It's Tuesday. On to week 3!

[#99]

It seems like everyone and their mother is injured already after only 2 weeks. Hit by the injury bug:
Priest
McAllister
Edge
Kellen Winslow
Heap
The Vikings backfield
Mark Brunell
Shaun Alexander
Charles Rogers
Tommy Maddox

... all with varying degrees of severity, but damn.

Only one game this week pitting two unbeatens against each other and that's Philly vs. Detroit. I like the Eagles in a walk. Detroit are easily the weakest of the 2-0 clubs, and that includes Jacksonville and the Jets.

I'm in a suicide pool and debating what my pick for this week will be. Narrowed down at the moment to Atlanta over Arizona or Philly beating Detroit. Kind of leaning towards the Falcons and Vick at home, but I'm still not quite sure.

The Sunday night matchup is a revenge game: Raiders vs. Tampa. I couldn't be happier to see the Bucs look so anemic on offense the first two weeks. Raider Nation is out for blood this weekend. It'd be sweet to see Tampa off to 0-3 just like their glory years.

Monday night is a game that they always always always schedule for Monday night (usually around week 3, too), Dallas v. Washington, and of course is a rivalry I have a hard time being interested in this contest -- unless of course I liked either of those teams. Could be a real snoozer, although I like the Skins to win provided they don't turn it over another seven times (!!!) like they did on Sunday. Honestly, though, this is one of the famed rivalries in the NFL and it hasn't churned out a memorable game in forrrrreeeevvvvveeeerrrrr.

Marquee matchup? Any doubt that it's Green Bay vs. Indy? Colts looked solid in the second half against the Titans, yet lousy in the first. Just as the Packers are a mystery team from game to game, the Colts are from half to half. This one will be decided by the Colts defense. If they can contain Favre, I think they'll win. However, I don't think they'll be able to do that. Something in my gut says to not trust that defense and that gut feeling has been with me for the last couple seasons. I expect the Pack to open it up offensively, but they can't afford to get into a shoot out.

[Marc]

Great "state of the NFL: Week 3" post. I do think the marquee game will be Packers/Colts. The Packers can't have stupid turnovers and have to somehow find a way to stop Edge. Plus, it's in a dome. Doesn't look good, but this team has a way of playing its best when you expect them to get beat, and unfortunatetly their worst when you think it's an easy win (see Bears game).

[doublee]

The Monday Night game could be a big one if the Eagles get past the Lions on Sunday. The loser falls two games behind Philly in the standings and if the 'Skins lose they are 0-2 in the Division.

As an Eagles fan I am a bit leery about the game this weekend. The Lions are at home and are young and hungry with nothing to lose and the Eagles are coming off a game where the Defense spent close to 40 minutes on the field. I just hope this isn't a trap game for the Eagles where they come in expecting the Lions to lay down for them as the Lions can be a tough out at home. They were 5-3 at home last year beating both the Pack and the Rams. On paper the Eagles should roll the Lions with no problems I just hope they don't get caught in a let down coming off last night's game. I still think the Eagles will win, but I would not be shocked if the Lions pull the upset.

[#99]

Good point about the D. Plus its a "short" week (though I don't know if that extra day makes a difference). Still leaning to Atlanta for my lock of the week. Looking over this week's matchups, though, some pretty tough games to call.

Baltimore v Cincy
Cleveland v NY Giants
New Orleans v St. Louis

[doublee]

How about:

Pittsburgh v. Miami: Miami can still play defense and could give Roethlisberger some fits in his first NFL start. Carson Palmer looked terrible against the 'Phins on Sunday.

[#99]

Definitely. That'll be a tight one. Can Miami play offense, though? Pretty dim so far, but the Steeler D isn't exactly shutting anyone down.

Also, who voted New England in the poll above? I declare that person to be incompetent.

[doublee]

No, Miami is hopeless on offense, but their defense is going to keep them in most games. The lockerroom is becoming divided over who the QB should be. Most of the veterans want Fiedler out there. The O-Line was pathetic against Cincy. McMicheal and Chambers are the only guys worth having on their offense right now.

[HibachiDG]

The Lions game will definitely be tough for the Eagles if they overlook the Lions, but I don't see that happening. I think the Lions are a better team than the Vikings are, plus Steve Mariucci always gameplans well when he faces the Eagles. That's probably why the Eagles won't overlook them, though.

[MountaineerDave]

Wow. Quite a statement, Lions better than the Vikings. Aside from maybe WR2 and RT, I can't think of a position on the field where I'd make that statement.

Are the Lions better coached than the Vikes? Maybe sometimes. I think Mooch would have challenged the TO incomplete TD, but other than that.

I missed the first half of the Vikes-Eagles. Did the Vikes show a complete inability to run, and that's why they didn't in the second half? Too lazy to read for explanations.

Thanks,

Dave

[doublee]

Originally posted by MountaineerDave

I missed the first half of the Vikes-Eagles. Did the Vikes show a complete inability to run, and that's why they didn't in the second half? Too lazy to read for explanations.



No, not entirely. Smith had 28 yards on 10 carries that included runs of 7, 8, and 11 yards. He wasn't tearing it up, but not like he was being snuffed on every play either. I just looked through the play-by-play on ESPN and according to it they ran one rushing play to a running back in the second half. I want to say they only called two running plays the entire half one to Smith and then a QB draw with Culpepper. Even though they were not piling up a ton of yards you still to mix it up against a team like Philly that loves to chase the QB around to keep them honest.

[MountaineerDave]

Wierd. Yeah, you'd want to run a lot more, especially against the blitz, just to keep them honest. Maybe losing Rosenthal limited them. I don't know. If losing him means the O line is as screwed as it was Monday night, could be a long season for the Vikes.

Dave

[#99]

Originally posted by MountaineerDave
Wow. Quite a statement, Lions better than the Eagles. Aside from maybe WR2 and RT, I can't think of a position on the field where I'd make that statement.

Are the Lions better coached than the Vikes? Maybe sometimes. I think Mooch would have challenged the TO incomplete TD, but other than that.



I think the Lions are maybe a year or two away from being able to make that claim. However, Mariucci is a far superior coach to Mike Tice. We all know it. Tice isn't the brightest. You put Mooch on the Vikes last year and there's no way they fold as pathetically and predictably as they did to close the season. Mooch doesn't have the talent level yet in Detroit that Minnesota gets to enjoy. But they have a nice young core to build on.

While we're talking about 'em. I like Minnesota to beat Chicago and end all this stupid talk that the Bears are for real. They're improved, but they're not good.

[#99]

Originally posted by #99


Only one game this week pitting two unbeatens against each other and that's Philly vs. Detroit. I like the Eagles in a walk.


To all those who thought the Lions were for real: Eagles 30 - Lions 13

- Raiders. Revenge is sweet. Tampa being 0-3 is sweeter. Friggin Chiefs starting 0-3 is sweetest!

- Had the misfortune of watching the Cardinals vs. Falcons game yesterday. 9 fumbles, 0 touchdowns. Ugh. And it was the only game on in the morning in my market. Brutal.