Previewing Week 3

Very few compelling games this week...except for the Sunday night game, when the Patriots visit the Ravens in a rematch of the AFC Championship game. These teams don't like each other. One of them will leave Baltimore with a losing record. Every other primetime game has been disappointing, but this one looks like a gem.

Week 2 prediction results: 9/16
Season tally: 19/32, 59%

St. Louis Rams (1-1) @ Chicago Bears (1-1)
The Rams just upset RGIII's Redskins, and the Bears will be without Matt Forte. This could end up being closer than people think. Still, you have to like the Bears at home, especially considering how good their defense looks.
What to watch for: How Jay Cutler rebounds from a dismal four-interception performance.
The pick: Bears.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) @ Dallas Cowboys (1-1)
The Cowboys are favored by eight points in this game, which is criminally overestimating their chances. It is, however, Dallas' home opener, so I suppose that counts for something.
What to watch for: The Cowboys offense. Is it the juggernaut from Week 1 or the stagnant disappointment from Week 2?
The pick: Cowboys. I don't feel good about it.

San Francisco 49ers (2-0) @ Minnesota Vikings (1-1)
Looks like the lock of week. If the Vikings are going to have any chance, they have to get Adrian Peterson going against the 49ers' vaunted run defense. This will end up being a rough day for Vikings QB Christian Ponder.
What to watch for: Alex Smith is off to a great start, and now gets the opportunity to pick apart a terrible Vikings secondary. Look for Randy Moss to score a touchdown against his former team.
The pick: 49ers.

Detroit Lions (1-1) @ Tennessee Titans (0-2)
A terrible mismatch for the Titans, who will have answer for the Lions' aerial assault. Could be another laughable showing for Chris Johnson since the Titans won't have any time to establish the run.
What to watch for: Jake Locker could lose his starting job at quarterback to Matt Hasselbeck with another poor performance.
The pick: Lions.

Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) @ Washington Redskins (1-1)
It's Robert Griffin III's home opener! Should be a raucous environment. The Bengals just surrendered over 300 passing yards to Brandon Weeden, so Washington's star rookie could be in line for a monster game.
What to watch for: RGIII has gotten most of the press in Washington, but fellow rookie Alfred Morris, taken in the sixth round of the draft, has gotten off to a hot start as Mike Shanahan's newest backfield toy.
The pick: Redskins.

New York Jets (1-1) @ Miami Dolphins (1-1)
Wow, this feels like such a trap game for the Jets. The Dolphins always show up against the Jets and they looked rather competent last week. Mark Sanchez should be able to outplay Ryan Tannehill. Right?
What to watch for: Reggie Bush, Miami's lone offensive weapon, against the Jets defense.
The pick: Jets.

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) @ Indianapolis Colts (1-1)
Not the most enticing game. The only unit in the league worse than the Jaguars' offense might be the Colts' defense.
What to watch for: The Andrew Luck-to-Reggie Wayne connection, which has been extremely productive.
The pick: Colts.

Buffalo Bills (1-1) @ Cleveland Browns (0-2)
The Browns looked surprisingly decent against the Bengals last week thanks to a breakout performance from #3 overall pick Trent Richardson. If the Bills can stop him, they'll win this game.
What to watch for: Last week, the Bills' C.J. Spiller was my guy to watch, and he finished with 170 total yards and two touchdowns. More to come from Spiller this week.
The pick: Bills.

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) @ New Orleans Saints (0-2)
Both teams are off to nightmare starts. At least the Saints are still trying to win games. It's a game New Orleans can't afford to lose.
What to watch for: If the Chiefs are going to pull off the upset, it'll be because their strong running game takes advantage of the worst run defense in the NFL.
The pick: The Saints have to put up a ton of points, but they win.

Philadelphia Eagles (2-0) @ Arizona Cardinals (2-0)
The Eagles have turned the ball over nine times and won their two games by one point each. The Cardinals won their first two games thanks to a dropped touchdown pass and a missed field goal by their two opponents. One of these teams will somehow be 3-0.
What to watch for: Michael Vick's career numbers against the Cardinals are frighteningly bad and Arizona's defense held Tom Brady in check last week.
The pick: Cardinals pull off the unlikely upset.

Atlanta Falcons (2-0) @ San Diego Chargers (2-0)
The better of the two contests between undefeated teams. Atlanta has looked good so far, but they're actually the underdog playing on the West Coast on a short week. Could be tricky.
What to watch for: The potential return of Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, who changes the dynamic of that offense.
The pick: Falcons.

Houston Texans (2-0) @ Denver Broncos (1-1)
Second-best game of the week. It'll be rough sledding for Peyton Manning against this amazing Texans defense, which hasn't allowed a quarterback to throw for 200 yards and two touchdowns in what amounts to a full season. Denver must grab an early lead and force Houston to abandon their dominant running game.
What to watch for: Matt Schaub hasn't had a good start to the season, and he may be relied on to move the ball if the Broncos solve the Texans defense.
The pick: Texans. They're the best team in the AFC right now.

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) @ Oakland Raiders (0-2)
The Raiders have looked so atrocious that they might as well gift-wrap this game for Pittsburgh.
What to watch for: How many touches Darren McFadden gets for the Raiders. They won't win if it's less than 20.
The pick: Steelers.

New England Patriots (1-1) @ Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
The Sunday night game, and the best matchup of the week. Tom Brady has lost his favorite target, Aaron Hernandez, to injury, and Joe Flacco reverted back to being Joe Flacco last week. Both quarterbacks have something to prove. Neither wants a losing record. This game could be decided in the final minute.
What to watch for: The Patriots running game. It's as good as it's been a while with Stevan Ridley handling the load, and they'll need him against the Ravens.
The pick: I don't think the Patriots will lose consecutive games.

Green Bay Packers (1-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (1-1)
This is when we find out whether or not the Seahawks defense is for real. I think it is--but the Seahawks still won't be able to outscore the Packers anyway.
What to watch for: Marshawn Lynch needs to be in Beast Mode for the Seahawks to pull off this upset.
The pick: Packers. There's definitely a possibility for an upset here. Just not sure I can pick Russell Wilson over Aaron Rodgers just yet.