The Loop NFL Picks: Week 3

Every Thursday, Kevin Cusick makes his predictions against the latest Las Vegas point spread, the way God intended …

Bills at Vikings (-16½):
Buffalo cornerback Vontae Davis stunned his teammates last Sunday by retiring at halftime of the Bills’ blowout loss to the Chargers. It’s not known what the 30-year-old will do to replace his income, though we’d suggest spending the next 14 weeks betting heavily against his old team, laying however many points it takes.
Pick: Vikings by 27

Buffalo Bills’ Vontae Davis, center, gets up after Los Angeles Chargers’ Mike Williams, right, scores a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Orchard Park, N.Y. How’s THAT for a halftime adjustment? While the rest of the Buffalo Bills jogged into the locker room at halftime of their game against the Los Angeles Chargers, cornerback Vontae Davis jogged in, then just kept on going. Later, Davis posted on Twitter that he was, in fact, calling it a career.(AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)

Packers at Redskins (+3):
The Redskins’ 50-year streak of sellout home games ended abruptly last week when their game against Indianapolis took place in front of 25,000 empty seats. Capital region authorities reported that they had not seen such a sparsely attended event since the Trump inaugural.
Pick: Packers by 7

Spectators watch the first half of an NFL football game between the Washington Redskins and the Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, at FedEx Field in Landover, Md. The half-century home sellout streak is over for the Washington Redskins. The announced attendance of 57,013 for Washington’s 21-9 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday was about 25,000 short of the 82,000 capacity listed in the team’s 2018 media guide. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally)

Jets at Browns (-3):
The Browns cut kicker Zane Gonzalez after last Sunday’s game in which he missed two extra points and two field goals. Gonzalez was kicking despite having an injured groin, giving him at least one more excuse than Daniel Carlson.
Pick: Browns by 4

Cleveland Browns kicker Zane Gonzalez reacts after missing an extra point during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, in New Orleans Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Bill Feig)

49ers at Chiefs (-6½):
Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes, son of the former Twins pitcher, has made history by throwing 10 touchdown passes in the first two weeks of the season. Of course, Mahomes is quite familiar with big numbers after years of calculating his father’s ERA.
Pick: Chiefs by 3

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) plays in the first quarter of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Don Wright)

Raiders at Dolphins (-3):
Miami rookie safety Minkah Fitzpatrick, racing to beat a certain Tampa Bay quarterback, has filed a trademark application for the nickname “FitzMagic.” In a related note, former Dolphins brute Ndamukong Suh is getting ready to trademark his nickname, “Crotch Stomper.”
Pick: Dolphins by 4

FILE – In this Aug. 28, 2018 file photo, Miami Dolphins safety Minkah Fitzpatrick runs a drill during NFL football training camp in Davie, Fla. Fitzpatrick’s pro debut Sunday, Sept. 9 came in the first NFL game he had ever seen, and he won raves for his performance, including a tackle on a goal-line stand. (David Santiago /Miami Herald via AP, File)

Colts at Eagles (-6½):
Philadelphia’s Carson Wentz has been cleared to return less than a year after blowing out his knee in Los Angeles. That means Super Bowl LII hero Nick Foles can return to his regular job: washing Wentz’s car.
Pick: Eagles by 10

FILE – In this Aug. 21, 2018, file photo, Philadelphia Eagles’ quarterback Carson Wentz throws during practice at the team’s NFL football training facility in Philadelphia. Carson Wentz has been cleared to return and is slated to start for the Eagles against Indianapolis in Week 3. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Bears at Cardinals (+6):
Arizona coach Steve Wilks came to the defense of struggling quarterback Sam Bradford, and he indicated he may help the former Vikings QB out by scaling back the Cardinals’ playbook. So for Week 3, Bradford’s play sheet will include only several different kinds of punts.
Pick: Bears by 3

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford passes against the Los Angeles Rams during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Patriots at Lions (+6½):
Former New England assistant Matt Patricia is hoping to get his first win as Lions coach during Sunday night’s reunion. Patricia has been off the Patriots’ payroll since February, and the team is now using that savings to buy clean urine for Josh Gordon.
Pick: Patriots by 8

Detroit Lions head coach Matt Patricia stands on the sidelines during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018. San Francisco won the game 30-27. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

Steelers at Buccaneers (+1):
The latest statistics are out, and Steelers stars are near the top. DIsgruntled star receiver Antonio Brown leads the NFL in social media activity on Twitter, and Le’Veon Bell leads the league in jet-skiing photos on TMZ.
Pick: Steelers by 4

FILE – In this Sept. 9, 2018, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown (84) can’t make the catch during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, in Cleveland. Two of the NFL’s most dynamic wideouts, Steelers Antonio Brown and Kansas City Chiefs’ Tyreek Hill, will go Sunday in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/David Richard, File)

Broncos at Ravens (-5):
The Broncos are 2-0 despite Case Keenum’s mediocre play. The former Viking is the NFL’s 28th ranked quarterback and leads the league with four interceptions. He could be on the verge of doing the impossible: making Denver fans miss Trevor Siemian.
Pick: Ravens by 3

Denver Broncos quarterback Case Keenum (4) fumbles under pressure from Oakland Raiders defensive end Arden Key (99) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Denver. The Broncos recovered the ball in their 20-19 win. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Titans at Jaguars (-7½):
Jacksonville’s Keelan Cole made headlines against New England by making a “miracle” one-handed catch. Cole’s grab was instantly compared to Odell Beckham’s famous grab in 2016 and is only the latest proof that sticky receiver gloves should be banned.
Pick: Jaguars by 10

Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles (5) celebrates his touchdown pass to wide receiver Keelan Cole (84) during the first half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Stephen B. Morton)

OTHER GAMES

Cowboys at Seahawks (-1½):
Pick: Cowboys by 3

Saints at Falcons (-3):
Pick: Falcons by 7

Bengals at Panthers (-3):
Pick: Panthers by 4

Giants at Texans (-6):
Pick: Texans by 8

Chargers at Rams (-7):
Pick: Rams by 1

Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley celebrates after scoring during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

RECORD
Week 2:
Straight up 11-4-1; vs. spread 8-8
Season:
Straight up 17-13-2; vs. spread 12-20
All-time (2003-18):
Straight up 2593-1436-8 (.644); vs. spread 1977-1940-120 (.505)

Miami Dolphins running back Kenyan Drake (32) celebrates after rushing for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins Sunday, Sept. 16, 2018, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)