Richard Witt makes his selections for Week 3 of the NFL season.
Buccaneers (+7) over PATRIOTS: Lost in the lack of discipline and subpar QB play from Josh Freeman is the fact the Bucs defense is better than good, and Darrelle Revis will be pleased to torture Tom Brady. Even with a possible Rob Gronkowski sighting today, Brady would have been better off allocating a few million a year from his own pile to facilitate resigning of Wes Welker.
Giants (+1) over PANTHERS: Both sides winless, but one has a quarterback (Eli Manning) who has been known to stage crunch-time rallies on his better days, while Cam Newton has been unimpressive in his attempts to prod the troops when under the gun, late.
JETS (-2) over Bills: Jets O-line needs to protect Geno Smith, and the young QB can’t give the ball away. But as noted by Steve Serby in Thursday’s Post, Rex Ryan is 6-1 against rookie quarterbacks as Gang Green headmaster.
Chargers (+3) over TITANS: Mike Munchak’s Titans offense has been from hunger, while Mike McCoy’s Bolts have been revitalized as Philip Rivers has been taking deeper drops. Disposal of the September’s-just-a-warmup approach of former coach Norv Turner hasn’t hurt.
VIKINGS (-6) over Browns: Cleveland defense respectable, but Wednesday’s trade of RB Trent Richardson to the Colts and the installation of Brian Hoyer at QB for his second career start could be signs Browns brass has taken quite a fancy to Louisville QB Teddy Bridgewater.
Texans (-2 ½) over RAVENS: Hardly a cinch, given the power of this locale, but Joe Flacco was a more-valuable operative when Ravens were rolling a superior supporting case out there. Ray Rice doubtful.
Rams (+4) over COWBOYS: Like an AA newbie, Cowboys have failed to wean themselves away from passing the ball too many times per outing.
SAINTS (-7 ½) over Cardinals: Both sides will be striving to bear up under some enormously negative technical performance indicators, so will take Saints, reborn with Sean Payton’s return. Arizona defense simply not as intense away from the cacti.
Lions (+2) over REDSKINS: Detroit has visited the Redskins 16 times, and never won. Nicked-up Reggie Bush is no cinch to play, while home side’s played two inert first halves, showing no offensive life whatsoever until foes Philly and Green Bay shifted into prevent mode. Robert Griffin III’s going to run more this week? He had better.
Packers (-2 ½) over BENGALS: What’s left in Cincy’s tank after draining, but oh-so-satisfying, stuffing of the hated Steelers? Diminished energy may be enough to affect result, in close call.
Falcons (+2) over DOLPHINS: Number’s riding up escalator because key RB Steven Jackson’s out for Falcons with bad hammy … not to mention Roddy White’s sprained ankle. Even without Jackson, my tech tea leaves say Falcons, though would like to see kind of killer instinct we seldom see from Atlanta on the road.
49ERS (-10 ½) over Colts: Even with addition of Trent Richardson, Colts likely entering an underperforming stretch, given bad luck of catching Jim Harbaugh’s Niners off a loss. Still appreciate Andrew Luck, but as for Indy as a whole, don’t be surprised if last year’s emotional surge proves unsustainable.
Jaguars (+19) over SEAHAWKS: Jags’ head honcho Gus Bradley came to this after serving as defensive coordinator for Pete Carroll for three seasons. Off huge win over Niners, does Carroll really want to stick it to his old comrade? With Justin Blackmon suspended and Maurice Jones-Drew ouchy, they don’t give extra credit for pointless routs, and surmise Bradley’s looking to escape with a gentle spanking.
STEELERS (+2 ¹/₂) over Bears: With ace TE Martellus Bennett banged up, and Charles Tillman no cinch to see action, Ben Roethlisberger (hopefully with the help of TE Heath Miller) could extend his mystical domination (15-1, at home) of NFC foes.
MONDAY
Raiders (+15) over BRONCOS: Seasonal pacing matters, and given the 2013 ambitions of ownership, John Fox and Peyton Manning, there’s little point to applying a remorseless scalding in a divisional. Bill Belichick acted as if he could pillage the Pats’ entire schedule without consequence back in ’07, and you saw what happened to Spy Boy.
LAST WEEK: 7-8
SEASON: 12-17-1