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Peyton Manning and Co. will likely hang around deep into the Broncos’ game against the Texans. (Getty)
After a sub-.500 Week 1, we rebounded nicely with a 10-6 showing in Week 2 that would have been 11-5 had it not been for Connor Shaw’s Hail Mary, which enabled the Browns to cover as 3-point underdogs against the Redskins.
The battle for Pennsylvania gets us started in Week 3 as the Steelers travel to Philadelphia and wraps up Sunday night when the Cardinals host the Bengals.
With most teams’ starters expected to play deep into the game, several games have lines more similar to what we’ll see in the regular season than what we saw the first two weeks, when second- and third-stringers had a bigger say on the outcome.
Here are Heavy’s Week 3 picks:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 21
Pittsburgh Steelers (+3 1/2) at Philadelphia Eagles, 7:30 p.m.
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Nick Foles and Co. lit up the scoreboard last week in New England, but a pair of Mark Sanchez interceptions helped hand the Pats the win in a 42-35 shootout. We like Foles and Co. to put up some points against Pittsburgh and escape with the cover.
Heavy’s Pick: Eagles 33, Steelers 27
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FRIDAY, AUGUST 22
Jacksonville Jaguars (+3) at Detroit Lions, 7:30 p.m.
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Calvin Johnson is set to make his preseason debut, and that means the Lions are set to put up some points against the Jags. We’ll take Detroit to cover.
Heavy’s Pick: Lions 27, Jaguars 17
Carolina Panthers (+ 5 1/2) at New England Patriots
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Cam Newtown shook off a rough start last week in his season debut and had the Panthers offense clicking. Carolina will put up some points, but more snaps for Tom Brady means a better chance for the Pats to win this by close to a touchdown.
Heavy’s Pick: Patriots 30, Panthers 24
New York Giants vs. New York Jets (Pick ‘Em), 7:30 p.m.
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Neither team has been overly impressive over the past two weeks, but in a matchup of flawed teams, we’ll take the “visitors” in a close one.
Heavy’s Pick: Giants 24, Jets 22
Oakland Raiders (+7) at Green Bay Packers, 8 p.m., CBS
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This line is a little big for our liking, but with Green Bay’s first-string offense on the field for most of the game, it’s hard not to like the Pack in prime time at Lambeau.
Heavy’s Pick: Packers 34, Raiders 16
Chicago Bears (+7) at Seattle Seahawks, 10 p.m.
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Another game with a relatively big line. But Seattle, which obliterated a decent San Diego team last week, should be able to cover at home.
Heavy’s Pick: Seahawks 31, Bears 20
SATURDAY, AUGUST 23
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (+3) at Buffalo Bills, 7:30 p.m.
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In a game between teams that should be better than a year ago but still not very good, we’ll take the home team in a close one.
Heavy’s Pick: Bills 23, Buccaneers 17
Dallas Cowboys (+3 1/2) at Miami Dolphins, 7 p.m.
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Tony Romo is set to make his second start of the preseason after sitting out Week 1. We like Dallas here to win outright as modest road underdogs.
Heavy’s Pick: Cowboys 33, Dolphins 31
Tennessee Titans (+3) at Atlanta Falcons, 7 p.m.
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We’ll take Matty Ice and Co. for a narrow cover at home in the dome.
Heavy’s Pick: Falcons 27, Titans 22
New Orleans Saints (+2 1/2) at Indianapolis Colts, 8 p.m., CBS
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Drew Brees, who’s sat out each of New Orleans’ first two games with an oblique injury, is expected to start and play the first half. This won’t be a blowout, but we like Brees and Co. to win outright by a touchdown.
Heavy’s Pick: Saints 30, Colts 23
Houston Texans (+7) at Denver Broncos, 9 p.m.
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Peyton Manning was critical of the way the Denver offense looked this week in practice. But it’s hard not to have liked how Julius Thomas and Co. looked last week, when they throttled the 49ers 34-0 on the road.
This is one of the biggest lines of the week, but it’s one of the best teams in the league at home against one of the worst. Give us the Broncos by double digits.
Heavy’s Pick: Broncos 34, Texans 20
SUNDAY, AUGUST 24
San Diego Chargers (+6) at San Francisco 49ers, 4 p.m., Fox
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The Gold Rush, San Francisco’s cheerleading squad, didn’t have a whole lot to cheer about last week against the Broncos. But Colin Kaepernick and Co. will bounce back and cover against a Chargers team that’s also coming off a blowout loss.
Heavy’s Pick: 49ers 27, Chargers 17
Cincinnati Bengals (+2) at Arizona Cardinals, 8 p.m., NBC
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Cincinnati’s offense has been impressive in each of the Bengals’ first two games, and that will continue in the dessert. We’ll take the Cardinals to eek out a win, but Andy Dalton and Co. to pull out the cover.
