BSB NFL Two-a-Days: Week Three

With Week Two in the books, we now enter into the third week of the year–and the last week of a full slate of 16 games until Week Eleven, when all the byes have been enjoyed.

Sunday, September 26:
1:00 – Tennessee (2-0) at N.Y. GIANTS (1-1)
The G-Men should get another home win at their new place, knocking the Titans from the ranks of the unbeaten.  The Titans have had a couple good victories so far, but Vince Young in the Meadowlands is not a good recipe for success.  Give this one to the guys in blue.

1:00 – CINCINNATI (1-1) at Carolina (1-1)
I like the Bengals a lot more than most people do this year and, for the first time in recent memory, I’m not that big on Carolina.  I think the Bengals are clearly the better team in this matchup.  However, it wasn’t as easy pick here because the Panthers are pretty solid at home and are coming off a pretty easy home game against Tampa.  Plus, the Bengals had a hard-fought brutal matchup with Baltimore in Week Two.  But, though it’s a pretty tricky spot for the Bengals, I just don’t trust Matt Moore.  Plus, the Panthers may be slightly looking ahead to a date in New Orleans next week.  Give me the Bengals–by a nose.

1:00 – Dallas (2-0) at HOUSTON (1-1)
The Texans always seem to get up for games against the Cowboys.  I think they take this in-state thing personally.  Plus, the Texans have a pretty solid team this year.  Dallas is coming off two tough wins (at Wash in Week One and home against Chi last week).  I think this might be a letdown game for the ‘Boys, heading into their bye week in Week Four.  Wade isn’t exactly the best hard-ass motivator, so they might be taking an early bye week.  Give me the Texans at home in an interesting spot in the schedule.

1:00 – San Francisco (1-1) at KANSAS CITY (0-2)
The Chiefs are on the board here with their first win.  This is also a tough pick because I like the Niners and do not like the Chiefs.  But, it is in KC, at 1:00 for a West Coast team.  Plus, San Fran played on Monday night, so it’s a short week for them to go on the road.  The Chiefs are going into their bye week, which for a coach like Todd Haley might be an advantage, unlike a team coached by Wade Phillips.

1:00 – PITTSBURGH (0-2) at Tampa Bay (0-2)
Fortunately, for the Steelers, one of the game they’ll play without Ben is against the Bucs.  I can’t see the Bucs managing even double-figures in scoring in this game, so Dennis Dixon should be able to get enough to win this game on the road.

1:00 – Buffalo (0-2) at NEW ENGLAND (2-0)
Yawn!

1:00 – Cleveland (2-0) at BALTIMORE (0-2)
I wonder what odds you can get on this matchup being between an undefeated Browns team against a winless Ravens team.  Well, I think that how it’s going to be.  I also think that the Ravens are going to absolutely pummel Cleveland on this afternoon.

1:00 – Detroit (0-2) at MINNESOTA (1-1)
Again, I like the Lions, but am having trouble finding wins for them.  I can’t imagine that they can go into the Metrodome and come away with one.  They should fall to 0-3 here.

1:00 – Atlanta (2-0) at NEW ORLEANS (2-0)
I struggled with this one for a very long time.  In the end, the homefield advantage that the Saints showed last year was just too much to ignore, and I went with them.  I do think that this team is flawed and that the Falcons have a decent shot to win this division.  I also think that this is a good spot for them to steal one, considering it’s a short week for New Orleans, having played on Monday night, and the Falcons just played against a team that isn’t incredibly physical, in Arizona.  But, I still have to go with the defending champs at home…barely.

4:05 – WASHINGTON (0-2) at St. Louis (0-2)
And Donovan McNabb and Mike Shanahan’s first win as Washington Redskins is here in St. Louis.  They aren’t that good, but they are certainly not bad enough to lose to the lowly Rams, right?

4:05 – PHILADELPHIA (1-1) at Jacksonville (1-1)
After a home loss in Week One, I like the Eagles to reel off back-to-back road wins here, capping it with a Week Three win here at Jacksonville.  The Jags are not a good team, and the Eagles should be able to take advantage, even on the road.  Plus, the Jags are coming off a long road trip to San Diego, while the Eagles only had to go play a soft Detroit team.  It should be an interesting coaching week, as both coaches will have to focus their teams on this week and not next week, as the Jags host arch-rival Indy, while the Eagles welcome back Donovan McNabb to the Linc.  It’s a trap game for both teams, and I trust Andy Reid much more than I trust Jack Del Rio in this situation.

4:15 – INDIANAPOLIS (2-0) at Denver (1-1)
Denver’s a tough place to play, generally, but Indy should have no trouble.  The Broncos are not very good.  Gimme the Colts and I’ll lay the points–whatever they are.

4:15 – OAKLAND (1-1) at Arizona (1-1)
This is actually a pretty interesting game between two somewhat bad teams in very bad divisions.  I actually like the Raiders here because I think they might have…gasp…more talent.  Yes, I said it.  I think the Raiders are more talented than the Cardinals this year, and I think that they will go into the desert and steal this one.

4:15 – SAN DIEGO (2-0) at Seattle (0-2)
Another battle between teams from the two worst divisions in the game.  Seattle’s a tough place to play, but the Seahawks are coming off a trip to altitude in Denver and just aren’t very good.

8:20 – N.Y. JETS (1-1) at Miami (1-1)
This is another tough game to try and predict.  I went back a forth a couple times on this one, as well, but in end am going to go with the Jets.  I think that they are a confident–some might say cocky–bunch, but I also think that they can probably back it up when the going gets tough.  They are coming off a tough loss to New England, and I think they can circle the wagons here.  The Dolphins, on the other hand, have the Patriots next week.  This is a really tough one–and one of those games that, even in Week Three could make or break the seasons of both of these teams–but I’m going to go with Rex and the crew.

Monday, September 27:
8:30 – Green Bay (2-0) at CHICAGO (1-1)
I think the Bears might play with a chip on their shoulder this year.  They are getting absolutely no love from the national media, while the Packers and Vikings are everyone’s darlings.  I think that, at home, on Monday night, against their arch-rivals, the Bears get up for this one and come away with a really nice and encouraging victory.  This could be a real momentum swing for the Bears here in Week Three and could bring them to relevance for a while this season.

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

The Cowboys lose and everyone else wins.  This division is, expectedly, going to be fascinating all year.

NFC NORTH
2-1 Green Bay
2-1 Chicago
2-1 Minnesota
0-3 Detroit

And, there is now a three-way tie atop the NFC North, as the Bears knock off the Pack and the Vikings win again.  The Bears win could be big down the stretch if there is ever a tie-breaker situation.

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

The Saints draw first blood in this South war, as they beat the Falcons at home to take control of this division for the time being.

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

This division is a combined 2-10 through three weeks, with the only two wins coming in the only two intra-divisional games.  I wonder if it can get any worse…

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

A big win for the Jets over the Dolphins puts them securely in second behind the Pats, who will go for an early division sweep next week against Miami.

AFC NORTH
2-1 Cincinnati
2-1 Cleveland
1-2 Baltimore
1-2 Pittsburgh

Cleveland comes back to earth a little by getting crushed in Baltimore.  The Ravens and Steelers are on the board with their first victories.

AFC SOUTH
3-0 Indianapolis
2-1 Tennessee
2-1 Houston
1-2 Jacksonville

Houston has played Indy, Washington, and Dallas so far, so 2-1 is a pretty great result right now.  The Colts continue to roll, while the Titans slipped up in New York.

AFC WEST
3-0 San Diego
2-1 Oakland
1-2 Denver
1-2 Kansas City

The Raiders get a nice road win, keeping them within a game of the first-place Lightning Bolts.

Click here for Week Four (available 9/4 at 7:00 pm).