Ed Kleese joins us once again as we present predictions for Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season and provide picks both straight up and against the point spread. I am 21- 11 straight up, and Ed leads 18- 14 against the spread. We proceed game by game and discuss our differing views on several key matchups. Notable disagreements include Bills versus Chargers and Rams versus Broncos. We favor teams such as the 49ers, Chiefs, Saints, and Vikings to cover their spreads. Visit pigskindispatch.com and the Pigskin Dispatch YouTube channel for the full discussion and our detailed picks.
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Transcript
Hello my football friends.
Speaker A:This is Darren Hayes of pigskindispatch.com welcome once again to the Pig Pen, your portal to positive football history.
Speaker A:of the:Speaker A:Our friend and cohort and this mechanism we do every week in the football season is Ed Cleese.
Speaker A:Ed, welcome back to the Pig Pen.
Speaker B:Hello Darren, how are you?
Speaker A:I'm doing great, Ed.
Speaker A:And we've had some fun here with weeks one and two.
Speaker B:No, we haven't.
Speaker A:Well, yeah, week two wasn't so, so happy for me and it definitely wasn't happy for you.
Speaker A:But we've had some fun because we had football on and had had some good games and some interesting things happen and we've been able to make some predictions whether right or wrong.
Speaker A:It's still fun to make predictions.
Speaker B:Yes, well you and, and you've been more right than wrong for sure so far.
Speaker B:Against we're doing it two ways this year.
Speaker B:We're doing it straight up and against the spot spread.
Speaker B:So I have been so, so straight up.
Speaker B:I've only gone 17 and 15 so far and that's actually not very good.
Speaker B:Straight up you're way ahead of me.
Speaker B:You're 21 and 11, 10 games above.500 on those straight up picks.
Speaker B:So if you're in a survivor league, people should probably be listening to you over me.
Speaker B:But if you're wagering your hard earned money, you might want to reverse that because I am 18 and 14 against the spread so far whereas you are 15 and 17.
Speaker B:So not no big losses if you're following Darren's pick picks but not the winnings that I'm providing you.
Speaker A:Yeah, that's, that's a losing record, Ed that I have against the point spread.
Speaker A:Okay, we'll have to change that this coming week here.
Speaker A:Okay, Fix tonight.
Speaker B:Let's go.
Speaker B:Are you about ready?
Speaker A:Yeah, I'm all set.
Speaker B:Okay, we are going to start on Thursday as always where we have the 02 Atlanta Falcons.
Speaker B:They are six point underdogs playing at the Green Bay Packers.
Speaker B:The Falcons look absolutely awful so far but here's the deal.
Speaker B:They're not going to go 017 and they're not going to go Owen 17 against the spread.
Speaker B:I think the packers win another uninspiring game but the Falcons will keep this one closer and cover.
Speaker A:All right, I, I disagree with you here.
Speaker A:I think I agree with you on the packers winning but I think they are going to cover.
Speaker A:I think they Had a little bit of a wake up call last week and they're going to cover those six points.
Speaker A:I'm taking the pack.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:We go to Buffalo where The Bills are seven point favorites against the also 02 and looking very dreadful.
Speaker B:Los Angeles Chargers, my Super bowl pick to represent in the afc not looking good.
Speaker B:This is where the NFL makes no sense though, right?
Speaker B:I just don't quite have the guts based on what I've seen to pick the Chargers to win this game.
Speaker B:But I do think they fight.
Speaker B:Keep it close.
Speaker B:Bills win, Chargers cover.
Speaker A:I think this is a trap game.
Speaker A:You know, I think the Bills are high and mighty.
Speaker A:The Chargers look pretty low and bad but I think it's going to be a Chargers weekend.
Speaker A:They're going to win at Buffalo and take the points.
Speaker B:Got it.
Speaker B:We're going to go on to Cleveland.
Speaker B:The coming off a winning week for the Cleveland Browns, the Panthers are two and a half point favorites in Cleveland.
Speaker B:I actually if I'm the Panthers I kind of like catching the Browns coming off of a win because we generally know what happens next and I'm going to follow a little bit history here and I'm also wondering if the Panthers offense is legit good maybe.
Speaker B:I think this is a pretty tight game but the Panthers are going to win and cover.
Speaker A:I agree with you.
Speaker A:I think they're going to do both the same there.
Speaker A:I think this is a weekend where now desean Watson has some tape of the other the good desean Watson back in Houston and the Panthers will figure this out and win the game.
Speaker B:We've got the jets going to Detroit where the Lions are six and a half point favorites.
Speaker B:The Lions defense is bad.
Speaker B:It is not good especially with their injuries in the secondary right now that is a major, major problem.
Speaker B:But I think this is a get right spot for the Lions.
Speaker B:I think this is a tough spot for the Jets.
Speaker B:Catching the Lions coming off an extra, extra few days and a little bit angry about how they played so poorly in Buffalo.
Speaker B:I think the Lions roll in this game.
Speaker A:I think you're right and I think this is going to be a big win for them more than the point spread.
Speaker A:So I'll take them both ways.
Speaker B:Divisional matchup between two 02 teams so very important.
Speaker B:The Texans are two and a half point favorites at Indianapolis.
Speaker B:Could the Texans possibly start oh and three again?
Speaker B:I say yes.
Speaker B:I think there are some significant problems on offense down in Houston and the Colts looked a little bit better against the Chiefs and I think they get it done and break their long losing streak on Sunday.
Speaker B:So the Colts win and cover.
Speaker A:I think totally opposite on you.
Speaker A:I think the Texans are going to win by more than the three points and get.
Speaker A:They'll get off the snide and get their first win.
Speaker B:Okay, hitting a theme that I hit a little bit earlier, we have the looking hot Chiefs are 11 and a half point favorites at the looking not hot Dolphins.
Speaker B:The Chiefs are going to win this game.
Speaker B:You'd have to be, you'd have to be insane to pick otherwise.
Speaker B:But I said it earlier, I'll say it again.
Speaker B:Miami's not going to go 0 and 17 against the spread this year so they're going to find some sort of random way to cover the number.
Speaker A:I don't think it's going to happen this week though.
Speaker A:I think the Chiefs are going to roll big.
Speaker A:It's going to be probably like three touchdown game.
Speaker B:Gotcha.
Speaker B:The Titans go to the Giants where the Giants are three point favorites.
Speaker B:This is a total game up in the air right now.
Speaker B:It certainly looks like Jameis Winston will start for the Giants.
Speaker B:I do this sometimes and I really have no idea.
Speaker B:I'm going to pick the Giants to win and the Titans to cover so they can hedge my bets a little bit.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think with the Jackson dart injury, I think they're sort of in disarray.
Speaker A:They didn't look so hot Monday night.
Speaker A:You know, after that happened I think they're still going to be a little confused there in New York and I think the Titans are going to figure this one out and take the points.
Speaker B:Got it.
Speaker B:Bengals are three and a half points favorites on the road in Pittsburgh.
Speaker B:Normally I kind of like to lean towards being a little bit of a contrarian and reminding people that what you see with your eyes in the NFL can sometimes be deceiving.
Speaker B:I am not feeling that way about the Steelers offense.
Speaker B:I, I don't know if it's the worst offense in the NFL, but I do think it is the least explosive.
Speaker B:And the Bengals defense looks very good.
Speaker B:I do not think this is going to be any kind of blowout game.
Speaker B:I think it'll be pretty tough.
Speaker B:But I think the Bengals handle the Steelers and cover the three and a half.
Speaker A:I, I'm right on board with you.
Speaker A:I hate to say it but I think the, the Cincinnati defense is for real.
Speaker A:The, the Steelers offensive line is struggling.
Speaker A:That's the Bengals new strong point and I think the Bengals offense is going to outmatch the good Steelers defense.
Speaker B:Your team to my team.
Speaker B:The Seahawks are seven point favorites in Washington against the commanders, who of course will have Marcus Mariota starting at quarterback.
Speaker B:I'm following a typical theme here.
Speaker B:I was leaning towards an upset here, but I just can't do it.
Speaker B:Not with that defense against our offense right now.
Speaker B:But I do think Washington keeps this close.
Speaker B:It'll be very ugly.
Speaker B:It'll be very low scoring.
Speaker B:Seattle's gonna find a way to win it, but Washington will find a way to cover that touchdown.
Speaker A:Yeah, I. I don't think so.
Speaker A:I think Seattle is going to cover the point spread and win this game again.
Speaker A:Another team that has a quarterback injured.
Speaker A:You know, Mariota's experience, but he is not Jaden Daniels.
Speaker A:And I think Seattle is going to figure out a way to get in his head too.
Speaker B:Got it.
Speaker B:Patriots are at the Jags where the Jacksonville is a three point favorites.
Speaker B:I kind of really like this game.
Speaker B:I was all over New England last week, as you know, Darren, and I'm the opposite this week because I just don't think New England's all that great despite them the way they handled Pittsburgh last week.
Speaker B:And I do think Jacksonville's good.
Speaker B:I think Jacksonville wins this game surprisingly easily.
Speaker B:So obviously Jacksonville covers.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think so too.
Speaker A:I think, Jason, I'm going to take Jacksonville and take those, you know, cover the points.
Speaker A:I think they are for real and I think they're going to rebound here after last week's game.
Speaker B:Got it.
Speaker B:Cardinals are on the road against the 49ers who are 8 1/2 point favorites.
Speaker B:I'm a little wary because this is a divisional game and the Cardinals have played the Niners tough somewhat traditionally and that's a big number.
Speaker B:But San Francisco just looks very locked in right now and I think that Arizona offense is extremely limited.
Speaker B:So I think 49ers win this game and maybe about 12 to 13 points and cover the number.
Speaker A:Yeah, I think this one comes down to talent and coaching and I think that's definitely the advantage to the 49ers over the Cardinals.
Speaker A:Cardinals will get theirs one of these years, but it's not this week and I think the Niners rule.
Speaker B:Vikings are one and a half point favorites in Tampa and this is going to be my two way.
Speaker B:Not so fast, my friend.
Speaker B:Games in honor of Lee Corso.
Speaker B:We've got a 2 and a team against an 02 team, but we will not have a 30 team and an 03 team afterwards.
Speaker B:The Buccaneers are going to give the Vikings a little bit more problem than a lot of people think.
Speaker B:The Bucks are going to find a way to win this game and obviously cover the spread.
Speaker A:I think the Buccaneers showed some vulnerability last week and some holes and I think the Vikings are that good of a defense, they're going to exploit that and they are going to go three and oh and cover.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Another tough game for me at least the Ravens are three point favorites we say at the Cowboys but this game is being played in Rio so it's really a neutral site game.
Speaker B:I am splitting the difference again here.
Speaker B:I'm going to pick Baltimore to win because I Dallas's defense is bad.
Speaker B:They got run over last, they're getting sliced up by Jaden Daniels before he got hurt yet last week and Dallas's offense is awesome so I anticipate a lot of points but I'll pick Baltimore to win, Dallas to cover.
Speaker A:I'm going to go the other way because I think the Cowboys offense is enough to match up against the Ravens and I think what happens with the Ravens like we talked about earlier in the season, I think the Ravens are a little older, they get a little tired, they're going to lose these fourth quarter leads even though after hot starts and I think that's going to happen again this week where Dallas has some firepower to go against them.
Speaker B:Got it.
Speaker B:But my favorite game of the week as far as wagering goes is the Raiders at the Saints who are three point favorites in the dome.
Speaker B:I absolutely love this game for the Saints.
Speaker B:This is going to be the last week that you can get the Saints at value because people are going to start to realize that this is actually a really good team.
Speaker B:Vegas is off to a nice start but I do not think they are really good team.
Speaker B:The Saints are good on both sides of the ball.
Speaker B:This is going to be a shellacking Saints big over the Raiders.
Speaker A:I don't know if it's going to be big but I think it's going to be big enough Saints victory to cover this point spread.
Speaker A:I think Shaka is for real, I think the coaching staff's for real and the Saints are a real powerhouse to.
Speaker B:Be dealt with possibly.
Speaker B:The game of the week is on Sunday night where we have the Rams two and a half point favorites in Denver.
Speaker B:This is a very tough game.
Speaker B:It looks like Nakua is probably going to be out again, so it's a difficult game but this is sort of where I'm going to lean on McVeigh.
Speaker B:I think they've kind of, you know, they seem to fix some things when they got back from Australia.
Speaker B:I think this is a tight game.
Speaker B:Rams win it late and cover?
Speaker A:I don't think so because I think Denver is clever enough, you know, with Sean Payton to figure out that somebody's got to cover Devonte Adams.
Speaker A:If they, they do that, especially with that puka out there, they'll double them.
Speaker A:They'll make sure he can't catch the ball like he did for 200 yards or wherever he did this past weekend.
Speaker A:And I think that the Denver is going to win this game.
Speaker B:Okay, Monday night.
Speaker B:It's a little bit TBD because we have the Eagles right now four and a half point favorites at the Bears.
Speaker B:We, we do not know exactly who's starting at quarterback for Chicago.
Speaker B:It could be Case Keenum because their backup quarterback to Caleb Williams, who has not been officially ruled out yet is Tyson Bagent.
Speaker B:He is probably going to be out with a concussion.
Speaker B:All kinds of shenanigans going on with quarterbacks there in Chicago.
Speaker B:But I'm just going to be bold and I'm picking the upset no matter what.
Speaker B:I think the Eagles have skated by for two weeks.
Speaker B:I think the Bears got a little embarrassed on Monday Night Football and, and I told you last week, I've come around on the Bears so I'm coming all the way around and I'm picking them to beat the Eagles on Monday night no matter who starts at quarterback.
Speaker A:Well, I think there's still a chance that Caleb might play, which I doubt he will.
Speaker A:I think it will be Case Keenum that will be starting this game and I think the Bears without Caleb are a little bit in trouble even though they he played most of the game and they were still in trouble.
Speaker A:I think the Eagles are going to win this because just like I said before and past weeks, they have too strong of an offensive line and defensive line.
Speaker A:They're going to overpower the Bears.
Speaker B:Gotcha.
Speaker B:There are your picks for the week.
Speaker A:All right.
Speaker A:Well Ed, I wish you luck and I hope that I can get maybe get on that winning side of the point spread picks after this week.
Speaker B:Good luck, Darren.
Speaker A:All right, good luck to you too and thanks and make sure if you haven't checked out yet.
Speaker A:We have had some great history on week two and week one.
Speaker A:Some some great record setting performances in the NFL so far with Ed and myself.
Speaker A:We have that on YouTube and on the podcast.
Speaker A:You can check it out there [email protected] thanks everybody for joining us.
Speaker A:And Ed, thank you very much for your input.
Speaker B:Thanks Darren.
Speaker A:That's all the football history we have today, folks.
Speaker A:Join us back tomorrow for more of your football history.
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