The 6pm slate features a couple of great matchups: an all-AFC East affair and two NFC sides that should be competing for the No. 1 seed.
New England Patriots (1-2) @ Buffalo Bills (3-0)
This matchup usually goes a long way towards deciding who wins the AFC East. That might be the case as early as Week Four this time around.
The Patriots have not lived up to last season’s hype. After losing to the Seahawks in Week One, they beat the Steelers 20-3 but lost to the Jaguars 35-6 last week. Quarterback Drake Maye has been hampered by a shoulder injury but has been a full participant in training. So far, he has completed 51 of 80 passes for 585 yards, one touchdown and six interceptions.
Running back Rhamondre Stevenson has 116 yards on 31 carries and nine receptions for 63 yards. Wide receiver Mack Hollins has 12 receptions for 156 yards, while Romeo Doubs has six receptions for 145 yards.
The Bills, having beaten the Texans, Lions and Chargers so far this season, will want to continue that run. After the Patriots, they will be on the road for their next two games before their bye.
Quarterback Josh Allen has completed 56 of 86 passes for 786 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He also has 114 yards on 28 carries and six touchdowns. Running back James Cook has a massive 346 yards on 58 carries and two touchdowns, while tight end Dalton Kincaid has 14 receptions for 263 yards and a touchdown.
Prediction – The Patriots are not as good as last season, so the Bills win by 10 points.
Los Angeles Rams (1-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)
This matchup could quite easily be the NFC Championship game come the end of the season. Both sides have Super Bowl aspirations, but a win seems more important for the Rams right now.
The Rams have struggled with injuries so far this season. Myles Garrett is on IR following knee surgery, while Aaron Donald missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices with a back problem. Davante Adams returned to full participation on Thursday after a rest day, and Puka Nacua was limited with a hip injury.
After their dismal showing in Melbourne against the 49ers, they beat the Giants 28-6 but lost to the Broncos 30-26 last week. Veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford has completed 67 of 111 passes for 872 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. The extra rest appears to be benefiting Adams, who has 18 receptions for 358 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Kyren Williams has 214 yards on 38 carries and a touchdown, as well as 11 receptions for 106 yards and a touchdown.
The Eagles have also had their fair share of injuries to key players. Zack Baun (concussion), Marquise Brown (ankle), Dallas Goedert (knee) and DeVonta Smith (hamstring) missed Wednesday and Thursday’s practices. Their availability remained uncertain on the latest available injury report.
After two tight wins against the Commanders (24-22) and the Titans (24-20), the Eagles lost to the Bears 27-7 last week. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has completed 56 of 87 passes for 620 yards, five touchdowns and three interceptions. Despite the hamstring injury that has been lingering since the off-season, Smith has 19 receptions for 235 yards and a touchdown. Running back Saquon Barkley has 34 carries for 174 yards but no touchdowns yet.
Prediction – This promises to be a cracking game, despite both sides suffering injuries to key players. I think the Eagles just edge it by three points.
Dallas Cowboys (1-2) @ Houston Texans (0-3)
In this battle of Texas, both sides are not where they expected to be, having only won one game between them this season.
The Cowboys have only beaten the Commanders 37-20 in Week Two, but lost to the Giants 28-20, and to the Ravens 34-31 either side of that win. QB Dak Prescott has completed 73 of 105 passes for 730 yards, seven touchdowns and only one interception. WR CeeDee Lamb has 20 receptions for 309 yards and three touchdowns, while RB Javonte Williams has 169 yards on 43 carries and two touchdowns, as well as 10 receptions for 56 yards and another touchdown.
The Texans have lost to the Bills 36-31, the Bengals 20-6 and the Colts 19-17 last week. QB C.J. Stroud has completed 72 of 120 passes for 794 yards and three touchdowns. RB David Montgomery has 103 yards on 37 carries and two touchdowns, as well as seven receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown. TE Dalton Schultz has 19 receptions for 205 yards but no touchdowns.
Prediction – The figures suggest that the Cowboys should walk this one, as they appear on paper to be the better side. However, I think the Texans win by three in another tight Cowboys game.
Best of the rest…
The 0-3 Titans travel to Baltimore to take on the 2-1 Ravens, who will be looking to take back the lead in the AFC North. As he is every week, RB Derrick Henry will cause this Titans defence nightmares as he is currently on 301 yards on 66 carries and has six touchdowns. Ravens win by at least seven.
The 1-2 Jets fly into Chicago to face the 2-1 Bears, who will still be without Caleb Williams. Case Keenum led the Bears to an impressive victory over the Eagles last week, whilst the Jets have lost the last two, by a combined total of 10 points. Bears to win another tight game by three.
The 2-1 Jaguars take on the 2-1 Bengals at Paycor Stadium, before travelling to London for two games. The Jags had a good win over the Patriots last week, whilst the Bengals lost to the Steelers in a divisional matchup. Both sides like to score points, so expect a high-scoring game. Bengals to win by three in a shootout.
The 1-2 Cardinals drop into MetLife to face the 2-1 Giants. The Cardinals have lost their last two games against the Seahawks and the 49ers. The Giants beat the Titans last week, after losing heavily to the Rams in Week Two. Giants to win by five points.
Finally for the early window, the 1-2 Packers go to Raymond James Stadium to take on the 0-3 Buccaneers, with both sides looking to get their season going. The only game either of these sides have won was the Packers’ win over the Jets in overtime. Bucs desperately need a win, but not this week – Packers to win by seven.
Read our Colts vs Commanders London preview for the first international game of the weekend.
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