NFL betting: Chargers to cover vs. Bills among Week 3 best bets

Title: NFL betting: Chargers to cover vs. Bills among Week 3 best bets By Matt Youmans VSiN September 26, 2026 - 3:17 pm Two weeks into the NFL season, three teams that entered with high hopes have suddenly fallen into obscurity. The Giants are effectively finished without the injured Jaxson Dart. The Packers look lackluster for a variety of reasons, and head coach Matt LaFleur must answer for the shortcomings. [Image: VSiN, The Sports Betting Network] The Chargers continue to struggle as favorites, leading into my top selections for Week 3. **Chargers at Bills (‑7)** It is time to set aside the hype surrounding Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh, whose approach feels overblown and uninspired. Harbaugh’s reliance on tired motivational slogans and false optimism has worn thin; the Harbaugh buzz should no longer be taken at face value. When examining the Bolts, history shows that lightning can strike twice. The NFL handed the Chargers two relatively easy matchups against the Cardinals and Raiders—both among the league’s weakest squads last year—yet Harbaugh managed to lose both games by the identical score of 26‑14. A team that was once a strong favorite to start the season 2‑0 now faces a much tougher schedule, making it unlikely to replicate early success in the opening two months. There is little optimism surrounding Los Angeles at the moment; Harbaugh’s playbook feels outdated, Justin Herbert faces growing criticism for underperforming, and offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel appears more like a bumbling novice than a misunderstood mastermind. Conversely, everything clicks for Buffalo and MVP frontrunner Josh Allen, who has amassed nine touchdowns in a 2‑0 start. The Bills boast a modern stadium and a new coordinator who is directing the league’s highest‑scoring offense at 38½ points per game. Given these dynamics, it makes sense to look for value in the underdog position. The darkest hour often precedes dawn, and winless teams tend to play with desperation against confident 2‑0 opponents. A wager on the Chargers may seem counterintuitive to many bettors, yet that is precisely why it could prove sensible. The NFL is a fickle landscape—clubs and quarterbacks that look dreadful one week can become formidable the next. After two disappointing outings, Los Angeles is better suited to play the role of the underdog. **Best bet:** Chargers +7 **Vikings (‑1½) at Buccaneers** Baker Mayfield has been ineffective, and the Tampa Bay defense managed to make Deshaun Watson look like Tom Brady for a brief stretch, earning the ire of countless former Circa Survivor participants. Following the Buccaneers’ loss to the Browns, they are likely to field a completely different lineup and attempt to end an 11‑game ATS skid. Minnesota holds a 1‑7 record straight up in its last eight trips to Tampa, and the return of injured Kyler Murray will not instantly fix a struggling offense. Mayfield is expected to appear this week, arriving a little later than hoped for those who backed the unfortunate Survivor picks. **Best bet:** Buccaneers +1½ **Eagles (‑4½) at Bears** My initial pick was the Bears +3½ with Tyson Bagent under center. Bagent was slated to replace starter Caleb Williams, who was carted off after sustaining a serious hamstring injury during Chicago’s 9‑3 loss to the Vikings. Instead, Bagent was placed into concussion protocol and is doubtful for Monday night’s contest. Bears head coach Ben Johnson no longer promotes his unit as the greatest in NFL history; he will probably have to turn to 38‑year‑old Case Keenum. The silver lining for Chicago is that Keenum could outperform Philadelphia’s Jalen Hurts, who threw two interceptions in an uninspired comeback win at Tennessee the previous week. The Eagles, despite their 2‑0 record, appear to be a pretender poised for exposure. **Best bet:** Bears +4½ **Four additional plays for Sunday** - Steelers +3½ vs. Bengals - Dolphins +10½ vs. Chiefs - Ravens ‑3½ vs. Cowboys - Broncos +2½ vs. Rams