Welcome to Week 3! Last week I finished 8-7 ATS in what was a wild weekend of action. The Falcons and Cardinals coming back late to cover (and win in the Cardinals case) was NOT something I saw coming, nor was Jaylen Hurts hanging his nuts all over the Vikings’ defense. That was truly impressive to watch on Monday Night. Almost as impressive as the Bills continuing to be an absolute wagon. 17-0 is firmly on the table. I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but it’s on the table.
Anyways, I’ll pick the full slate of Sunday games and the Monday Nighter on Sunday Morning, but Week 3 starts tonight, so I have to get my TNF pick in today, and since I’m only talking about one game, I’ll go into a bit more detail than I do for each matchup on Sunday.
PIT @ CLE -4½ – The Steelers fell flat last week against my beloved, and painfully average, Patriots. Mitch Trubisky continued to show absolutely no ability to throw the ball down the field with any success, and the JJ Watt-less defense couldn’t get to Mac Jones, who is playing behind an average line that’s still learning a new blocking scheme. Not good on either side of the ball for the Steelers. The Pittsburgh faithful were also chanting “Kenny, Kenny” during the second half, calling for the rookie QB, Kenny Pickett, to replace Mitch just 6 quarters into the season. Also not good.
The Browns, howevuuuuuuah (Stephen A. Smith voice), suffered one of the most embarrassing losses in recent memory against all-time great Joe Flacco and the goddamn Jets last week. The Browns lead the Jets 30-17 with 1:32 left in the 4th quarter and somehow figured out a way to lose 31-30.
Let’s just say both teams are coming off a forgettable Week 2 after squeaking out Week 1 wins against teams that are currently 0-2.
I think these two teams are similar in a lot of ways, including at the quarterback position. Gun to my head, I’d take Jacoby Brissett over Mitch Trubisky in a “gotta have it” game, but neither option is desirable. The Browns have the edge in the backfield with Chubb and Hunt being better than anything the Steelers have in the running back room, but the Steelers get the nod when it comes to receivers with Johnson, Claypool, and Pickens. The defenses are both average with JJ Watt watching from the sidelines.
I think the spread here is spot on with Cleveland giving 4½ at home but I’m not here to sing the praises of the Vegas linemakers. I’m here to make picks. I’ll go with the Browns covering the 4½, but I’m feeling a late cover, possibly piggybacking on a Mitch Trubisky pick, in the last few minutes. This game is shaping up to be quite ugly with two below-average teams on 3-days of rest. Pick: Browns
