The Sunday slate in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season should be a fun one. We have a couple of undefeated showdowns (Texans vs Vikings and Chargers vs Steelers), while talented teams like the Ravens, Cowboys and 49ers are looking to bounce back from losses. The pre-Monday schedule wraps up with Sunday Night Football between the Chiefs and Falcons. The dogs have been barking so far this season, and I’m expecting more of the same for my NFL Week 3 parlay, which pays at +1152 odds with Bet365. Let’s dive in, while you can also find out our NFL picks for all of this week’s action as well as EVERY game throughout the season.
Eagles ML (+125)
Cardinals ML (+128)
Falcons ML (+144)
NFL parlay odds: +1152
For this parlay I am going with 3 underdogs on the money line. Let’s break down each of the 3 legs.
Philadelphia Eagles ML over New Orleans Saints (+125)
The Eagles are coming off a loss, are playing on a short week and are facing an undefeated opponent. That’s why they are underdogs of a considerable size on Sunday. It also means they have great value against the Saints, who have been on fire so far this season but also still have something to prove. They faced the moribund Panthers in Week 1 and you never know what you are going to get from the Cowboys’ defense (which certainly did not come to play in Week 2). A frustrated, motivated Philadelphia unit should provide much more resistance for Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara.
AJ Brown being out hurts the Philly offense, but Jalen Hurts still has DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley with whom to work. Barkley has been outstanding through 2 weeks and will be eager to make amends for his late drop against the Falcons that ultimately cost his team the game. Don’t be surprised if the Eagles get back in the win column.
Arizona Cardinals ML over Detroit Lions (+128)
The Cardinals have been one of the more surprising teams in the league so far. They aren’t quite undefeated, but a narrow road loss to Buffalo in Week 1 was nothing to be ashamed about. Arizona had no trouble finding the win column in Week 2, trouncing the NFC West rival Rams 41-10. Kyler Murray is healthy – and when that’s the case, he is dangerous. With a weapon like rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. now at Murray’s disposal, watch out. MHJ had 130 yards and 2 touchdowns on 4 receptions against Los Angeles. And don’t forget about RB James Conner, who ran for 122 yards and a score last weekend.
Expectations are high for the Lions, but they needed overtime to beat the Rams at home and then lost at home to Tampa Bay. TE Sam LaPorta has been ineffective so far and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown is banged up. Their first road test of the 2024 campaign may not end well.
Atlanta Falcons ML over Kansas City Chiefs (+144)
Kansas City is off to a 2-0 start, but it hasn’t been pretty and it certainly hasn’t been dominant. Patrick Mahomes and company just barely scraped past Baltimore in the Thursday Night Football opener and then needed a late pass-interference call to overcome Cincinnati last weekend. The latter victory came at a price, too. Isiah Pacheco is out 6-8 weeks because of a fractured fibula. Travis Kelce (4 catches on 7 targets for 39 yards through 2 weeks) will have to start stepping up.
Now the Chiefs face a stout Falcons defense that was good enough to win in each of the first 2 games. That wasn’t the case because the offense was hopeless in Week 1, but Kirk Cousins bounced back to lead Atlanta past Philadelphia on Monday Night Football. With Cousins at least looking somewhat like his former self and the Falcons playing at home, a primetime upset is well within reason. The Chiefs may be impossible to beat in the playoffs, but they are not a well-oiled machine at this point in the young season – especially not with Pacheco on the shelf.