NFL Week 3 Picks 2026: Predictions and Winners for Every Game

NFL Week 3 picks 2026 covered all 16 games, from Falcons at Packers on Thursday night to Eagles at Bears on Monday. Every game now carries its final score next to the pick we made.

Week 3 finished 10 and 6. The board was decided by quarterbacks who were not supposed to be playing: Michael Penix Jr. torched Green Bay in his first start in ten months, Case Keenum beat the Eagles at 38 years old, Sam Darnold came back early and threw for 379 yards in a loss, and Jameis Winston won a game in which the Giants never reached the end zone.

Our season record is 30 and 18. All three upset calls are covered below, and only one of them landed. For kickoff times and channels, see the 2026 NFL schedule. These are fan predictions for entertainment only.

Thursday Night Football Result

Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers

Michael Penix Jr. made his first start since tearing knee ligaments last November, and Atlanta rolled. After an early interception, Penix completed 18 of 25 passes for 239 yards and a touchdown. Bijan Robinson had 213 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, Drake London caught eight passes for 154 yards, and the Falcons ran for 242 yards.

Jordan Love threw for 312 yards and two touchdowns but needed 53 attempts, and Green Bay’s running backs managed 17 rushing yards.

Pick: Packers

❌ Final: Falcons 35, Packers 14. Both teams fell to 1 and 2.

Sunday, September 27: Early Game Results

Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills

Buffalo won it without playing well. The Bills trailed 10 to 0, Josh Allen was intercepted twice by Chargers rookie safety Genesis Smith, and Los Angeles forced five first half turnovers. Buffalo still found a way, with Allen scoring two one yard rushing touchdowns and James Cook III adding a three yard run.

The turning point was a Justin Herbert interception at the Buffalo one yard line, which set up Allen’s second score and a 17 to 13 lead. The Chargers managed only two Cameron Dicker field goals over the last two quarters and are now the league’s most frustrating 0 and 3 team.

Pick: Bills

✅ Final: Bills 24, Chargers 16. Buffalo moved to 3 and 0, Los Angeles to 0 and 3.

Carolina Panthers at Cleveland Browns

Carolina outgained Cleveland 360 yards to 259 and still lost. Bryce Young went 26 of 48 with a touchdown and an interception, and the Panthers trailed the whole way after a scoreless first quarter.

Deshaun Watson was efficient rather than spectacular, 16 of 30 for 144 yards and two touchdowns, both to Harold Fannin Jr. Fannin’s go ahead score came on third and ten with 1:48 left, on a drive that survived a roughing the passer call that wiped out a Bobby Okereke interception. Cleveland was flagged 12 times for 84 yards and won anyway.

Pick: Browns

✅ Final: Browns 21, Panthers 18. Cleveland moved to 2 and 1, Carolina to 1 and 2.

New York Jets at Detroit Lions

Jahmyr Gibbs was the difference. He ran 20 times for 99 yards, caught seven passes for 65 more and scored three touchdowns, the last an 11 yard reception with 2:25 left that broke a 24 to 24 tie. Jared Goff was clean all day at 25 of 32 for 269 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions.

Geno Smith was excellent in defeat, 31 of 37 for 321 yards and three touchdowns, and the Jets erased a 24 to 10 fourth quarter deficit before Chuck Clark’s safety blitz produced a strip sack with under a minute left. Jack Campbell recovered it and Detroit stayed unbeaten at Ford Field.

Pick: Lions

✅ Final: Lions 31, Jets 24. Detroit moved to 2 and 1, New York to 1 and 2.

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

Indianapolis got its first win of the year without scoring a touchdown until it mattered least. Spencer Shrader kicked four field goals, from 39, 58, 37 and 53 yards, after injuring his groin in pregame warmups. The 53 yarder late in the fourth quarter was the winner.

Houston briefly led 17 to 16 on a Woody Marks one yard run, then botched the ensuing kickoff and handed Indianapolis the ball at the 35. Daniel Jones went 24 of 36 for 235 yards with a touchdown to Keenan Allen and an interception, C.J. Stroud was held to 167 yards, and Will Anderson’s 2.5 sacks were not enough.

Pick: Colts

✅ Final: Colts 19, Texans 17. Indianapolis moved to 1 and 2, Houston fell to 0 and 3.

New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars

This was the most lopsided game of the week. Trevor Lawrence went 19 of 29 for 182 yards and three touchdowns, to Josh Cameron, Jakobi Meyers and Parker Washington, and moved into second place on the franchise career touchdown pass list with 104.

Drake Maye turned it over three times, two interceptions and a lost fumble, and was sacked three times before Tommy DeVito replaced him late. Jarrian Jones returned an interception 32 yards to set up a 28 to 3 lead, and two third quarter touchdowns 18 seconds apart made it 35 to 3. Maye now has six interceptions in three games. New England’s only points were two Andy Borregales field goals.

Pick: Jaguars

✅ Final: Jaguars 35, Patriots 6. Jacksonville moved to 2 and 1, New England to 1 and 2.

Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins

The clearest gap on the board played out as expected. Patrick Mahomes, listed with a knee issue all week, went 20 of 24 for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Rashee Rice caught seven passes for 88 yards and Kenneth Walker III ran 18 times for 70 yards and a score.

Miami got nothing going with Malik Willis at quarterback. Nick Bolton had 11 tackles and George Karlaftis added an interception as Kansas City stayed perfect.

Pick: Chiefs

✅ Final: Chiefs 24, Dolphins 10. Kansas City moved to 3 and 0, Miami fell to 0 and 3.

Tennessee Titans at New York Giants

Our first upset call missed, and it missed in the strangest game of the week. The Giants did not score a touchdown. Rookie kicker Dominic Zvada made all four of their field goals, from 39, 39, 28 and 28 yards, and that was the entire 12 points.

Jameis Winston, starting because Jaxson Dart is out for the regular season, was careful rather than good: 14 of 22 for 118 yards, three sacks taken, no turnovers. Cam Skattebo and Najee Harris combined for 112 rushing yards. Tennessee’s only score was a four yard Cam Ward pass to former Giant Wan’Dale Robinson with 5:35 left, and Jevón Holland ended it with an end zone interception at 14 seconds. Brian Burns left with a knee injury.

Pick: Titans

❌ Final: Giants 12, Titans 7. New York moved to 2 and 1, Tennessee fell to 0 and 3.

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers

We had the wrong read on this division game. Aaron Rodgers answered a bad week with 19 of 34 for 292 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, opening with a 38 yard strike to Roman Wilson. Jaylen Warren added 127 rushing yards and 49 receiving, and Pittsburgh outgained Cincinnati 411 to 352.

Joe Burrow was every bit as good, 28 of 37 for 282 yards and three touchdowns, but Cincinnati gave away 10 points on special teams through a roughing the punter penalty and a muffed punt. Chris Boswell kicked a 33 yard field goal with 2:15 left, and Derrick Harmon strip sacked Burrow with 44 seconds to go for Sebastian Joseph-Day to recover.

Pick: Bengals

❌ Final: Steelers 30, Bengals 27. Both teams sit at 2 and 1.

Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders

Sam Darnold beat the Friday deadline and started, and Seattle still lost. He threw for 379 yards and four touchdowns, two of them to Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who finished with 128 yards, but he also threw three interceptions and those turnovers became 20 Washington points.

Marcus Mariota, in for the injured Jayden Daniels, was efficient at 19 of 31 for 183 yards and three touchdowns, including a 30 yarder to Terry McLaurin. Kain Medrano’s 50 yard interception return for a touchdown midway through the fourth quarter put Washington nine ahead. Seattle outgained Washington 437 to 258 and lost anyway.

Pick: Seahawks

❌ Final: Commanders 33, Seahawks 31. Washington moved to 1 and 2, Seattle to 2 and 1.

Sunday, September 27: Late Game Results

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco needed all four quarters. Brock Purdy threw four touchdowns without an interception and was not sacked once, going 15 of 27 for 297 yards. The first score was an 80 yard hook and ladder: Purdy to Mike Evans, who pitched to Deebo Samuel for the touchdown.

Arizona would not go away. Jacoby Brissett threw 52 times for 280 yards and two touchdowns and got the Cardinals within 29 to 27 with 2:51 left before Purdy found George Kittle for a 20 yard touchdown, his second of the day. Christian McCaffrey added 75 rushing yards and a score, and Samuel recovered the late onside kick. Trent Williams and Evans both picked up injuries.

Pick: 49ers

✅ Final: 49ers 36, Cardinals 30. San Francisco moved to 3 and 0, Arizona to 1 and 2.

Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Kyler Murray returned from the concussion protocol and did not need to do much. He went 15 of 29 for 168 yards with a 41 yard touchdown to Jordan Addison and an interception to A’Shawn Robinson. The bigger plays came elsewhere: Myles Price returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown to make it 10 to 0, and Will Reichard kicked field goals of 54, 56 and 43 yards.

Tampa Bay is 0 and 3 and the cost was heavy. Baker Mayfield was sacked six times, went 17 of 34 for 217 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and left late with a hand injury that is expected to keep him out at least three weeks. Jalen McMillan was hurt in the first quarter.

Pick: Vikings

✅ Final: Vikings 23, Buccaneers 16. Minnesota moved to 3 and 0, Tampa Bay fell to 0 and 3.

Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints

Our second upset call missed, and New Orleans handed it away. The Saints scored 14 straight points after a fumble recovery on a kickoff return, then committed four fourth quarter turnovers.

Kirk Cousins was 22 of 33 for 248 yards and three touchdowns, and Brock Bowers played his first game of 2026 with 10 catches for 116 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Shough actually outproduced him on paper, 29 of 42 for 255 yards and four touchdowns, all of them to tight ends, but he also threw an interception and lost a fumble. Travis Etienne Jr. ran 13 times for 57 yards while managing a hamstring problem.

Pick: Saints

❌ Final: Raiders 35, Saints 27. Las Vegas moved to 3 and 0, New Orleans to 1 and 2.

Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys, Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro

The first NFL game at the Maracana delivered the finish of the week. Dallas tied it 31 to 31 on a 23 yard Brandon Aubrey field goal with seven seconds left, set up by a pass interference call. Lamar Jackson then hit Zay Flowers for 27 yards, and Tyler Loop drilled a 56 yard field goal with one second on the clock.

Jackson was ruthlessly efficient, 15 of 20 for 186 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions plus 50 rushing yards. Derrick Henry ran for 89 yards and two touchdowns and passed Eric Dickerson for ninth on the all time rushing list. Dak Prescott went 25 of 40 for 276 yards and a touchdown and Javonte Williams ran for 98 yards, but Dallas lost safety Jalen Thompson to a hamstring injury on a defense already missing Malik Hooker and P.J. Locke.

Pick: Ravens

✅ Final: Ravens 34, Cowboys 31. Baltimore moved to 2 and 1, Dallas to 1 and 2.

Sunday Night Football Result

Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos

The one upset that landed, and it took a full comeback. Denver trailed 16 to 0 at halftime, then scored two touchdowns with two point conversions to level it at 16 in the third quarter.

Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown to Konata Mumpfield for a 26 to 23 lead with 3:38 left. Denver answered on a drive kept alive by defensive penalties, and Bo Nix dove in from a yard out with 47 seconds to go. Nix finished 17 of 34 for 186 yards with two touchdown passes, an interception and the winning run. Stafford threw 55 times for 390 yards and two touchdowns but was intercepted twice, one returned for a touchdown by Talanoa Hufanga. Puka Nacua was inactive, as expected.

Pick: Broncos

✅ Final: Broncos 30, Rams 26. Denver moved to 2 and 1, Los Angeles to 1 and 2.

Monday Night Football Result

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears

We had the quarterback edge by a mile, and it was the worst call of the week. Case Keenum started for Chicago, his first start since December 2023, with Caleb Williams out and Tyson Bagent in the concussion protocol. Keenum went 24 of 34 for 247 yards with touchdown passes to Luther Burden and Kalif Raymond, and added a rushing touchdown that made him, at 38, the oldest Bear ever to score one.

Philadelphia never got going. Jalen Hurts went 16 of 25 for 153 yards with no touchdowns and an interception, and was briefly checked for a concussion after an illegal hit before returning. The Eagles turned it over three times, including a Tank Bigsby fumble and an end zone interception thrown by backup Andy Dalton, finished with 248 total yards, converted 22 percent of third downs and managed 52 net yards in the second half. Their only score was a Hurts sneak at the end of the first half.

Pick: Eagles

❌ Final: Bears 27, Eagles 7. Chicago moved to 2 and 1, Philadelphia to 2 and 1.

NFL Week 3 Picks 2026: Results Table

Date	Matchup	Our Pick	Final Score	Result
Thu, Sep 24	Falcons at Packers	Packers	Falcons 35, Packers 14	❌
Sun, Sep 27	Chargers at Bills	Bills	Bills 24, Chargers 16	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Panthers at Browns	Browns	Browns 21, Panthers 18	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Jets at Lions	Lions	Lions 31, Jets 24	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Texans at Colts	Colts	Colts 19, Texans 17	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Patriots at Jaguars	Jaguars	Jaguars 35, Patriots 6	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Chiefs at Dolphins	Chiefs	Chiefs 24, Dolphins 10	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Titans at Giants	Titans	Giants 12, Titans 7	❌
Sun, Sep 27	Bengals at Steelers	Bengals	Steelers 30, Bengals 27	❌
Sun, Sep 27	Seahawks at Commanders	Seahawks	Commanders 33, Seahawks 31	❌
Sun, Sep 27	Cardinals at 49ers	49ers	49ers 36, Cardinals 30	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Vikings at Buccaneers	Vikings	Vikings 23, Buccaneers 16	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Raiders at Saints	Saints	Raiders 35, Saints 27	❌
Sun, Sep 27	Ravens at Cowboys (Rio)	Ravens	Ravens 34, Cowboys 31	✅
Sun, Sep 27	Rams at Broncos (SNF)	Broncos	Broncos 30, Rams 26	✅
Mon, Sep 28	Eagles at Bears (MNF)	Eagles	Bears 27, Eagles 7	❌

Week 3 final: 10 and 6. Season record: 30 and 18. Our three upset calls went 1 and 2, with only the Broncos landing. Home teams went 11 and 5 on the week, and five of our six misses were games where we took the road side or the shorthanded side.

Week 4 is here. Print the free NFL Week 4 pick’em sheet, see kickoffs and channels in the 2026 NFL schedule, and check NFL bye weeks before you set your lineup.

Where Week 3 Left the League

• Still unbeaten at 3 and 0: Bills, Chiefs, Raiders, Vikings and 49ers. The Raiders and Vikings are the surprises, and Las Vegas has now won on the road.
• Still winless at 0 and 3: Chargers, Texans, Dolphins, Titans and Buccaneers. Los Angeles is the outlier, having lost twice by a single score.
• Quarterbacks who changed the week: Michael Penix Jr. returned and beat Green Bay. Case Keenum beat the Eagles in his first start since 2023. Sam Darnold came back early and threw for 379 yards in a loss. Jameis Winston won without a touchdown. Kyler Murray returned from the concussion protocol.
• New injuries from Week 3: Baker Mayfield (TB) hurt his hand and is expected out at least three weeks. Brian Burns (NYG) left with a knee injury. Jalen Thompson (DAL) pulled a hamstring. Trent Williams and Mike Evans (SF) were both banged up. Terrance Ferguson and Jaylen Watson (DEN) left the Sunday night game.
• Numbers that stood out: Drake Maye now has six interceptions in three games. Derrick Henry passed Eric Dickerson for ninth on the all time rushing list. Tyler Loop’s 56 yard walk off won the Rio game with one second left. The Giants won 12 to 7 without scoring a touchdown, on four Dominic Zvada field goals.

FAQs About NFL Week 3 Picks 2026

NFL Week 3 picks 2026 came in at 10 and 6, and the lesson was to stop going against home teams that hold on. Four of the six misses came down to a quarterback we read wrong, from Penix’s return to Keenum’s night at Soldier Field. The other two, Pittsburgh and Las Vegas, were won on special teams and turnovers rather than by the better offense.

Our Week 2 picks went 8 and 8 and Week 1 went 12 and 4, which puts the season at 30 and 18 through three weeks.