Bry’s Week-by-Week NFL Preview: Week Three

A pretty interesting, but rather unsurprising Week Two has led us into Week Three.  The Birds have another home game, leading them into the bye.  (Winners in CAPS.)

Sunday, September 27:
1:00 – Kansas City (1-1) at PHILADELPHIA (1-1)
The Birds should have absolutely no trouble with the Chiefs at the Linc.

1:00 – WASHINGTON (1-1) at Detroit (0-2)
The ‘Skins are too good not to go into Detroit and hand the Lions their 20th consecutive regular season loss, dating back to Week 17 of 2007.

1:00 – GREEN BAY (2-0) at St. Louis (0-2) *
I am picking the Packers here, but I’m not incredibly confident about it.  I think they are the better team, and I think they can go into St. Louis and win, but it is really going to depend on just how much progress each of these teams have made in the offseason.  But, I am sticking with the Pack and my belief in Aaron Rodgers and going against the Rams and my lack of belief in Marc Bulger and, more importantly, that Ram defense.

1:00 – San Francisco (2-0) at MINNESOTA (2-0)
The Vikings defense will suffocate the Niners offense, as they go to 3-0.  For the record, I think that they have a better chance of starting 3-0 with Travaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfelds than they do with that guy they have now.  I think this guy might piss away one of those first two games on the road.  Jackson or Rosenfelds wouldn’t have been allowed to do anything that would have cost them.  That is not saying that the Vikings wouldn’t have been better off in the end without the new guy that they have now, but I think they might blow some games that they otherwise would have won.  But, this one, I think they win regardless of the QB.

1:00 – TENNESSEE (1-1) at New York Jets (0-2)
The Sanchez Era in New York gets off to a smashing 0-3 start, as the Titans come into the Meadowlands and beat the Jets soundly this week.

1:00 – Atlanta (1-1) at NEW ENGLAND (2-0)
Though I do think that the Falcons offense matches up pretty well against the Pats defense, with their running attack (Turner) against a bit of an inexperienced linebacking corps, but I think the Pats offense will overcome this disadvantage and win the game at home.

1:00 – Jacksonville (1-1) at HOUSTON (1-1) *
This is a pretty big game early in the season that might catapult one of these teams into a possible playoff run, while it could send the other one into a frustratingly disappointing season.  It probably could go either way, but I do like the Texans at home.  For the record, I would probably take them on a neutral field, as well, as I think they are the better team, but not by a large margin.

1:00 – NEW YORK GIANTS (1-1) at Tampa Bay (0-2)
Again, I do not think that the Bucs are bad, but I do think that they are not good enough to beat the Giants, even at home and even with the G-Men coming off a tough Sunday night loss to Dallas.

1:00 – Cleveland (0-2) at BALTIMORE (1-1)
The Ravens will probably be hungry after the loss to San Diego, and they should beat Cleveland with ease at home.  I like the Browns this year more than most, but not enough to have them go into Baltimore and win.

4:05 – Chicago (0-2) at SEATTLE (1-1) *
Can this be happening?  Can Cutler’s Bears start 0-3?  Yes.  The Seahawks are real tough at home, and they should be able to beat the Bears, if they are as “revived” as everyone seems to think that they are.  This probably could go either way, but I am sticking with the pick because it is reasonable to think that it might take a couple weeks for the offense to get used to Cutler and vice versa, so a difficult place to play like Seattle in Week Three might really cause problems.

4:05 – New Orleans (1-1) at BUFFALO (1-1) *
This one is tough.  I kept going back and forth on this one and eventually came down on the side of the Bills because I believe that their receivers will just eat up the Saints secondary, and the Saints offense may be slowed a bit by the conditions in Buffalo.  Granted, it is still September, but outside on grass in Buffalo, at any time of the year, is quite a bit different than indoors on turf in New Orleans.

4:15 – Miami (0-2) at SAN DIEGO (1-1)
Miami, coming off a Monday night game with the Colts and having to travel out to San Diego should spell another loss of the ‘Phins.  The Chargers are tough at home and, though they are probably pretty beat up after 60 minutes with the Ravens a week ago, they should be able to handle Miami.

4:15 – Denver (2-0) at OAKLAND (1-1)
Maybe I completely overstate/overrate this, but I really look at AFC West games as huge advantages for the home teams.  And, I really think that the Black Hole and the underrated Oakland defense should smother the Broncos this week.

4:15 – PITTSBURGH (2-0) at Cincinnati (0-2)
From all I can tell, this is about as big of a talent mismatch as you will find on an NFL field in 2009.  The Steelers should have no trouble with a Bengal team that doesn’t really enjoy that great of a home-field advantage even when they are good (not that I can remember such a time).

8:20 – Indianapolis (2-0) at ARIZONA (0-2)
Parity rules as the winless Cardinals beat the undefeated Colts.  Indy, coming off a short week and two good wins, probably falls short against a Cardinal team that plays a lot better at home than away.  It is a Sunday night tilt and in primetime games I like to favor the coach, but with Dungy out and a complete question mark in Caldwell in, the normal coaching advantage the Colts enjoy may not be there.  Though, they still do have the smartest quarterback to ever play the game.

Monday, September 28:
8:30 – Carolina (2-0) at DALLAS (2-0)
Another primetime game for the Cowboys and another victory.  Dallas should be able to move the ball against the Panthers, so the question will be in if they can stop the running attack.  I think they can or at least slow it down enough to allow their offense to win a possible Monday night shootout.

To go to Week Four, click here

STANDINGS AFTER WEEK 3:
NFC EAST:
3-0   Dallas
2-1   N.Y. Giants
2-1   Philadelphia
2-1   Washington

NFC NORTH:
3-0   Green Bay
3-0   Minnesota
0-3   Chicago
0-3   Detroit

NFC SOUTH:
2-1   Carolina
1-2   Atlanta
1-2   New Orleans
0-3   Tampa Bay

NFC WEST:
2-1   San Francisco
2-1   Seattle
1-2   Arizona
0-3   St. Louis

AFC EAST:
3-0   New England
2-1   Buffalo
0-3   Miami
0-3   N.Y. Jets

AFC NORTH:
3-0   Pittsburgh
2-1   Baltimore
0-3   Cincinnati
0-3   Cleveland

AFC SOUTH:
2-1   Houston
2-1   Indianapolis
2-1   Tennessee
1-2   Jacksonville

AFC WEST:
2-1   Denver
2-1   Oakland
2-1   San Diego
1-2   Kansas City