The NEO Sports Insiders Staff Picks The Week Three NFL Games

It’s been two weeks of crazy NFL action with a number of upsets across the board last week, such as the Buccaneers beating the Saints on the road, and the Raiders sending the Ravens to 0-2 after a 37-33 win at home. Today we give you our NEOSI NFL staff picks for the week, including their opinions on the Browns-Raiders matchup at First Energy Stadium Sunday at 1pm.

Matt Williamson
Last Week 10-6
Season 17-15

Giants over Redskins
Ravens over Bengals
Panthers over Saints
Texans over Buccaneers
Patriots over Jaguars
Jets over Eagles
Cardinals over 49ers
Seahawks over Bears
Falcons over Cowboys
Colts over Titans
Vikings over Chargers
Steelers over Rams
Bills over Dolphins
Broncos over Lions

Browns over Raiders – Browns defense shows up again at home. Travis Benjamin finds the endzone two more times.

Ryan Kaczmarski
Last Week 6-10/strong
Season 16-16

Giants over Redskins
Falcons over Cowboys
Colts over Titans
Bengals over Ravens
Patriots over Jaguars
Panthers over Saints
Eagles over Jets
Texans over Buccaneers
Chargers over Vikings
Steelers over Rams
Cardinals over 49ers
Dolphins over Bills
Seahawks over Bears
Broncos over Lions
Packers over Chiefs

Raiders 23 Browns 17 – Although most of the Twitter universe thinks this is the wrong play, McCown is the better quarterback than Manziel. It doesn’t matter this week, though. Browns lose a close, defensively-minded game.

Matt Loede
Last Week 8-8
Season 18-14/strong

Redskins over Giants
Ravens over Bengals
Panthers over Saints
Texans over Buccaneers
Patriots over Jaguars
Jets at Eagles
Falcons over Cowboys
Colts over Titans
Chargers over Vikings
Steelers over Rams
Cardinals over 49ers
Bills over Dolphins
Seahawks over Bears
Lions over Broncos
Packers over Chiefs

Raiders 16 Browns 14 – Call me crazy, but I think McCown being shoved back into the lineup isn’t the best thing for the Browns right now. The Raiders showed last week they have some solid playmakers on offense, and their defense made plays when they had to. Look for an upset that will make for radio gold on sports talk shows Monday.

Scott Piker
Last week 9-7
Season 18-14

Redskins @ Giants – Giants
Falcons @ Cowboys – Falcons
Colts @ Titans – Colts
Bengals @ Ravens – Bengals
Jaguars @ Patriots – Patriots
Saints @ Panthers – Panthers
Eagles @ Jets – Jets
Buccaneers @ Texans – Texans
Chargers @ Vikings – Chargers
Steelers @ Rams – Steelers
49ers @ Cardinals – Cardinals
Bills @ Dolphins – Dolphins
Bears @ Seahawks – Seahawks
Broncos @ Lions – Broncos
Chiefs @ Packers – Packers

Raiders @ Browns – BROWNS – The Raiders have to travel across the country for a 1PM Eastern (10AM Pacific) Kickoff. San Francisco and San Diego had problems last week. I expect Oakland to have the same issue.

Eddy Jensen
Last Week 8-8
Season 17-15

Giants over Washington
Dallas over Atlanta
Indy over Tennessee
Pittsburgh over St. Louis
San Diego over Minnesota
Patriots over Jacksonville
NY Jets over Philadelphia
Carolina over New Orleans
Baltimore over Cincinnati
Tampa Bay over Houston
Arizona over San Francisco
Buffalo over Miami
Seattle over Chicago
Denver over Detroit
Green Bay over Kansas City

Browns 24 Raiders 18 – Not that the Browns are that good at 2-1, but the Raiders never get better.

Steve Dimatteo
Last Week 4-12
Season 12-20

Giants over Washington
Atlanta over Dallas
Indy over Tennessee
St. Louis over Pittsburgh
Minnesota over San Diego
Patriots over Jacksonville
Philly over Jets
Carolina over New Orleans
Cincy over Baltimore
Tampa Bay over Houston
Arizona over San Francisco
Buffalo over Miami
Seattle over Chicago
Detroit over Denver
Green Bay over Kansas City

Raiders over Browns – The return of Josh McCown won’t do much for the Browns, as their inconsistent offense sputters once again in a 17-13 loss at home that kills any momentum the team had following Week 2’s victory against Tennessee.

Adrienne Goehler
Last Week 9-7
Season 19-13

NYG over WSH
ATL over DAL
IND over TEN
BAL over CIN
NE over JAX
CAR over NO
NYJ over PHI
TB over HOU
MIN over SD
PIT over STL
ARI over SF
BUF over MIA
SEA over CHI
DEN over DET
GB over KC

Browns over Raiders 20-17 – Maybe I’m a bit of a homer, but I’m taking the Brownies for the third straight week. Even though I was expecting Manziel to start the game, I could see McCown on a short leash allowing #2 to get some snaps and take over if necessary. Another home game could mean more of that swarming defense we saw last week, which one could hope would rattle young Derek Carr.

Spencer Davies
Last Week 7-9
Season 15-17

NYG over WAS
ATL over DAL
IND over TEN
CIN over BAL
NE over JAX
CAR over NO
PHI over NYJ
HOU over TB
SD over MIN
STL over PIT
ARI over SF
BUF over MIA
SEA over CHI
DEN over DET
GB over KC

Raiders 31 Browns 21 – This is the first time I’ve picked against the Browns. There’s going to be a lot more scoring then most think in this one. Josh McCown will be fine returning from concussion. I see him hooking up with both Andrew Hawkins and Gary Barnidge in the end zone. I’ll also say that rookie back Duke Johnson gets his first NFL career rushing touchdown. But don’t sleep on an youthful and improving Raiders offense. As a rookie, Derek Carr threw for 328 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions against Cleveland last year with zero weapons. Zero.

He now has Amari Cooper, a receiver who’s garnered 156 yards and a TD on 12 catches and has already made his mark in the first two weeks of the season. Carr also has Michael Crabtree on the opposite side of the rookie. But Cooper and Crabtree aren’t going to be the ones doing the brunt of the damage with Joe Haden and Tramon Williams on them. It’s going to be Oakland’s Latavius Murray that’s going to rip apart the Browns’ disappointing-to-date run defense for over 100 yards and a couple of scores.

Vince Miller
Last Week 9-7
Season 19-13

Falcons over Cowboys
Colts over Texans
Steelers over Rams
Chargers over Vikings
Patriots over Jaguars
Eagles over Jets
Panthers over Saints
Bengals over Ravens
Bucs over Texans
Cardinals over 49ers
Dolphins over Bills
Seahawks over Bears
Lions over Broncos
Packers over Chiefs

Browns 24 – Raiders 14 – Cleveland will rely on their defense to rattle the young Oakland QB and Carr will play victim to the crowd noise and attacking style defense. Travis Benjamin’s performance last week will open up opportunities for other receivers and will allow McCown do what the coaching staff wants — manage the game and have effective drives. Look for The Crow to eat all game against an unreliable front seven.

Mike Perry

Giants over Redskins
Cowboys over Falcons
Colts over Titans
Ravens over Bengals
Patriots over Jaguars
Panthers over Saints
Jets over Eagles
Texans over Buccaneers
Vikings over Chargers
Rams over Steelers
Cardinals over 49ers
Dolphins over Bills
Seahawks over Bears
Broncos over Lions
Packers over Chiefs

Browns over Raiders: Even without Johnny Football starting the Browns should be able to handle a shaky Oakland defense. The Raiders have a terrible secondary and a marginal front seven. Cleveland should move the ball well and put points on the board (for a change). I like the Browns by a touchdown.

Brandon Urasek

NYG over WAS
CIN over BAL
CAR over NO
HOU over TB
NE over JAC
NYJ over PHI
ATL over DAL
IND over TEN
MIN over SD
PIT over STL
ARI over SF
MIA over BUF
SEA over CHI
DEN over DET
GB over KC

Browns 17 Raiders 16 – Joe Haden has fared well over number one wide receivers in the past not named Antonio Brown. Both offenses are a crap shoot on whether they show up or not so I think it will be a low scoring and bend but not break game that the Browns squeeze out.

Dan Gilles

Giants over Redskins
Falcons over Cowboys
Bengals over Ravens
Colts over Titans
Patriots over Jaguars
Panthers over Saints
Jets over Eagles
Rams over Steelers
Chargers over Vikings
Bucs over Texans
Cardinals over 49ers
Bills over Dolphins
Seahawks over Bears
Broncos over Lions
Packers over Chiefs

Browns over Raiders – Josh McCown is back as the starting quarterback because the coaching staff believes he gives the Browns the best chance to win. I am in agreement with Mike Pettine. Just a note to McCown — when it doubt, slide feet first.

Matt Medley

Giants over Redskins
Falcons over Cowboys
Colts over Titans
Ravens over Bengals
Patriots over Jaguars
Panthers over Saints
Eagles over Jets
Texans over Buccaneers
Chargers over Vikings
Steelers over Rams
Cardinals over 49ers
Bills over Dolphins
Seahawks over Bears
Broncos over Lions
Packers over Chiefs

Browns over Raiders 31-17 –  Browns keep momentum at home after big win last week. Raiders lose in their first road game of the season traveling cross-country.