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2026 NFL Week 3 Predictions

Week 3 is here, and the board has a few numbers worth staring at. Below are our game-by-game predictions for every 2026 NFL Week 3 matchup, from the Thursday opener in Green Bay through the Monday night finale in Chicago. Every pick is set against the current spread, we flag the upsets we actually like, and there is a free printable pick sheet at the bottom so you can fill in the whole slate yourself.

Quick Facts

2026 NFL Week 3 predictions featured graphic
  • Slate: Thursday, September 24 (Falcons at Packers), 14 games on Sunday, September 27, and Monday, September 28 (Eagles at Bears).
  • Marquee games: Chargers at Bills, Chiefs at Dolphins, Ravens at Cowboys, and Eagles at Bears on Monday night.
  • Our upset picks: Cowboys over Ravens and Broncos over Rams.
  • Printable: a game-by-game pick sheet with spreads and totals is below.

Week 3 Predictions: Every Game

MatchupSpreadOur pick
Falcons at PackersPackers -7.5Packers
Panthers at BrownsPanthers -1.5Panthers
Bengals at SteelersBengals -1.5Bengals
Texans at ColtsTexans -1.5Texans
Chiefs at DolphinsChiefs -7.5Chiefs
Chargers at BillsBills -3.5Bills
Patriots at JaguarsJaguars -1.5Jaguars
Jets at LionsLions -9.5Lions
Seahawks at CommandersSeahawks -3.5Seahawks
Titans at GiantsGiants -3.5Giants
Cardinals at 49ers49ers -11.549ers
Vikings at BuccaneersBuccaneers -1.5Buccaneers
Ravens at CowboysRavens -2.5Cowboys (upset)
Raiders at SaintsSaints -3.5Saints
Rams at BroncosRams -3.5Broncos (upset)
Eagles at BearsBears -1.5Bears
Spreads are consensus market numbers as of publication and can move. Upset picks are in bold.

Upset Watch

Cowboys over Ravens. Baltimore is a 2.5-point road favorite, but this is the highest total on the board at 51.5 for a reason. Both offenses can score in bunches, and Dallas at home in a track-meet script is exactly the kind of live home dog we like. Give us the Cowboys to win it outright, not just cover.

Broncos over Rams. Los Angeles laying 3.5 on the road at altitude is a tough ask in late September. Denver has the pass rush to make a rhythm passer uncomfortable, and Mile High is a real edge in a one-score game. We will take the Broncos to spring the upset.

Best Bets and Leans

  • Broncos +3.5. Our headline upset doubles as our favorite number on the card. The points plus the altitude is a strong combination.
  • Under 39.5 in Panthers at Browns. This is the lowest total of the week. A grind-it-out game between two defense-first teams can stay under even in a tight finish.
  • Cardinals +11.5. Double-digit road spreads in September division games tend to tighten late. We would rather have the points than lay them with San Francisco.

Picks and leans are for entertainment. Lines move, so check the current numbers before you do anything, and please play responsibly.

Storylines to Watch

San Francisco is the biggest favorite of the week, laying 11.5 at home against Arizona. Numbers that large shift the focus to backdoor covers and whether the starters stay on the field into the fourth quarter.

The Eagles close the week as road underdogs in Chicago, which tells you how quickly the market has warmed to the Bears. A Monday night trip is a get-right test for Philadelphia after two weeks of tape.

Three of the tightest lines on the board are road favorites, with the Panthers, Bengals and Texans all laying 1.5 away from home. Those coin-flip games are where pick pools get decided. Meanwhile Chargers at Bills and Chiefs at Dolphins hand the AFC picture its first real measuring sticks of the season.

Printable Week 3 Pick Sheet

Download the free printable pick sheet: every game from the Thursday opener to the Monday night finale, with the spread and over/under printed and blank columns for your pick and the final score. There is a tiebreaker line and a link back to this page in the footer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best Week 3 upset picks?

We like the Cowboys to beat the Ravens outright at home in the highest-total game of the week, and the Broncos to knock off the Rams at altitude as home underdogs. Both are one-score projections rather than blowout calls.

Where do the spreads come from?

The spreads and totals here match our Week 3 pick’em with odds page and reflect consensus market numbers as of publication. Lines move during the week, so confirm the current number before you lock anything in.

Is there a printable pick sheet?

Yes. The free printable pick sheet above lists every game with the spread and over/under and leaves blank columns for your pick and the final score. It opens in a new tab and links back to this article.

author avatar
Ra Young Founder, N3ST3D Labs, Author
Ra Young is a tech entrepreneur (N3ST3D Labs CEO), Project Controls Professional, and lifelong sports enthusiast. A 22-year Colts fan, Florida State & Iowa State alum, he cheers for FC Barcelona globally, supports Argentina/Brazil in football, and follows the Pittsburgh Penguins, All Blacks rugby, and cricket.