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The first two weeks are officially in the books and they have started to tell us a few things about the teams we cheer on. That said, it’s only week three and we have 14 games left for each team. What will happen towards the end of the season remains a mystery, as we’ve already seen some pretty crazy stuff. So what should we expect in the third week of the season?
Tennessee vs. New York Jets (New York -2.5). This should be another tough game for the Titans. Although they are obviously a pretty good team, they have started 0-2 on the year. The Jets defense appears to be real under Rex Ryan. Mark Sánchez has also been excellent in two games, even managing to beat the Patriots. Chris Johnson left last week against Houston and made many Fantasy owners happy. Can it continue like this?
Jacksonville vs. Houston (Houston -3.5). If Houston plays like he did against the Titans, the Jags really don’t stand a chance in this game. However, that is the reason why they play the games. Houston probably won’t do its best in the passing game like it did last week. The Jaguars had a good contribution from Mike Sims-Walker last weekend and hope he continues to grow in his role. It will be interesting to see if Matt Schaub can continue the breakneck pace he started last week.
Cleveland vs. Baltimore (-13). According to punters, this is the biggest mismatch of the week. However, just when you start counting on a loser, that’s when they start to surprise you. So the big spread should raise the stakes on Cleveland’s side this week. If Baltimore continues to play the way it has, they will definitely win the game, but will they cover the huge difference?
New York Giants vs. Tampa Bay (New York -6.5). Eli Manning is definitely learning how to dish the ball without Plaxico Burress by his side. On the other side of the ball, Byron Leftwich is showing that he is still a capable player in his own right. The Bucs also have a good two-headed running game with Derrick Ward and Cadillac Williams. Can the Bucs stop the Giants’ acclaimed running game?
Washington vs. Detroit (Washington -6). Last week, the Redskins scared a lot of people by playing a very close game with the St. Louis Rams. They couldn’t cover then and many wonder if they will be able to do it this weekend. Their offense is anemic and they don’t really have a quarterback. If Detroit plays like it did in the first half against the Vikings, they can surprise the Redskins.
Green Bay vs. St. Louis (Green Bay -6.5). As mentioned with the Redskins preview, the Rams fought hard with them last week. If Jackson can get it going again, this could be a tighter game than people think. After a promising start against the Bears, the Packers defense took a step back against the Bengals. Can they get back in the right direction against the humble Rams offense?
San Francisco vs. Minnesota (Minnesota -6.5). Although the Vikings failed in the first half against the Lions, they became strong in the second half and eliminated them. If the Vikings can put it all together for a complete game, they will easily whip the Niners. However, the Niners have quietly jumped to a 2-0 record of their own. This should be a pretty good game.
Atlanta vs. New England (New England -4.5). The Patriots babbled against the Jets last week and they seemed like a pretty mediocre team. They only scored 9 points, which is pretty unthinkable for the Patriots of yore. On the other hand, the Falcons have beaten the Dolphins and Panthers in their first two weeks. Tony G. is still doing damage to rival defenses and they seem like a legitimate offense. Expect a pretty close game in this one.
Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati (Pittsburgh -4). The Bengals looked like a much improved team last week when they beat the Green Bay Packers. Carson Palmer looked better and Chad Ochocinco made another good game. If they can keep improving, they will be a team to be reckoned with and could surprise the Steelers. The Steelers are coming off a tough loss at the hands of Chicago and are looking to bounce back.
Denver vs. Oakland (Denver -1.5). This is one of the closest spreads of the week and for good reason. The Raiders have improved a lot from last season and the Broncos are not as good as their 2-0 record indicates. Will the McD era continue in Denver along with another win? Or will the Raiders win back-to-back games for the first time this season?
Indianapolis vs. Arizona (Arizona -2.5). Arizona silenced many of the naysayers last week when they defeated the Jaguars. A lot of people thought it was a fluke last year and Kurt Warner ended all that talk with an incredible performance. This one should be interesting as it pits two of the best quarterbacks that have been in the league for a long time against each other. Look for a shootout in this one.
Carolina vs. Dallas (Dallas -9). Carolina has started terribly in the first two games. They were defeated against Philadelphia and then lost to the Falcons last week. While both teams are good, it’s not a good sign that Carolina didn’t even look competitive. Can Delhomme turn it over and stop turning it over? Dallas, on the other hand, is coming off one of the most disappointing losses in quite some time at the hands of the Giants. If Romo can stop throwing interceptions, this could be a special team.
Chicago vs. Seattle (Chicago -1.5). The Bears hope to continue their promising victory last week against the Steelers. Can they keep it going or will they be shut down by Seattle? The Seahawks may have to go with Seneca Wallace at quarterback. This isn’t exactly an encouraging sign if you’re a Seahawks fan. The Bears are hoping Matt Forte will roll again after two games below par.
New Orleans vs. Buffalo (New Orleans -6). Drew Brees has been completely out of this world for the first two weeks of the season. He has tied an NFL record with 9 touchdown passes during the first two weeks of a season. They also get Pierre Thomas back in full force this week, which should help the running game. TO found the end zone last week and the Bills looked much better. Can they keep up the airstrike on New Orleans?
Miami vs. San Diego (San Diego -5.5). This should be a fairly even game. The Dolphins controlled the clock against the Colts and somehow managed to lose. They can run the ball and their defense is not bad. On the other hand, the Chargers are looking to bounce back after a loss to the Ravens. Can Phillip Rivers recover?