NFL Pro Football 2011 Week 3 Picks Late Games

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Fearless Rick's NFL Week 3 Picks - Late Games
Rick Gagliano | September 25-26
All times Eastern - Click here for early games.
Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers (-14 1/2, 45) 4:05 pm - This one should provide the blowout of the week, with the Chiefs now without their leading rusher, Jamaal Charles, lost for the season with a torn left ACL. Even with Charles, the Chiefs have been the worst team in the league after two weeks, losing 41-7 at home to the Bills in Week 1 only to follow up that disaster with a 48-3 beat-down in Detroit.
With the Chargers at home and in need of a win following their loss at New England, the rout should be on early.
Prediction: Chargers 44 Chiefs 10

Baltimore Ravens (-3 1/2, 41 1/2) at St. Louis Rams 4:05 pm - Oddly enough, the Ravens are favored on the road over the Rams, who pretty much handed the Monday night game to the Giants, 28-16.
St. Louis has had serious problems converting in the red zone over the first two weeks, though they were up against the Eagles (Week 1) and the Giants. Baltimore's red zone defense may just be even better, however.
The Ravens turned the ball over three times in their 26-13 home loss to the Titans, so they will probably tighten up things on offense and get Ray Rice more carries. The Rams have a winner in Sam Bradford, but he needs better receivers if the Rams intend to be competitive.
Another reason to like the Ravens: they haven't lost two straight since October of 2009.
Prediction: Ravens 23 Rams 17

NY Jets (-3, 41) at Oakland Raiders 4:05 pm - The Jets really put it all together in their 32-3 win over Jacksonville last week and seem to be hitting their best stride early on. This is the first of three straight road games for the 2-0 Jets, the next two being at Baltimore and New England (somebody making up the schedules doesn't like Rex Ryan), so a win is a must.
Oakland blew a 21-3 half time lead at Buffalo, losing 38-35 when the Bills scored a TD with 14 ticks left on the clock. Inconsistency and penalties have plagued the Raiders, as they do most young teams, and they don't appear ready nor willing to take on teams of the Jets' caliber. Beating Denver on the road and losing to the Bills - also on the road - suggests that the Raiders may be more comfortable at home, though having to play their first home game against one of the best teams in the conference isn't exactly a vote of confidence.
Prediction: Jets 24 Raiders 16

Green Bay Packers (-3 1/2, 45 1/2) at Chicago Bears 4:15 pm - Like it or not, even though the Packers won the Super Bowl, they did not win the division last season. That was won by the Bears, who are smarting coming off a 30-13 loss at New Orleans and looking to get back into the NFC North race, where they are currently - at 1-1 - looking upwards at both the Packers and the Lions.
Last season's two meetings were epic struggles, with the Packers winning both: 10-3 at home and 21-14 at Soldier Field. With that kind of edge in recent games and QB Aaron Rodgers looking like the best thing since Tom Brady, there's little doubt Green Bay can go to 3-0 here.
Prediction: Packers 21 Bears 14

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Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-1 1/2, 45 1/2) 4:15 pm - The Bucs bounced back nicely from their opening week, 27-20, home loss to Detroit with a nifty 24-20 win at Minnesota, in which QB Josh Freeman and RB LeGarrette rallied back from a 17-0 half time deficit for the win.
Atlanta was being taken to the woodshed by the Eagles until Michael Vick was escorted from the field with a concussion, rallying from being down 31-21 at the start of the 4th quarter to win going away, 35-31 on two TDs in the final period.
The Falcons have owned the Bucs lately, winning five straight, though four of those games have been decided by six points or less. The line seems a bit short for Tampa, however, in a match-up which clearly favors Atlanta.
Prediction: Falcons 24 Buccaneers 21

Arizona Cardinals (-3, 43) at Seattle Seahawks 4:15 pm - As predicted before the season started, the Seahawks are vying with the Chiefs and the Colts for worst-in-the-league status, having scored just 17 points while giving up 57 after two games. The Cardinals have an opportunity to stay with the 49ers - depending on the outcome of San Fran's early game at Cincinnati - atop the NFC West and they couldn't have picked a better opponent. A conference and division win would go a long way toward making the playoffs and the Cards probably won't blow this.
Prediction: Cardinals 31 Seahawks 13

Pittsburgh Steelers (-11, 39 1/2) at Indianapolis Colts 8:20 pm - Without Peyton Manning, the Colts are a bit helpless, though the offense should improve the more reps ageless Kerry Collins gets. Pittsburgh looked awesome beating Seattle, 24-0, which isn't saying much, but this one looks almost too easy.
Prediction: Steelers 24 Colts 6

Monday, Sept. 26
Washington Redskins at Dallas Cowboys (-4, 45 1/2) 8:30 pm - Tony Romo says he's good to go Monday night, so there's reason to believe he will start and will be effective. The Redskins have surprised even themselves by going 2-0 and leading the NFC East standings, but this is a very hostile environment against a hunrgy divisional opponent in need of a win. These two split their two games last season, each winning at home, though both games were close, Dallas taking a 33-30 win and the Redskins 13-7 victors in D.C. Lots of reasons to believe this rivalry will produce another close one, but the Cowboys should come out on top.
Prediction: Cowboys 27 Redskins 21
All times Eastern - Click here for early games
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