NFL against the spread picks: Time for redemption, Broncos

Motivation matters in the NFL. Look at Buffalo last week.

Buoyed by a great crowd that was fired up about the Bills being sold to local ownership, with a visit from Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly and a tribute to late owner Ralph Wilson, the Bills played a great game. They destroyed the Dolphins. On the opposite end of the spectrum, look at moribund Tampa Bay on Thursday night.

Motivation is why I think the Denver Broncos win on Sunday.

For seven months, they've all heard over and over about 43-8, the score of the Super Bowl they lost to Seattle. Nothing about their otherwise fantastic 2013 season mattered. Just 43-8. They were poked fun of all offseason, more than any team that didn't actually win a conference championship. Sunday is a playoff game for the Broncos, who want to answer to all the 43-8 talk. It's not that big of a deal in the standings for the Broncos, but it's a big deal for their pride.

It's harder to feel confident about that pick knowing the Seahawks also come in motivated, after losing last week to San Diego. But the Broncos' current team is better than the one that lost 43-8 last Super Bowl (and, they weren't as bad as the 43-8 score either). At very least, for the picking purposes here, the Broncos will keep it closer than the 5-point spread.

Shaun King and I discuss the game a little further here:

Here are the rest of the Week 3 picks (with spreads from the Yahoo Pro Football Pick 'em):

Atlanta (-6.5) over Tampa Bay (picked yesterday): Even though this is for entertainment only and you should not follow these picks for anything that matters, I'd still have had to quit this weekly feature if I had picked the Buccaneers.

San Diego (+2) over Buffalo: It has taken me a while to truly believe in the Chargers, but I think they're just the better team here.

Tennessee (+7) over Cincinnati: I think the rule of the NFL is you can't have three dominant games in a row, and the Bengals are at two.

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Baltimore (-1.5) over Cleveland: It won't be an offensive explosion, I'm pretty sure. I can't say I feel great about picking the Ravens on the road.

Detroit (-2.5) over Green Bay:

Lost in all the hoopla about Aaron Rodgers' return was that the Packers defense isn't very good.

St. Louis (+1) over Dallas: It's going to take a little more for me to buy into this Cowboys' defense.

Oakland (+14) over New England: Just hate picking any NFL team giving two touchdowns or more (though if the Buccaneers were the opponent, I'd have to consider it).

New Orleans (-10) over Minnesota: You know the avalanche of points is coming.

N.Y. Giants (+2.5) over Houston: Here's the deal, I'm just going to beat my head against the wall and pick the Giants until eventually I get one right.

Washington (+6.5) over Philadelphia: Pretty emotional win for the Eagles on Monday night, so watch for a possible letdown. And Kirk Cousins did actually look competent last Sunday. And I'm not ruling out DeSean Jackson playing, scoring what seems like a half dozen touchdowns and staring down Chip Kelly after every one.

Indianapolis (-7) over Jacksonville: As much as I love to pick home underdogs, the Jaguars' last six quarters have been Buccaneers-esque. And the 0-2 Colts need to win this one.

San Francisco (-3) over Arizona: I can't totally abandon the 49ers.

Kansas City (+4) over Miami: Another 0-2 team that needs to win. At very least the Chiefs will keep it close.

Pittsburgh (+3.5) over Carolina: I can't buy that the Steelers are as bad as they looked last Thursday at Baltimore.

N.Y. Jets (-2.5) over Chicago: Tough back-to-back travel for the Bears. And, I think the Jets might be pretty good.

Last week: 6-10
Season to date: 15-18

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdowncorner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @YahooSchwab