Admin September 22, 2024
NFL Week 3 picks and predictions: Why Texans, Packers are a smart play
Lorenzo Reyes is locked and loaded for Week 3 in the NFL and provides us with the smartest bets of the weekend.
Sports Pulse
The Kansas City Chiefs will try and stay hot in Hotlanta vs. the Atlanta Falcons on “Sunday Night Football.”
Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs escaped Arrowhead Stadium in Week 2 with a win over AFC rival Cincinnati. Mired in controversy, the Bengals committed a pass interference penalty to put the Chiefs in position to later boot the game-winning field goal through the uprights.
The Chiefs face a tough opponent in the Falcons. After the Falcons were stifled in Week 1 by the Steelers, they bounced back with a last-minute win over the Eagles. Kirk Cousins didn’t look quite himself in the matchup, but he drove the Falcons down the field when they needed it most. He connected with Drake London for the tying score, and Younghoe Koo knocked through the extra point to take the lead.
Coincidentally, Mahomes hasn’t quite looked like himself just yet, either. With a pair of interceptions in the Chiefs’ matchup vs. the Bengals, the two-time MVP looked human. The Falcons will hope that is the version of Mahomes their upstart defense faces come Sunday night.
USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Week 3 “Sunday Night Football” matchup between the Chiefs and Falcons.
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What time is Chiefs at Falcons?
- Chiefs at Falcons will kick off at 8:20 p.m. ET from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
How to watch Falcons vs. Chiefs
The game will air on NBC and Peacock. The game is also available to stream for free on Fubo.
Mike Tirico (play-by-play) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) will be on the call, with Melissa Stark adding reports from the field for NBC.
Falcons vs. Chiefs predictions, picks
Here’s how the USA TODAY Sports staff feels the “Sunday Night Football” matchup will shake out:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Chiefs 25, Falcons 23
- Tyler Dragon: Chiefs 26, Falcons 20
- Richard Morin: Falcons 24, Chiefs 21
- Jordan Mendoza: Chiefs 23, Falcons 19
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The NFL’s top 18 players in average annual salary are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player on Sunday morning, agreeing to a four-year, $240 million deal. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the highest-paid list after striking a four-year, $140 million contract extension this offseason.
Falcons vs. Chiefs odds, moneyline, over/under
Kansas City is favored to start the season with a win, according to the BetMGM NFL odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024 including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.
Odds as of Friday
- Spread: Chiefs (-3)
- Moneyline: Chiefs (-160); Falcons (+135)
- Over/under: 46.5
Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, picks and spreads has you covered with Monday Night Football odds.
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Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates isn’t opposed to talking trash to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce about his famous pop star girlfriend, Taylor Swift.
Bates was a guest on ‘The Pacman Jones Show‘ podcast on Friday, and the two-time NFL All-Pro said Taylor Swift smack talk isn’t out of bounds.
“I don’t listen to much Taylor Swift, but obviously you got to have respect for what she’s done in her career. And then with Travis [Kelce], you got to have some type of respect with him,” Bates said with a smile. “But once that clock ticks and we’re in between those lines. I see red sometimes and might say some crazy stuff to him, it may involve Taylor, in may not. It’s just part of the game, talking your little smack.”