Sportsnaut
Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season delivered a bit of a return to normalcy, with teams like the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks returning to form. However, it also came with an array of injuries and other developments that should have a significant impact on games on the NFL schedule this week.
Let’s dive into our NFL Week 3 predictions, making game-by-game forecasts for how every matchup unfolds.
This is the kind of Thursday Night Football matchup everyone is used to. On one side, you have a Miami Dolphins team that allows the second-most points per game (33.0) with an offense that has the third-worst points per drive average (1.00). On a normal week, we might see Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills drop 40 or more points. Since it’s a short week, Buffalo might have to settle for 31 points.
Related: Miami Dolphins Could Fire Mike McDonald, Chris Grier Midseason
The Cleveland Browns defense should be able to prevent this one from getting ugly. As long as Myles Garrett is healthy in Week 3, Cleveland has one of the few defensive lines and secondary capable of disrupting the Packers offense. With that said, Joe Flacco versus this Packers pass rush is a recipe for a multi-interception game and a loss by double digits.
Related: NFL Defense Rankings 2025, Evaluating all 32 Defenses after Week 2
The Indianapolis Colts have a golden opportunity for their first 3-0 start since 2009. Beating the Tennessee Titans in Week 3 starts up front, with a Colts offensive line that has allowed the fourth-lowest sack rate (3.1 percent) in the NFL and a defensive front that can have success against Tennessee’s injury-plagued offensive line. Assuming No. 1 corner Charvarius Ward is back, Indianapolis should be able to suffocate the Titans’ passing game and exit Week 3 with a perfect record.
Week 2 had the biggest impact on this Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals matchup. On one side of the field, you have an inexperienced quarterback who is easily rattled by pressure and operating behind a Vikings offensive line that has allowed the highest sack rate (18 percent) in the NFL. Meanwhile, we have a matchup between the Bengals’ backup quarterback Jake Browning and a defensive play-caller in Brian Flores, who excels at confusing veteran quarterbacks and shutting down passing games. Neither team has the talent in the secondary to stick with Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Jefferson. This matchup feels like a coin flip now, so we’ll take the best defense and better-coached team to win.
Read More: NFL Week 3 Power Rankings, Evaluating all 32 Teams after Week 2
The Pittsburgh Steelers‘ chances to win in Week 3 feel heavily dependent on the status of cornerback Christian Gonzalez, who has missed the first two...
