# NFL Week 3 picks and score predictions > Two undefeated teams go down, Broncos edge Rams in thriller - Title: NFL Week 3 picks and score predictions · CBS Sports | Shortify - Summary: Two undefeated teams go down, Broncos edge Rams in thriller The Dolphins are historically bad and haven't led a single game all season, while the Texans and… - Keywords: nfl, week 3, picks, predictions, miami dolphins, houston texans, minnesota vikings, denver broncos, los angeles rams, 0-17 watch, undefeated teams, cj stroud - Source: CBS Sports — https://cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-3-picks-score-predictions - Published: 2026-09-22T13:14:00+00:00 - Read time: 4 min - Topics: nfl, week 3, picks, predictions, miami dolphins, houston texans, minnesota vikings, denver broncos, los angeles rams, 0-17 watch, undefeated teams, cj stroud ## Dolphins in historic freefall Miami hasn't held a lead for even a single second through two games. They're the only team in the NFL with this distinction, putting them on pace for a potential 0-17 season. > They haven't even HELD A LEAD. We are heading into Week 3 and they have not been in the lead for even a single second this season. ## Falcons skip red zone work Atlanta hasn't run a single play in the red zone through two weeks, making them the first team in 18 years to start a season without any red zone action. > The Falcons haven't run a single play in the red zone this year. ## Chargers set football back Los Angeles is only the second team in NFL history to lose back-to-back home games by double digits against sub-.500 opponents. The first was the 1926 Racine Tornadoes, who folded shortly after. > The Chargers are the second team in NFL history to lose back-to-back games by double digits with both coming at home against teams that had a sub-.200 win pct the previous season. ## Texans and Colts both winless Houston and Indianapolis are 0-2, but both teams faced brutal early schedules. The Colts played Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes while the Texans faced Josh Allen and Joe Burrow. ## Stroud looks like 2023 version CJ Stroud has thrown for 627 yards through two weeks, third-most in the NFL. He's playing smart football and leading an offense that scored 31 points in Week 1 despite struggling in Week 2. > I'm starting to think C.J. Stroud found a time machine and went back and kidnapped the 2023 version of himself, because that's what he's looked like this year. ## Texans pick: 27-24 over Colts Houston has started 0-2 twice before (2023, 2025) and made the playoffs both times. The Texans' defense is elite and their offense is clicking despite early struggles. ## Vikings win with anyone at QB Minnesota became the first team in NFL history to win four straight games with four different starting quarterbacks. Kyler Murray returns this week to face Tampa Bay. > If the Vikings have proven one thing over the past 12 months, it's that they can win games no matter who's under center. ## Vikings defense dominates Minnesota's defense is one of the best in the NFL and won a game 9-3 last week. The unit is so strong that it almost doesn't matter who plays quarterback. ## Buccaneers pick: 19-16 over Vikings Tampa Bay is 0-2 and facing elimination. No NFC team has started 0-3 and made the playoffs in 30 years, so the Buccaneers will find a way to pull off the upset. ## Ravens face Cowboys in Brazil The NFL plays its first game in Rio de Janeiro this week. Baltimore's offense with Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson will run circles around Dallas's weak run defense. ## Henry underused in Week 2 The Ravens only gave Derrick Henry five carries in the second half against New Orleans despite leading by double digits. New coordinator Declan Doyle will lean heavily on the Hall of Famer this week. > The Ravens only gave Henry FIVE CARRIES in the second half against the Saints. ## Ravens pick: 34-27 over Cowboys Baltimore's dominant offense faces Dallas's struggling defense. The field conditions in Brazil are a concern, but the Ravens should still win this high-scoring matchup. ## Raiders undefeated but unproven Las Vegas is 2-0 but has only beaten Miami and Los Angeles, teams that are a combined 0-4. Kirk Cousins and the Raiders remain a mystery heading into Week 3. ## Saints slow to start, fast to finish New Orleans has scored just six points in the first half this season, tied for fewest in the NFL. But Tyler Shough leads the league with 662 passing yards, over half coming in the fourth quarter or overtime. > If you don't throw a knockout punch on the Saints in the first half, they're probably going to beat you. ## Saints pick: 27-24 over Raiders New Orleans will be without left tackle Kelvin Banks due to a sprained ankle, but Shough will still find a way to lead a fourth-quarter comeback against the Raiders' pass rush. ## Broncos and Rams almost met last year Denver made the AFC Championship but lost without Bo Nix. Los Angeles came six yards short of the Super Bowl against Seattle. Now they meet in Week 3 with neither playing as well as last season. ## Rams exhausted from travel Los Angeles flew 16 hours to Australia in Week 1 and now faces another cross-country trip to Denver on short rest. By the end of Week 3, the Rams will have traveled more miles than 13 teams travel all season. > After flying 15,842 miles round trip to Melbourne in Week 1, they're now adding 1,724 round-trip miles on this flight to Denver. ## Broncos pick: 23-21 over Rams Denver's defense is struggling this year but the Rams' travel fatigue and road disadvantage give the Broncos the edge in this thriller between two evenly matched teams. ## Perfect strategy: pick against Miami The Dolphins are so bad that the easiest way to win a survivor pool is to simply pick against them every week. Even half the country got eliminated in Week 1 by picking the Chargers. > The key to winning a survivor pool is to not overthink. Just pick against the Dolphins. ## Key takeaway The Dolphins are historically bad and haven't led a single game all season, while the Texans and Vikings look like the week's safest bets despite early struggles.