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

NFL Week 3 picks 2026 cover all 16 games, from Falcons at Packers on Thursday night to Eagles at Bears on Monday. Each game gets a straight up winner and a short reason why.

Week 2 went 8 and 8, which puts us at 20 and 12 on the season. Week 3 turns on quarterbacks: Michael Penix Jr. returns for Atlanta, Jayden Daniels and Caleb Williams are down, Jaxson Dart has a sprained MCL, and eight teams are still chasing a first win. There is also a game in Rio de Janeiro. Injury news below is current through Tuesday, September 22.

Kickoff times, venues and streaming options are in the 2026 NFL schedule. These are fan predictions for entertainment only.

Thursday, September 24

Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers, 8:15 p.m. ET on Prime Video

Atlanta is 0 and 2 and has named Michael Penix Jr. the starter, his first start since he tore knee ligaments last November. Kevin Stefanski is moving on from Cooper Rush, who completed 56.4 percent of his passes with a league high four interceptions in the first two games. Tua Tagovailoa is still limited with an oblique strain.

The Falcons are coming off a 34 to 3 loss in Carolina in which Devin Lloyd had two interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and a sack. Green Bay avoided 0 and 2 with a 20 to 17 overtime win over the Jets, sacking Geno Smith on back to back plays before Trey Smack hit a 26 yard walk off field goal.

The Packers are banged up. Jayden Reed was hospitalised overnight with a neck injury and is expected to miss significant time, and right tackle Zach Bako-Bewele has a serious knee injury. Even so, a quarterback making his first start in ten months, on a short week, at Lambeau, is a lot to ask.

✅ Pick: Packers

Sunday, September 27: Early Games (1:00 p.m. ET)

Los Angeles Chargers at Buffalo Bills (FOX)

Buffalo is 2 and 0 and got extra rest after playing Thursday in Week 2. Josh Allen became the first player in NFL history with five passing and three rushing touchdowns through two games, and James Cook III ran for 139 yards against Detroit. DJ Moore has an AC joint sprain in his shoulder and is day to day.

The Chargers are 0 and 2 after losing 26 to 14 to the Raiders, a game Las Vegas rookie cornerback Hezekiah Masses sealed with his second interception of Justin Herbert. Tight end David Njoku left with a knee injury and Ladd McConkey is day to day with a rib problem. A thin pass catching group at Highmark Stadium is a hard place to find a first win.

Pick: Bills

Carolina Panthers at Cleveland Browns (FOX)

Carolina gave up 59 points to the Bears in Week 1 and then allowed three in Week 2, with Bryce Young throwing three touchdown passes in the 34 to 3 win over Atlanta. That is the widest two week swing in the league. Jonathon Brooks is week to week with a groin injury, leaving Chuba Hubbard as the lead back.

Cleveland won 23 to 19 at Tampa Bay after a two hour weather delay, with Deshaun Watson leading a second half comeback. Both teams are 1 and 1 and neither has proved much yet, so home field decides it.

Pick: Browns

New York Jets at Detroit Lions (FOX)

Detroit lost 41 to 31 in Buffalo but the offense was not the problem. Jared Goff completed 26 of 38 passes for 327 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, and Amon-Ra St. Brown had nine catches for 142 yards and two scores. Ford Field should be a reset.

The Jets lost in overtime at Green Bay, and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick was ruled out of that game with a groin injury. Goff at home against a secondary missing its best player is the call.

Pick: Lions

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts (CBS)

Both teams are 0 and 2, and someone has to win. Houston was held without a touchdown in a 20 to 6 loss at Cincinnati, all six points coming on field goals, and gave up four sacks. Nico Collins has a Grade 1 hamstring strain and is unlikely to play.

Indianapolis pushed Kansas City to overtime before losing 33 to 30, with Jonathan Taylor running 24 times for 92 yards and two touchdowns and adding four catches. Alec Pierce aggravated the left heel he had operated on in the offseason and is expected to miss several weeks. Thirty points against the Chiefs beats six points against anyone, and Lucas Oil Stadium tips it.

Pick: Colts

New England Patriots at Jacksonville Jaguars (CBS)

New England was excellent in a 20 to 3 win over Pittsburgh, strip sacking Aaron Rodgers twice and returning one of those fumbles for a touchdown. The cost was right guard Mike Onwenu, who was carted off with a broken right ankle, a real problem for a line that was already thin.

Jacksonville is 1 and 1 after a 20 to 13 loss in Denver in which the offense managed only 115 of its 268 yards after halftime. Josh Hines-Allen and Travon Walker against a patched up Patriots front in Florida heat is the edge.

Pick: Jaguars

Kansas City Chiefs at Miami Dolphins (CBS)

Kansas City is 2 and 0 after surviving the Colts 33 to 30 in overtime. Kenneth Walker III, who signed with the Chiefs after winning Super Bowl MVP with Seattle, has given the offense a running game it did not have last year.

Miami is 0 and 2 and has trailed for most of both games. The 35 to 13 loss to San Francisco included touchdowns on the 49ers’ first five drives, and receiver Caleb Douglas is iffy with an ankle injury. This is the clearest gap on the board.

Pick: Chiefs

Tennessee Titans at New York Giants (CBS)

This one changed on Monday night. Jaxson Dart sprained his MCL in the 28 to 6 loss to the Rams, X-rays were negative, and he is expected to miss time. Jameis Winston takes over for the Giants.

Tennessee is 0 and 2 but played Philadelphia to the wire, losing 24 to 20 only when Jalen Hurts found Darius Cooper with nine seconds left. Cam Ward is taking far too much pressure behind a line that graded 29th in the league, but the Titans have been the more competitive team of the two over the last week. A backup quarterback and a flat Monday night performance make this our first upset call.

Pick: Titans

Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers (CBS)

Cincinnati is the story of the young season. The rebuilt defense held Houston to six points and four sacks worth of pressure, and ended a franchise record 65 game streak of allowing a touchdown, its first since Week 3 of 2022. Joe Burrow has back tightness again this week but has not missed a snap.

Pittsburgh scored three points against New England, Rodgers went 23 of 39 for 187 yards and was strip sacked twice, and Rico Dowdle left with a toe injury. Division road games are never simple, but this is the biggest form gap in the AFC North right now.

Pick: Bengals

Seattle Seahawks at Washington Commanders (FOX)

Seattle is 2 and 0 with a backup quarterback and has allowed 17 points all season. Drew Lock, starting while Sam Darnold recovers from a glute injury, threw three touchdowns to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the 31 to 7 win over Arizona, and the defense held the Cardinals to 151 total yards and nothing after halftime.

Washington is 0 and 2 and now without Jayden Daniels, who dislocated his left elbow on the final play of the first half against Dallas. Specialists are still evaluating ligament damage, and Marcus Mariota starts. A backup against a defense playing this well is a tough first assignment.

Pick: Seahawks

Sunday, September 27: Late Games (4:05 and 4:25 p.m. ET)

Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco 49ers, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

San Francisco is 2 and 0 and winning by an average of 21 points. Brock Purdy completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions against Miami, and the 49ers scored touchdowns on their first five drives. Mike Evans has a hip injury Kyle Shanahan says is being managed rather than serious.

Arizona scored seven points in Seattle and was shut out after halftime, gaining 44 yards in the second half. Levi’s Stadium against a team playing this cleanly is the wrong week to fix an offense.

Pick: 49ers

Minnesota Vikings at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

Minnesota is 2 and 0 and the Brian Flores defense just held Chicago to three points in the rain, a week after Chicago scored 59. That unit travels well.

Tampa Bay is 0 and 2 and has lost both games by one score, 33 to 27 to Cincinnati and 23 to 19 at home to Cleveland. Ball security is the issue, and Flores blitzes specifically to create those mistakes. Raymond James Stadium keeps it close, not comfortable.

Pick: Vikings

Las Vegas Raiders at New Orleans Saints, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

Las Vegas is 2 and 0 and Kirk Cousins threw three touchdowns against the Chargers, but Ashton Jeanty and the running game have not come together, and both wins came in Las Vegas or up the road at SoFi Stadium. This is the first real trip.

New Orleans just won 24 to 17 in Baltimore, with Tyler Shough scoring the go ahead touchdown on a fourth down sneak from the one late in the fourth quarter. Alvin Kamara made his season debut in that game and the Superdome is loud. This is our second upset call.

Pick: Saints

Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS), Maracana Stadium, Rio de Janeiro

This is the NFL Rio Game, the first NFL game played in Rio de Janeiro, and the Cowboys’ first regular season international game in 12 years. Dallas is the designated home team but plays at Maracana Stadium, so it gives up the AT&T Stadium advantage.

Dak Prescott is playing well. His 249th career touchdown pass, to CeeDee Lamb, broke the franchise record, and he threw four scores in the 37 to 20 win over Washington. Baltimore lost 24 to 17 to the Saints and looked flat, which is usually when Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry respond. On neutral turf, the better roster is the Ravens.

Pick: Ravens

Sunday Night Football

Los Angeles Rams at Denver Broncos, 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock

The Rams looked like a different team on Monday night, beating the Giants 28 to 6 behind 195 yards and two touchdowns from Davante Adams. Matthew Stafford finally had a clean pocket, which he did not have in Melbourne in Week 1, when he threw for 155 yards in a 27 to 7 loss to San Francisco.

Denver got its first win 20 to 13 over Jacksonville, with Bo Nix leading a comeback from ten down and Jaylen Waddle having his breakout game since the trade from Miami. J.K. Dobbins is tracking to play despite a hamstring problem, with rookie Jonah Coleman ready if he sits. A Sunday night crowd at 5,280 feet against a West Coast team is the classic Mile High trap, and it is our third upset.

Pick: Broncos

Monday Night Football

Philadelphia Eagles at Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m. ET on ESPN

Chicago went from 59 points in Week 1 to three in Week 2, the second biggest Week 1 to Week 2 scoring drop since 1973. Caleb Williams strained a hamstring while being sacked in the fourth quarter against Minnesota. Ben Johnson has called him week to week and said he is likely to miss this game, which puts Tyson Bagent in line to start.

Philadelphia is 2 and 0 and has won both games late, most recently on a Jalen Hurts drive that ended with a touchdown to Darius Cooper with nine seconds left. Dallas Goedert is expected to miss time with a knee injury, though Saquon Barkley returned after halftime from his stinger and looks fine. The Eagles defense should be the difference at Soldier Field.

Pick: Eagles

NFL Week 3 Picks 2026: Quick Recap

Date	Matchup	Time (ET)	TV	Pick
Thu, Sep 24	Falcons at Packers	8:15 PM	Prime Video	Packers
Sun, Sep 27	Chargers at Bills	1:00 PM	FOX	Bills
Sun, Sep 27	Panthers at Browns	1:00 PM	FOX	Browns
Sun, Sep 27	Jets at Lions	1:00 PM	FOX	Lions
Sun, Sep 27	Texans at Colts	1:00 PM	CBS	Colts
Sun, Sep 27	Patriots at Jaguars	1:00 PM	CBS	Jaguars
Sun, Sep 27	Chiefs at Dolphins	1:00 PM	CBS	Chiefs
Sun, Sep 27	Titans at Giants	1:00 PM	CBS	Titans
Sun, Sep 27	Bengals at Steelers	1:00 PM	CBS	Bengals
Sun, Sep 27	Seahawks at Commanders	1:00 PM	FOX	Seahawks
Sun, Sep 27	Cardinals at 49ers	4:05 PM	FOX	49ers
Sun, Sep 27	Vikings at Buccaneers	4:05 PM	FOX	Vikings
Sun, Sep 27	Raiders at Saints	4:25 PM	CBS	Saints
Sun, Sep 27	Ravens at Cowboys (Rio)	4:25 PM	CBS	Ravens
Sun, Sep 27	Rams at Broncos (SNF)	8:20 PM	NBC	Broncos
Mon, Sep 28	Eagles at Bears (MNF)	8:15 PM	ESPN	Eagles

Home teams: 9. Road teams: 7. Upset picks: Titans over Giants, Saints over Raiders and Broncos over Rams. Season record after two weeks: 20 and 12.

Running a pool? Print the free NFL Week 3 pick’em sheet. For venues and streaming see the 2026 NFL Schedule, and check NFL bye weeks for later in the season. There are no byes in Week 3, so all 32 teams play.

Week 3 Injuries That Shape the Picks

• Quarterbacks: Michael Penix Jr. (ATL) returns and starts Thursday. Jayden Daniels (WAS) is out with a dislocated left elbow, Marcus Mariota starts. Caleb Williams (CHI) is week to week with a hamstring strain and likely to miss Monday, Tyson Bagent next up. Jaxson Dart (NYG) sprained his MCL and is expected to miss time, Jameis Winston starts. Drew Lock (SEA) continues for Sam Darnold. Tua Tagovailoa (ATL) is limited with an oblique strain.
• Out or expected out: Jayden Reed (GB, neck), Zach Bako-Bewele (GB, knee), Mike Onwenu (NE, broken right ankle), Alec Pierce (IND, left heel, several weeks), Nico Collins (HOU, hamstring, unlikely), Dallas Goedert (PHI, knee), Jonathon Brooks (CAR, groin, week to week).
• Day to day: DJ Moore (BUF, shoulder AC sprain), Ladd McConkey (LAC, rib), David Njoku (LAC, knee), Rico Dowdle (PIT, toe), Caleb Douglas (MIA, ankle), Mike Evans (SF, hip).
• Trending up: J.K. Dobbins (DEN, hamstring, tracking to play), Saquon Barkley (PHI, stinger, returned in game), Joe Burrow (CIN, back tightness, has not missed a snap), Alvin Kamara (NO, back from knee issue).
• Still out from earlier weeks: Myles Garrett (LAR, knee surgery), A.J. Brown (NE, ankle), Landon Dickerson (PHI, knee), Dylan Sampson (CLE, knee), Minkah Fitzpatrick (NYJ, groin).

Statuses reflect reports through Tuesday, September 22. Wednesday practice reports and the Friday out, doubtful and questionable designations will settle the rest.

Most Watchable Games of Week 3

• Ravens at Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro: the NFL Rio Game, two explosive offenses and the first NFL game played in Rio.
• Falcons at Packers (TNF): Michael Penix Jr.’s first start in ten months, at Lambeau, on a short week.
• Bengals at Steelers: an AFC North road game with the league’s most improved defense against an offense that scored three points last week.
• Rams at Broncos (SNF): Davante Adams and Matthew Stafford at altitude against a Denver team that just found its first win.
• Eagles at Bears (MNF): a 2 and 0 Philadelphia team at Soldier Field with Caleb Williams likely out.

FAQs about NFL Week 3 Picks 2026

NFL Week 3 picks 2026 lean on backup quarterbacks, one comeback start and a neutral site game in Brazil. The Chiefs, 49ers and Seahawks are the calls we feel best about, with the Titans, Saints and Broncos as the upsets. Check Caleb Williams, Jaxson Dart and Nico Collins on the Friday report before locking in your sheet.

Our Week 2 picks finished 8 and 8 and Week 1 went 12 and 4. We will add each Week 3 result here as the games finish.