Wednesday 28 September 2016 23:03, UK
In a week full of tough match ups, Sky Sports NFL reporter Richard Graves struggled to maintain the form of week two.
With only five correct predictions, our Redskins fan Nigel came through to take the match up 9-5, as Richard slips to 1-2 for the season.
This week, Richard takes on Oakland Raiders fan Nick Easey, (@niceasey) who is aiming to pile on the pressure. With the season in full flow now, there can be no excuses and Richard will have to be on top form to get back to 500.
Miami Dolphins @ Cincinnati Bengals (Friday, 1am Sky Sports 1)
Richard: Back-to-back defeats for the Bengals leaves them trailing both the Ravens and the Steelers with a 1-2 record in the AFC North. Admittedly, Sunday's loss came against the Denver Broncos and one of the best defensive units in the NFL but their sole win, against the New York Jets, wasn't particularly impressive and that form needs to be addressed quickly.
The Dolphins head to Cincinnati having secured their first win of the season but victory over the beleaguered Browns was anything but straight forward. In fact it was a game they should have lost! It's prompted head coach Adam Gase to declare: "We're either going to start getting the job done, or we're going to make changes."
However, a trip to Cincinnati on a short week gives little cause for confidence. Bengals
Nick: Cincinnati are just too superior in all three phases of the game to be troubled by Miami. I expect to see Jeremy Hill take full advantage of a D that just can't stop the run. Bengals
Oakland Raiders @ Baltimore Ravens (Sunday, 5:30 Sky Sports 2)
Richard: The Baltimore Ravens are perhaps the surprise pace setters in the AFC North. A veteran wide receiver partnership of Steve Smith and Mike Wallace has shone this season and aligned with the precision accuracy of kicker, Justin Tucker, the Ravens are scoring just enough points to win games.
In contrast, the Raiders are as impressive on offence as they are unimpressive on defence, the worst ranked in the NFL after three weeks. That being said, they were able to limit the Titans to just 10 points at the weekend. If this unit can show itself to be just good enough, Oakland have plenty of firepower to win games
The Oakland offence ranks second in the league and now goes on the road to face Baltimore's second ranked defence. As Shaun Gayle always says, defence wins championships and by that definition, the Ravens record will remain perfect this week. Ravens
Nick: This is a game that Oakland could win but ultimately their inability to stay disciplined in their defensive scheme and shut down the passing game will lead to a Ravens victory. I fully expect to see Flacco throw over 350 yards on Sunday. Ravens
Denver Broncos @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Sunday, 9pm Sky Sports 2)
Richard: No DeMarcus Ware, no problem for the Super Bowl champions! The Broncos defence has been outstanding through the first three weeks and they impressed again in Sunday's win at the Bengals. Second year QB Trevor Siemian is looking more impressive with every passing week as well, catching the eye with some key third down completions in the win over Cincinnati.
All of this spells trouble for the Buccaneers, who stumbled to defeat against the Rams last weekend. That's successive games now where they've given up 37 points or more - even the best offence will struggle to win games when the opposition are scoring at that rate! Now Denver roll into town, one of five undefeated teams left in the NFL, and it's difficult to see any argument for the Bucs avoiding a third straight defeat this week. Broncos
Nick: Denver all the way. Bucs quarterback Jameis Winston just makes too many mistakes when under pressure and their isn't a better defence in the league that heaps pressure on the passer. Broncos
Kansas City Chiefs @ Pittsburgh Steelers (Sunday, 12:30am Sky Sports 2)
Richard: Both teams enter this game with a 2-1 record, a game behind their early division leaders, and may look at this game as a litmus test of how good they really are this season.
The Chiefs bounced back well from a dismal defeat in Houston with an impressive win against the New York Jets. A performance which saw them record eight turnovers - two of them returned for touchdowns and three passes intercepted in the end zone.
In contrast, last weekend was not a happy experience for the Steelers. They were routed in Philadelphia - 34-3 by a team led by a rookie quarterback. It was a humbling experience for quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, shut out after throwing six touchdown passes in their first two games. With that in mind, he may want to stay away from Chiefs cornerback, Marcus Peters, who has had two interceptions in each of his last two games.
Pittsburgh are back on home soil and Big Ben has generally enjoyed his meetings with the Chiefs, winning four of his five games against them. After a disappointing week three showing from DeAngelo Williams, running back Le'Veon Bell returns from suspension, offering a much-improved ground game to compliment their air attack. Steelers
Nick: Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers will bounce back from last week's horrid performance. Pittsburgh will be boosted by the return of Le'Veon Bell. Steelers
New York Giants @ Minnesota Vikings (Tuesday, 1:15am Sky Sports 1)
Richard: If anyone doubted the quality of the 2016 Minnesota Vikings team, three interceptions and eight sacks on Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton proved they mean business. Meanwhile, even without Adrian Peterson to lean on, Vikings passer Sam Bradford appears to be getting to grips with this offence and is quickly striking up a good understanding with his receivers.
The Giants were beginning to feel good about the season until they literally threw the game away to the Washington Redskins and now they could have problems at running back, with Rashad Jennings out and Shane Vereen lost for the season, New York also lost key men in their secondary, and could slip to 2-2.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jnr is still to find the end zone this season - that's six straight games without a touchdown stretching back to 2015 for the Giants' star player - something they desperately need him to address if they are to have any chance of winning in Minnesota. Vikings
Nick: To beat Mike Zimmer and this Vikings defence, you need a good passing and running game. With Shane Vereen going down last week, it is hard to see a one dimensional Giants team, reliant on their receivers, posing too many problems in Minneapolis. Vikings
