NFL Preseason Week 3 Best Bets
NFL Preseason Week 3 Best Picks
2026 NFL preseason action wraps up with a full slate of 16 games for Week 3. The lineup begins with four contests on Thursday, followed by 10 on Friday and two on Saturday. Yes, all 32 teams will take the field. Amazon Prime has Patriots vs. Browns on Thursday night, CBS will air Bengals vs. Eagles on Saturday and NFL Network will bring things to a close with both games on Saturday (Lions vs. Colts and Bears vs. Titans). Here are our best bets for Week 3 of the NFL preseason:
NFL Preseason Week 3 Predictions
Pick #1: Los Angeles Rams +3.5 over Los Angeles Chargers (-105)
Pick #2: Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins Under 36.5 (-110)
Pick #3: Detroit Lions vs. Indianapolis Colts Under 36.5 (-120)
PICK #1: Rams +3.5 over Chargers (-105)
Los Angeles compiled a winning record in the last two preseasons and has already clinched doing so in 2026 after beating Kansas City 20-12 and then destroying New Orleans 34-0. Head coach Sean McVay simply does not mess around in the preseason. It remains to be seen for how long – if at all – he will play his starters on Thursday, but the bottom line is that the Rams still have decisions to make behind QB1 Matthew Stafford.
Rookie first-round draft pick Ty Simpson will definitely be on the field for this one, while Stetson Bennett’s status is unclear. Simpson completed 21 of 25 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns against the Chiefs. He and Bennett combined to go 27-of-43 for 254 yards against the Saints.
The Chargers opened with a 27-7 victory over Houston but got clobbered 41-17 by San Francisco last week. Although almost all of their starters are playing on Thursday, head coach Jim Harbaugh said it will be for no more than 10 plays and possibly as few as six.
PICK #2: Falcons vs. Dolphins Under 36.5 (-110)
The Dolphins very well could be the worst team in the NFL this year. Although the preseason means very little, their effort so far – especially on the offensive side of the ball – could be a harbinger of things to come. Miami has scored a grand total of 10 points through two games. Each of its first two outings against the Commanders and Giants failed to reach the 30-point mark. Now the Fins have to face a Falcons squad that just held the Colts to six points last weekend.
As for Atlanta’s offense, both Michael Penix Jr. and Tua Tagovailoa could suit up on Friday. Penix finally got cleared for 11-on-11 action only a few days ago, while Tagovailoa has struggled mightily throughout training camp and the preseason. This could be an all-around ugly affair.
PICK #3: Lions vs. Colts Under 36.5 (-120)
Detroit and Indianapolis have displayed offensive ineptitude throughout this preseason. Each of the Lions’ first two games produced exactly 30 points – a 16-14 loss at Cincinnati and a 17-13 win over Washington. The Colts tied New England 13-13 and then got crushed by Atlanta 34-6.
Detroit played many of its starters in its second outing, so almost all of them will likely rest on Saturday. Starting QB Jared Goff certainly won’t take the field, which means the offense will once again be run by Luke Altmyer and Joshua Dobbs. Both were terrible in the first two games.
Indianapolis head coach Shane Steichen has confirmed that basically all of his starters will play except for quarterback Daniel Jones and running back Jonathan Taylor. That obviously bodes well for his defense and not so much for his offense. Anthony Richardson is starting under center for the Colts. He completed just 14 of 23 attempts with no touchdowns and one interception in the first two preseason games.
