Week 3 Patch Pick'Em

Welcome to the weekly Patch NFL Pick 'Em, where Fair Lawn residents and wannabe NFL prognosticators Stuart Pace, Steve Brown, Rich Seibel and Zak Koeske offer up their picks for three games each week and dish out a little fantasy football advice to boot.

If you'd like our opinion on fantasy roster moves, have a fantasy football question you'd like answered or would like to compete against us as a Guest Picker, email Patch NFL Pick 'Em at zak.koeske@patch.com

This week's Pick 'Em games:

• Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) @ Washington Redskins (1-1) -- Sunday, 1 p.m.
• Atlanta Falcons (2-0) @ San Diego Chargers (2-0) -- Sunday, 4:05 p.m.
• New England Patriots (1-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-1) -- Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Stuart Pace’s Game Picks:

Cincinnati, Atlanta and Baltimore

Cincinnati Bengals over Washington Redskins -- Well after watching both these teams, I can absolutely, unequivocally tell you with the most certainty that I have no idea who will win. But I always like a home team when I can't decide who to select, and personally, I would take Washington. But the Bengals aren't awful and I like them to beat the Skins. I mean, RG3 is still a rookie, nomatter what ya say! Confidence Level: 2 

Atlanta Falcons over San Diego Chargers -- Gotta tell ya, it wasn't the Falcons secondary that smashed Manning Monday night. It was Manning's arm. I mentioned on Electric Football's internet program NFL preview show that Manning's throws looked weak and wobbly. I don't expect the same of Phillip Rivers. But I like the Atlanta offense better than the Chargers', so I am going with the Falcons. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Baltimore Ravens over New England Patriots -- Arizona provided a clear and concise game plan to beat Mr. Bundchen. And the game plan was this -- pray they miss a game winning field goal. Ravens, on the other hand, let their game slip away to a banged up Eagle team (usually it's just their fans that are banged up). I have to think that the Ravens D will tame the fading beast that is the Patriots. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Upset of the Week

Denver Broncos over Houston Texans -- I don't know, the Texans gotta lose sometime. Taking the Denver Mannings at Mile High. They hardly lose their because there is hardly any air.

Sleeper of the  Week

Dennis Pitta, TE (BAL) -- Okay, I had to look alphabetically on NFL.com for this guys name, but he is quietly getting the looks from Flacco that are being taken from Torrey Smith. AND I HAVE SMITH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bust of the Week

Willis McGahee, RB (DEN) -- Denver will have a hard time rushing against what people say is a stout D in Houston -- although they are on the road...

Steve Brown’s Picks:

Cincinnati, Atlanta and Baltimore

Cincinnati Bengals over Washington Redskins -- Others may have hopped off the Bengals Bandwagon after the Ravens beat them down in Week 1.  They really didn't do anything to restore a lot of confidence during a shootout in the battle of Ohio last week BUT the Skins lost both Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker from a defense that couldn't stop Danny Amendola (15 catches for 160 yards and a TD), Sam Bradford (3 TDs and 310 passing yards) or rookie Daryl Richardson (15 carries for 83 yards).  Without them and facing better players in A.J. Green, Andy Dalton and Benjarvus Green-Ellis, I expect bad things to happen to the Redskins defense.  Confidence Level: 2 

Atlanta Falcons over San Diego Chargers -- Michael Turner doesn't wait to get his party on. After playing a late Monday night game he evidently got picked up for speeding on suspicion of drunk driving that night! As impressive as the Falcons have been so far and with the fact that the Chargers two wins have come against the two worst teams in football right now (the Titans and the Raiders), I expect the Big Birds to fly into San Diego and walk away with a surprisingly easy win, then all head out to the Tiki bar for wings and margaritas. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Baltimore Ravens over New England Patriots -- Give me the hometown birds to pull out a tough game. The Patriots laid an egg against the Cardinals and also have a win against one of the worst teams in football -- the Titans -- so it is hard to measure their true worth so far this season. Brady and Bill will be anxious to erase that memory, but it is my suspicion that Haloti and Ray Lewis will be the ones erasing the Patriots chances. A big factor in this game will be the health of Aaron Hernandez who the Pats have lost from an offense that was less than lethal last week. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Upset of the Week

Tampa Bay Buccaneers over Dallas Cowboys -- After a tremendous Week 1 win the Cowboys got manhandled by the Seahawks. Say what you want about Greg Schiano's team thumping Elijah as he tried to Tebow at the end of that game, the Bucs D is playing with tenacity and attitude, and they had the Giants on the ropes last week. Yes, I am aware that they ended up giving up 510 yards and three touchdowns but they also had three picks and were dealing with the Super Bowl Champions, led by the best fourth quarter QB in the league right now, desperate not to go 0-2 to start the season. I think they come back and put a stomping on these Cowboys.    

Sleeper of the Week

Andrew Luck, QB (IND) -- Andrew improved his numbers last week against my Vikings, whose DB and safeties are so bad they are more a Third-dary than a Secondary, and I expect that trend to continue against a declawed Jaguar team whose fan base is melting away faster than butter on the sun. With little to nothing in the way of a running attack and having gotten a taste of success against my boys, I expect luck to put up his first 300-yard performance this week. Oh, and credit to Zak for his sleeper pick last week of Andrew Hawkins who has been very impressive through two weeks and a guy I'd add to my fantasy team, if available (Aww shucks, thanks Steve!).      

Bust of the Week

DeMarco Murray, RB (DAL) -- Sticking with my yearlong hate on the Cowboys theme, I expect Demarco Murray to put up subpar numbers again this week. The Bucs have successfully limited both the Panthers and the Giants from running the ball effectively and I see no evidence from last week's games that the Cowboys will be any more successful. Sure, they might give up big chunks of yards in the passing game like they did against the Giants, but Murray isn't a huge pass catching threat and will find few running lanes against the Bucs underrated linemen.

Rich Seibel's Picks:

Washington, Atlanta and Baltimore

Washington Redskins over Cincinnati Bengals -- I like the Redskins at home. They should have enough fire power to beat the Bengals in this matchup. I think Josh Morgan (ex-49er) will light it up coming off some poor behavior last week that cost the team dearly. Confidence Level: 2

Atlanta Falcons over San Diego Chargers -- The Chargers have not beaten anyone yet. The Falcons are going to fly high out in southern California. On the road it should be a close game. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Baltimore Ravens over New England Patriots -- Both teams coming off tough losses, but I have to go with the Ravens here at home. Offense sells the tickets, Defense wins the games. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident) 

Upset of the Week

Miami Dolphins over New York Jets -- Jets on the raod and the Fish have some confidence now.

Sleeper of the Week

Josh Morgan, WR (WAS) -- I have seen this guy make some great catches. I expect he will be very motivated this week.

Bust of the Week

Mike Vick, QB (PHI) -- Vick is having a tough time this year and the Cardinals defense is fast and will get to the ball and ruin the day for Vick and the Eagles. 

Zak Koeske's picks:

Washington, San Diego and Baltimore

Washington Redskins over Cincinnati Bengals -- With RGIII under center, the Redskins are an offensive force. The Bengals, with Andy Dalton, just aren't. The second-year QB will see a boost in his fantasy numbers against a suspect Skins D, but ultimately the Bungles won't be able to keep up with the Skins in this one. Confidence Level: 2

San Diego Chargers over Atlanta Falcons -- I haven't liked what I've seen out of the Chargers this year against terrible opponents, but they're still a talented bunch. The return of Ryan Mathews and (hopefully) Antonio Gates on Sunday should provide the firepower they need to get over on the Falcons' increasingly one-dimensional offense. Confidence Level: 1 (least confident)

Baltimore Ravens over New England Patriots -- Both teams come off devastating losses to weaker foes (I love this as a Steelers fan), but the Pats' loss to the Cardinals is more problematic, in my opinion. Despite last week's letdown, I still believe the Ravens are Super Bowl bound. Expect Flacco to find Torrey Smith for a deep TD bomb or two in this rematch of last year's AFC Championship game. Confidence Level: 3 (most confident)

Upset of the Week

Arizona Cardinals over Philadelphia Eagles -- Why not? Despite a complete lack of offense, the Cardinals have managed to pull off wins against two solid teams the first two weeks of the season. At home against a talented, but banged-up Eagles offense that always seems to play to its competition, the Cards might just come away with a third straight win.

Sleeper of the Week

Rueben Randle, WR (NYG) -- With Nicks and Hixon both out, Eli will need to find an alternate target. Martellus Bennett should be in for another big game, but he's no longer a sleeper at this point, so I'll take Randle to get the majority of the looks that don't go Cruz's and Bennett's way.

Bust of the Week

Michael Turner, RB (ATL) -- I'm just going to keep picking Michael Turner as my bust until he proves me wrong. Turner's poor play the last two weeks capped off with a post-game DWI arrest don't instill much confidence in me that he's going to turn in a strong performance against the Chargers.

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