eli Manning. He has thrown for 915 yards (305 per game) and seven TDs in the past three meetings and 45 TDs vs. the Eagles in his career. ... Giants WR Odell Beckham Jr. has caught 18 passes for 211 yards and a TD in his last two games at Philadelphia. Since 2014, OBJ is tied for the NFL lead with 35 TD catches and ranks third with 4,158 yards receiving. ... Giants DE Jason Pierre-Paul made 6.5 sacks, 3 FFs in past 5 games and has 2 sacks, 3 PD in past 3 at Philly. ... Eagles QB Carson Wentz passed for 333 yards and two TDs and added a career-high 55 rushing yards last week. ... Eagles RB Darren Sproles is the only player in NFL history with 30 TDs receiving (30), 20 rushing (22), a punt-return TD (7) and a kick-return TD (2).

PREDICTION: This is a tricky one to call. The Giants are in an early-season must-win to calm down the natives at home. But they aren't home and the Eagles are difficult to pick against here.

OUR PICK: Eagles, 31-21.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:35 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Falcons at Lions
September 21, 2017

ATLANTA FALCONS (2-0) AT DETROIT LIONS (2-0)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Ford Field. TV: FOX, Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Laura Okmin (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 37th regular-season meeting. Lions lead series, 24-12. One memorable meeting between these two teams came in 2012, when Calvin Johnson caught 11 passes for 225 yards to break Jerry Rice's season receiving record. The Falcons won 31-18, but Johnson passed Rice's mark on a 26-yard pass from Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter.

KEYS TO THE GAME: Both teams have started hot and will try to continue their success in Week 3. Atlanta has quieted any skeptics who wondered about the possibility of a Super Bowl hangover less than eight months after coughing up a championship to the New England Patriots. The Falcons have relied on a high-powered offense led by reigning MVP quarterback Matt Ryan and all-world wide receiver Julio Jones. The Falcons have the eighth-ranked offense in the NFL with 368 yards per game but will face a tough test on the road against Detroit, which boasts the No. 7 defense (289 yards per game).

As for the Lions, a main key will be to protect quarterback Matthew Stafford in the pocket and give him time to make plays with his arm or with his feet. Stafford is the league's highest-paid player this season, but he has not stumbled in the spotlight. He has completed 71 percent of his passes and thrown for 414 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in his first two contests. Atlanta's secondary has flaws, but that will not matter if the Falcons can attack Stafford with a consistent pass rush.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Falcons RB Devonta Freeman vs. Lions DTs A'Shawn Robinson and Haloti Ngata. Freeman has been a workhorse throughout his career, so it comes as no surprise that he has stayed busy to start 2017. The Florida State product has carried the ball 31 times for 121 yards and three touchdowns in two games so far. He also has caught four passes for 18 yards. It will be up to the Lions to prevent Freeman from finding the end zone for a third consecutive week.

--Lions WRs Golden Tate and Marvin Jones vs. Falcons CBs Desmond Trufant and Robert Alford. Atlanta has surrendered 242 passing yards per game in 2017, which is a cause for concern but not a reason to panic so early in the year. That said, if Stafford hooks up with Tate and Jones for multiple passing plays downfield, the consternation among Falcons fans might intensify.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Falcons QB Matt Ryan. The QB keeps piling up mind-boggling statistics in his pursuit of a Super Bowl championship. Ryan has passed for a touchdown in 21 consecutive games, which is the longest active streak in the league. He is gunning for his seventh straight game with a passer rating of at least 100. He has passed for 507 yards, six touchdowns and one interception in his last two games against the Lions. The reliability of Julio Jones as a No. 1 wideout and the recent emergence of tight end Austin Hooper as a big-play threat has helped Ryan to succeed with such consistency. Jones (174 yards), Hooper (135 yards) and secondary wideout Mohamed Sanu (132 yards) all have cracked the century mark in yardage this season.

FAST FACTS: Detroit QB Matthew Stafford is 5-for-5 on passing attempts in the red zone this season. The Lions' signal-caller has thrown three TD passes on red zone attempts. ... Falcons K Matt Bryant has not missed a kick attempt this season. He is 5-for-5 on field-goal tries and 6-for-6 on extra-point attempts. ... Detroit is aiming for its first 3-0 start since 2011. The Lions went on to finish 10-6 that season but lost in the playoffs to New Orleans. ... Falcons DE Brooks Reed has two sacks this season and needs one more to post his best single-season effort since 2014 with the Houston Texans.

PREDICTION: What an intriguing matchup. Both teams feature star quarterbacks and versatile playmakers, and this game could come down to Ryan's ability to guide the Falcons against a tough defense in a hostile environment. We will not bet against him.

OUR PICK: Falcons, 26-24.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:37 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Dolphins at Jets
September 21, 2017

MIAMI DOLPHINS (1-0) AT NEW YORK JETS (0-2)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, MetLife Stadium. TV: CBS, Tom McCarthy, Steve Beuerlein, Steve Tasker (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 103rd regular-season meeting. Jets lead series, 53-48-1. Miami swept the series last season. QB Matt Moore threw four TD passes in the Dolphins' 34-13 win in December, a victory that clinched Miami's first winning season since 2008.

KEYS TO THE GAME: Miami must rely on running back Jay Ajayi offensively, as always. Ajayi rushed for 122 yards last week and continued his trend from last year of aggressive running, yards after contact, and getting stronger in the fourth quarter.

Defensively, the Dolphins must shore up their pass defense, which gave up 323 yards against the Los Angeles Chargers, while being mindful everything starts with stopping the run.

Miami held the Chargers to 44 yards rushing last week but the pass defense, and the pass rush, showed vulnerabilities.

Granted, Miami went against quarterback Philip Rivers, who is accomplished, but the coverage was a bit loose.

The Jets' passing offense wasn't atrocious last week, and Josh McCown didn't throw an interception. The Dolphins' secondary, meanwhile, was torched by Philip Rivers for 331 yards. McCown isn't as accurate and doesn't have as strong an arm as Rivers, but there should be some openings down the field for the Jets.

On defense, the Jets' league-worst run defense will have its hands full with Ajayi, who is one of the toughest runners to bring down, and the Jets haven't been a good tackling team outside safeties Jamal Adams and Marcus Maye.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Dolphins WR Jarvis Landry vs. Jets CB Morris Claiborne. Claiborne mostly covered Amari Cooper last week and held him to four catches for 33 yards (Cooper also dropped a couple balls), while Landry had 13 catches on 15 targets. If Claiborne can limit Landry's production, Miami will look to exploit the DeVante Parker-Buster Skrine matchup, as Skrine struggled last week against Michael Crabtree.

--Jets RG Dakota Dozier vs. Dolphins DT Ndamukong Suh. Dozier did a solid job when starter Brian Winters went down with an injury last week; but, if Winters can't go Sunday, he'll face a stern test in the five-time Pro Bowler Suh, who generally lines up over right guard. Suh has yet to record a sack this year, while McCown has gone down five times.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Dolphins SLB Chase Allen. The undrafted rookie from Southern Illinois had four tackles in his debut last week against the Chargers. Allen showed his speed and athleticism while pursuing ballcarriers. Whether he can continue this performance for 16 games is the big question. But Allen certainly has displayed the physical tools to stay in the NFL so far. And he rarely makes mental errors. His big thing will be showing he can adjust to the week-to-week demands of the league.

FAST FACTS: QB Jay Cutler put up a 101.8 rating in his Miami debut last week. In three starts vs. the Jets, he has 797 passing yards (265.7 per game) seven TDs and two INTs. ... Miami WR Jarvis Landry tied a career-high with 13 catches last week. Since entering the NFL in 2014, he has six games with 10 catches, tied for fourth most in the NFL. He has 100 receiving yards and a TD catch in two of the past three meetings. ... Miami K Cody Parkey converted the winning 54-yard FG with 1:05 remaining in Week 2. He is 6 of 6 from 50-plus yards in his career. ... Jets RB Bilal Powell had 162 scrimmage yards (84 rushing) and a career-high 11 catches in the last meeting. He is looking for a third home game in a row vs. the division with 130 scrimmage yards. ... Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson has four sacks, three tackles for loss and a forced fumble in the past five meetings.

PREDICTION: The Jets can't run or stop the run, and they certainly don't have the weapons to win a shootout.

OUR PICK: Dolphins, 24-17.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:39 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Cowboys at Cardinals
September 21, 2017

DALLAS COWBOYS (1-1) AT ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1)

KICKOFF: Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET, University of Phoenix Stadium. TV: ESPN, Sean McDonough, Jon Gruden, Lisa Salters (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 88th regular-season meeting. Cowboys lead series, 55-31-1. The Cardinals have won the past four meetings, including once in the Bruce Arians' era as Arizona defeated Dallas 28-17 on Nov. 2, 2014, at AT&T Stadium. It was the first time in Arizona's four-game win streak over Dallas that the win didn't come on the final play of the game. Each of those three wins came at University of Phoenix Stadium. Two of the three wins came in overtime.

KEYS TO THE GAME: Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott gets a chance for redemption after his effort during Dallas' humbling 42-17 loss last Sunday in Denver. Coach Jason Garrett wasn't pleased when the tailback showed no interest in turning into a defensive player after two Dak Prescott interceptions.

Elliott had more carries (nine) than yards (eight) against the Broncos, but Cardinals coach Bruce Arians doesn't see a player that suddenly has lost his way or forgot how to break tackles and squirt through holes.

The Cardinals hope they have similar success to the Broncos, who held the Cowboys to 268 yards.

If the Cardinals stack the box to try and contain Elliott, the Cowboys will have to rely on Prescott beating Arizona to the outside, and that could prove difficult since their best receiver, Dez Bryant, will be shadowed throughout the game by All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson.

The Cardinals could turn to their second new starting running back in two weeks since losing star David Johnson to a left wrist injury in Week 1 at Detroit. Kerwynn Williams was the starter against the Colts last week and it appears veteran Chris Johnson could be the guy against the Cowboys.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Cardinals LT John Wetzel vs. Cowboys DE DeMarcus Lawrence. Keep an eye on the inexperienced Wetzel against Lawrence, who is tied for the league lead with four sacks. Wetzel played better this week than he did in the opener, but he likely will require extra help to keep Lawrence at bay. Against the Colts without an injured Jermaine Gresham, Arizona used rookie tackle Will Holden as an extra blocker next to Wetzel. Gresham should be back this week to help out on the left side after missing a week with sore ribs.

--Cowboys TE Jason Witten vs. Cardinals SS Antoine Bethea. Last week against the Colts, Arizona had great difficulty trying to contain TE Jack Doyle, who caught eight passes for 79 yards. This week, they get Witten, who leads the league with 17 receptions and has two touchdowns. It will be up to multiple defenders to try to slow him down; but, if Witten gets matchups against smallish safeties such as Bethea and Tyrann Mathieu, he could have a huge game. Outside linebackers Markus Golden and Chandler Jones will have to lend a hand when Witten floats their way.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Cardinals OLB Chandler Jones. With three sacks in his first two games, Jones has 26.5 since 2015, which is tied with Denver's Von Miller for the second-highest total in the league. Oakland's Khalil Mack has the most with 27. Jones' two-sack performance Sunday at the Colts gave him multiple sacks in a game for the 14th time in his career, including four as a member of the Cardinals. Dating to Jones' second season in 2013, only Houston's J.J. Watt (16) has more multi-sack games. Coach Bruce Arians this week called Jones one of the top five pass rushers in the game today.

FAST FACTS: Dallas QB Dak Prescott passed for 238 yards and two TDs last week. He has 14 TDs vs. five INTs in nine career road games. ... Dallas RB Ezekiel Elliott has 785 rushing yards and eight TDs in eight road games. He has just 112 rushing yards in the first two games, though, averaging 3.4 yards per carry. ... Dallas TE Jason Witten led the team with 10 catches for 97 yards in Week 2, his 11th career game with 10 receptions. He has 1,106 career receptions, passing Cris Carter (1,101) and Marvin Harrison (1,102) for fourth in NFL history. ... Arizona QB Carson Palmer threw for 332 yards last week, surpassing Drew Bledsoe (44,611) for 13th on the NFL's all-time passing list. Palmer has 44,869 passing yards. ... Arizona WR J.J. Nelson led the team with five catches for 120 yards and a TD last week. He has seven TDs in his past seven games. Since 2015, he leads the NFL with 18.7 yards per catch. ... Arizona LB Chandler Jones had two sacks and a forced fumble last week. He has eight sacks, three forced fumbles and two recoveries in his past nine home games.

PREDICTION: Turnovers figure to be the decisive factor in this game, and the Cowboys have been better in that department (Palmer has thrown four picks for Arizona).

OUR PICK: Cowboys, 23-20.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:42 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Chiefs at Chargers
September 21, 2017

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (2-0) AT LOS ANGELES CHARGERS (0-2)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, StubHub Center. TV: CBS, Kevin Harlan, Rich Gannon.

SERIES HISTORY: 114th regular-season meeting. Chiefs lead series, 58-54-1.

The Chiefs own an 11-game winning streak against AFC West opponents and have won six straight against the Chargers. When these teams first squared off, the Chargers were in Los Angeles and the Chiefs were the Houston Texans, both of the American Football League. The Chargers own a 32-24-1 home record against Kansas City, but how that edge is realized at StubHub Center remains to be seen. Back in 1960, the Chargers beat the Texans at the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, 21-20.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Chiefs stand 2-0 thanks to an offense that moves the ball in chunks and a defense that ratchets up pressure of the quarterback until it breaks through, and that game plan makes sense against the Chargers as well. The trio of Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce and Kareem Hunt create mismatches that are difficult to defend.

The Chiefs can bring pressure on the quarterback from multiple directions thanks to Justin Houston and Dee Ford on the edges and Chris Jones on the inside.

The Chargers will be able to run the ball at some point, right? That hasn't been the case this year despite coach Anthony Lynn coming in with a running-game guru reputation. If L.A. can't establish anything on the ground, that does not bode well for Philip Rivers against the Chiefs' pass rush.

A running game also would keep the ball from a suddenly explosive Chiefs offense.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Chargers WR Keenan Allen vs. Chiefs CB Marcus Peters. Allen torched Peters and the Chiefs for six catches and 63 yards in last year's season opener before a torn ACL ended his season before halftime. Peters has emerged as one of the league's premier shutdown corners since their last matchup, which was marked by shouting and shoving from both talkative players. Allen caught nine passes for 100 yards against Miami last week. Peters leads the NFL with 14 interceptions since 2015.

--Chargers DE Joey Bosa vs. Chiefs offensive line. Bosa moves around but most of the pressure will fall on LT Eric Fisher and RT Mitchell Schwartz. The Chiefs can deploy a quick-passing game when facing a pressure defense, but QB Alex Smith shows more willingness this season to extend plays and take shots down field. He might not have the time in this game. The Chiefs are tied for 26th in the league with seven sacks allowed.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Chiefs S Eric Murray. He played just 64 defensive snaps as a rookie last season but finds himself thrust into a key role this year following the season-ending injury to All-Pro Eric Berry. Murray plays more coverage duty filling in for Berry, while S Daniel Sorensen handles playing in the box. The second-year Murray may have made the play of the game against the Eagles, preventing a touchdown after tight end Zach Ertz caught a deflected pass on the run for a 53-yard gain.

FAST FACTS: Chiefs QB Alex Smith has 619 passing yards, five TDs and no interceptions. His 134.1 passer rating ranks second in the NFL. In his past six games vs. the Chargers, he has thrown for 1,586 yards (264.3 per game), nine TDs and four INTs. ... Chiefs RB Kareem Hunt leads the NFL with 355 scrimmage yards, 229 rushing yards and five TDs through two games. He is the third player in league history to score from 50 yards in each of first two games. ... Chiefs LB Justin Houston has seven sacks in his past six games. In the past three meetings, he has five sacks, a forced fumble and an interception for a touchdown. ... Chargers QB Philip Rivers completed 31 of 39 passes for 331 yards and a TD last week. He has 52 games with 300 yards, third most among active players. ... Chargers TE Antonio Gates had a TD catch last week and has 112 career receiving TDs, most by a tight end in NFL history and sixth among all players.

PREDICTION: The Chargers have lost both games on failed field goals, but they might not be that close in this one.

OUR PICK: Chiefs, 30-20.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:44 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Buccaneers at Vikings
September 21, 2017

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (1-0) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, U. S. Bank Stadium. TV: FOX, Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman, Peter Schrager (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 55th regular-season meeting. Vikings lead series, 32-22. The Vikings won the last meeting in 2014 in Tampa Bay, but the Buccaneers had won six straight before that. This is the first meeting at Minnesota's 2-year-old stadium.

KEYS TO THE GAME: With uncertainty at the quarterback position, the Vikings will have to bank on riding a dominant defense that can reach a higher level when there's home-field advantage. If Sam Bradford plays, the Vikings have a better chance of trading blows with Jameis Winston, the first QB in NFL history to start a career with consecutive 4,000-yard seasons. If Case Keenum starts, the Vikings will need a more conservative approach and rely on rookie running back Dalvin Cook to continue playing with quickness, strength and the kind of speed that makes him a threat to score every time he slips through a whole or beats the defense to the corner.

The Bucs had a great defensive performance in the season opener against the Bears. But as coach Dirk Koetter has said, they can't count on getting four turnovers in the first half every Sunday.

The Vikings are a pretty disciplined team under Mike Zimmer. Tampa Bay has to prepare as if Bradford will be at quarterback Sunday, even though he missed last week's game in Pittsburgh and is nursing a knee injury.

Getting pressure on Bradford will be the key. He's not that mobile to begin with after two ACL surgeries and now swelling. He played lights out in the season opener against the Saints. But Bradford will try to rely more on Cook.

The Bucs played the run extremely well last week, limiting the Bears to only 20 yards on the ground. They also jumped into a 3-4 at times.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Vikings C Pat Elflein vs. Bucs DT Gerald McCoy. Elflein, a rookie third-round draft pick, has been outstanding. He was part of the line that dominated the Saints in Week 1. In Week 2 at Pittsburgh, he was the only lineman not to be penalized. McCoy is a force inside. He had four QB pressures against the Bears last week.

--Bucs QB Jameis Winston vs. Vikings S Andrew Sendejo. When the Vikings use free safety Harrison Smith closer to the line of scrimmage and put Sendejo in a single-high look, quarterbacks and receivers look to take advantage of Sendejo's lack of ideal speed and shallow sets. If the Vikings get pressure on Winston, this won't matter. If the Bucs can protect long enough, Winston could find receivers getting past cornerback Trae Waynes while Sendejo is out of position.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes. Rhodes shut down Antonio Brown last week in Pittsburgh. With Rhodes shadowing him, Brown only caught three balls for 28 yards. Against the few zone looks the Vikings showed, Brown had two more catches for 34 yards, including a 26-yarder on a busted coverage. The Bucs throw a lot of different skill sets at receiver with the small, shifty, speedy DeSean Jackson and the bigger, stronger Mike Evans.

FAST FACTS: Buccaneers QB Jameis Winston opened his season last week by throwing for 204 yards and a TD, good for a 91.5 QB rating, and has compiled a QB rating of at least 85 in five of the last six road games. ... Buccaneers LB LaVonte David bagged nine tackles and a fumble recovery last week. When Tampa Bay last played Minnesota in 2014, David finished with 14 stops and three TFLs. ... Vikings WR Stefon Diggs has caught three TD passes in the last three games, and has at least five catches in six of his last seven games. ... Vikings DE Everson Griffen registered two sacks last week, the ninth multi-sack game of his career.

PREDICTION: The Vikings are a lot more dangerous with Sam Bradford under center than Case Keenum. If Bradford is unable to play, that puts a lot of pressure on a defense that tends to play better at home. But the Buccaneers can give a defense a lot to think about, and their superiority on offense makes the difference.

OUR PICK: Buccaneers, 23-20.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:46 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Browns at Colts
September 21, 2017

CLEVELAND BROWNS (0-2) AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (0-2)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Lucas Oil Stadium. TV: CBS, Beth Mowins, Jay Feely.

SERIES HISTORY: 29th regular-season meeting. Series tied, 14-14. The Browns and Colts have a knack for playing close games. Eight of the last nine contests have been decided by seven points or fewer. The only game during that stretch that wasn't as close was a 27-19 Browns victory in 2011.

KEYS TO THE GAME: Somebody will come away with their first victory of 2017. Both teams rank in the bottom 10 in scoring average and are hoping for a breakout performance in Week 3. The Browns are averaging 14 points per game (No. 24 in the NFL) through Week 2, while the Colts are averaging only 11 points per contest (No. 27).

The Colts remain without franchise QB Andrew Luck, and they would be best served to build a game plan around veteran RB Frank Gore. The 34-year-old has 13,153 career rushing yards and needs 107 to move past Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson (13,259 yards) for seventh in league history. The seven players ahead of Gore on the rushing list, which is led by Emmitt Smith (18,355 yards), all are enshrined in Canton.

Cleveland also will be best-suited to craft a careful ground attack and take the pressure off rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer. Browns running back Isaiah Crowell has rushed for only 70 yards in his first two contests, but coaches must stay patient and continue to feed him the ball. Crowell compiled 1,271 yards from scrimmage a season ago.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Browns QB DeShone Kizer vs. Colts SS Matthias Farley. Kizer has to be aware of Farley, his former teammate on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, on every snap. Farley leads the Colts with 22 tackles. He has no interceptions, but he always seems to be around the ball. Kizer threw three interceptions last week, and Farley could be looking for a pick.

--Colts TE Jack Doyle vs. Browns LBs Christian Kirksey and James Burgess Jr. Pittsburgh Steelers TE Jesse James caught two touchdown passes against the Browns in the opener, and Ravens tight end Ben Watson caught eight passes last week. Doyle leads the Colts with 10 catches. Any defender assigned to Doyle can expect to be targeted all day.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: WR Rashard Higgins. The Browns' athletic 22-year-old receiver out of Colorado State hauled in seven passes for 95 yards against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2. Two passes intended for him were intercepted, which means that he and rookie QB DeShone Kizer need to improve their timing. However, Higgins proved during the game that he is able to get separation, which is something the Browns' other receivers lack. As a fifth-round pick in 2016, Higgins caught only six passes for 77 yards during his rookie season. He already has exceeded those totals in Year 2, and he will have an opportunity to build upon his numbers against a below-average Colts defense.

FAST FACTS: Colts coach Chuck Pagano needs one more win to reach 50 in his career. ... The Browns opened the week as a favorite on the road for the first time since 2015. ... Colts RB Frank Gore needs 11 more carries to become the ninth player in NFL history to notch 3,000 career rushes. Gore also needs one rushing touchdown to tie Pete Johnson (76) for No. 22 on the league's all-time list. ... Browns rookie DE Myles Garrett is no longer in a walking boot because of a high ankle sprain, but it is unlikely that he will make his debut this week. ... Colts WR T.Y. Hilton needs 73 receiving yards to surpass Lenny Moore (6,039) for fourth in the franchise record books.

PREDICTION: Expect a hard-fought game between two teams desperate to avoid an 0-3 start. Home-field advantage counts for something in these types of contests. So does a reliable kicker in Adam Vinatieri.

OUR PICK: Colts, 24-21.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:48 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Broncos at Bills
September 21, 2017

DENVER BRONCOS (2-0) AT BUFFALO BILLS (1-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, New Era Field. TV: CBS, Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta.

SERIES HISTORY: 37th regular-season meeting. Bills lead series, 19-16-1. They have split the last four games. The most historic meeting was on Jan. 12, 1992, when the Bills turned back the Broncos 10-7 in the AFC Championship Game to go to their second consecutive Super Bowl.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Broncos have jumped out to a 2-0 start under first-year coach Vance Joseph, who inherited a talent-laden roster from Gary Kubiak. This marks Joseph's first road trip with his team after posting back-to-back home wins over the Los Angeles Chargers and Dallas Cowboys to open the year.

Denver is No. 3 in the NFL with 33 points per game, and quarterback Trevor Siemian (450 passing yards, six touchdowns, two interceptions) has a terrific 106.9 passer rating. If the Broncos can protect the ball against the Bills, their superior personnel -- e.g., wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (11 catches, 138 yards) and running back C.J. Anderson (199 rushing yards, 1 TD) -- should be able to set the tone. An ankle injury to Bills defensive Marcell Dareus only adds to the Bills' cause for concern.

Buffalo has a stout defense that has allowed 234.5 yards per game in its first two contests, good for second in the NFL. However, the Bills' offense is ranked No. 24 and must find a way to score points against Denver, whose defense is nearly as stingy as Buffalo's. Look for the Bills to ask running back LeSean McCoy (119 rushing yards) to take some of the pressure off quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Bills RT Jordan Mills vs. Broncos OLB Von Miller. Miller needs no introduction among fans accustomed to seeing him dominate opposing offensive lines with his speed and athleticism. The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder from Texas A&M is coming off a two-sack performance against the Cowboys and has 75 1/2 sacks in six-plus seasons with Denver. Mills is a hard worker but lacks Miller's pedigree.

--Broncos TE Virgil Green vs. Bills S Jordan Poyer. Through two weeks, Poyer has established himself as one of Buffalo's top defenders. He leads the team with five pass breakups and is tied for the team lead in sacks (2) and interceptions (1). He will be responsible for preventing big plays down the seam against the Broncos, who have a talented tight end in Green (three receptions, 55 yards, 1 TD).

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Broncos CB Aqib Talib. He has 10 career interception returns for touchdowns, which is third-best in NFL history. Talib needs one more pick-six to pull even with legendary defensive backs Charles Woodson and Darren Sharper for No. 2 on the all-time list. Talib could make Sunday difficult for Buffalo WR Jordan Matthews, who has five catches for 91 yards on the season but has yet to score. Matthews surpassed 800 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons with the Eagles and will have to connect with Taylor more frequently to improve this season's numbers.

FAST FACTS: Vance Joseph can become the fourth coach in Broncos history to win his first three games. ... Denver OLB Von Miller needs 3 1/2 sacks to pull even with Karl Mecklenburg (79) for second place on the franchise's all-time list. ... Broncos NT Domata Peko Sr. has an opportunity to increase his starting streak to 115 games, which is the most of any active defensive lineman in the league.

PREDICTION: A long flight east and a road matchup in front of a raucous base of Bills fans will not make life easy for the Broncos. Still, look for Joseph's squad to hang tough in Week 3 and avoid early turnovers.

OUR PICK: Broncos, 31-21.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:50 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Bengals at Packers
September 21, 2017

CINCINNATI BENGALS (0-2) AT GREEN BAY PACKERS (1-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 4:25 p.m. ET, Lambeau Field. TV: CBS, Jim Nantz, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 13th regular-season meeting. Bengals lead series, 7-5. The Bengals have won three straight games and Green Bay hasn't defeated Cincinnati since 1998. The Bengals are also the only team Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and coach Mike McCarthy have never defeated.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Bengals failed to score a touchdown in the first two games and fired offensive coordinator Ken Zampese. Bill Lazor has taken over, but don't expect the offense to look much different with less than one week of preparation.

The Bengals' defense needs to pester Aaron Rodgers and get Ty Montgomery on the ground. Poor tackling has been an issue for the Bengals, who have struggled to get off the field on third down.

The Packers should lean heavily on Montgomery and the ground game. The Bengals rank 31st in rushing yards allowed and 22nd in yards per carry (4.2).

If Green Bay is without some of its weapons in the passing game (Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are nursing injuries), pounding the Bengals on the ground might be its best path to victory.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Packers RB Ty Montgomery vs. Bengals defense. Montgomery is a converted wide receiver who creates matchup problems with his size and elusiveness. Through two weeks, Montgomery leads the NFL with 132 yards after the catch.

--Bengals WR A.J. Green vs. Packers DBs. Green Bay believed it had improved a cornerback group that ranked 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed last season. But Atlanta quarterback Matt Ryan shredded Green Bay last week. Green, one of the NFL's top receivers, will try to do the same.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Bengals DE Jordan Willis. He has been nothing but impressive since being drafted in the third round out of Kansas State. Willis, who had an NFL-leading four sacks in the preseason, earned his first start last week for the injured Michael Johnson and recorded five tackles. Johnson could return this week, but Willis' contributions should begin to increase each game.

FAST FACTS: Bengals QB Andy Dalton has 22,608 career passing yards and 87 yards to pass Carson Palmer (22,694) for third in franchise history. ... Bengals WR A.J. Green caught a TD in the last meeting. In four games vs. the NFC North, He has 460 receiving yards (115 per game) and six TD catches. Since entering the NFL in 2011, his 7,276 yards are fourth active players. ... Packers QB Aaron Rodgers passed for 343 yards and two TDs last week. He reached 300 career TD passes in the fewest attempts (4,742) in NFL history as he became the 11th with 300. ... Packers RB Ty Montgomery had 110 scrimmage yards (75 receiving) and two TDs in Week 2, his second multi-TD game. ... Packers WR Jordy Nelson caught eight passes for 93 yards in the last meeting. He has seven receiving TDs in his past five home games.

PREDICTION: The Packers' receivers might be a little banged up, but Rodgers still has a few tight ends and Montgomery. And the Bengals can't hold onto the ball (minus-5 in turnover margin).

OUR PICK: Packers, 27-13.

**StarDust Bum** · 09-21-2017, 12:51 PM

Week 3 GameScout: Ravens at Jaguars
September 21, 2017

BALTIMORE RAVENS (2-0) AT JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (1-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET, Wembley Stadium (London). TV: Yahoo/CBS, Andrew Catalon, James Lofton, Alex Flanagan (field reporter).

SERIES HISTORY: 21st regular-season meeting. Jaguars lead series, 11-9. The Ravens have won two of the last three matchups, including a 19-17 verdict last September in Jacksonville. This will be Baltimore's first game in London, in stark contrast to Jacksonville, which is playing one of its "home" games there for the fifth year.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Ravens are confident they have a successful blueprint for attacking opponents: play dominant defense, run the ball effectively and let quarterback Joe Flacco take an occasional shot downfield. Baltimore won't deviate from this plan, especially with the challenging logistics of playing its first-ever game overseas. The Ravens will likely use a tight end to help with Jacksonville's aggressive pass rush, which leads the league with 11 sacks. Baltimore will return the favor by pressuring Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles and forcing him to make mistakes. The Ravens lead the NFL with a plus-7 turnover ratio.

The loss of Allen Robinson was a huge blow to the Jaguars' passing game and that was shown a week ago when the Jaguars had less than 100 yards through the air after three quarters. It's an indication of the heavy emphasis that Jacksonville will place on the running game each week. With Baltimore already owning eight interceptions after just two weeks of play, the Jaguars won't invest in a game plan that calls for putting the ball in the air a lot.

Look for a heavy dosage of Leonard Fournette and Chris Ivory runs, like 30-35 between them, as the Jaguars try to establish a ground attack and stick with it. It's what they did a week ago and they were fairly successful with 75 yards on the ground at halftime. But when they fell behind early in the third quarter, they had to take up a passing attack as their running backs had just four carries in the second half. Jacksonville would like to have 15-20 running plays in both halves as they control the clock and grind out yardage and points.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--Ravens RG Tony Bergstrom vs. Jaguars DT Calais Campbell. Bergstrom will face a tough test in his first start for Baltimore in place of the injured Marshal Yanda. Bergstrom was effective against the Browns, but he faces a much bigger test against Campbell, who is tied with Dallas' DeMarcus Lawrence for the league-lead with four sacks. Jacksonville will attempt to keep the pressure on Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, who missed all of training camp with an injured back. Bergstrom will have a busy day dealing with Campbell.

--Ravens CB Brandon Carr vs. Jaguars QB Blake Bortles. Carr was a key acquisition in the offseason and has an interception in each of the past two games. He will be making his 147th consecutive start -- the longest streak in the NFL among defensive players. Bortles has struggled this season and is the NFL's 25th-ranked passer, going 31 of 55 for 348 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions (72.4 passer rating).

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Jaguars WR Marqise Lee. Allen Robinson's loss may be Lee's gain. Robinson suffered a torn ACL last week and is out for the rest of the season. That will likely put Lee as the Jaguars' go-to receiver this year. With both Robinson and Lee about to have their original contracts run out at the conclusion of the 2017 season, that could give Lee a big advantage over Robinson in the structuring of a new deal. If he has a breakout season, Lee will be well-rewarded. In last week's game against Tennessee, Lee was targeted a team-high 12 times and finished with seven catches for 76 yards.

FAST FACTS: Ravens QB Joe Flacco added to his franchise records in completions (2,949), passing yardage (32,977) and TD passes (185) last week with a pair of scores in 24-10 win over Cleveland. ... Ravens S Eric Weddle intercepted the 24th pass of his career last week, good for fourth among active safeties. ... Jaguars QB Blake Bortles has thrown for 679 yards and four TD passes in the team's last three trips to London, winning two of them. His 8,681 passing yards since start of 2015 season are third in the AFC. ... DE Calais Campbell is tied for the NFL lead with four sacks through two games.

PREDICTION: The Ravens couldn't have scripted a better schedule to start the season, blanking the suddenly terrible Bengals and cruising by the feeble Browns. The Jaguars followed up a feel-good win at Houston with a stinker of a second half last week against Tennessee. Baltimore's defense makes the difference in a low-scoring game.

OUR PICK: Ravens, 20-13.

Announcement

The Bum's NFL Week # 3 Game Scout Report !

The Bum's NFL Week # 3 Game Scout Report !

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment