NFL Week 3 picks straight up, against the spread: Cowboys or Ravens in league’s Rio debut?

NFL Week 3 picks straight up, against the spread: Cowboys or Ravens in league's Rio debut?

Key points

• Adam Kaufman breaks down his best bets for NFL Week 3, highlighting favorable spots for the Bengals, Seahawks and Lions.
• How regarding Browns QB Deshaun Watson's first regular-season start in Cleveland in two years.
• USA TODAY Sports' panel of NFL experts weighs in.
• All the NFL news on and off the field.

NFL Week 3 picks straight up, against the spread: Cowboys or Ravens in league's Rio debut? Nate Davis USA TODAY. NFL Week 3 best bets: Bengals, Seahawks and Lions worth backing.

As the 2026 NFL season heads into Week 3, more than a few teams will be more than happy to put September behind them – a number of already digging deeply into their quarterback depth charts, eight squads trying to simply notch their first victory, and the Washington Commanders and Atlanta Falcons dealing with such existential matters concurrently.

Atlanta will kick off the week by heading to Green Bay for the Packers' home opener at Lambeau Field, where the Falcons will finally obtain to unleash QB Michael Penix Jr., their first-round pick two years ago, who's finally recovered from last season's knee injury. The Packers, still without OLB Micah Parsons and RB Josh Jacobs, have additionally now lost OL Zach Bako-Bewele and Aaron Banks and will probable be without WR Jayden Reed for the foreseeable future – meaning this could be a game of teams on divergent trajectories.

Especially worth watching Sunday afternoon? How regarding Browns QB Deshaun Watson's first regular-season start in Cleveland in two years. Or the winless Texans and Colts tangling in a game that could effectively end the season for one AFC South team. Perhaps most notably, the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys will meet at Maracanã Stadium for the league's first-ever regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro – and against the backdrop of some worries that the field conditions could be problematic in the midst of an especially rainy season in Brazil.

Notably, the final two prime-time games should be compelling, the Los Angeles Rams facing the Broncos in Denver on Sunday night before the Chicago Bears – they may have to play QB3 Case Keenum – host the Philadelphia Eagles on "Monday night football."

How will it all shake out? USA TODAY Sports' panel of NFL experts weighs in. (Odds provided by BetMGM). NFL Week 3 picks and predictions.

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Taken together, the developments around NFL Week 3 picks straight up, against the spread: Cowboys or Ravens point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.