The National Football League season may be over, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still look back and reminisce on the games that made it such an exciting year. From comeback wins to season-ending injury stories, you never know what will happen in this league each week of the season. One thing you can expect from these plays? Excitement! NFL expert picks are guaranteed to get your heart racing and set the stage for a season full of great football stories. So don’t go anywhere—you might want to sit down before reading this list! Check NFL expert picks to know the following five top plays.
1. Cleveland Browns vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Cleveland Browns take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 3 of the National Football League season. The Browns are coming off a win against Cincinnati, while Pittsburgh is looking to bounce back after losing to Baltimore in Week 2. The Steelers have been a dominant team over the past decade and have had some good games against Cleveland. However, Pittsburgh has not won at Heinz Field since 2013, when it beat the Browns 20-7. The last time these two teams played was back in 2018 and that game ended up being tied 20-20.
It’s safe to say this matchup will be an exciting one for fans, with both teams desperate for a win. As for who will come out victorious? It’ll be tough to tell before kickoff as both defenses will put their best efforts forward. With Roethlisberger, Brown, and company on offense though Pittsburgh should have an edge as they try to get back into the playoff hunt. Look for Antonio Brown to be active again in this one; he’s made several big plays already this season and could make the difference if needed.
2. Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
It’s always a tough game when the Packers and Lions get together, but our experts think that Green Bay is going to take this one. The Lions have been a mess this season, but they did just put up 49 points against the Colts. The Packers are coming off of a tough loss to the Vikings and will be looking for revenge. Both teams have had some injury issues, so keep an eye on how they look before making your picks. The experts are predicting that Rodgers will throw three touchdowns as the Packers take this one by 10 points or more. The spread will be key to this matchup, because it could easily go either way. Remember that although the Packers are coming off of a loss, they still have home-field advantage in this game. With all of these factors considered we predict that the Packers will win 24-10.
3. New Orleans Saints vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The New Orleans Saints and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will play their first game of the season this Sunday, September 8th at 1:00 p.m. ET at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay. As the name suggests, this is a homecoming game for the Buccaneers who have not played in Tampa since 2012. This is also the second consecutive year that these two teams will open up against one another, with New Orleans winning last year’s matchup 34-17.
The forecast for Sunday calls for high heat and humidity which could create some challenges for both sides on offense as well as in terms of stamina during the four quarters of play. Both offenses are coming off successful seasons in 2018, with the Saints finishing third in total yards per game and touchdowns per game while the Buccaneers finished 12th. Both QBs Drew Brees (1,353 passing yards, 11 TDs) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (3,366 passing yards, 28 TDs) had outstanding years but it was Brees who came out on top when they faced off last season; completing 20/27 passes for 314 yards with 3 touchdowns.
4. Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Seattle Seahawks are coming off a tough year, but they’re looking to take back the NFC West with a win this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Seattle will be relying on its defense to stop running back David Johnson and quarterback Kyler Murray, who was drafted first overall in the 2019 Draft. With some of the league’s best young talent, like linebacker Bobby Wagner and safety Earl Thomas III, this is not an easy matchup for Arizona.
The Cardinals have been successful at home so far this season, winning their last two games at State Farm Stadium. It may be a close game, but don’t expect the Cardinals to go down without a fight. If there’s one player who could steal the show, it would be Murray. In his rookie season, he broke records as well as defenses left and right. Even with a limited number of games under his belt, he still has six touchdowns to his name — averaging one per game! A lot is riding on both teams’ shoulders this week.
5. Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers faced off at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday. The Rams came out victorious, winning by a score of 28-14. Todd Gurley had another great game with 159 total yards including his first ever receiving touchdown on a screen pass. Jared Goff threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns with one interception while being sacked four times. He also rushed for 24 yards and a touchdown. For the 49ers, Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 274 yards and a touchdown but was sacked five times. CJ Beathard was in for just 10 snaps at quarterback, throwing for 98 yards but completing just three passes to go along with an interception returned for a touchdown by Troy Hill.
Conclusion
If you’re a fan of the National Football League, or just looking for some entertainment on Sundays, keep an eye out for these top plays. The first one comes to us courtesy of the New York Giants. On Sunday afternoon, the Giants were hosting their division rivals in an NFC East showdown. In the second quarter, with 3:39 left on the clock and trailing by six points, Eli Manning found Odell Beckham Jr. in space downfield. The veteran QB fired off a perfect pass to Beckham Jr., who hauled it in and raced into the end zone for his team’s first touchdown of the game. This was a huge play because it cut their deficit to four points and gave them momentum heading into halftime break!
