Tuesday brings two WNBA elimination games as Indiana hosts Atlanta and Seattle welcomes Las Vegas. The Fever and Dream clash after Atlanta’s Game 1 win, while Seattle tries to force a deciding Game 3 against a 17-game streaking Aces led by A’ja Wilson, who dismisses the run despite the streak’s lore. Noelle Quinn’s rotation and rookie Dominique Malonga’s minutes could swing Seattle’s fate.

Off the court, a stacked MLB slate features Phillies at Dodgers and Nationals at Braves with high-scoring projections, plus NFL Week 3 spotlight Bills–Dolphins as Buffalo guns for 3-0. The bets thread through multiple leagues, shaping early-season fantasy and betting angles across hoops, baseball and football.

Kaleb Johnson’s Week 3 kickoff duties look unlikely to return after Sunday’s miscue, with Mike Tomlin signaling the benching could be temporary but real. Johnson must show daily growth to reclaim the role, as Kenneth Gainwell looms as the default returner and Trey Sermon is in reserve. Pittsburgh also navigates an injury-heavy week, with Highsmith and Loudermilk out and several others listed as questionable, ahead of a showdown with New England.

Burrow’s toe injury crushes Cincinnati’s Super Bowl dreams for now, pushing Browning into the starting role and sending odds from 20-1 to 80-1. Taylor insists Browning can win games and contend for post-season glory, while the schedule pitchers a tough road ahead with multiple high-scoring defenses—yet several favorable matchups offer a real path to a late-season surge if Browning hits stride.

Predictions for Weeks 3–18 hinge on defense, turnover timing, and Browning’s past experience stepping in during 2023. If Cincinnati can steal a few key wins against leaky defenses—and Burrow isn’t needed for a playoff run—their postseason odds aren’t dead, just dramatically thinner.

With eight teams allowing 29+ PPG, the path remains plausible: the Bengals face Browns, Ravens (twice), Steelers (twice), Dolphins, Bears, Jets and others in a 15-game stretch. If Browning can navigate this slate and Cincinnati sneaks to 9-8 or similar, Burrow could return for a dramatic postseason push.