Los Angeles Times NFL writer Sam Farmer examines the matchups and makes his predictions for Week 3 of the NFL season.

All lines and over/under numbers are according to FanDuel Sportsbook.

Last week, Farmer posted a 14-2 (.875) record. Through the first two weeks of the season, he is 24-8 (.750). Using point spreads with the scores Farmer ...Read more

Had a better Week 2 after a tough go of it to open. That’s improvement and we’ll take it — but we’re far from satisfied. As the season settles in and finds its rhythm so does the knowledge of how the teams have evolved. That will begin to show in our records, both straight-up and vs. the Evil Betting Line. Had better, anyway! Last week ...Read more

PITTSBURGH — The Steelers have long sought to build through the draft.

However, if the current production doesn't soon increase, it'll be impossible to ignore concerns about what appears to be a dilapidated — or in some cases nonexistent — structure.

Broderick Jones (first round, 2023) and Troy Fautanu (first round, 2024) are the ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — Here are two moments from Sunday. Here are two moments that speak to why so many people who cover and follow the NFL are fixated on and frustrated by the Eagles these days.

Here’s the first: Late that night, the critic and media mogul Bill Simmons recorded an episode of his eponymous podcast. During his conversation with his ...Read more

FOXBORO, Mass. — Both quarterbacks will be using the same grip Sunday when the Patriots take on the Steelers.

Patriots quarterback Drake Maye revealed Wednesday that, when he was in eighth grade, he Googled how Rodgers held the football.

“I’ve had the grip ever since,” Maye said smiling on Wednesday.

Maye told the Boston Herald last ...Read more

FOXBORO, Mass. — The Patriots are one step closer to having their top defensive player return to action.

Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez practiced Wednesday for the first time since injuring his hamstring July 28 in the first week of training camp. He wasn’t a full participant during the portion of practice open to reporters but did ...Read more

CHICAGO — Matt Eberflus first caught Ben Johnson’s attention in 2018.

When the Miami Dolphins, for whom Johnson was the wide receivers coach, played against Eberflus’ Indianapolis Colts defense, it was apparent how hard Eberflus’ defenders rallied to the football. A year later Johnson joined the Detroit Lions staff and later found ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Raiders haven’t eased Ashton Jeanty in as a rookie. But they haven’t fully unleashed the running back, either.

Jeanty, last year’s Heisman Trophy runner-up at Boise State, has 30 carries through two games. He had 11 rushing attempts in the Raiders’ loss to the Chargers on Monday and was given the ball on consecutive ...Read more

GREG COTE’S NFL WEEK 3 THURSDAY PICK

DOLPHINS (0-2) at BILLS (2-0)

Line: BUF by 11 1/2.

Cote’s pick: BUF, 30-20.

TV: 8:15 p.m. Thursday, Prime Video.

NFL’s kickoff to Week 3 seems at a glance like a mismatch. But the comically extreme national overreaction of most media, fans and small-plane renters to the Dolphins’ early season ...Read more

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy returned to practice Wednesday as the 49ers gauge his availability for Sunday’s home opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

“He does have a chance,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.

There is also a chance Purdy serves as the backup quarterback if the 49ers give Mac Jones a second consecutive start, Shanahan ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — The Raiders may not see star quarterback Jayden Daniels when they face the Washington Commanders on the road Sunday.

Washington coach Dan Quinn said Wednesday that Daniels, the reigning offensive rookie of the year, would not practice until at least Friday due to a knee injury.

Daniels, 24, was hurt late in the Commanders’ 27-...Read more

PITTSBURGH — Needless to say, Kaleb Johnson won't be returning kickoffs Sunday. Bill Buckner didn't play much first base after 1986, either.

Question is, why was Johnson returning kickoffs in the first place?

He's not especially fast. He hadn't returned kickoffs regularly since his freshman year at Iowa. He's a rookie. He fumbled in the ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Jets won’t have Justin Fields under center against the Buccaneers.

Fields has been ruled out of Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay after suffering a concussion in last weekend’s 30-10 loss against the Bills.

Veteran backup Tyrod Taylor will start in Fields’ place.

“I just know how these things are and just to my ...Read more

NEW YORK — The Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) are down on the mat and desperate entering Sunday night’s visit to the New York Giants (0-2) at MetLife Stadium. But Super Bowl 50 champion Bennie Fowler still believes Kansas City will win Super Bowl 60.

And he thinks they’ll reacquire a familiar weapon to do it.

“They’ll end up trading for ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Because the NFL MVP award goes to a quarterback in most years, as it should, there’s also an award for Offensive Player of the Year.

No blocker ever won that honor, however. So in March, the NFL created the NFL Protector of the Year award.

Shouts of “about time!” emanated in the football heavens from the likes of Vince ...Read more

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — There is a problem plaguing the Carolina Panthers’ passing offense: the strange disappearance of starting wide receiver Xavier Legette.

Legette, the team’s first-round draft pick out of South Carolina in 2024, was supposed to take a leap forward in 2025. Instead, the player that most people call XL has come up XS for the...Read more

CHICAGO — There’s not a chance Ben Johnson looks at the Chicago Bears’ current situation and feels like they have to take a step back in order to move forward.

He’s not interested in dissecting what happened before his arrival in January, but he is responsible for getting the wayward franchise going in the right direction.

From a broad...Read more

ARLINGTON, Texas — When the time is appropriate, the Dallas Cowboys should take a moment of silence for the following persons: Alex Jones, Megyn Kelly, Anderson Cooper, Joe Rogan, Jon Stewart, Van Jones, Bill O’ Reilly, Stephen Colbert, Rachel Maddow and Colin Kaepernick.

Never too late to squeeze one in for Rush Limbaugh. The late Charlie ...Read more

TAMPA, Fla. — Looking back, it’s hard to identify the precise moment your stomach turned queasy.

It could have been when Baker Mayfield was somersaulting through the air Monday night after having his legs taken out. Or when Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter sacked him and Mayfield’s left knee bent in a direction that defied ...Read more