Los Angeles Rams

2016 NFL Picks Week 3: Los Angeles Rams Take On Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:24 p.m. ET

foxsports

Here’s a look at the NFL Picks Week 3, with the Los Angeles Rams taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in what should be a tough road matchup.

Sep 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams coach Jeff Fisher reacts during a NFL game against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

After winning an impressive defensive battle against the Seattle Seahawks, the Los Angeles Rams look to earn their second-straight win with a tough road matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Of course, this isn’t the only key game to keep an eye on when it comes to the NFL Picks Week 3.

The third week of the NFL season got off to a big start when the New England Patriots handed the Houston Texans their first loss of the season with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. What’s even more impressive is the Patriots’ defense stepped it up as well by preventing the Texans from scoring a single point.

If this first game is any indication of what to expect from the rest of the weekend, it’s safe to say football fans are going to enjoy watching all of the games from Week 3. From a key AFC matchup between the Denver Broncos and Cincinnati Bengals to an NFC showdown on Monday night, it’s safe to say this weekend in the NFL should live up to the hype once again.

Of course, if Los Angeles can find a way to pull off the road win against Tampa Bay, it would make things even more enjoyable for Rams fans. Let’s jump right into it by taking a look at the rest of the NFL picks for Week 3.

Sep 18, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; Miami Dolphins head coach Adam Gase watches from the sideline as they take on the New England Patriots in the second half at Gillette Stadium. The Patriots defeated the Miami Dolphins 31-24. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Dolphins Over Browns

The argument can be made if the Miami Dolphins had showed up in the first half against the Patriots, they wouldn’t be winless entering their Week 3 matchup against the Cleveland Browns. Lucky for the Dolphins, a matchup against the Browns is the perfect prescription for a team looking to earn that first win of a young season.

Cleveland has always been the laughing stock when it comes to their quarterback issues, but the situation for 2016 is different than previous seasons. The Browns just happen to be the unfortunate victims of losing two quarterbacks in a two-week span after Robert Griffin III and Josh McCown both suffered significant injuries.

With Griffin and McCown out, Cleveland will turn to rookie Cody Kessler–which gives Miami a major advantage. For a team looking for their first win, at matchup against a rookie quarterback is just what the Dolphins need, and expect their defense to provide all sorts of pressure on Kessler in his first career start.

And with the way the Patriots and New York Jets are looking, let’s just say the Dolphins realize these kinds of games are going to be even more important to win in order to remain in the division hunt.

Sep 18, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson (21) talks to the tv cameras during the second half of the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cardinals defeat the Buccaneers 40-7. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals Over Bills

Between their disappointing preseason, and a frustrating loss to the Patriots opening weekend, the Arizona Cardinals managed to bounce back with an impressive win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Up next, the Cardinals face a tough road test against a team desperate for their first win of the season in the Buffalo Bills.

On paper, there’s no reason why Arizona should lose this game when considering they have an offense filled with all sorts of weapons from Larry Fitzgerald to David Johnson. On top of their offense, the Cardinals’ defense is also considered one of the best in the league.

When looking at Buffalo’s situation, the pressure is certainly on Rex Ryan following the team’s questionable decision to fire offensive coordinator Greg Roman following last week’s loss to the Jets. If anything, Rob Ryan should have been the one who was fired when looking at how poorly the defense played.

If the Cardinals can come out firing against the Bills like they did against the Buccaneers, they shouldn’t have much of a problem picking up that second win of the season. Arizona was considered a favorite to win the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season, and it’s time for them to prove they’re the real deal.

Sep 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Tennessee Titans wide receiver Andre Johnson (81) after the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Tennessee won 16-15. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Titans Over Raiders

How impressive did Marcus Mariota look for the Tennessee Titans last week during that big road win against the Detroit Lions. At this rate, Mariota could emerge as a top-10 quarterback by the end of the season, but the former first-round pick still has a long way to go.

Last year was tough at times for Mariota as a rookie as the Titans failed to provide him with the necessary weapons on offense. But thanks to improvement at running back and in the passing game, Tennessee has the potential to make an unexpected run in the AFC.

If it wasn’t for two costly mistakes against the Minnesota Vikings that resulted in touchdowns, the Titans could have been sitting at 2-0 heading into their matchup against the Oakland Raiders. This will be a true test for Tennessee’s defense as Derek Carr looks to help this team bounce back from a tough loss to the Atlanta Falcons.

With a strong duo at wideout in Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree, the only way the Titans are going to win this game is if they keep Carr in line. If the defense can do that, Tennessee has a good chance of improving to 2-1 on the season.

Sep 18, 2016; San Diego, CA, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) throws a pass during the second half of the game against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. San Diego won 38-14. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

Jaguars Over Ravens

Speaking of teams loaded with talent on offense, the Jacksonville Jaguars have every reason in the world to be frustrated over the way things have gone so far this season. Between missing out on a huge opportunity to upset the Green Bay Packers followed by an embarrassing loss to the San Diego Chargers, the Jaguars better start winning soon if Gus Bradley is going to keep his head coaching job.

Blake Bortles seems like the type of quarterback that’s going to get better each year, but he’s struggled to get anything consistent going on offense in two games. While the Baltimore Ravens have established a reputation for their defense, the Jaguars hope this is the game where the offense unloads, and finally reaches their true potential.

It’s only been two games, but the Ravens are off to a hot start after recording just five wins all of last season. However, after barely getting by Cleveland, there’s a chance Baltimore could be in over their heads in this one.

After two frustrating weeks, don’t be surprised if the Jaguars finally pick up that first win of the year against the Ravens, and start living up to the hype from the offseason.

Sep 18, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) and Redskins head coach Jay Gruden (R) walk off the field after their game against the Dallas Cowboys at FedEx Field. The Cowboys won 27-23. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Redskins Over Giants

Football fans have been waiting a long time for this matchup between the Washington Redskins and New York Giants to finally see Josh Norman go at it again with Odell Beckham Jr.

Everybody knows what happened when Norman–who was a member of the Carolina Panthers in 2015–and Beckham squared off last year as the cornerback received a hefty fine while the wideout was suspended for a game. These two can say all they want about this game not being meaningful, but that’s clearly a lie.

When it comes to Norman and Beckham, there’s nothing each player would love more than to beat the other on the football field. With the way things turned out last year, don’t be surprised if there’s numerous occasions where these two need to be separated on Sunday.

The only chance Washington is going to have in this game is if Kirk Cousins stop making critical mistakes inside the red zone. The quarterback did everything in his power to earn a long-term deal in the offseason from the organization, and even though the Redskins never gave in, Cousins still needs to have a good season if that contract is ever going to come in the offseason.

Sep 18, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Kelvin Benjamin (13) runs after a catch in the second half against the San Francisco 49ers at Bank of America Stadium. The Panthers defeated the 49ers 46-27. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Panthers Over Vikings

As if the Carolina Panthers weren’t already loaded enough with weapons on offense, Kelvin Benjamin makes this team even more dangerous as the wide receiver has wasted no time making an impact in the passing game.

Even though they still found a way to reach the Super Bowl, losing Benjamin (ACL) for all of 2015 was devastating for the Panthers when considering the advantage he has with his size. Carolina already faced one of the leagues top defenses in the Denver Broncos in Week 1, and they’ll be heavily tested again when they square off against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings are coming off an impressive win against the Packers as Sam Bradford looked sharp during his first start, but losing Adrian Peterson won’t be easy to overcome. The key factor in this one could come down to whether the Panthers can contain Stefon Diggs in the passing game after the wideout had a field day against Green Bay’s secondary.

It’s not going to be easy, but Carolina’s managed to shutdown big-name receivers before and seems to be in much better shape than Minnesota. With two of the best defenses squaring off against each other, this could turn into an epic showdown between the Panthers and Vikings.

Sep 18, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Jeremy Hill (32) carries the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the third quarter at Heinz Field. The Pittsburgh Steelers won 24-16. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Bengals Over Broncos

The Cincinnati Bengals have to be frustrated after letting a key AFC North battle against the Pittsburgh Steelers slip away. Now, they face another tough challenge with a matchup against the defending Super Bowl champions in the Denver Broncos.

On paper, these teams seem to be two of the best in the AFC, and there’s a good chance this could easily turn into an early playoff preview. The Bengals have been one of the top teams in the AFC each season since Andy Dalton and A.J. Green came on board, but for some reason this team can never find a way to win in the playoffs.

Cincinnati’s defense can do everything they can to shutdown Denver’s offense, but the only chance the Bengals are going to have in this one is if Dalton and Green get clicking on offense. Green has always been the type of receiver that can quickly takeover a game, and there’s no question Dalton is going to target his favorite player as much as possible in Sunday’s contest.

Otherwise, this team is going to be facing a tough uphill battle in the AFC with a 1-2 record. If Cincinnati wants to make a statement about being a top team in the AFC, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) throws against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

Packers Over Lions

Aaron Rodgers knows he hasn’t been playing his best football for the Green Bay Packers, and it was on display during last weekend’s contest against the Vikings. For whatever reasons, Rodgers just hasn’t been the dominant quarterbacks the Packers are used to seeing, but there’s every reason to believe that will change once this team goes again a familiar face in the Lions.

Green Bay has a history of finding ways to win against Detroit, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Rodgers break out of his funk with a big game against the Lions’ defense. With a healthy Jordy Nelson along with one of the most dangerous wide receivers in Randall Cobb, the Packers’ offense is always capable of exploding, and with the way they struggled against the Vikings, they’re anxious for a bounce-back performance.

Matthew Stafford has been doing everything in his power to carry the Lions on offense, but there’s only so much one player can do. Plus, the loss of Ameer Abdullah puts even more pressure on Stafford to carry this team, and the quarterback knows a game against Green Bay is never easy.

With the way the Vikings are playing, the Packers realize this game becomes a must win in order to stay in the hunt of the NFC North.

Sep 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) runs against Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) during the second half of a NFL game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Rams Over Buccaneers

Even if the Los Angeles Rams have yet to score a single touchdown in 2016, this is a team to keep an eye on in the NFC thanks to their stellar defense.

The Rams took full advantage of a weak offensive line in the Seattle Seahawks to earn a tough win in Week 2, but being the only team in the NFL without a touchdown heading into Week 3 is certainly something to be embarrassed about. While that streak should come to an end against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the question becomes which member of the Rams will step it up on offense to make sure that happens.

Todd Gurley entered the season with high expectations, and through two games, the running back has been nothing but a disappointment. Sure, the argument can be made that Gurley’s struggled to produce in the ground game thanks to tough matchups against the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks, but it’s still not a good enough excuse.

As long as Gurley can find a way to have his first breakout game of 2016, and the defense manages to contain Jameis Winston, the Rams should be able to improve to 2-0 on the year.

Sep 18, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham (88) rushes against Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Mark Barron (26) during the second half of a NFL game at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Los Angeles won 9-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Seahawks Over 49ers

As if falling just short of an epic comeback against the defending NFC champions wasn’t already frustrating enough, the 49ers face another tough challenge against another strong contender in the Seahawks.

When looking at the spread, this game could easily turn into a blowout when considering Seattle has an extra chip on their shoulder following last weekend’s frustrating loss to Los Angeles. While the argument can be made that a healthy Russell Wilson would have resulted in a much better outcome for the Seahawks, this team still knows they missed out on a major opportunity in a key division game.

If the same happens against the 49ers, it could be time to hit the panic button for Pete Carroll‘s squad.

Nothing against San Francisco, but the chances of them pulling off a road win in a tough Seattle environment just seems highly unlikely at this point. The Seahawks were considered one of the top teams to beat in the NFC at the beginning of the season, and there’s every reason in the world to believe this team still deserves to be in that conversation.

The offense may have struggled so far this season, but Sunday’s game is the perfect chance for the Seahawks to finally get rolling.

Sep 19, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz (11) prepares to throw the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles Over Steelers

Is Carson Wentz the real deal? The rookie has only played in two games, but Wentz has Philadelphia Eagles fans feeling all sorts of excitement heading into their Week 3 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

One of the main reasons why some people still aren’t sold on Wentz is due to his lack of competition. Despite how impressive he’s looked in his first two games, the defenses Wentz happened to go against were the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears.

If Wentz can find a way to lead the Eagles to a victory over the Steelers, it’s easy to assume those doubters will quickly become believers.

Of course, the deciding factor in this one is going to come to Philadelphia’s defense against the high-powered offense of Pittsburgh. Ben Roethlisberger could be in for a long game with the way the Eagles has treated quarterbacks so far this season as Jim Schwartz will be throwing everything he’s got on defense.

The battle of Pennsylvania is always entertaining to watch for fans, and that should be the case once again when the Eagles and Steelers square off. If Philadelphia can pull off this win, it’s time to place them in the category of contenders.

Sep 15, 2016; Orchard Park, NY, USA; New York Jets running back Matt Forte (22) runs for a touchdown as Buffalo Bills strong safety Aaron Williams (23) pursues during the second half at New Era Field. The Jets beat the Bills 37-31. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Jets Over Chiefs

If the New York Jets can play as well on offense as they did against the Buffalo Bills, this team is going to be extremely dangerous during the 2016 season.

The fact that Matt Forte found the end zone three times against the Bills proves the Jets ended up with one of the biggest steals of the offseason after the Chicago Bears decided to part ways with the running back. New York already had a dynamic duo at wide receiver with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, but the addition of Forte takes this offense to a whole new level.

Up next, the Jets face a very tough test against the Kansas City Chiefs–who are coming off a disappointing loss to the Texans. The Chiefs appear to have one of the top defenses once again, but the offense still has a few areas in need of improvement as it was clearly displayed against Houston.

Offense will most likely turn out to be the difference maker in this one, and assuming New York’s offense continues to play with the same momentum from Week 2 against Houston, they have what it takes to come up on the winning end against Kansas City.

Sep 18, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) talks with teammates in the fourth quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos won 34-20. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

Colts Over Chargers

The Indianapolis Colts have to be one of the most frustrated teams in the league after opening the season with losses to the Lions and Broncos. Andrew Luck knows this team can’t afford to enter Week 4 winless as this team arguably finds themselves in a must-win situation against the San Diego Chargers.

When healthy, Luck has built a case for himself as one of the league’s most elite quarterbacks, but there’s been concerns over the way he’s looked so far in the 2016 season. Indianapolis invested a ton of money in their quarterback in the offseason, and after the team missed out on the playoffs last year while Luck dealt with numerous injuries, there’s even more pressure on the former top pick.

Hopefully, Luck can find a way to lead the Colts to their first win of the season with a favorable matchup. The Chargers have looked good so far in the young season, and are coming off an impressive win of their own against the Jaguars, but they’re certainly beatable.

San Diego is lucky enough where they’re not feeling as much pressure to come up on the winning end in this one. With a little more motivation behind Luck, expect Indianapolis to finally get that first win of 2016.

Sep 18, 2016; Landover, MD, USA; Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett congratulates Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) after a touchdown against the Washington Redskins during the second half at FedEx Field. The Dallas Cowboys won 27 – 23. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Cowboys Over Bears

How bad were the Chicago Bears on Monday night against the Eagles? For a team that many considered to be a sleeper in the NFC, the Bears looked flat-out awful in the national spotlight, and it’s embarrassing to see John Fox is 1-8 over the last two seasons as head coach when this team plays at home.

Unfortunately, the Bears could be in for another brutal game against a Dallas Cowboys team coming off a big road win against the Redskins. For the second-straight week, Dak Prescott looked like a veteran under center, as he seemed to do everything right with running the Cowboys’ offense.

From a talent perspective, there’s a good chance Chicago will be overwhelmed by all of the weapons Dallas has on offense. Not only has Prescott been doing all of the right things, but the Cowboys are waiting for Ezekiel Elliott and Dez Bryant to have big breakout performances

So does that mean those performances will take place on Sunday? Assuming Dallas can play like they did against Washington, they deserve to feel confident against Chicago.

It’s still early, but the Bears are already turning into one of the league’s biggest disappointments, and it’s not even October yet.

Sep 18, 2016; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) looks to pass against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Saints Over Falcons

Even if these two teams end up being disappointments for the 2016 season, it’s always fun for football fans to watch the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons go at it–especially when it takes place on Monday Night Football.

The best part about this NFC South matchup is the Saints and Falcons have two of the top offenses in football. While the Falcons are flourishing with Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu in the passing game, the Saints are seeing a dynamic duo emerge of their own thanks to Brandin Cooks and Willie Snead.

If the first two games are any indication of what’s to come, this game could turn out to be one of the highest scoring of Week 3.

As for which team will come up on the winning end, let’s just say New Orleans better take advantage of playing at home in this one. After back-to-back frustrating losses, the Saints realize the importance of this game to avoid falling to 0-3 on the season.

Otherwise, Drew Brees and company are going to have a rough uphill climb to get back in the race of the NFC. And New Orleans knows that’s the last thing they can afford to have happen when looking at the rest of the competition in the conference.