Week 3 Preview:

Pilgrims will convene en masse at the Lambeau Shrine of St. Vincent on Sunday evening to cheer on the beloved Pack in a key conference showdown with those dastardly Cowboys. As the teams journey into week three of the schedule, it’s hard to understand why there are so many bad teams. It's only been two weeks, yet we can safely conclude that Detroit, St. Louis and Kansas City are already out of it. Cincinnati and Oakland are not far behind, and Miami took a backward step in their development process. This week features a mix of intriguing matchups to tantalize together with some crummy ones thrown in, which are bound to frustrate any forecaster.

At Atlanta -4.5 Kansas City 36.5

In Week 2, we learned that the Falcons’ road to respectability is not going to be conquered overnight. Nevertheless, they have to feel absolutely thrilled that the woefully inept Chiefs are coming in for a visit. The Chiefs’ 1-2 quarterbacks are banged up heading into this one and third stringer Tyler Thigpen will get the reps this week. LJ: 22 yards rushing? Is that a joke? Their offense was really, really bad against a fair-to-poor defense. At this point, the Falcons’ performances will swing wildly from week to week. Playing against a good team that executes its game plan well is not good for Atlanta right now. However, lining up against a bad team at home will most like produce a more favorable result.

Projected Final Score: Atlanta 23, Kansas City 14

At Buffalo -8.5 Oakland 36

Sure, Oakland won last Sunday against a Kansas City team that presently appears hard pressed to score touchdowns, making Chiefs’ partisans longing for those AFL days of Dawson to Taylor. Darren McFadden had a real coming out party with 164 yards on the ground, but Russell was only 6-17-55 through the air. The Raiders’ run defense was pretty good, but the pass defense was somewhat porous against Thigpen. Against Trent Edwards, things aren’t bound to improve. There is also a genuine issue of material fact as to who is running the show with the Raiders. If the Bills weren’t previously aware, surely they know now that the AFC East is theirs for the taking. The Bills aren’t a team that resorts to a bombastic approach but one that methodically grinds their opponents into the turf.

Projected Final Score: Buffalo 27, Oakland 17


At Baltimore -1.5 Cleveland 38.5

The Ravens were also victimized on account of Hurricane Ike having to take an unplanned Bye Week, now (like the Texans) they have to play out the next 15 weeks without a break. But at least they’ll be rested and ready to go against a Browns team that’s coming off of two losses against very tough teams. The Browns have to feel pretty angry coming into this one, as they weren’t expecting an 0-2 start. But after two weeks, it’s clear that something needs to be done about Cleveland’s defense. They’re averaging an obscene 487 yards/game, which is an unmitigated disaster. What’s going on with that, Coach Crennel? The Browns’ only hope for victory is to try to force a shootout…and with their challenged personnel (16 points in two games) against the Ravens’ D that’s not likely to happen.

Projected Final Score: Ravens 23, Cleveland 16.


At Tennessee -4.5 Houston 39

Hurricane Ike did a great deal of damage to the Texas Gulf area and we send out our heartfelt thought and prayers to all of the good folk down there that life returns to normal as soon as possible. The storm wreaked a lot of havoc with Downtown Houston causing property damage in the billions. Reliant Stadium was rendered unplayable for the foreseeable future and one can only hope that Ike will not affect the Texans as occurred with the Saints two years ago. Maybe the only good that came from the storm was the week off that allowed the team to really think about the throttling they took in Pittsburgh. The Titans have pretty much moved on from last week’s Vince Young drama as evidenced by their thumping of the Bungles. Collins will capably run the show in the short run and the running game and defense are in great shape.

Projected Final Score: Tennessee 24, Houston 17.

At NY Giants -12.5 Cincinnati 42

The G-Men ought to be throwing kisses to the NFL Matchmaker for handing out early season cupcakes like this. They put up 41 points last week against a truly awful team. What will they be capable of against a dysfunctional one?

Projected Final Score: NY Giants 31, Cincinnati 16.

At Washington -2.5 Arizona 42

The ‘Skins had a tremendous comeback victory against the Saints giving Coach Zorn his first win, and they’d like to keep the ball rolling against a Cardinal team that’s looking to win their first three games since the advent of the printing press. Kurt Warner has played very well in his first two games, often looking like the two-time MVP prior to the turn of the century. The Cards have a consistency on both sides of the ball that Washington presently lacks. If Campbell can move the offense and if the defense can shut down the Edge then the ‘Skins have a decent chance of winning. Anytime a sentence includes more than one “if” with respect to the outcome, generally it’s not a good sign.

Projected Final Score: Arizona 24, Washington 20.

At New England -12.5 Miami 34.5

Last week, the Patriots enjoyed one of their most satisfying wins in a long time. The Vegas Boys had pretty much given them up for dead, but the defense utterly confounded Favre and the Jets while Cassel effectively managed the offense. Adalius Thomas’ highlight-reel sack of Favre was especially sweet. This week, the struggling Dolphins come to Foxboro probably still reeling from the pounding they took out in the desert. Chad Pennington may have had a bad week, but he always seems to play well against the Patriots. The Dolphins will rely heavily on the ground attack due to the dearth of wide receivers. No one is expecting Cassel to put up 300+ yards through the air. The offense under Cassel remains very much a work in progress, so everyone simply needs to be patient. Last week, the Patriots were pretty successful rotating running backs in and out of the lineup, so that plan should continue (though Maroney may be limited). The 12 ½ seems just a bit too strong with New England’s pedestrian offensive game plan.

Projected Final Score: New England 24, Miami 13.

At Chicago -2.5 Tampa Bay 35.5

Analyzing statistics works well in certain circumstances while in others you’d just as much throw them out the window. This game will be all about whose defense hits harder and plays better. Tampa Bay may put out a rough n’ tumble group, though let’s not forget that they’re coming to Chicago, where defensive toughness is as much of a civic tradition as deep dish pizza (and other things…). Both teams have developed that smashmouth thing to a level of high art, and that's something that can't be easily quantified. Devin Hester is expected to play after leaving early last week with a rib injury, and he just may be the difference maker.

Projected Final Score: Chicago 20, Tampa Bay 17.


At Minnesota -2.5 Carolina 37


Even though it was only the second week, the 18-15 defeat has the potential of being a backbreaker, because the Vikings outplayed Indianapolis only to be stymied by a lack of execution on offense. It has been suggested here (several times) that the Vikings are going nowhere without a competent quarterback. Last week, they had to settle for five field goals in a really hard fought loss to Indianapolis because Jackson couldn’t move the ball. This isn't to suggest that some day Jackson can't become a very good quarterback; he’s not what this team needs right now. Childress ultimately relented in sticking on and on and on with Jackson as the starter, as 87-year old Gus Frerotte has been named a starter. Frerotte has been around for a long time with a lot of different teams, and whenever he stepped into the fray, he's always given his team a short-term boost. Childress has to take full responsibility if and when this otherwise NFC title contender doesn't make the playoffs. AP left everything he could out on the field, and it was really painful to see such a tremendous effort go unrewarded. Now it looks like he has a bad hamstring and may be limited on Sunday. The Vikings have a tough task this week because it looks like the Panthers are primed to take a run at the NFC South title. They won their first two games and that was without Steve Smith. Now he's back looking to atone.
If the Vikings lose this one, they'd find themselves trying to dig out of a nearly intractable hole. “Must Win” games are usually reserved for November and December, but it's hard to see how this game can't be anything but for Minnesota. Carolina would like to win this game, but the Vikings are motivated by fear, and that may be the difference.

Projected Final Score: Minnesota 21, Carolina 17.

At Seattle -9.5 St. Louis 44

When ownership calls out the coach and the front office, you know it's just a matter of time before some (or all) of these people begin to look for employment elsewhere. The Rams have been on a downslide ever since Dick Vermeil walked out the door after having won Super Bowl XXXV. Their defense is not only bad; it may ultimately rate as historically so. Over two games, they've allowed over 1,000 yards. This week they may be able to slow down this horrible rate by virtue of the fact that they're facing a team that is still trying to put itself together offensively. The 0-2 Seahawks have a tough loss in overtime last week, necessitating the return of prodigal son Koren Robinson at wide receiver. It's nice to see Robinson getting another crack at the NFL since he's kept his nose clean in recent years. Maybe he could one day fulfill the promise the Seahawks had in making him a first-round draft choice not that many years ago. The problem is that the ‘Hawks defense is not going to make anyone remember the ’85 Bears. They’re averaging 33 points/game. And this is a team that was considered a playoff contender? There will be some points scored on Sunday…

Projected Final Score: Seattle 30, St. Louis 17.

At San Francisco -3.5 Detroit 46.5

After last week, a lot of Lions’ fans feel as though the team has hit a new low (if such was possible). This is one of the great flagship franchises of the NFL, and to see them perform so poorly year after year must be utterly disheartening. They ran with the Packers for three quarters only to find themselves completely blown away in what seemed the blink of an eye. In comparing the defenses, so far Detroit’s is almost as bad as the Rams’ at 474 yd/gm. Now the Lions make the trek west to face a 49’er team that must be feeling a renewed sense of optimism after having beaten Seattle in overtime. Detroit is going to rely heavily on Kitna to throw all day long. Over the first two games that recipe hasn’t exactly worked well and chances are it’ll be another long flight home for the Lions.

Projected Final Score: San Francisco 28, Detroit 24.

At Denver -4.5 New Orleans 51.5

What's it going to be for New Orleans this year, Saints or Aints? Last week, they stole defeat from the jaws of victory in Washington and the defense will have pretty tough test this week against the resurgent 2-0 Broncos. Denver put up 39 points last week against what was billed as a tough defense. This week, they're looking to put a little distance between themselves and San Diego. Even though both offenses are similar in terms of style and output, Brees may have a tough afternoon with the Broncos’ D. Unless a running back steps up for either team, this game will probably be another shootout similar to the Broncos’ win last week.

Projected Final Score: Denver 34, New Orleans 27.

At Philadelphia -3 Pittsburgh 45

This, football fans, is the marquee matchup of the day. Prior to 1970, this was sort of a “rivalry” for bragging rights in the state of Pennsylvania, though the Steelers really weren't all that much of a team before entering the AFC. It's really hard to remember when Steelers-Eagles actually meant something, but this year it does. Now it's the Steelers’ turn to enter hostile territory and face a team that is not intimidated by them in the slightest. Donovan McNabb is coming off of one of his better games, even though in a losing cause. Sometimes, a defeat can dishearten a football team while in another it can serve as the catalyst to bigger and better things. Philadelphia should feel no shame in the way they lost on Monday night, and Coach Reid should have the Men In Green jacked up five miles high coming into this game. Big Ben is dealing with a sprained/separated shoulder, though it hardly affected his ability to throw the football last week in Cleveland. He took a nasty pop from Shaun Rogers toward the end of the game and landed hard on his throwing shoulder. This week, he faces a big test as the Eagles’ defense is tougher and has played better to date than Pittsburgh’s. Willie Parker isn’t going to be able to go off tackle for six yards at a pop with Philly’s front seven, so Rothlisberger is going to have to lean on Ward and Miller more than usual.

Projected Final Score: Philadelphia 24, Pittsburgh 21.

At Indianapolis -5.5 Jacksonville 42

The Jags come into this one in a world of trouble. Injuries along the offensive line impacted the effectiveness of the running game and Jacksonville’s ball control offense. David Garrard is an effective manager in Coach Del Rio’s system, but he shouldn't be expected to morph into Peyton Manning. Meanwhile, Indianapolis came off the mat to deliver a knockout punch to the Vikings after having been outplayed virtually all afternoon, despite critical injuries along their offensive line as well. Saturday and Dallas Clark return to the lineup after having been out with injuries, but Bob Sanders went out of the Minnesota game and won’t be around for the next 4-6 weeks, which poses a problem for Indy. The Jags’ D has to hang tough because their offense simply can’t move the football with any consistency.

Projected Final Score: Indianapolis 24, Jacksonville 16.

Dallas -2.5 At Green Bay 51

Worldwide Cheeseheads should be pretty happy about the Dawn of the Rodgers Era as things so far have worked quite well. But there is a whole lot of football remaining to be played at Lambeau this year and the Mighty Pack face a mighty test when the Cowboys come to town on Sunday night. The degree of unchecked hubris that exists in Dallas is disturbing and may yet prove to be the team’s undoing later on in the year. There are enough things right with the offense to make the Cowboys a force with which to be reckoned all season. However, there are enough things wrong with the defense (as was seen on Monday night) that can be exploited with an imaginative game plan. Can Green Bay’s defense pressure Romo into making mistakes? Last week, he cost his team a touchdown. Looking at the numbers, Dallas is slightly better than the Pack at this juncture.

Projected Final Score: Dallas 31, Green Bay 27