Week 3 is shaping up as another upset-heavy NFL slate, and the early roundtable chatter already has a few dangerous underdogs in the mix.
That’s been the theme through two weeks. The chaos of Week 2 hit Survivor Pool players hard, and the SI Upset Picks Roundtable got a couple of them right: Iain MacMillan called Minnesota over Chicago, and Mike Kadlick had Cincinnati taking down Houston.
This week, the board again offers a few spots where the underdog case feels real. One pick leans into the idea that Aaron Glenn’s team is ready to make life uncomfortable in Detroit, especially with the Jets’ defense looking much sharper through two games.
They’ve already given Cam Ward and Jordan Love problems, and if New York’s offense hadn’t gone quiet in the fourth quarter against Green Bay, the Jets might be sitting at 2-0. With the Lions’ defense looking vulnerable, the gamble is on Gang Green to land the punch.
Another upset angle comes with the Giants, but that one comes with a big asterisk: Jaxson Dart’s status. If he can’t go, it becomes hard to trust New York at all after Monday night’s loss to the Rams exposed issues on both sides of the ball.
Jameis Winston stepped in for Dart and went 11-for-27 for 111 yards and an interception, and there isn’t much confidence in him right now. The Giants also have the short-week burden after a Monday night game, plus the long flight back from Los Angeles.
On the other side, the Titans pushed the Eagles to the final seconds last week, and Brian Daboll’s revenge-game angle only adds to the appeal of Tennessee in this spot.
The clearest betting call, though, is the New England Patriots at +130 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Drake Maye and the Patriots haven’t found much rhythm on offense yet, sitting in the bottom 10 in EPA/Play. But the defense has carried the load. New England ranks No. 2 in the league in EPA/Play allowed and No. 4 in yards per play allowed, and the Patriots have given up only 16 points across two games.
That sets up a real path to an upset if the offense can just take a modest step forward. Jacksonville looked sharp in Week 1 against Cleveland, but it faded late in Week 2 against a stronger Denver team, which spoiled the previous upset call. New England profiles more like Denver than Cleveland, and the Jaguars’ defense has been leaking 6.1 yards per play, which ranks 29th in the NFL.
The line originally opened with the Patriots as 2.5-point underdogs before moving toward Jacksonville, but the value now sits with New England at the current +140 price. In a game that looks close on paper, that’s the side worth backing.
The Titans also remain in play as an upset pick, with their strong showing against Philadelphia last week offering at least a hint that they can carry that momentum forward.
In Other News...
Patriots Added A Little-Known Receiver Fans Will Want To Root For
The Patriots quietly added a player to their practice squad who brings a little more than just another receiver body to the room. Brayboy, 25, comes to New England after growing up tied closely to his Lumbee Tribe roots in North Carolina, a connection that has been central to his identity well before football ever offered him a professional path.
His road also gives the move some extra intrigue for Patriots fans looking for someone new to pull for. At Elon University, Brayboy balanced football with a demanding academic load in exercise science and nursing, a mix that speaks to the kind of work ethic teams always say they value. Now he gets a chance to settle in with New England and see whether the practice squad can become a longer look. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Enter Week 3 With Familiar Faces And One Growing Concern
When the Patriots head into Week 3, there is a little extra familiarity on both sides of the matchup. New England and Jacksonville have each become a landing spot, at different times, for several players who have already worn both uniforms in their NFL careers, giving this game a touch more personal history than the average early-season meeting. The article traces the paths of Jakobi Meyers and Jahlani Tavai with the Jaguars, along with Chandler Brayboy and Greg Van Roten on the Patriots side, and how their previous stops have shaped where they are now.
For the Patriots, the broader significance goes beyond a few shared names and old roster transactions. These overlapping careers underscore how often teams are forced to circle back to familiar talent, whether through depth moves, practice squad shuffling or longer stints that didnt quite stick the first time around. With Week 3 approaching, the real question is how much of that shared history actually matters once the game starts, especially with both sides still sorting through the latest roster decisions. [Read more 🡒]
Patriots Suddenly Have A Week 3 Problem They Cant Ignore
Wednesdays practice brought an early reminder that the Patriots are still managing their way through September attrition. Craig Woodson and DreMont Jones both sat out with shoulder injuries as New England began its workweek for a Week 3 matchup with the Jaguars, while the team also shuffled its defensive depth by promoting edge rusher Jose Ramirez from the practice squad to the active roster and bringing linebacker Benton Whitley onto the practice squad.
There was some relief elsewhere on the report, with several players limited and Carlton Davis and Brenden Schooler back on the field. Even so, the absences of Woodson and Jones put a little more pressure on a defense that is already having to stay flexible, and the Patriots will be watching closely as the week moves forward to see whether either player can get back into the mix in time. [Read more 🡒]