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subject: Football Handicapping Recap of NFL Week 3 [print this page]

NFL Week 3 started with a bang as the 0-2 San Francisco 49ers, almost every NFL handicapper's pick to win the NFC West, walked into Kansas City looking for their first win of the season. While most of the experts have gotten it wrong so far, the average bettor showed he knows best.

The opening spread moved from the Chiefs being one point favorites early in the week to three point favorites at kickoff. The bettors were right on as the Chiefs covered by a mile, winning 31-10. The Chiefs blistered the Niners on the ground and through the air as Matt Cassel threw three touchdown passes and the Chiefs rushed for over 200 yards. The only question after this game was which is more surprising, Kansas City at 3-0 or San Francisco at 0-3?

While the Niners were unable to get their first victory of the season, two other preseason favorites were able to right the ship, at least for now. Brett Favre got his first victory of the season, although this win would be better attributed to Adrian Peterson and the Vikings defense. They covered by a nose, beating Detroit 24-10 which made many a football handicapper happy with the point-spread coverage.

The Dallas Cowboys were also able to secure their first win, knocking off current media darling Houston. Dallas won the turnover battle 3-0, picking off Matt Schaub twice just one week after his dazzling 497 yard, three touchdown performance in their comeback win against the Redskins. The Cowboys offense finally looked in sync as they threw for 284 yards and rushed for 101. Dallas was a three point underdog in this game, but held a 17-3 lead in the third quarter and finished strong for a 27-13 win.

In the throwback category, Michael Vick had another stellar performance and got his second win as a starter since 2006. Vick threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Eagles imposed their will over the lowly Jaguars in every phase of the game, on their way to an easy 28-3 win. And speaking of throwbacks, it may not have been since 2006 (although it probably felt like it to Rams fans) but it has been an awfully long time since the Rams won at home. St. Louis garnered their first home win since 2008, snapping a 14 game home losing streak and proving the football handicappers who placed them as a five point favorite right, as they beat the spread and the Redskins, 30-16.

In what has to be considered one of the most surprising upsets by a team that was only a three point underdog, the Atlanta Falcons shocked most fans and knocked off the defending champion Saints, in New Orleans, 27-24 in overtime. Had the Saints won the game, the story of the day would have been Lance Moore's 149 yards and two touchdowns. Instead it was yet another troubling knuckleball off the foot of Garrett Hartley, who missed a 29 yard attempt that would have won the game in overtime. Call it a chip shot, call it an extra point, but just don't call it gimme because these days no kick off the foot of the strong legged Hartley looks easy. Matt Bryant had no such issues as he buried a 46 yarder for the Falcons and the victory.

In the night game, the Jets moved up to 2-1, the Dolphins slipped to 2-1, and both kept pace with the 2-1 Patriots in the talent-laden AFC East. Troubled wide receiver Braylon Edwards had 87 yards receiving, including a 67 yard touchdown pass, after being "suspended" for the first quarter by the Jets just five days after his arrest for driving under the influence. Mark Sanchez threw for three touchdowns for the second week in a row and LaDainian Tomlinson continued his fountain of youth crusade with 88 total yards and a signature leap-over-the-pile touchdown. Chad Henne played his best game as a pro, throwing strikes all over the field to six different receivers. Henne finished with 363 yards, 166 of which into the hands of his top weapon Brandon Marshall. Henne couldn't quite seal the deal though, as he was picked off in the end zone with 27 seconds left in the game and his team down by eight. They lost by a final of 31-23.

Football Handicapping Recap of NFL Week 3

By: Mike Jergens

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