Each Week, Head of Content Michael Schottey makes his picks for the upcoming slate of NFL action. For more on the best picks of the week, check out Pickwatch Pro for only $30 per year and get access to in-depth insights on proven winners.
All odds are courtesy of our friends at BetMGM.
Denver Broncos @ Cleveland Browns (-3.5)
This pick was all Browns right up until we found out that it would be Case Keenum starting at quarterback. Is Keenum a deal breaker? No, not on his own, but it’s a short week and this Broncos defense should have the advantage. Pick: Broncos
Washington Football Team @ Green Bay Packers (-9.5)
Going to just pre-edit the Washington Football Team wiki to make Packers QB Aaron Rodgers the “owner” now. Wait, would Rodgers immediately be the best owner in Washington Football Team history? He might be… Pick: Packers
Kansas City Chiefs (-5.5) @ Tennessee Titans
Are the Titans the worldbeaters they looked like in the second half against the Buffalo Bills or are they the team that lost to the New York Jets? In the end, they’re probably somewhere in the middle but their banged up secondary should provide a good rebound game for the Chiefs offense. Pick: Chiefs
Atlanta Falcons (-2.5) @ Miami Dolphins
The Falcons are pretty enigmatic offensively for a team with so much talent, but the Dolphins are giving up a fourth-worst 29.5 yards per game and are a constant struggle offensively themselves. Pick: Falcons
New York Jets @ New England Patriots (-7)
In their last matchup, the Patriots had the perfect game plan for Jets rookie passer Zach Wilson. I expect that to hold true this week as well but the Patriots offense should be even better. Pick: Patriots
Carolina Panthers (-3) @ New York Giants
As my Three & Out co-host Ty Schalter likes to say, this is one of those “moveable objects” versus “stoppable force” matchups. The Giants absolutely have the offensive talent to win this game, but the Panthers are seemingly one or two mistakes from a win each week while the Giants are just one big mistake. Pick: Panthers
Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens (-6.5)
The Ravens are playing like one of the best teams in the NFL right now, but the Bengals are no slouch. The Ravens can absolutely move the ball, but the Bengals are a good rushing defense and can win on some shots down the field. This one feels like it should stay close, but take the better team at home. Pick: Ravens
Philadelphia Eagles @ Oakland Raiders (-3)
The Raiders showed that they could move past the Jon Gruden issues last week against a much better Denver Broncos team, but I also really like the Eagles to show well with their offensive line getting healthier. The Eagles have also been, low-key, pretty good against the pass, so I’m not feeling good enough to pick the upset, but the Eagles should keep it close. Pick: Raiders
Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Rams (-15.5)
The Lions have been too good against the spread this season for me to think this one is going to be in the double digits, but there’s no way Lions QB Jared Goff does anything but lay an egg here against a team that knows his foibles well. Pick: Rams
Houston Texans @ Arizona Cardinals (-17)
I can’t be the only one that believes the Cardinals are going to pour it on in this matchup as they’re still being underappreciated. Pick: Cardinals
Chicago Bears @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-12.5)
I fully expect the Buccaneers to play down to their competition here and the Bears to keep it a little closer than the spread, but I can’t see QB Tom Brady doing anything but winning this game. Pick: Buccaneers
Indianapolis Colts @ San Francisco 49ers (-3.5)
Maybe the most difficult game of the week to pick because these are both two underachieving teams that, when they perform their best, could be in the upper echelon of the NFL. Which team will we actually get on either side? I think the 49ers bye week may be the difference here. Pick: 49ers
New Orleans Saints (-4.5) @ Seattle Seahawks
The Saints may have the up-and-down Jameis Winston at QB, and maybe that’s a deal breaker here, but the Saints are quietly the second-best defense in the NFL and should be more than enough to stop QB Geno Smith and Co. Pick: Saints