NFL 2026 Week 3 Picks, Props and Parlays

It's on to Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season and the final weekend of September. Just three division games this week with the Cincinnati Bengals looking to move to 3-0 playing at Pittsburgh in a key AFC North contest. The AFC South has three teams at 0-2, and the Texans battle the Colts in Indianapolis. The Arizona Cardinals travel back to the bay area to tackle the undefeated San Francisco 49ers in an NFC West contest with Arizona the second-biggest underdog of the week. More picks, parlays and props for your watch and wager action, along with our Week 3 tips, totals, teasers and trends posted previously. 

Teams starting 0-2

Teams that start the season 0-2 have made the NFL Playoffs less than 10% of the time since NFL alignment / realignment to 32 teams in 2002. However, last year the Chicago Bears started 0-2 and went on to finish 11-6 and win the NFC North along with winning a playoff game. The Panthers also started 0-2 and won the NFC South with an 8-9 record. 

The 2025 Bears and Panthers joined the 2023 Texans and 2022 Bengals as the only teams in the last seven years to start 0-2 and make the playoffs. The 2007 New York Giants are the only team to start 0-2 and win the Super Bowl. 

Other than the Bears and Panthers, last year's 0-2 teams all missed the playoffs and finished the season poorly and under season wins. The Titans (3-14), Jets (3-14), Browns (5-12), Chiefs (6-11), Dolphins (7-10), Giants (4-13) and Saints (6-11) were pretty bad, and the Dolphins and Titans are 0-2 again this season. 

This year's 0-2 teams are the Dolphins, Chargers, and three teams from the AFC South - Titans, Texans and Colts with Houston playing at Indianapolis this Sunday. NFC teams that started 0-2 include the Buccaneers, Commanders and Falcons, who won at Green Bay as a +4.5 underdog to kickoff of NFL Week 3 action Thursday night. 

NFL Underdogs

Last season, no teams of +4 or more won outright in the first two weeks. This season we've already seen the Cardinals (+9), Saints (+8.5), Browns (+8.5), Raiders (+6.5) and Vikings (+4.5) win outright with near misses but ATS wins by the Saints (+7), Titans (+7), Colts (+6.5, OT) and Commanders (+5). 

Our Week 2 picks went 3-1 and opinions 2-1 with 'Dog winners on the Jets, Colts and Browns. Our Week 2 totals went 5-0. Recall Fairways Forecast had a 7-year run picking only NFL underdogs at OSGA and hitting 57% ATS, including a 70% ATS season (28-12) in 2021.   

Let's shoot for more birdies and green on the gridion in NFL Week 3 action to close the month of September. 

NFL Week 3 Matchups and Odds

Betting lines and NFL odds from leading online sportsbooks with top payouts refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. All times ET.

As you follow the Week 3 NFL weather and injury reports, note there is likely rain and wind gusts to 30 mph in East Rutherford for the Titans-Giants game, and QB Jameis Winston starting for NY with the season-ending (knee) injury to Jaxon Dart. The game total has dropped from 40 early week to 38 and 1.5 points since Thursday when we posted our Week 3 tips, totals, teasers and trends report. The weather and rain is worth monitoring into Sunday at other locations and stadiums in Washington, Tampa along with Denver and Chicago on Sunday night and Monday Night Football. The Bears start third-string QB Case Keenum with injuries to Caleb Williams (hamstring) and Tyson Pagent (concussion). 

Figuring out Football

Have you figured out football and the NFL yet when it comes to straight up (SU) and against the spread (ATS) results? Sure you have. My proven history of winning ATS results still has me befuddled at times when evaluating matchups, situations and stats. Lots of variance makes victory more difficult when betting at top online sportsbooks and predicting outcomes. Turnovers are a real trouble spot and turning point in games and outcomes, along with the hazards of officiating, calls, bonehead plays and pentalties by players (unsportsmanlike, late hits, out of bounds, off sides 3rd and 4, etc). So while the pundits and media guys try to break down the games and tell you why a team might win or any advantages or matchups that will impact the outcome, too many situations see the entire script get blown up. 

Look at these early season 2026 results. 

Four teams that lost in Week 1 by 20+ points all won and covered ATS in Week 2.

Browns, Panthers, Broncos and Rams.

Now the Falcons have bounced back in Week 3 on Thursday night with a 35-14 road win at Green Bay after getting blown out at home by the Panthers 34-3 in Week 2.

Will the Dolphins, Cardinals, Chargers or Commanders pull off wins or even covers as big 'Dogs this week after one-sided losses last week by 2 TD's or more? 

Sure, you've figured out football. 

NFL Week 3 Picks and Parlays

Picks: Cowboys, Browns
Opinions: Patriots, Rams 

3-team parlay: Rams, Patriots, Browns 
2-team 'Dog parlay: Browns, Cowboys 

Check out my weekly Raiders selections, which are 5-0 on sides, totals and player props. None posted here at OSGA yet this week.

Minnesota at Tampa Bay - Back to back road games for the Vikings, who are 2-0 while Tampa Bay is desperate at 0-2. Kyler Murray returns to start at quarterback for the Vikings following his Week 1 concussion. He's oppose fellow former Oklahoma Sooners QB Baker Mayfield. Still evaluating more, and there is concerns with the Buccaneers tackling in the early season and potential to contain Murray if he's running more. Probably not with his injury, concussion issues, and my rushing numbers favor the Buccaneers, along with quarterback play. The Vikings are averaging just 242 yards offense through two games, although last week's 9-3 win was severely impacted by rain. A 13 ppg defense of the Vikings and an 8-1 under the total run in Vikings games dating to last season has us leaning Bucs way with an opinion Under from our tips, totals, teasers report. Recall Week 1 when Tampa nearly pulled out a road win at Cincinnati despite 282 yards offense as 4 turnovers were the difference in defeat. 

Carolina at Cleveland - What's going on here? The Panthers favored on the road with their bumbling quarterback and sieve defense that was torched by the Bears in Week 1 (59 points, 552 yards). The Falcons and third-string QB had five turnovers last week against Carolina, and now back-to-back road games for the Panthers. Browns can get the running game going better this week with projection over 120 yards, and QB Deshaun Watson has quietly passed for 443 yards with 76% completions through two games, including last week's road win as big 'Dog at Tampa Bay. The Panthers run defense has allowed 291 and 157 rushing yards in the first two games to the Bears and Falcons and at least 32 rushing attempts each game. The Browns should learn from that for a positive SU/ATS profile. Did you know the Panthers were 1-12 SU/ATS laying points since 2021 until last week's win over Atlanta? Home 'Dog at the Dawg pound is the play.   

International Games 

Nine international games this season, and the Cowboys-Ravens battle in Brazil has both teams 1-1 to start the season. The total keeps rising and is 3-points to 53.5. In NFL international series games with an over/under of 50 or more points, the final scores are 4-0 to the Under. 

Sunday Night Football

LA Rams at Denver - Pundits seem to support the home 'Dog Broncos. But my rushing numbers heavily favor the Rams as I isolate matchups at the point of attack and interpret and project rushing yards and attempts. That makes the Rams a play (opinion) even with WR Puca Nacua likely out a second-straight game with reports showing he's "not making great progress" from head coach Sean McVay. The Rams project to have a strong total yardage edge that includes a dominating ground game. Last year's MVP QB Matthew Stafford is preferred over Bo Nix, along with the Rams running game and defense. A small chance of rain and 13-15 mph winds and gusts to 20 mph.  

Player Props

Player props posted Saturday. Week 1 player prop picks 2-0 (opinions 0-1) and Week 2 opinions 1-1 after a close miss on Monday Night Football.  

More updates and game analysis with information you can bet on ahead of Sunday's games.

You can bet on it.

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper with top of the leaderboard success in NFL pointspread prognosis. That includes a 7-year run at OSGA picking 57% ATS winners on only NFL underdogs. FairwayJay is also on the poker and sports scene in Las Vegas covering major sports plus industry conferences, events and football media days. Follow @FairwayJay on X and OSGA for more betting insight and information you can bet on.