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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby celebrates after a sack against the Baltimore Ravens.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby celebrates after a sack against the Baltimore Ravens. Photo by Reggie Hildred via Imagn Images.

Targeting a very specific team with our picks has led to surviving the first two weeks, and you know what they say about if it ain't broke.

Our NFL survivor picks for Week 3 continue to follow that theme, which is rooted in the Carolina Panthers really, really, sucking.

The Panthers are so bad that while I was confirming which team I was picking this week, I double-checked how they fared against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 2 and just started laughing. Three points! At home!

However, Carolina is set to make a big change under center, replacing 2023 No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young with veteran Andy Dalton. Will that also result in a change of fortune?

Even with Dalton serving as an improvement over Young, we're backing the team facing the Panthers, at it's coming off a massive upset win on the road against one of the Super Bowl odds contenders.

Teams used:

  • Week 1: New Orleans Saints (vs. Panthers)
  • Week 2: Los Angeles Chargers (at Panthers)

Week 3 survivor picks: Rankings

(NFL Week 3 odds via bet365 as of Sept. 16. Rankings from most to least confident.)

TeamOpponentMoneylineWin probability
1. Raidersvs. Panthers-34077.27%
2. Buccaneersvs. Broncos-32076.19%
3. Bengalsvs. Commanders-37078.72%
4. Brownsvs. Giants-30075%
5. Jetsvs. Patriots-30075%
6. Seahawksvs. Dolphins-27072.97%
7. Billsvs. Jaguars-27072.97%
8. 49ersat Rams-34077.27%
9. Texansat Vikings-15060%
10. Chiefsat Falcons-22068.75%
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Who I'm picking: Raiders (vs. Panthers)

The Raiders pulled off an incredible comeback victory against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, shocking Lamar Jackson and Co. by scoring 13 straight points in the fourth quarter.

Now the 1-1 Raiders head back home to Las Vegas riding high, and they'll get to tee off on the 0-2 Panthers, who've managed just 13 points in two games.

The season went from bad to worse for Carolina in Week 2, as it notched only a single field goal at home against the Los Angeles Chargers (our survivor pick).

Young threw for just 84 yards while tossing one interception, and he was sacked twice. Accordingly, he'll watch this game from the bench.

The Las Vegas welcoming committee features Maxx Crosby, who made life miserable for Jackson with two sacks on Sunday. Dalton may beg Panthers head coach Dave Canales to put Young back in the game if Crosby has his way.

Gardner Minshew found his groove in that fourth quarter against the Ravens. The Panthers will suffer another lopsided defeat If he's able to connect with Davante Adams and Brock Bowers regularly in Week 3.

See all of our NFL picks for Week 3 for more help with your survivor picks. Our NEW NFL player prop odds tool can help you find the best odds on any market across legal sportsbooks in your area!

Who I'm fading: Lions (at Cardinals)

This is the second time we're including the Detroit Lions as our fade. Oddly enough, they won when we faded them in Week 1. And they lost when we included them in our top 10 last week. So, maybe fade our fade?

Fading the Lions has less to do with Detroit and more to do with the fact that the Arizona Cardinals might legitimately be good - especially at home. I don't think they should be trading as +3.5 underdogs or +135 on the moneyline. 

The Cardinals are fresh off dropping 41 points on the Los Angeles Rams and now will hang out in Arizona for the week. Meanwhile, the Lions travel from Detroit to the desert after a disappointing defeat.

NFL betting odds pages

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