CBS Sports analysts preview Week 3 NFL matchups and betting picks
CBS Sports writers Jordan Dajani and Jared Dubin analyze key Week 3 games, offering predictions and spread selections for matchups including the Bengals-Steelers, Jaguars-Patriots, and Texans-Colts.
Week 3 of the NFL season brings several teams facing early-season struggles, with the Buccaneers, Chargers, Texans and Colts all poised for a possible 0-3 start. CBS Sports analysts Jordan Dajani and Jared Dubin evaluated the weekend’s marquee games and provided their betting recommendations, using lines from DraftKings Sportsbook as of Sept. 23.
"The Steelers are averaging just 11.5 points and 249.5 yards per game, making their offense too broken to back," Dajani wrote about the Cincinnati Bengals’ -3.5 spread against Pittsburgh. He noted the Bengals’ improved defense and recent success in limiting opponents, predicting a 23-16 win.
Dubin echoed the sentiment, highlighting injuries to Pittsburgh’s running backs and the difficulty of facing Aaron Rodgers, and projected a 24-10 victory for Cincinnati.
In New England at Jacksonville, Dajani pointed to the Jaguars’ strong defensive metrics, including the league-best points-allowed figure, and favored Jacksonville by three points, forecasting a 24-20 result. Dubin agreed, citing Jacksonville’s offensive potential and predicting a 23-17 win.
The Houston-Indianapolis clash saw both analysts back the Texans despite their 0-2 start. Dajani cited the Colts’ historically poor defense, which has allowed 500 yards in each of its first two games, and predicted a 27-21 Texans victory. Dubin warned that Indianapolis’ defense remains a concern and expected a low-scoring contest, picking a 20-16 win for Houston.
Other notable picks included a Buccaneers upset over the Vikings (21-20), a Ravens win in Brazil against the Cowboys (33-30) if wideout Zay Flowers plays, a Broncos upset of the Rams (26-24) in Denver, and an Eagles victory over the Bears (21-13). The analysts also favored the Packers over the Falcons by 5.5 points, citing home-field advantage in primetime.
Overall, Dajani and Dubin highlighted defensive strengths, injury impacts, and recent performance trends as key factors shaping their Week 3 forecasts.