There’s nothing like calling your shot on a team to cover, and they are just crushing things at halftime before they blow it in the second half and you are left holding a losing ticket. That’s where betting on the first half comes into play. Identifying what teams might be good enough to hang around early, or strong enough to dominate their opponent early. Let’s try and crack the opening script with these NFL first-half best bets for Week 3.
Kansas City Chiefs -6.5 (-120)
Kansas City was absolutely getting first billing in this article from the second I looked at the slate. The Chiefs have looked like their old selves through two games. Kenneth Walker has been a welcome presence, giving the team a rushing game like they haven’t seen in the Patrick Mahomes era. The team has operated like a well-oiled machine through two weeks. They came out swinging against the Denver Broncos in Week 1, taking a seven-point lead into halftime.
In Week 2, they put 17 points on the board in the first half against the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts answered the call and held the halftime lead. But Kansas City isn’t playing Indianapolis this week. They get the pleasure of taking on a Miami Dolphins team who just might be the worst in the sport. Miami has been throttled in both games, especially in the first half. The Las Vegas Raiders had an 11-point lead at halftime in Week 1, and the 49ers were up eight at the half last week. The backdoor on the full game spread is the only thing that scares me in this one. That worry is gone with this bet.
Carolina Panthers -.5 (-110)
Has the Panthers’ patience on Bryce Young paid off? The former #1 overall pick is looking like one through two games in 2026. The offense put up in Week 1 against the Bears, dropping 31 points in the first half. The Panthers’ defense let the Bears walk all over them, but that Bears offense with Caleb Williams running things is a special offense. In Week 2, they got off to a quick start, taking a 20-0 lead into the half over a divisional rival on the road.
This week, they get Deshaun Watson to go up against. The Browns may have pulled an upset last week over the Buccaneers, but they were down at halftime. Also, it wasn’t so much that Cleveland looked good. It was more about how bad Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers looked. Cleveland is bad; Carolina is good. Look no further, and give me the Panthers.
Buffalo Bills Team Total Over 14.5 (-102)
Let’s get away from the spreads with this bet. The Buffalo Bills are the highest-scoring first-half team in two games. They hung 24 points on the vaunted Houston Texans defense in Week 1. Coming into the season, I had Houston down as a top two or three defensive unit in the league. They were unable to slow down Josh Allen and this potent Bills offense.
In Week 2, on a short week for Thursday Night Football, the Bills offense didn’t skip a beat. They put up 27 points against the Detroit Lions as they opened their stadium. This week they get the Chargers, who have lost games to the Cardinals and Raiders. I rest my case there.
Baltimore Ravens -2.5 (-115)
The Baltimore Ravens are the second-highest-scoring team through the first two weeks of the 2026 season. They head down to Rio de Janeiro to play the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3. There have been some concerns about a slippery field; if that’s the case at all, massive advantage for the team that has Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
Baltimore began Week 1 by pouring 31 points on the Indianapolis Colts in the first half, taking an 18-point lead into the half. Last week, they lost outright to the Saints as favorites of over a touchdown. But the Ravens were up 14-6 at halftime. Let’s run that back in Week 3.
