Pro Picks: Eagles will beat the Rams in a playoff rematch

Saquon Barkley had to give the Los Angeles Rams nightmares throughout the offseason.

Barkley had 460 yards rushing and four touchdowns against the Rams in two victories for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, including a playoff game.

Three of the four TD runs were 70-plus yards and the other was a 62-yard scamper. He ran for 255 yards in Los Angeles in the regular season and 205 yards on a snowy field in Philly in January.

Yet, the Rams (2-0) came within 13 yards of eliminating the Eagles from the playoffs in the divisional round before Jalen Carter sacked Matthew Stafford on third down and forced him to throw incomplete on the next play to secure a 28-22 win.

The Eagles (2-0) hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy after two more lopsided victories.

The unbeaten teams meet Sunday at the Linc. The Eagles are 3 1/2-point favorites, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.

Stafford and Davante Adams have clicked but the Rams need a boost from the run game. Their defense continues to be impressive.

The defending Super Bowl champs keep winning despite a sluggish offense. Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown have responded whenever critics attacked the pass offense in the past.

The Rams are 5-0 against the spread in their past five games and 7-0 ATS in their past seven road games. The Eagles are 9-1 straight up and 8-2 ATS in their past 10 games against the Rams.

Pro Picks leans toward Philadelphia after kicking off Week 3 with a straight-up win when Buffalo defeated Miami 31-21 on Thursday night.

EAGLES: 27-23

Line: Chiefs minus 6 1/2

The Chiefs are 0-2 for the first time since 2014, Patrick Mahomes has the first three-game losing streak in his career and plenty of folks are proclaiming the end of Kansas City’s dynasty. Same people did that to Tom Brady and the New England Patriots several times before he led them to another three Super Bowls. Russell Wilson showed he indeed can still play last week, Malik Nabers is a stud and New York’s defensive line is disruptive.

BEST BET: CHIEFS: 30-17

Line: Jaguars minus 1 1/2

The Texans (0-2) are struggling but they were in this position two years ago when DeMeco Ryans was a first-year coach and C.J. Stroud was a rookie and they still ended up winning the division. They have to protect Stroud and be more productive in the red zone. The Jaguars (1-1) missed an opportunity when the defense let Jake Browning drive the Bengals 92 yards for a comeback win. The Texans swept the series last season, but the Jaguars covered the spread in both games.

UPSET SPECIAL: TEXANS: 23-20

Line: Colts minus 3 1/2

The Colts (2-0) are off to their best start since 2009 behind Daniel Jones. “Danny Dimes” has led the offense to 14 scoring drives and no punts and Jonathan Taylor leads the league in rushing yards. The rebuilding Titans (0-2) have held second-half leads against the Broncos and Rams. They need to learn to finish. And, the offensive line needs to protect Cam Ward, who has been sacked 11 times. The Colts are 1-4 against the spread in their past five road games, but 5-1 ATS in their past six games vs. AFC South opponents. The Titans are 0-9 ATS in their past nine home games.

COLTS: 19-16

Line: Vikings minus 3

It's Jake Browning vs. Carson Wentz in a battle of backups. Browning replaces Joe Burrow for the Bengals (2-0). Wentz takes over for J.J. McCarthy for the Vikings (1-1). Browning was 4-3 as a starter in 2023 and led a comeback win after Burrow got hurt vs. Jacksonville. Minnesota also won’t have running back Aaron Jones and could be down to its third-string left tackle if Justin Skule (concussion) can’t return. Wentz hasn’t been a full-time starter since 2022. The Bengals have lost six in a row in Minnesota. The Vikings are 5-1 ATS in their past six games played in September.

VIKINGS: 24-19

Line: Packers minus 8

Micah Parsons has energized the defense and Jordan Love is playing error-free, efficient football for the Packers (2-0). The Browns (0-2) are off to their worst start since 2018 and Myles Garrett is tired of losing. Cleveland's defense has stopped the run, though. The Packers are 7-3 ATS in their past 10 games. The Browns have lost eight straight games, going 1-7 ATS.

PACKERS: 27-17

Line: Steelers minus 1 1/2

Aaron Rodgers needs better protection. On defense, the Steelers (1-1) have to improve against the run. Drake Maye and the Patriots (1-1) rallied to give Mike Vrabel his first win with New England. The Steelers are 1-4 ATS in their past five road games. The Patriots are 2-3 ATS in their past five home games.

STEELERS: 20-17

Line: Falcons minus 6

The Falcons (1-1) got Bijan Robinson going in Week 2 and rookie edge rushers James Pearce Jr. and Jalon Walker made an impact. The Panthers (0-2) need to play the way they did in a second-half comeback that fell short last week. Protecting Bryce Young got harder, though, with injuries to two starters on the offensive line. The Falcons are 2-7-1 ATS in their past 10 games. The Panthers are 8-3 ATS in their past 11 games.

FALCONS: 24-20

Line: Buccaneers minus 7

The Jets (0-2) with Aaron Glenn haven’t looked any better than with any another coach. It's still too early. Justin Fields will miss the game because of a concussion, leaving Tyrod Taylor at quarterback for the Jets. Baker Mayfield has led the Buccaneers (2-0) to consecutive victories on go-ahead scores in the final two minutes. But the offensive line is banged up and the defense lost lineman Calijah Kancey for the season. The Jets have lost 11 straight games as underdogs in Florida. The Bucs are 15-1 at home against teams coming off a loss.

BUCCANEERS: 26-16

Line: Commanders minus 3 1/2

Geno Smith said he has to be better after throwing three picks. He needs to be for the Raiders (1-1) to be competitive. The Commanders (1-1) could be turning to Marcus Mariota if Jayden Daniels can’t play because of a knee injury. That’s a drop-off. The Commanders are 7-2 against the spread as a home favorite under coach Dan Quinn.

COMMANDERS: 23-22

Line: Chargers minus 3

Special teams cost the Broncos (1-1) last week in a game the offense couldn’t put away and the defense didn’t do enough to prevent it from slipping away. The Chargers (2-0) have been impressive and can make it three straight division wins to start the season. The Broncos are 4-4 ATS as road underdogs with Bo Nix. The Chargers are 9-1 ATS in the past 10 games as favorites vs. AFC opponents.

CHARGERS: 23-19

Line: Seahawks minus 7 1/2

The rebuilding Saints (0-2) have kept it close, but have lost 14 of their past 17 games. A balanced offense and opportunistic defense helped the Seahawks (1-1) even their record. They were just 3-6 at home last season. The Saints are 1-4 ATS in their past five games. The Seahawks are 1-7 ATS in their past eight at home.

SEAHAWKS: 24-17

Line: 49ers minus 2 1/2

The Cardinals (2-0) haven’t played their best football but are undefeated. They’ve got some injury concerns in the secondary. Mac Jones filled in for Brock Purdy and tossed three touchdown passes for the injury-depleted 49ers (2-0). The Cardinals are 9-4 ATS in their past 13 games. The 49ers are 4-12 ATS in their past 16 home games.

49ERS: 24-20

Line: Cowboys minus 1

Thanks to Brandon Aubrey and Dak Prescott, the Cowboys (1-1) overcame a pass defense that allowed 450 yards to Russell Wilson. They’ve got to generate a pass rush to help the secondary. Ben Johnson and the Bears (0-2) were embarrassed by his former team in a return to Detroit. Can he get Caleb Williams and the offensive playmakers on track this week? The Cowboys are 6-3 ATS in their past nine games. The Bears are 2-5 ATS in their past seven games and have lost six straight home games.

COWBOYS: 30-27

Line: Ravens minus 1 1/2

The Lions (1-1) put up 52 points and 511 yards, silencing the critics who thought losing Ben Johnson as offensive coordinator would slow down their offense. The Ravens (1-1) only needed Lamar Jackson’s arm — not his legs or Derrick Henry’s — to rout Cleveland with help from a couple of defensive scores. Oddsmakers are disrespecting the Lions with this line, especially with linebacker Kyle Van Noy and cornerback Marlon Humphrey injured for Baltimore. Jackson has a passer rating of 124.3 with 1,949 yards and 22 touchdowns in nine Monday night games.

RAVENS: 33-26

Last week: Straight up: 12-4. Against spread: 10-6.

Overall: Straight up: 25-7. Against spread: 18-14.

Prime-time: Straight up: 6-2. Against spread: 4-4.

Best Bet: Straight up: 2-0. Against spread: 1-1.

Upset Special: Straight up: 2-0. Against spread: 2-0.

Pro Picks is a weekly column where AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi shares his picks for upcoming games. For all previous Pro Picks, head here.

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) and running back Saquon Barkley celebrate as they walk off the field following a victory over the Kansas City Chiefs in an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) scores on a touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) scores on a touchdown run during the first half of an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ed Zurga)

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A state appeals court is being asked to dismiss felony voter misconduct charges against an Alaska resident born in American Samoa, one of numerous cases that have drawn attention to the complex citizenship status of people born in the U.S. territory.

In arguments Thursday, attorneys for Tupe Smith plan to ask the Alaska Court of Appeals in Anchorage to reverse a lower court's decision that let stand the indictment brought against her. Her supporters say she made an innocent mistake that does not merit charges, but the state contends Smith falsely and deliberately claimed citizenship.

Prosecutors also have brought charges against 10 other people from American Samoa in the small Alaska community of Whittier, including Smith’s husband and her mother-in-law. American Samoa is the only U.S. territory where residents are not automatically granted citizenship by being born on American soil and instead are considered U.S. nationals. Paths to citizenship exist, such as naturalization, though that process can be expensive and cumbersome.

American Samoans can serve in the military, obtain U.S. passports and vote in elections in American Samoa, but they cannot hold public office in the U.S. or participate in most U.S. elections.

About 25 people gathered on a snowy street outside the courthouse before Thursday's hearing to support Smith. One woman, Fran Seager of Palmer, held a sign that said, “Support our Samoans. They are US nationals.”

Smith's husband, Michael Pese, thanked the American Samoa community in the Anchorage area. “If it wasn’t for you guys, I wouldn’t be strong enough to face this head on,” he said.

State Sen. Forrest Dunbar, a Democrat who attended the rally, said the Alaska Department of Law has limited resources.

“We should be going after people who are genuine criminals, who are violent criminals, or at least have the intent to deceive,” he said. “I do not think it is a good use of our limited state resources to go after these hardworking, taxpaying Alaskans who are not criminals.”

Smith was arrested after winning election to a regional school board in 2023. She said she relied on erroneous information from local election officials when she identified herself as a U.S. citizen on voter registration forms.

In a court filing in 2024, one of her previous attorneys said that when Smith answered questions from the Alaska state trooper who arrested her, she said she was aware that she could not vote in presidential elections but was “unaware of any other restrictions on her ability to vote.”

Smith said she marks herself as a U.S. national on paperwork. But when there was no such option on voter registration forms, she was told by city representatives that it was appropriate to mark U.S. citizen, according to the filing.

Smith “exercised what she believed was her right to vote in a local election. She did so without any intent to mislead or deceive anyone,” her current attorneys said in a filing in September. “Her belief that U.S. nationals may vote in local elections, which was supported by advice from City of Whittier election officials, was simply mistaken.”

The state has said Smith falsely and deliberately claimed citizenship. Prosecutors pointed to the language on the voter application forms she filled out in 2020 and 2022, which explicitly said that if the applicant was not at least 18 years old and a U.S. citizen, “do not complete this form, as you are not eligible to vote.”

The counts Smith was indicted on “did not have anything to do with her belief in her ability to vote in certain elections; rather they concerned the straightforward question of whether or not Smith intentionally and falsely swore she was a United States citizen,” Kayla Doyle, an assistant attorney general, said in court filings last year.

One of Smith's attorneys, Neil Weare, co-founder of the Washington-based Right to Democracy Project, said by email last week that if the appeals court lets stand the indictment, Alaska will be “the only state to our knowledge with such a low bar for felony voter fraud.”

Bohrer reported from Juneau, Alaska.

Michael Pese and his wife, Tupe Smith, stand outside the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, ahead of the Alaska Court of Appeals hearing a challenge to the voter fraud case brought against her by the state. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Michael Pese, left, his wife, Tupe Smith, and their son Maximus pose for a photo outside the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, Alaska, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, ahead of the Alaska Court of Appeals hearing a challenge to the voter fraud case brought against her by the state. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

FILE - Tupe Smith poses for a photo outside the school in Whittier, Alaska, May 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen, File)