The NFL season moves by so quickly that you might miss something, so you'd better keep your eyes peeled.
It feels like only yesterday that we were in the middle of training camp, but before we know it, we're in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season and several championship contenders are beginning to emerge.
A fascinating matchup with some fascinating predictions awaits. SB Nation We've come together to highlight Week 3's “Upset Special.” Will any of our predictions be correct? Only time will tell.
Arizona Cardinals beat Detroit Lions – Mark Schofield
After losing the season opener, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals They won their home opener by a landslide score of 41-10. Los Angeles RamsMarvin Harrison Jr. looked like the wide receiver he was expected to be, Kyler Murray had a great performance running in and out of the pocket, and James Conner added 122 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Now they Detroit Lions Coming to town. The odds may be in Arizona's favor, but the Lions haven't been perfect in their two games. Sure, they bounced back in Week 1, but they needed overtime to beat the Rams at home.
Is Arizona for real? I believe so, and I think this week will be the week we find out for sure.
Jacksonville Jaguars beat Buffalo Bills – Matt Warren
Look, I know the Bills are in very good form and the Jaguars are, well, not so good. But that didn't stop Jacksonville from beating Buffalo recently. Buffalo is 1-3 against Jacksonville since the Bills hired head coach Sean McDermott in 2017. That includes a 10-3 playoff loss (albeit before Josh Allen was at QB) and a disastrous 9-6 loss in 2021. That 2021 game represented exactly half of the wins Urban Meyer had as an NFL head coach during his 2-11 season at Duval. Buffalo wasn't a bad team that year, as they pushed the Chiefs to the limit in the AFC Divisional Round and lost in the final 13 seconds, but they still found a way to lose to the Jaguars. Last season in London, the Bills were out-rushed, 196-29, and Trevor Lawrence completed 25 of 37 attempts for 315 yards and a touchdown as Jacksonville won, 25-20.
New York Giants beat Cleveland Browns – Jared Mueller
Would you bet on the Giants? No way. Would you think New York will win in Week 3? No way. Is it possible? Very possible. And the reason is simple:
The Giants' strength is the Browns' biggest concern right now.
With the final practice looming on Friday, Cleveland could start one, two, three or four of Jed Wills, Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones and James Hudson III at left or right tackle. Health-wise, Hudson is the most likely to be active on Sunday after being easily lost the first two weeks. Jones missed practice earlier this week and Wills is limited, and Conklin is hoping to return for the first time since his Week 1 injury last year and could play left tackle for the first time since 2016-2017, when he played 67 total snaps.
On the other side of the ball, they have Brian Barnes and Kayvon Thibodeau on the outside and Dexter Lawrence in the middle. New York may not have other strengths, but many teams will want to have those three on their defensive line. Cleveland has allowed 33 pressures in the two games so far. Matching up with that trio with both starting tackles uncertain is a recipe for disaster. Done Leads to agitation.
