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Week 3 NFL Picks: Can The Cowboys Advance To 3-0?

A look at the playoffs odds for teams after Week 3, and the BTB writers weigh in with their picks for the Week 3 games.

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Week 3 in the NFL is an interesting week, because it is the first week after which the first teams are basically eliminated from playoff contention. Only three times since 1990 ('92 Chargers, '95 Lions, '98 Bills) has a team made the playoffs after starting 0-3. Since realignment in 2002, not one of the 65 teams that started the season 0-3 made the playoffs, which means the 0-2 teams (Eagles and Giants, as well as seven other teams we don't really care about) face must-win games this weekend.

Week 3 is also interesting for 2-0 teams like the Cowboys (and eight other teams), because historically over 70% of the teams that started the season 3-0 eventually made the playoffs, as the table below illustrates.

Playoff odds based on Week 3 W/L records, since 2002
Record after Week 3 3-0 2-1 1-2 0-3
Total Teams
65 145 141 65
Playoff Teams 46 74 36
0
Percentage 71.9% 51.4% 24.8% 0.0%

All of which shouldn't really be a huge surprise. If you start the season 3-0, odds are you are a good team, and good teams make the playoffs more often than not. If you start 0-3, odds are your team just plain sucks.

With all of that in mind, how do you like the Cowboys' chances of advancing to 3-0 this weekend? Most of the BTB writers think the Cowboys have a shot at going 3-0, even if injuries have taken a heavy toll on the team.

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Dave Danny Dawn Jamie Jim Michael OCC rabble Tom Consensus
2015 Record
18-14
17-15
18-14
15-17
15-17
15-17
21-11
20-12
17-15
18-14
2015 Percentage .563
.531
.563
.469
.469
.469 .656
.625
.531
.563
Record Week 2
8-8
6-10 6-10
5-11
6-10
6-10
8-8 8-8
7-9
7-9

WAS @ NYG (-3.5) Was_medium Nyg_medium Was_medium Was_medium Nyg_medium Nyg_medium Was_medium Nyg_medium Nyg_medium Nyg_medium
PIT (-1) @ STL Pit_medium Pit_medium Pit_medium Pit_medium Stl_medium Pit_medium Pit_medium Pit_medium Pit_medium Pit_medium
SD @ MIN (-2.5) Min_medium Sdc_medium Min_medium Sdc_medium Min_medium Sdc_medium Min_medium Min_medium Min_medium Min_medium
TB @ HOU (-6.5) Hou_medium Hou_medium Hou_medium Hou_medium Hou_medium Hou_medium Hou_medium Hou_medium Hou_medium Hou_medium
PHI @ NYJ (-2.5)
Nyj_medium Nyj_medium Nyj_medium Nyj_medium Nyj_medium Nyj_medium Nyj_medium Nyj_medium Nyj_medium Nyj_medium
NO @ CAR (-7) Car_medium Car_medium Car_medium Car_medium Car_medium Car_medium Car_medium Car_medium Car_medium Car_medium
JAC @ NE (-13.5) Nep_medium Nep_medium Nep_medium Nep_medium Nep_medium Nep_medium Nep_medium Nep_medium Nep_medium Nep_medium
CIN @ BAL (-2.5) Bal_medium Cin_medium Bal_medium Cin_medium Cin_medium Cin_medium Cin_medium Cin_medium Cin_medium Cin_medium
OAK @ CLE (-3.5) Cle_medium Cle_medium Cle_medium Oak_medium Cle_medium Cle_medium Cle_medium Cle_medium Cle_medium Cle_medium
IND (-3.5) @ TEN Ind_medium Ind_medium Ind_medium Ind_medium Ind_medium Ind_medium Ten_medium Ind_medium Ind_medium Ind_medium
ATL (-2) @ DAL Dal_medium Dal_medium Dal_medium Dal_medium Dal_medium Atl_medium Dal_medium Dal_medium Dal_medium Dal_medium
SF @ ARI (-6.5) Ari_medium Ari_medium Ari_medium Ari_medium Ari_medium Ari_medium Ari_medium Ari_medium Ari_medium Ari_medium
CHI @ SEA (-15)
Sea_medium Sea_medium Sea_medium Sea_medium Sea_medium Sea_medium Sea_medium Sea_medium Sea_medium Sea_medium
BUF @ MIA (-3) Mia_medium Mia_medium Mia_medium Buf_medium Buf_medium Mia_medium Buf_medium Mia_medium Buf_medium Mia_medium
DEN (-3.5) @ DET Den_medium Det_medium Den_medium Den_medium Den_medium Den_medium Den_medium Den_medium Den_medium Den_medium
KC @ GB (-6.5) Gbp_medium Gbp_medium Gbp_medium Gbp_medium Gbp_medium Gbp_medium Gbp_medium Gbp_medium Gbp_medium Gbp_medium

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Get your picks in for the BTB Pick 256 Challenge!

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If you haven't yet submitted your picks, now would be a good time. Here's the link to the entry form.

If the link above doesn't work for whatever reason, use the following alternative, which does not autofill your BTB user name into the entry form.

Alternative Pick 256 Entry Form

We have close to 300 participants who've already submitted their picks for Week 2. If you haven't submitted your picks yet, you still have until 8:25 pm EST tonight to submit your picks, or you could just do it right now.

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