Gerry Dulac's 2024 NFL picks: Week 3

Gerry Dulac / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Last week: 6-10 (.375)

Season record: 16-16 (.500)

THURSDAY

New England Patriots (1-1) at New York Jets (1-1), 8:15 p.m. – The Jets look as though they might be making progress with Aaron Rodgers, which is a good thing for the networks who want to put the Jets in prime time. The Patriots, meantime, lost their home opener in overtime, letting the Seahawks force the extra period with a last-minute field goal. Rodgers might note that Geno Smith passed for 327 yards against the Patriots. Did you know there have been only five 300-yard passing games and 14 100-yard rush games in two weeks?

Prediction: Jets, 23-21

SUNDAY

Los Angeles Chargers (2-0) at Steelers (2-0), 1 p.m. – Jim Harbaugh lost his past three starts as a player in Pittsburgh, including the 1995 AFC championship, and has never coached an NFL game in Pittsburgh. The Chargers (13) and Steelers (16) have allowed the fewest points in the NFL.

Prediction: Steelers, 19-17

New York Giants (0-2) at Cleveland Browns (1-1), 1 p.m. – The Browns bounced back in a big way in Jacksonville, but they have managed just 35 points in two games with Deshaun Watson. The Giants showed they can score TDs; they just can’t convert extra points.

Prediction: Browns, 21-12

Chicago Bears (1-1) at Indianapolis Colts (0-2), 1 p.m. – The Bears continue their run through the AFC South after beating Tennessee and losing in Houston. The Colts have already lost two one-possession games, something that afflicted them last season. So did playing at home (4-5).

Prediction: Colts, 20-19

Houston Texans (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (2-0), 1 p.m. – One of two games — Steelers-Chargers the other — between teams who have yet to lose. The Vikings are the big surprise, beating the 49ers (without Christian McCaffrey) at home and holding them to 17 points.

Prediction: Texans, 24-23

Philadelphia Eagles (1-1) at New Orleans Saints (2-0), 1 p.m. – The Saints are the biggest surprise — and point producers — of the early season. They have outscored their opponents 91-29 in two games. That makes OC Klint Kubiak the leading candidate to be a head coach in 2025.

Prediction: Saints, 34-31

Denver Broncos (0-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-0), 1 p.m. – The Buccaneers showed a little moxie last week going into Detroit and beating the Lions, even though they gave up 463 yards offense. They won’t have to worry about that against the Broncos, Not at home.

Prediction: Buccaneers, 27-14

Green Bay Packers (1-1) at Tennessee Titans (0-2), 1 p.m. – The Titans will get to face former quarterback Malik Willis, who somehow found a way to step in for injured Jordan Love and lead the Packers to victory against the Colts. It might be a different story in his old homestead.

Prediction: Titans, 19-18

Carolina Panthers (0-2) at Las Vegas Raiders (1-1), 4:05 p.m. – Not sure which will happen first in Carolina — the Panthers win a game or their rookie head coach Dave Canales gets fired. The Raiders should be pounding their collective chests after a big victory in Baltimore.

Prediction: Raiders, 27-11

Miami Dolphins (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (2-0), 4:05 p.m. – You have to feel bad for Tua Tagovailoa, but is there a more humane, likable coach in the NFL than Mike McDaniel? You know the only team to beat the Seahawks in the past six games, dating to last season? The Steelers.

Prediction: Seahawks, 26-23

Detroit Lions (1-1) at Arizona Cardinals (1-1), 4:25 p.m. – The Lions are the third consecutive 2023 playoff participant for the Cardinals, who are averaging 34.5 points after two games. The Lions put up a lot of yards but not a lot of points in their home loss to the Buccaneers.

Prediction: Cardinals, 31-28

Baltimore Ravens (0-2) at Dallas Cowboys (1-1), 4:25 p.m. – One week after blowing out the Browns on the road, the Cowboys, the NFL’s only unbeaten team at home in 2023, got blown out at home by the Saints. That’s as surprising as the Ravens blowing a 10-point lead at home to Vegas.

Prediction: Ravens, 31-30

San Francisco 49ers (1-1) at Los Angeles Rams (0-2), 4:25 p.m. – The 49ers are hurting without McCaffrey, but so are the Rams after an embarrassing 31-point defeat in Arizona. The Rams are trying to make it two in a row after ending a nine-game losing streak to the 49ers last year.

Prediction: 49ers, 27-24

Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) at Atlanta Falcons (1-1), 8:20 p.m. – What in the world would possess anyone to put the Falcons in prime time back-to-back weeks? And right after their opener against the Steelers was a national TV game? I can understand the Chiefs, who are already 2-0 against the AFC North.

Prediction: Chiefs, 27-21

MONDAY

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) at Buffalo Bills (2-0), 7:30 p.m. – The Jaguars are going to need more than the 30 points they’ve scored in two games if they want to beat the Bills, who are averaging 32.5 points. Going back to last season, the Jaguars have lost seven of their past eight games.

Prediction: Bills, 32-21

Washington Commanders (1-1) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-2), 8:15 p.m. – Not sure the logic behind scheduling two Monday night games, especially in Week 3. All this one will do is take away from the Bills-Jaguars. Like the Ravens, the Bengals are winless and already trailing the Steelers by two games.

Prediction: Bengals, 27-17