Player to watch
Drew Brees, QB, New Orleans Saints
After two games, New Orleans’ high-powered offense is sputtering; the Saints rank 21st, averaging 297.5 yards per game. With Reggie Bush sidelined, that eliminates a key weapon. However, Brees has dominated Atlanta. In eight games vs. the Falcons since signing with New Orleans, Brees is 7-1 with 16 touchdowns to only five interceptions and 292.2 passing yards per game. Brees has completed 74.3 percent of his passes, but is averaging just 6.6 yards per attempt — down from 8.5 last season (and 8.0 in 2008). — John Keim
Storylines
1. Will the Saints miss Reggie Bush? » When running back Reggie Bush was carted off the field with a broken tibia, the Monday Night Football team termed the injury “catastrophic.” But since he entered the NFL, Bush’s numbers have never justified the hype. This year, he had rushed seven times for 18 yards and caught nine passes for 63 yards. Still, conventional wisdom held that much of the Saints’ success was due to Bush’s potential as a game-breaker. He was a player the opposition had to account for. Now that he is out for six weeks, it will be interesting to see how much he will be missed. The Saints host Atlanta on Sunday. — Kevin Dunleavy
2. Start acting like contenders » Eight NFL teams enter Week 3 without a victory and three of them harbored legitimate playoff hopes. In fact, Dallas and Minnesota were supposed Super Bowl contenders. San Francisco was allegedly the class of a weak NFC West. So who gets their first win this week? The 49ers are at a surprisingly frisky Kansas City. It’s no easier for Dallas, which plays at unbeaten in-state rival Houston. Minnesota has the best chance to win at home against Detroit. But even at 0-2, the Lions have played reasonably well with losses by a combined eight points. Since 1990 only three NFL teams have started 0-3 and still made the playoffs. — Brian McNally
3. Check the suspension » Aside from a devastating injury, nothing can throw a team off like a mutli-game suspension. In the NFL they’re becoming increasingly common for drugs and supplements. Two starters were lost this week alone — Texans left tackle Duane Brown and Buccaneers safety Tanard Jackson. Brown is lost for four games for having something bad in a supplement and Jackson got crushed in the same way he usually hits receivers with a full-year ban for violating the NFL substance abuse policy for the second time. The Texans and the Bucs were both on their way to promising seasons — this could pull the rug out from under their feet. — Leon Saffelle
Upset special
Bucs over the Steelers
Yeah, both these teams are 2-0. And yeah, the Bucs’ rejuvenated defense (dubbed by Ronde Barber as the “Tampa 2.1”) has allowed only 21 points thus far. Still, the Steelers have pedigree, right? Well, yes, but that’s about all they have. Pittsburgh has survived the first half of Ben Roethlisberger’s four-game suspension thanks to defense and Rashard Mendenhall. But the Steelers — in the midst of a quarterback shuffle — are playing with fire. Tampa keeps it close throughout and forces a turnover late to seal the win. — James Irwin
Fantasy watch
Five to start
1. QB Tony Romo » The Cowboys want to focus more on the run, but not this week against a Texans’ defense that’s allowed two straight 400-yard passers.
2. RB Pierre Thomas » With Reggie Bush out, expect more from Thomas. The Saints face the Falcons, who have allowed 261 yards rushing this season.
3. RB Rashard Mendenhall » With the quarterback situation being so bleak, what other options do the Steelers have on offense?
4. WR Mark Clayton » He is rookie Sam Bradford’s favorite target early this season. The Rams play the Redskins, who have allowed 372.5 passing yards a game.
5. WR Percy Harvin » After an 0-2 start, the Vikings have to start resembling a playoff contender … right? Well, at least for Week 3 against the Lions.
Five to sit
1. QB Jay Cutler » The quarterback has the third most passing yards in the NFL, but he threw six interceptions against the Packers last year.
2. RB Brandon Jackson » Green Bay is facing a Bears’ defense that has allowed only 56 yards against the rush in two games this season.
3. RB Jamaal Charles » He had 11 carries last week, while Thomas Jones had 22. Charles may be moving more toward a change-of-pace back.
4. WR Steve Smith » The Giants receiver has only nine catches for 78 yards and is facing a Titans’ defense that has allowed only 171 passing yards this season.
5. WR Hines Ward » He was held to just one catch last week which is somewhat understandable with the Steelers’ quarterback situation.
— Jeffrey Tomik
Game of the week
Packers at Bears, 8:30 p.m., Monday, ESPN
This is one of the NFL’s best rivalries, both teams are 2-0 and it’s in Chicago on Monday night. Those combinations alone make it a worthwhile game. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz has helped so far; the Bears average 385.5 yards per game and quarterback Jay Cutler has thrown five touchdowns to one interception (after 26 in 2009). But Green Bay’s offense is more explosive, with a league-best 61 points. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will challenge a defense that has forced six turnovers so far. — John Keim
Examiner Power Rankings
— Craig Stouffer
| No. Team » Comment » Last week 1. Saints (2-0) » First two wins haven’t been easy; next comes Atlanta » 1 2. Packers (2-0) » Loss of Grant makes Rodgers an even more valuable asset » 2 3. Colts (1-1) » Week 1 doubts erased with the first possession in Week 2 » 6 4. Steelers (2-0) » Polamalu’s combination of zen, ferocity continue to amaze » 9 5. Texans (2-0) » Ladies and gentlemen, the 2010 season’s first bandwagon » 5 6. Jets (1-1) » Off-field issues could derail good times before they start » 11 7. Patriots (1-1) » It’s not Faulk’s numbers that NE will miss but his presence » 4 8. Dolphins (2-0) » Calling the defense “no-name” is hardly fair to Dansby » 13 9. Bengals (1-1) » If this team knows how to do one thing, it’s beat Baltimore » 14 10. Ravens (1-1) » With Cleveland coming to M&T Bank, so should scoring » 3 11. Titans (1-1) » Fisher pulls starters as fast as NBC should yank “Outsourced” » 10 12. Falcons (1-1) » NO is Atlanta’s only division game in the 1st eight weeks » 15 13. Chargers (1-1) » Visit to Seattle won’t get the national attention it deserves » 17 14. Redskins (1-1) » A field goal away from talk radio going Super Bowl berserk » 16 15. Bears (2-0) » Either Chicago is actually decent or the Cowboys stink » 24 16. Giants (1-1) » Alarm bells going off, but Colts do that to everyone » 12 17. Eagles (1-1) » Doesn’t seem fair for some to be so hard on Reid for Vick » 18 18. Chiefs (2-0) » Let’s not get ahead of ourselves; Cassel’s QB rating: 55.8 » 20 19. Broncos (1-1) » Heavy hearts after McKinley’s death could help or hurt » 26 20. Cardinals (1-1) » Desperate for inspiration on offense; needs more Hightower » 19 21. 49ers (1-1) » Last-second loss to Super Bowl champs? Take it and walk » 22 22. Vikings (0-2) » Can’t blame Favre for everything, but it feels good to try » 7 23. Cowboys (0-2) » No shock if Phillips is fired; it’s shocking he’s lasted this long » 8 24. Bucs (2-0) » Freeman, meet the Steelers defense, and your first loss » 29 25. Seahawks (1-1) » Week 1 was fluke, but Qwest Field still a hard place to play » 21 26. Raiders (1-1) » Any more doubts Campbell experiment in D.C. was a dud? » 25 27. Jaguars (1-1) » Vick is the headliner, but Garrard could exploit Philly’s de » 23 28. Lions (0-2) » Get the cliché out of the way: Jahvid is Best thing about Lions » 28 29. Rams (0-2) » Orakpo got to Bradford in college; will do the same in NFL » 32 30. Panthers (0-2) » Clausen needs to be more than a name to rescue Fox » 27 31. Browns (0-2) » Have actually been competitive in first two games » 30 32. Bills (0-2) » QBs: Stanford and Harvard. Offense: community college » 31 |
