NFL: 5 Things I Learned Week 3

The NFL is the best because it is unpredictable. Let the good times roll.

Week 3 – 5 Things I Learned

1. Chiefs Luck Ran Out – We saw it last year in the Super Bowl, but besides that game, the Chiefs were able to win every game despite slow starts and poor play. The Chargers went into Arrowhead and flipped the Chiefs script with a come from behind victory. This loss by KC leaves the Chiefs 1-12-1 in their last 14 games Against the Spread. The Chiefs Defense is just bad and now sit in last place in the AFC West.
2. Big Ben Is Done – Most football experts knew this in 2019, but when Ben took a payout to come back and entered camp “in the best shape of my life,” some thought it was going to be a good year. Nope. Through 3 games, Ben has just 801 yards on 130 attempts, that is 6.16 YD/ATT just above the struggling rookies. Ben is a 2x Super Bowl Champ, but it is time to move on. The Steelers don’t have their heir apparent, but he’s done and he knows it.
3. Matt Nagy Should Be Fired – Yep, I’m a Bears fan, but in Rookie QB’s first start, Nagy could only call up enough plays to muster up 47 total yards of Offense. 9 sacks on a mobile QB. With a rookie, you have to set up easy completions to gain confidence not let him drop back again and again to be killed. The Bears should have fired Nagy (and Ryan Pace in the off season), but I guess he will have to embarrass himself for the rest of the season to make that happen.
4. Justin Tucker Is The Best – Hard to talk about Kickers, but with a guy hits a 66 yarder at the gun to win a game and has done it from deep so consistently, you have to tip you hat. Tucker is now 90.6% on FGs made all time. That is the best by a pretty wide margin. Plus, his accuracy from beyond 50 is just incredible.
5. Rams Are The Team to Beat – After a resounding win over the Champs, the Rams look like the best team in the NFL at the start of this season. I was a skeptic with Stafford, but he has taken to the new system and definitely to his favorite target, Cooper Kupp (who leads the league in Receptions, Yards and Receiving TDs). The Defense isn’t playing as well as in 2020, but something can be said about complementary football. KC and TB are still +600 to win the Super Bowl, but Rams at +800 seems to be a better bet right now.

Key Games to Watch in Week 4

• Panthers at Cowboys (-5, 50.5 Total) Sunday, 10/3 at 12 Noon Central – Are the Panthers for real? I don’t think so, but they will have a real test at the Cowboys. I give the coaching edge to Matt Rhule in CAR, but DAL has more talent despite McCarthy. 5 points seems heavy, but either way, I like the Under in this one.
• Bucs at Patriots (+6.5, 49 Total) Sunday, 10/3 at 7:20 PM Central – Not really a marquee match up here, but the Brady returns to New England storyline to face Belichick is compelling television. I think the Bucs will stomp them, but maybe the old mentor has some tricks up his sleeve for TB12.
• Raiders at Chargers (-3.5, 52.5 Total) Monday, 10/4 at 7:15 PM Central – The Raiders are red hot with 2 OT wins in the young season, while the Chargers just knocked off the Chiefs. It should be fun to watch this one. I think the right team is favored here, but maybe a little heavy given the divisional match up. Should be a high scoring one given that total.

Ready for another fun week.

Wegs