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If there was a recurring theme in the NFL’s Week 2 of the 2020 season, it was injuries. The San Francisco 49ers were decimated by injuries to QB Jimmy Garoppolo, RB Raheem Mostert, and DE Joey Bosa among others.
The Giants’ Saquon Barkley will miss the rest of the season and Carolina will be without All-Pro RB Christian McCaffrey who will miss four to six weeks with a high ankle sprain.
How will these injuries impact Week 3?
Carolina at L.A. Chargers (-6.5)
The Panthers gave up 31 points to Tampa Bay last week and yielded 34 in their opener. Now, the offense will be without its most productive player in McCaffrey. That does not bode well for Carolina.
In addition, there is the dreaded trip from Charlotte to southern California to play in a different time zone. If you are a smarter bettor, you know East Coast teams have some difficulty traveling and playing on the West Coast.
The Chargers (1-1) took Kansas City to the wire in Week 2 losing on a late field goal. They held the explosive Chiefs to just 23 points and forced three long field goals in the process.
The question for L.A. will be who starts at quarterback? Tyrod Taylor did not start in Week 2 due to a chest issue and rookie Justin Herbert took his place.
It likely won’t matter who starts at quarterback for the Chargers. The Panthers are simply outmatched in this one.
Take the Chargers at -6.5 before the line moves.
Tampa Bay at Denver (Under 43.5)
The Bucs got a win in Week 2, but it wasn’t QB Tom Brady that played the biggest role in the victory. That honor would go to the Tampa Bay running game led by Leonard Fournette. The Bucs rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Carolina. Brady was a part of our NFL Week 1 overreactions last week.
That running game should play a role in Denver on Sunday. The Broncos defense is going to have to carry the load as the offense is beaten up pretty badly.
Denver will be without starting QB Drew Lock for a few weeks as he recovers from a shoulder injury. RB Philip Lindsay and WR Courtland Sutton are both done for the season.
In the Broncos last 16 home games, the Total has gone Under 12 times.
With the emphasis on the run game for Tampa Bay and the Denver defense having to lead the Broncos charge, expect a low-scoring contest and the Under to prevail.
Miami at Jacksonville (-3)
Thursday night’s NFL game between the Dolphins and Jaguars comes down to two things. One is the performance of the Dolphins in September under head coach Brian Flores.
The Jags host the Fins and are a 3.5-point home favorite at America’s Bookie.
The Dolphins are 0-7 straight up and 1-6 ATS in September under Flores. Miami also hasn’t been very good on the road as of late. In their last 20 road games, the Dolphins are just 3-17.
On the end, Jacksonville has done very well in its recent Thursday night games. In fact, the Jags have won their last four Thursday night games and they have covered the spread in each of those contests.
Jacksonville QB Gardner Minshew - 75.4 percent completions and 6 touchdowns - looks to carve up a defense that surrendered 417 passing yards to Buffalo last week.
The Jags will cover at home on Thursday night to make it five in a row.
