2019 NFL picks, score predictions for Week 3

Oakland Raiders (1-1) at Minnesota Vikings (1-1)

Sunday, September 22, 1PM ET

Let’s be honest — we never really know what to expect from Kirk Cousins. One game, he’ll look like the $84 million quarterback the Minnesota Vikings signed him to be. The next, he’ll look like a quarterback you wouldn’t pay $84 to help your flag football team win the championship.

Luckily for them, this league is largely about matchups. And in Week 3, he faces off against the 32nd-ranked pass defense of the Oakland Raiders. While those numbers are a bit inflated by the surgery Patrick Mahomes performed on their secondary last weekend, it still doesn’t say much for what was supposed to be a vastly improved unit for Jon Gruden’s squad.

As long as the Vikings can keep Derek Carr from getting the Raiders out to an early lead, it should be smooth sailing from there. Minnesota can lean on Dalvin Cook and the league’s third-ranked ground game to move the ball and keep the Oakland defense on its heals, with Cousins stepping in from time to time to ensure points are put on the board.

The Raiders will be desperate for a win after looking sluggish against the Kansas City Chiefs a win ago. Unfortunately, the Vikings figure to have different plans. A strong performance nets Minnesota a W at home, giving them a small confidence boost before another divisional matchup in Week 4.

Prediction: Vikings win 34-23