NFL Week 3 bold predictions: Jets end Bill Belichick’s reign of terror over franchise, Jordan Love historic

Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season is underway, beginning with the San Francisco 49ers’ 30-12 win over the New York Giants on “Thursday Night Football.” The 49ers hanging up 30 issues is no surprise, however the way in which they did it’s. Quarterback Brock Purdy totaled 310 passing yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-37 passing, however he did so together with his air yards consistent with go try simply 5 yards, 4.9 to be actual. Of Purdy’s 310 yards, 65.2% of them — 202 — passed off after the catch. San Francisco head trainer Kyle Shanahan went with a coaching wheels offense on Thursday night time, and the 49ers had been nonetheless explosive within the end.

Since anything else can occur in terms of the NFL, what is subsequent, you ask? Well, listed below are 5 bold predictions for this weekend’s Week 3 slate.    

1. Zach Wilson-led Jets in any case snap their 14-game shedding streak towards Patriots

The Patriots have received 14 consecutive video games towards the Jets, the second-longest energetic win streak towards a unmarried opponent within the NFL. That’s one sport fewer than the Chiefs’ 15 consecutive victories towards the Broncos. However, Zach Wilson and the Jets are going to end that streak on Sunday. 

Putting Wilson first in that closing sentence is a bit of disingenuous as a result of Gang Green’s protection harassing Mac Jones and the Patriots offense is why New York goes to win. Even despite the fact that Jones enters Week 3 main the NFL in completions (66), go makes an attempt (96) and dropbacks this season, his 5.7 yards consistent with go try ranks twenty ninth within the league. This is an offense that can not stretch the sphere. Cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Reed must have a box day with Jones in New Jersey (the elements may play a large section, too).

The protection dressed in down Jones must permit for Wilson handy the ball off to operating again Breece Hall lots of instances on Sunday and play ball-control offense. The second-year rusher totaled a career-low 4 touches within the crew’s 30-10 loss on the Cowboys in Week 2, one thing offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett is aware of he must get corrected. Hall and the Jets protection will do exactly sufficient to end Bill Belichick’s reign of terror over their franchise, which can have Gang Green celebrating love it’s 2015 (the closing time they beat the Patriots). That’s when moderate gasoline value around the United States used to be $2.43, the No. 1 music at the Billboard charts used to be “Hello” through Adele, the highest film in theaters used to be “Star Wars: Episode VII: The Force Awakens” and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning used to be within the midst of enjoying his ultimate NFL season. 

2. Commanders take a web page out of Jets playbook, bully Josh Allen into turnovers for surprising win

The Bills are six-point highway favorites of their Week 3 matchup towards the Commanders, however they’re going to be leaving FedEx Field disillusioned after Washington’s ferocious entrance turns Josh Allen again right into a turnover system. Sure, Allen has seven overall touchdowns and no turnovers in his two profession video games towards the Commanders, however this is about to modify. 

The Bills are coming off a very easy, breezy 38-10 win towards the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2, a sport wherein Allen finished 84% of his passes (31-of-37) for 274 passing yards and 3 passing touchdowns. That of completion proportion is the second-highest through Allen in his profession. However, now he is pitted towards every other elite go rush. Washington’s four-headed monster of Montez Sweat, Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen and Chase Young all totaled 5 or extra quarterback pressures of their win towards the Denver Broncos in Week 2. The Commanders go rush racked up 13 quarterback hits, probably the most for any protection in a sport this season, seven sacks and 22 pressures — the entire maximum through any crew in Week 2. 

Allen dedicated 4 turnovers, 3 interceptions and a misplaced fumble when he confronted towards an actual deal go rush in Week 1 in a stunning loss to the Jets after Aaron Rodgers used to be injured 4 snaps in. He’ll get flustered once more in Week 3, making an allowance for a Commanders victory and their first 3-0 get started since 2005, the season of their closing playoff win. 

3. Jordan Love makes historical past with 3+ passing TDs and no interceptions towards stingy Saints protection

Only two quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes (2018 and 2019) and Peyton Manning (2010), have thrown for 3 or extra passing touchdowns and no interceptions in every of their first 3 weeks of a season since a minimum of 1950. New Packers beginning quarterback Jordan Love has completed so in every of his first two video games as Aaron Rodgers’ successor, and he’s going to be squaring off towards a Saints protection in Week 3 at Lambeau Field that has allowed only one landing this season. 

Head trainer Dennis Allen’s Saints protection has additionally long gone 10 video games in a row with 20 or fewer issues allowed, the longest energetic streak within the NFL. That manner no person has thrown for 3 touchdowns towards them in that span. Love achieved the feat, 3 touchdowns and no interceptions, in Week 2 towards the Falcons at the highway in a 25-24 defeat in spite of lacking Pro Bowl operating again Aaron Jones, All-Pro left take on David Bakhtiari, his best large receiver Christian Watson, and shedding Pro Bowl left guard Elgton Jenkins throughout the sport.

Jones practiced in a restricted style on Thursday, paving the way in which for a possible go back for the Packers house opener. His presence can be an enormous spice up, given he had 127 scrimmage yards and two overall touchdowns (one at the floor and one within the air) towards the Bears in Week 1. Between a go back from Jones, enjoying in the back of an offensive line that has surrendered the second-fewest quarterback pressures within the NFL (21.1%) and enjoying within the pleasant confines of Lambeau Field, Love makes historical past towards New Orleans’ enforcing protection. 

4. Justin Jefferson turns into first in NFL historical past with 150+ receiving yards in every of first 3 video games of a season

Even despite the fact that the Vikings are 0-2, it no doubt is not 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson’s fault. He is most effective 5th participant for the reason that 1970 NFL-AFL merger with 150 or extra receiving yards in Weeks 1 and a couple of of a season. Should he do it once more in Week 3 towards the Chargers, he would be the first participant in NFL historical past to take action in every of the primary 3 weeks of season. Jefferson would additionally spoil a tie with Chargers Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Lance Alworth for probably the most profession video games with 150 or extra receiving yards in a participant’s first 4 seasons. Both lately have 10 such video games.

While opposing defenses know Jefferson is the Vikings’ primary appeal, the Chargers will be unable to do a lot to sluggish him down. Their 31.5 issues consistent with sport allowed ranks because the third-most within the league, their 438.5 overall yards consistent with sport allowed ranked as probably the most allowed within the NFL and that determine is held up through the 333 passing yards consistent with sport allowed, additionally the best possible determine within the league. Jefferson will likely be racing into the historical past books on Sunday, making a report of one thing no person has ever completed sooner than. 

5. Kenny Pickett and Steelers offense come alive, QB throws a couple of passing TDs for the primary time 

How unhealthy used to be the Steelers offense of their 26-22 Week 2 win towards the Browns? They did not sign in a unmarried offensive snap throughout the Browns’ 30, marking the primary time a crew did that and received the sport for the reason that Dolphins beat the Ravens 15-13 in Week 13 of the 2015 season. The Steelers protection, two touchdowns, has scored the same quantity of instances as their offense has in 2023, two times. 

Despite that ineptitude, Steelers second-year quarterback Kenny Pickett goes to throw for a couple of touchdowns for the primary time in his profession. He has performed in 15 video games, 14 begins, since 2022, however he hasn’t ever tossed a minimum of two rankings. His fortune turns round in Week 3 after enjoying a horrendous Las Vegas Raiders protection. They have allowed an 81.7% of completion proportion during the first two weeks of 2023. That’s the best possible of completion proportion surrendered through any crew in NFL historical past via their first two video games. Their 5 passing touchdowns and 116.6 passer score allowed each ranks because the second-worst in all of the league. 

Pickett by no means having a couple of passing touchdowns in a sport makes this prediction bold, however by contrast porous Raiders secondary, even a dark offense just like the Steelers’ will have a sunny day.