We’ve got three free NFL preseason week three picks. As noted in earlier preseason previews and picks, these games can be very tough to handicap due to the fact that starters often sit out or don’t play at all, teams are experimenting, and the games have no meaning when it comes to the 2-16 season. A team can lose every one of their four preseason games and go on to win the Super Bowl. With all of that in mind, here are our free NFL preseason week three picks.
Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins
As we consider this first of our four NFL preseason week three picks, we have to note that the Falcons are 2-0 and playing well. They have a PF/PA differential of +17. They beat the Washington Redskins 23-17 and the Cleveland Browns 24-13. The 1-1 Dolphins beat the NY Giants in week one 27-10 and then lost to the Dallas Cowboys the next week 41-14.
Miami has some key players out and their quarterback situation is questionable. The Falcons look solid and have managed to play good defense while putting together some scoring drives. We like the Atlanta Falcons at +3.0. The game will be played Thursday night, August 25th.
NFL Pick: Atlanta at +3.0
Pittsburgh Steelers at New Orleans Saints
This game has these teams even. Interesting to note that the Steelers are 0-2 in the preseason while the Saints stand at 1-1. The Detroit Lions beat the Steelers in the first week 30-17. Then in week two Pittsburgh lost to the Philadelphia Eagles 17-0. Their differential is at -30 and the team’s backup quarterback situation looks to be very weak, as Landry Jones has underperformed.
New Orleans is also 0-2, but their differential is only at -19. They lost to the New England Patriots 34-22 and to the Houston Texans 16-9. New Orleans has a tough time stopping offenses, but, then again, the Steelers have not put much of one on the field.
Pittsburgh has a bunch of suspensions and injuries, and none of that will help this team. For the Saints, Luke McCowen will probably get the most time on the field as QB, while Landry Jones will do a majority of the signal calling for Pittsburgh. Theses two teams are even. We’re giving the nod to the home team in this one, New Orleans. This game will be played Friday night, August 26th.
NFL Pick: New Orleans Saints at Even
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
The 1-1 Detroit Lions visit the 2-0 Baltimore Ravens on Saturday. The Lions beat the Steelers in week one 30-17, while they lost to the Cincinnati Bengals 30-14 in the second week. The Ravens beat the Carolina Panthers in the first week 22-19 and the Indianapolis Colts in the second 19-18.
What’s scary about trying to pick this game is that neither team looks be dominating. Plus, the Ravens, who are -3.0 in this contest, may be 2-0, have been less than dominant in victory. I’m going with a gut call on this one. Take the Ravens at -3.0. The game will be played Saturday in Baltimore.
NFL Pick: Baltimore Ravens at -3.0
NFL Preseason Week Three Picks: Looking Forward
There’s one more preseason week to go after this one. As we get closer to the first week of the regular NFL season, the landscape for the upcoming year will become clearer. We’ll have a sense of what teams to watch, what players look to be game changers, and what clubs on which to bet. With all of that in mind, take it easy with these three free NFL preseason week three picks. It is, after all, preseason for handicappers too.
