NFL Week 3 preview
INDIANAPOLIS (1-1) AT EAGLES (1-1) Sunday, 1 p.m., FOX OPENING LINE: Eagles by 6 SERIES: Colts lead 10-8 LAST MEETING: Eagles, Colts 30-27, 2014 COLTS OFFENSE: OVERALL (22), RUSH (24), PASS (19) COLTS DEFENSE: OVERALL (10), RUSH (9), PASS (17) EAGLES OFFENSE: OVERALL (24), RUSH (18t), PASS (23) EAGLES DEFENSE: OVERALL (19), RUSH (1), PASS (28) FANTASY TIP: TE Zach Ertz is Carson Wentz’s favorite target and he had 11 catches last week at Tampa. ETC.: Eagles have won past two meetings . ... Colts coach Frank Reich was Eagles offensive coordinator 2016-17 . ... Colts are one win from 300 since moving to Indianapolis in 1984 . ... Colts QB Andrew Luck has thrown TD pass in 25 consecutive games, league’s longest active streak. He has 1,417 yards passing, 11 TDs, four INTs in last four games vs. NFC East . ... K Adam Vinatieri needs four field goals to break Morten Andersen’s career record of 565 and five attempts to tie Gary Anderson’s 672 for second-most all-time . ... T.Y. Hilton has 260 yards receiving and TD in past two games vs. NFC . ... TE Eric Ebron aims for TD catch in third straight game . ... Rookie LB Darius Leonard had 18 tackles, sack and forced fumble last week . ... Eagles are 16-3 at home since 2016 . ... Eagles have won six straight vs. AFC
DENVER (2-0) AT BALTIMORE (1-1) Sunday, 1 p.m. OPENING LINE: Ravens by 5½ SERIES: Ravens, 7-6 LAST MEETING: Broncos, 1913, 2015 FANTASY TIP: Denver WR Emmanuel Sanders (14 catches, 231 yards, TD) faces defense that yielded three TDs to Bengals WR A.J. Green in one half. ETC.: Broncos 2-0 for sixth straight year . ... Broncos 10956-3 in opening month since merger, second best in NFL . ... Broncos lead NFL with 15 plays of at least 20 yards . ... Ravens likely without three-time Pro Bowl LB C.J. Mosley (knee) . ... Baltimore QB Joe Flacco has 10 TD passes and one INT in last six home games.
TENNESSEE (1-1) AT JACKSONVILLE (2-0) Sunday, 1 p.m. OPENING LINE: Jaguars by 6½ SERIES: Titans, 27-20 LAST MEETING: Titans, 15-10, 2017 FANTASY TIP: Titans RB Derrick Henry, who grew up in nearby Yulee, Fla., has three TDs in four games against Jaguars. ETC.: Titans have allowed league-leading one sack in two games . ... QB Marcus Mariota, still dealing with an elbow injury, is 4-2 against Jags. He’s thrown for 1,217 yards, with eight TDs and two interceptions. He’s also been sacked 14 times . ... Jaguars have won seven straight at home, second-longest streak in team history.
CINCINNATI (2-0) AT CAROLINA (1-1) Sunday, 1 p.m. OPENING LINE: Panthers by 3 SERIES: Tied 2-2-1 LAST MEETING: Tied 37-37, 2014 FANTASY TIP: A.J. Green had career-high three TD catches vs Ravens. Green has 11 catches for 161 yards and four TDs in first two games ETC: Bengals trying to start 3-0 for only fifth time in coach Marvin Lewis’ 16 seasons . ... Andy Dalton and Green have 21 pass connections of at least 50 yards, most by a QB-WR duo since they entered league in 2011 . ... QB Cam Newton completing career-best 69 percent of passes . ... Panthers receivers had five drops vs. Falcons.
L.A. CHARGERS (1-1) AT L.A. RAMS (2-0) Sunday, 4:05 p.m., CBS OPENING LINE: Rams by 7½ SERIES: Rams, 6-5 LAST MEETING: Chargers, 27-24, 2014 FANTASY TIP: Chargers RB Austin Ekeler will split touches with Melvin Gordon. Ekeler is one of four backs with 100 or more rushing (116) and receiving (108) yards this season. ETC.: First meeting between Los Angeles teams since 1994, when Raiders defeated Rams 20-17 . ... Since Week 11 of last season, Chargers lead NFL in offense, averaging 436.9 yards per game . ... Rams QB Jared Goff unbeaten in five starts vs. AFC with 11 TDs, no INTs. Colts QB Andrew Luck, left, speaks with coach Frank Reich, right, last week in Landover, Md.
South . ... Carson Wentz will start first game since tearing two knee ligaments Dec. 10, 2017. Wentz set franchise single-season record with 33 TD passes last year and finished third in NFL MVP voting. He’s 3-0 at home vs. AFC teams with 778 yards passing, eight TDs and no picks.
SAN FRANCISCO (1-1) AT KANSAS CITY (2-0) Sunday, 1 p.m. OPENING LINE: Chiefs by 6½ SERIES: 49ers, 7-5 LAST MEETING: 49ers, 22-17, 2014 FANTASY TIP: Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes has record 10 TD passes in two games and no INTs; Niners have yet to pick off pass. ETC: 49ers Matt Breida leads NFL in yards rushing (184) and yards per carry (8.4) . ... San Francisco K Robbie Gould has made franchise-record 29 consecutive FGs . ... Chiefs TE Travis Kelce has caught passes in 65 consecutive games, third best in franchise history . ... Chiefs are allowing 430 yards passing and 508 total per game, last in NFL.
CHICAGO (1-1) AT ARIZONA (0-2) Sunday, 4:25 p.m. OPENING LINE: Bears by 2 SERIES: Bears, 56-28-6 LAST MEETING: Cardinals, 4823, 2015 FANTASY TIP: Bears’ defense has been dominant, with 10 sacks and four takeaways, and is facing NFL’s worst offense. ETC: Series dates to 1920, when Chicago Cardinals beat Decatur Staleys (later Bears) 7-6 . ... Bears’ Khalil Mack, acquired from Oakland on Sept. 1, has strip sacks in each of first two games . ... Cards QB Sam Bradford has not thrown TD, has been intercepted twice and has 55.6 passer rating . ... Arizona is 0-2 for first time since 2005.
GREEN BAY (1-0-1) AT WASHINGTON (1-1) Sunday, 1 p.m. OPENING LINE: Packers by 1½ SERIES: Packers, 20-15-1 LAST MEETING: Redskins, 4224, 2016 FANTASY TIP: Packers’ Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery set to split majority of carries even with Aaron Jones back. ETC.: Packers QB Aaron Rodgers was taken 24th in 2005 draft after Redskins QB Alex Smith went first to San Francisco . ... Rodgers has eight TDs and one interception in three games vs. Redskins . ... Smith has averaged 243 yards passing in past three games vs. Packers . ... Adrian Peterson has 1,779 yards rushing and 13 rushing TDs in 17 games vs. Packers, mostly with Vikings.
DALLAS (1-1) AT SEATTLE (0-2) Sunday, 4:25 p.m., Fox OPENING LINE: Seahawks by 3 SERIES: Cowboys, 10-8. LAST MEETING: Seahawks, 21-12, 2017 FANTASY TIP: Might be good week to avoid Seattle’s skill players. Seahawks managed only 136 yards in last year’s win over Cowboys. ETC.: Cowboys looking to start 2-1 for eighth straight season. ... Dak Prescott is unbeaten in three road starts vs. NFC West, with seven TDs, zero INTs . ... Seahawks have won nine straight home openers and 14 of 15 . ... Coach Pete Carroll needs two victories to tie Mike Holmgren’s club-record 90.
FANTASY TIP: Tevin Coleman ran for 107 yards on 16 carries against Panthers last week; he’s likely starter for Falcons with Devonta Freeman hurting. ETC.: Falcons have won three of last four in series . ... Saints’ Drew Brees has passed for 300-plus yards in six of last eight vs. Falcons . ... RB Alvin Kamara averaging only 37.7 yards rushing per game . ... Falcons DE Takk McKinley has sacks in two straight games . ... Julio Jones has 19 catches for 343 yards, TD, in last three games against Saints.
OAKLAND (0-2) AT MIAMI (2-0) Sunday, 1 p.m. OPENING LINE: Dolphins by 4 SERIES: Raiders lead 20-17-1 LAST MEETING: Raiders, 2724, 2017 FANTASY TIP: Dolphins have run more than they’ve thrown, and RBs Frank Gore and Kenyan Drake could have big day against Raiders’ weak defense. ETC.: Raiders are allowing 5.7 yards per rush, worst in NFL. ...Oakland has just two sacks, tied for second fewest, feeling effects of trading edge rusher Khalil Mack . ... Dolphins are 2-0 for first time since 2013 . ... Gore has 14,112 career rushing yards and last week overtook Curtis Martin for fourth most.
NEW ENGLAND (1-1) AT DETROIT (0-2) Sunday, 8:20 p.m., NBC OPENING LINE: Patriots by 6 SERIES: Patriots, 7-4 LAST MEETING: Pats, 34-9, 2014 FANTASY TIP: Pats QB Tom Brady may face secondary without All-Pro CB Darius Slay, who left last game with concussion. ETC.: Bill Belichick is 14-8 against former assistants. Now Matt Patricia gets his shot . ... Brady has won nine of last 11 Sunday night games and 19 of 29 in career . ... Lions WR Golden Tate has scored in each of last two home games . ... Detroit LB Devon Kennard has at least one sack in three straight games.
FANTASY TIP: Vikings’ defense is must play at home against rookie QB Josh Allen and Bills’ sputtering offense. ETC.: Bills haven’t started 0-3 since 2010 . ... Bills’ Allen makes first career road start . ... Bills have allowed 11 sacks, second most in league . ... Vikings have won 10 of last 11, including playoffs, at home while allowing NFL-low 13.6 points per game. ... Vikings’ Stefon Diggs has six TD catches and at least one in last five regular-season games, fifth-longest streak in team history.
N.Y. GIANTS (0-2) AT HOUSTON (0-2) Sunday, 1 p.m. OPENING LINE: Texans by 4½ SERIES: Giants, 3-1 LAST MEETING: Giants, 30-17, 2014 FANTASY TIP: Houston’s Will Fuller had eight receptions for 113 yards and TD last week and has five TD catches in last six games at home. ETC.: QB Eli Manning is 3-0 with 710 yards, six TDs and three interceptions against Texans . ... Odell Beckham has 98 receptions for 1,556 yards and 11 TDs in 13 career games against AFC . ... Houston QB Deshaun Watson has thrown for 12 TDs and two interceptions in three career starts at home.
PITTSBURGH (0-1-1) AT TAMPA BAY (2-0) Monday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN OPENING LINE: Steelers by 2 SERIES: Steelers, 8-2 LAST MEETING: Bucs, 27-24, 2014 FANTASY TIP: Bucs QB Ryan Fitzpatrick has four completions of 50-plus yards — all for TDs. ETC.: Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy, who won Super Bowl as player with Steelers and helped transform Bucs will be inducted into Ring of Honor at halftime. ... Steelers’ James Conner leads NFL backs with 257 total yards from scrimmage . ... Fitzpatrick, filling in for suspended Jameis Winston, threw for 819 yards and eight TDs past two weeks.