NFL Week Three Tips – CopyBet
Week 2 of the NFL season delivered more late-game drama and breakout performances, and Week 3 promises even greater intensity as divisional rivalries heat up and playoff contenders begin to separate from the pack.
Sunday’s top game is between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals, an all-AFC West matchup that pits one of the league’s most complete rosters against a surprise 2-0 team.
That mouth-watering clash features in our best bets of the week.
Miami Dolphins vs Buffalo Bills
This is the first of three consecutive home games for Buffalo, who will expect to be 5-0 by the start of October.
The Bills have dominated this AFC East rivalry in recent years, winning 13 of their last 14 meetings with Miami, and they look well placed to extend that streak at Highmark Stadium.
Last season’s league MVP Josh Allen shook off a bloody nose that sidelined him for two plays as Bills running back James Cook claimed the spotlight by rushing for 132 yards and two touchdowns in an easy win over the New York Jets.
Meanwhile, the Dolphins lost the battle in the trenches against the New England Patriots last week and will have to establish their run game and better protect Tua Tagovailoa if they are to avoid a heavy defeat.
With Buffalo’s pass rush firing and Allen in rhythm, the hosts should cover comfortably.
Los Angeles Rams vs Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles’ 11-match home win streak is going to be under threat from a Rams team that has begun to click on both sides of the ball.
Matthew Stafford has the weapons at his disposal to move the chains, while the Rams have allowed only one touchdown to their opponents this year — the fewest in the NFL.
Philadelphia’s offensive playmakers are not quite on the same page yet, with star wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith thus far delivering very few fantasy points for their managers.
But when these two last met in the Divisional Round of the playoffs, Saquon Barkley broke off touchdown runs of 62 and 78 yards to take the game away from the Rams, who also couldn’t stop Jalen Hurts rumbling for a 44-yard score.
Los Angeles can still be vulnerable against the rush, so Stafford may need to air it out in an up-tempo gameplan that could yield at least three touchdowns.
Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers return to Levi’s Stadium with a perfect record and a defence that’s been stout under the command of returning former Jets head coach Robert Saleh.
They face a Cardinals team that has surprised many with back-to-back wins, but this is a major step up in class.
Mac Jones has settled well into Kyle Shanahan’s quarterback-friendly San Francisco system, and Christian McCaffrey remains a consistent threat both on the ground and through the air.
Arizona will rely heavily on Kyler Murray’s improvisation, but San Francisco’s disciplined pass rush and ball-hawking secondary should keep the scoring in check.
Expect the 49ers to win comfortably, but with clock control and defensive dominance keeping the total under.
Detroit Lions vs Baltimore Ravens
Monday Night Football serves up a potential shootout between two of the league’s most dynamic offenses.
Lamar Jackson led the Ravens to a 41-17 win over the Browns last week, their second straight 41-point performance, and yet it still feels like there is a lot more to come from them.
Derrick Henry was held to just 23 yards on the ground and Baltimore have been sluggish starters in both games, only coming to life after some significant adjustments.
Meanwhile, Jared Goff led the Lions to a 52-21 rout of the Chicago Bears in a much-needed bounce-back display following their Week 1 defeat at Lambeau Field.
The Lions led the league with an average of 33 points per game last season while the Ravens were not far off in third place with 30 points.
There is little doubt that both are capable of putting 25 or more points on the board in this hotly-anticipated Monday Night Football matchup.