All times Eastern
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4:05 pm Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams (-6 1/2, 48) - The battle for supremacy in the city of angels probably will be decided in the third quarter as the Rams defense tightens up on Chargers' QB Phillip Rivers.
The Rams are loaded on both sides of the ball, can score from anywhere, and lead the league in points allowed at 6.5 per game. Could be the blowout game of the week.
Coin Flip: Los Angeles Chargers
PREDICTION: Rams 34 Chargers 10
4:25 pm Chicago Bears (-4, 40 1/2) at Arizona Cardinals - Fresh off their 24-17 win over Seattle, the Bears take their highly-touted defense to Arizona, where the Cardinals have yet to score a touchdown.
In two games, the Cards have already folded, scoring just six points on a pair of field goals while giving up 58 in back-to-back losses. While the Bears are still young and inexperienced, they're far and away a better team than what will take the field for Arizona.
Coin Flip: Chicago
PREDICTION: Bears 30 Cardinals 12
4:25 pm Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks (-3, 44 1/2) - The Cowboys got their game going against the Giants last Sunday night while the Seahawks suffered their second straight defeat, losing to the Bears, Monday night, 24-17, though the game was hardly that close.
Dallas should be able to move the ball handily against the bruised Seahawk defense, which has suffered from injuries and defections of key players. Dallas has nothing to fear from the former "Legion of Doom" and Seattle's offense still suffers from the lack of a meaningful running game.
Coin Flip: Seattle
PREDICTION: Cowboys 26 Seahawks 16
8:20 pm New England Patriots (-6 1/2, 51 1/2) at Detroit Lions - If ever there was a game that screamed "upset," this one is it. The Patriots were blasted by Jacksonville last week, while the Lions put forth a much better effort against San Francisco than they did in week one against the Jets, but still came up short. The Pats are on the road for the second straight week, but the problem seems to lie upon the defense, not 41-year-old Tom Brady, who still has the skills and sip on the ball.
Detroit is very hungry for a win and should at least keep this one within whistling distance. One has to like their chances, getting points at home.
Coin Flip: New England
PREDICTION: Lions 35 Patriots 28
Monday September 24
8:15 pm Pittsburgh Steelers (-2, 53) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Very tough spot for the Steelers, who haven't won a game yet, having tied the Browns in week one and lost to Kansas City last weekend. Meanwhile, the Buccaneers have ridden the arm of QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, whose game isn't nearly as flashy as his wardrobe, to two early-season wins and find themselves alone atop the NFC South.
Without Le'Veon Bell Pittsburgh is still searching for a running game, where the Bucs seem to have everything in working order. Not a very tough call to make, though the score could swing wildly in an offensive shootout.
Coin Flip: Pittsburgh
PREDICTION: Buccaneers 35 Steelers 31
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