SWAMPFIREEE SUNDAY WEEK 3 - MUCK 5

Let's keep this train a'rollin! Another DAWG day is upon us! SwampMan's favorite!

***PITTSBURGH STEELERS @ ST. LOUIS RAMS***

Love the Rams in this spot here. They are back home after getting knocked down to Earth after getting slapped up a lesser foe on the road in Washington. The Rams at home are another animal, plain and simple. That defensive front will get after the QB and gang tackle, Big Ben is in trouble today. I know that if any QB can take the pressure and hits and still be productive it's Rothlisberger, but I just have a strong gut feel on this one here. I think the Rams force a costly turnover or two when Ben tries to maybe make something happen one too many times and force the ball to his favorite WR Antonio Bryant instead of just taking the sack. Look for Rams CB Janoris Jenkins who is a straight up ball hawk to make a big play today, and maybe take a pick to the house. I know Steelers stud RB LeVeon Bell is back also, and call me crazy but I think this may throw the Steelers offense off a bit as it may take a game to start fully gelling together. The Rams should find some success with their offense given the fact that the PIttsburgh defense is nothing to be afraid of, and the fact that their rookie RB Todd Gurley could be making his debut. They have been desperately needing a feature RB ever since the Stephen Jackson era, this could be their guy. If he does play today, I think he makes one hell of an NFL debut against this defense. In a nutshell, Robert Quinn and the boys will hold down the fort here. Rams +1

***JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS @ NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS***

WHAAAAAAT?! How could I possibly go against the mighty New England Pats after the tear they have been on thus far you ask??? I simply like the spot and generous points for the Jags here. I do not believe they are as bad as the spread indicates and deserve more respect. This will be their Super Bowl so to speak. Their chance to wake the NFL up and say, "HEY! WHAT ABOUT US?!" Will they do it? Chances are very slim, but I definitey like them to keep it within the number and give the Pats all they can handle today. The Pats are off of a huge emotionally invested win against the Bills in Buffalo, I could see a let down spot for them here as they may take the Jags a little too lightly and plan on doing the minimum to get the win. They have a bye week on deck and they may be already inevitably a little mentally checked out of this one, which could be a costly mistake. Young QB Blake Bortles really seems to be coming into his own and building a nice repitoire with his young WRs. Their rookie RB T.J. Yeldon seems to be a nice feature back fit for them as well, I expect him to have a solid day. This Patriot defense is not unbeatable. Especially if this turns into a shootout of some sort, I like Bortles to go toe to toe with Brady and have success throwing the ball downfield against the Patriot secondary. Gus Bradley is a defensive minded coach, he will have his guys jacked up to get after Tommy boy and obviously key on Gronk and Edelman. Easier said than done I know, but they will be prepared and could slow them down a bit. The Jaggies are not terrible and are feeding off that swagu of their first September win at home in quite some time, with a win today this team will be through the roof. They will give it all they got. JAGS +14

***INDIANAPOLIS COLTS @ TENNESEE TITANS***

Division matchup here with two teams headed in two different directions. On one side you have the long time big brother team of the AFC South in the Colts who are in pure turnmoil sitting at 0-2 and looking absolutely terrible the first two weeks. Granted they have probably faced two of the best if not best defenses in the league. However these defenses have laid the blueprint on how to defend Luck and the Ponies. The Colt's offensive line cannot seem to give Luck any help whatsoever. The kid is amazing but cannot do it all on his own. He seems to be completely out of sync with new WRs veteran Andre Johnson and rookie Dorsett, and his favorite target in T.Y. Hilton has not been himself due to injury. The Colt defense is just nonexistant and completely average. On the other side of the ball we have a very interesting team in the Tennesee Titans who after completely shocking the league in week 1 with a dominating win against the Bucs, went to Cleveland week 2 and tasted defeat. The important thing that I saw here is Titan rookie QB Marcus Mariotta hang tough and bounce back during the loss. The Browns jumped out to an early lead and this kid got rocked a couple times. He hung in there and brought them back to make it a game. Swampy likes this. I think back at home now with a taste of both ends of the spectrum, the kid has a another big day versus a poor defense to get a rare win over their division opponent. Luck versus Mariotta will become a fun rivalry for years to come, and I think the rookie steps on the neck here of a wounded pony to start things off! Look for fellow rookie WR Dorial Green-Beckham to have a big day today too, for all you fantasy sleeper hunters. TITANS +3

***OAKLAND RAIDERS @ CLEVELAND BROWNS***

DDDAAAAAA RRRRRAAAAIIIIDDERRRRSSSSSSSSSS (Chris Berman Voice) got their first win in the Black Hole last weekend in a gutsy performance against the Baltimore Ravens. It came down to a game winning drive by Derek Carr to get the W and I believe that was just what the doctor ordered to get the ball rolling for them. They head into Cleveland now to face a team with a solid defense no doubt, and a ruckus crowd in the Dog Pound to boot. However, I think Oakland has enough offensive talent to get after the Browns defense here and have success in both the run and pass if they mix it up just right. They seem to be gelling more as they continue to play together and the Carr to WR Amari Cooper connection should be a great one for years to come. Carr is a gunslinger by nature and seems to try and find his favorite new toy to feed the rock every chance he gets. Cooper will be facing Browns CB Joe Haden today, so that should provide more balls toward WR Michael Crabtree who is turning out to be a nice fit as a number 2 WR in his first season with Oakland. Not to mention the horse they have in the backfield with RB Latavius Murray, look for him to have a big day as Oakland should try and establish the run game early in an attempt to dominate this game. The Browns are fresh off of a bit of a tough call as to who their starting QB should be. In week 1 veteran journeyman Josh McCown got the nod and was soon taken out of their game with a concussion against the Jets. In comes Johnny Manziel who despite the result of a loss in NY, showed some improvement from his dismal rookie season. In week 2 he got the start in McCown's place at home and lit the place up! The result was a big home opening win in the Dog Pound and the start of long awaited Manziel Mania in Cleveland. Head Coach Mike Pettine has gone ahead this week to name Josh McCown the starter now that he is healthy enough to play again. This has definitely put a damper on the good vibes that were beginning to stir up in Cleveland and now, there are surely many disgruntled fans who do not agree with their coach's decision. I can see McCown stinking up the joint a bit today against a young and talented Raider defense who can get after him. It is his first game back after an injury and will have guys like Aldon Smith and Khalil Mack in his face. Call me crazy but I see an early QB controversey starting tomorrow in Cleveand and some tough calls to make for Pettine moving forward. DAA RRRAAAAIIIIDDDERRSSSSSSSSS have a real chance to get going here and be a contender as they can pick up three wins in a row here if they triumph today and head into Chicago next week. Head Coach Jack Del Rio will have his boys ready. They are headed in the right direction this year and will make some noise. DDAAAA RRRRRAAAAIIIIDERRSSSSSSS +3.5

***SAN FRANCISCO 49ers @ ARIZONA CARDINALS***

Divisional matchup here where I really like the points. I know the 49ers have looked like Jekyll and Hyde so far in the first two weeks but this game is more of a play on the fact that I have not been impressed by the Cardinals just yet. Yes they are 2-0 but I ask you, who have they faced? They played the Saints at home in week 1 in a fairly close game and we now see what kind of shape New Orleans is in and they went on the road to Chicago week 2 and played the Bears without their starting QB Jay Cutler for most of the game. I know they are good, especially at home, but this is a good spot to take the points here and count on a close game. I LOVE what new Head Coach JIm Tomsula is doing with this 49ers team. In the face of extreme adversity he seems to have them believing and completely buying in. Yes, they got their asses handed to them in Pittsburgh last week but in their defense it was a terrible spot for them. They were coming off of the late late game on Monday Night Football where they competely sold out to get a big win to ensure the season starts off on the right foot and then traveled east to play Pittsburgh who played the previous Thursday and loss in the NFL's opening game. Pitt had forever to prepare for this Niners team and they wisely took advantage and capitalized on a W in that spot in their home opener. That being said, the Niners have had a quick serving of humble pie and although Arizona is a very tough place to play, QB Kaepernick seems to always play pretty solid there. I think they will hit the Cards in the mouth with a strong running attack with RB Carlos Hyde and Kaep scrambling when there's nothing there. Vintage Kaepernick in this one, more legs than arm. I also think they get to Zona QB Carson Palmer a bit here and smack him around as I don't think he has really been a victim of yet. Take the points, NINERS +6.5