2026 NFL Season ~ Week Three
Emmie and Canasta with Bob… offering up the Golden Choices
Want to know why it’s too early to really tell what’s going on? Ok…
The Raiders are 2-0. The Packers, Commanders, Saints, Dolphins, and Browns haven’t played a home game.
And, for a bit more, the Chargers lost to the Cardinals and Raiders.
Anyone telling you they are confident about anything right now.
That doesn’t mean we aren’t about to get to some markers. After four games, we’ll have reached a good place to check out some of the standings and read into them. It also doesn’t mean we don’t have some useful information. The 49ers took a big divisional game from the Rams in week one that could be a difference-maker for playoff seeding and more.
Let’s dive into the contests…
Atlanta at Green Bay (-6.5)
Somehow, the Packers have a victory this season. If you watched the games, how that happened is anyone’s guess. This week, Michael Penix Jr. will be back as Atlanta’s starter.
I’m going to take the risk that a Falcons team with some very talented pieces might make this game against a wobbling Packers club closer than expected, and they could win it. (It they do, get ready for the naysayers to begin a march shouting about Green Bay).
Bob: Atlanta
Emmie: Green Bay
Canasta: Green Bay
Los Angeles (Chargers) at Buffalo
After what they’ve shown, how the Chargers are only a 7-point underdog is astounding.
Bob: Buffalo
Emmie: Los Angeles
Canasta: Los Angeles
Kansas City (11.5) at Miami
Uh-oh, the Chiefs have balanced the attack while Mahomes gets back into playing shape. (And the scary part is, in week two he looked pretty darn good.)
The Dolphins look every bit like the answer to the annual “what 2026 NFL team would lose a game to the 2026 college championship team” debate for fun question.
Bob: Kansas City
Emmie: Kansas City
Canasta: Miami
New England at Jacksonville (-3)
In my mind, the game of the week.
Both teams are 1-1. Both teams were preseason favorites to be playoff-caliber after good to great 2025 results. And for either to be 1-2 after this game, with a divisional loss notched from the results, could mean some trouble. Not end of the year be afraid troubles for fan bases. Just trouble worth watching.
Bob: New England
Emmie: Jacksonville
Canasta: Jacksonville
New York (Jets) at Detroit (-6.5)
You can say the Lions are looking a bit sloppy, sluggish, and not quite at a level you’d expect for them to be truly competitive. And you’d be right.
Do not say you expect them to lose this game at home against the Jets.
Bob: Detroit
Emmie: Detroit
Canasta: Detroit
Cincinnati (-3.5) at Pittsburgh
This one is tough. Bengals have been the better club this year. Steelers have looked horrendous on offense, and are honestly sitting on an even record solely because of their week one defense.
So, do you trust the Bengals on the road?
Bob: Cincinnati
Emmie: Cincinnati
Canasta: Pittsburgh
Carolina (-3) at Cleveland
Panthers are more than 3-points better than the Browns.
Bob: Carolina
Emmie: Cleveland
Canasta: Carolina
Houston (-2.5) at Indianapolis
I feel like Houston may be getting a bit too much respect here. Favored in Indy? When both clubs are 0-2?
But the Texans lost to the Bills and Bengals. (But the Colts showed up on the road against the Chiefs.)
The loser here is in trouble. Especially if Jacksonville wins.
Bob: Indianapolis
Emmie: Houston
Canasta: Houston
Tennessee at New York (Giants) (-3)
How are the Giants favored in this game? How? During the pregame tailgate parties, the club’s marketing team is going to have a “throw the football in the campfire” contest to determine the starting quarterback.
I’m only mildly kidding with that.
Bob: Tennessee
Emmie: Tennessee
Canasta: Tennessee
Seattle (-7) at Washington
Honestly, the Seahawks are the 2-0 team I’m not buying right now. (Ok, fine, the Seahawks at 2-0 aren’t quite as surprising as the Raiders at 2-0. But the Raiders have Kirk “Mr. Unexpectedly Wonderful Regular Season” Cousins leading them right now. More on that in a second.)
That said, Washington is already banged up, especially with last week’s injury for Jayden Daniels.
Bob: Seattle
Emmie: Washington
Canasta: Washington
Minnesota (-1.5) at Tampa Bay
All those that said “please don’t give Baker Mayfield a contract and ruin his leadership and play in 2026” a few weeks ago, head to the guest service counter of any Publix to claim your free holiday turkey.
Actually, Mayfield has a good completion percentage. It’s the single touchdown and under 400-yards passing in two games that’s raising concerns.
Bob: Minnesota
Emmie: Tampa Bay
Canasta: Tampa Bay
Arizona at San Francisco (-8.5)
The 49ers are looking good. Really good.
The Cardinals at 1-1 would be more impressive if the Chargers hadn’t been so lousy both weeks.
Bob: San Francisco
Emmie: Arizona
Canasta: Arizona
Baltimore (-3) at Dallas
It’s a game the Ravens should win. It’s also a game with Dak Prescott at home, and he normally delivers some early-season stellar statistics before his annual late collapse.
Bob: Dallas
Emmie: Dallas
Canasta: Baltimore
Las Vegas at New Orleans (-3)
Love what Kirk Cousins is doing. Think the Raiders may – just could be, might be, maybe – moving in a good direction.
But the Saints are the sleeper team for surprises this year.
Bob: New Orleans
Emmie: Las Vegas
Canasta: New Orleans
Los Angeles (Rams) (-2.5) at Denver
The Rams are getting no credit here. The Broncos have not looked like a Super Bowl option this season. In their second game, the Rams showed exactly why week one was an outlier.
Bob: Los Angeles
Emmie: Los Angeles
Canasta: Denver
Philadelphia (-4.5) at Chicago
The good news for the Bears? Caleb Williams is likely not seriously hurt.
The bad news for the Bears? Caleb Williams is not likely to start, even though I’m seeing mixed reports that say he isn’t definitely out.
Bob: Philadelphia
Emmie: Philadelphia
Canasta: Philadelphia
WEEK TWO RESULTS
Bob: 7-9
Emmie: 10-6
Canasta: 9-7