Week Three -- A Look Ahead

The week after a loss can't go fast enough for me. I am impatient to move on to the next game, hoping for a remedy to the bitter taste in my mouth. And this week, I am particularly hopeful, for I think a trip to St. Louis may be just what the doctor ordered for the struggling Packers.

So, here's a quick glimpse at the week ahead...

Packers at Rams

The Rams were one of the poorest teams in the league in 2008, and they haven't shown any early signs of having turned things around in 2009.

On the other hand, our offensive line has given us real cause for concern during Weeks One and Two, and the recent shuffling in the defensive backfield doesn't inspire confidence. The abrupt jettisoning of Aaron Rouse seems like a panicky overreaction, and you have to wonder if the new guy they brought in can possibly get up-to-speed fast enough with the system to be able to contribute. That whole series of events strikes me as very hasty and unnerving.

Still, I'm sure that we're going to trot more talent onto that field than our opponents will. So, unless we make another hero out of some previously unheralded defensive lineman, I like the Packers to get a win in this situation.

Redskins at Lions

The Lions are still looking for their first win since 2007. Amazing. Like the city of Detroit doesn't have enough sorrow. Well, at least they have the Tigers!

Meanwhile, with every additional week of futility, the prospect of losing to the Lions becomes more and more humiliating. Who will be the unlucky team that allows Detroit to break their unhappy streak?

The Redskins come to town this Sunday. There's no question that Washington is the better team, but something's gotta give sooner or later for the Lions. They're not as bad as last year's club. Perhaps this will be the week -- though I'm not betting on it.


49ers at Vikings

The Vikings enter Week Three having coasted to two easy wins over two lousy teams. The 49ers, however, should pose a different sort of test for them. I suspect that Minnesota is the better team, but San Francisco is a comer under Mike Singletary, and their two wins so far have been significantly greater accomplishments than the Vikings' have.

Minnesota's team seems to have been built on such a fundamental principle -- run the ball and stop the run -- that I'm afraid they're going to have a very good year. And all that effective running, of course, is going to set up Favre's passing in a way that hasn't really needed to be utilized so far in 2009. (At present, Minnesota ranks 32nd in the league in passing yards.)

I'm sure the 49ers will be more of a challenge than either the Browns or Lions were. I'm not confident, however, that they'll be able to go into Minnesota and get the win. Maybe if the game were out west, but... I think the Vikings are going to go into their first date with the Packers at 3-0.

Bears at Seahawks

If Seattle was at full strength, I might like the Seahawks to win this game out on the West Coast. As it is, however, I'm afraid Chicago is likely to get a road victory here.

The truth is that, even though Jay Cutler stunk up the joint when the Bears opened their season at Lambeau, the team has played very sound football during their first two weeks. Like the Vikings above, the abilities to run and to play solid defense seem to be the hallmark of Lovie Smith's squad.

In the end, I think everyone in the NFC North but the Lions will get a win this week... and perhaps the Lions will, too!


Elsewhere...

Looking at some other games on tap for this weekend, the Browns' trip to Baltimore should work out about as well as a Christian's trip to the Colosseum.

The Giants at Bucs, likewise, is a contest of two teams going opposite directions -- and those directions should both continue for another week.

In another undefeated-vs.-winless match-up, the Titans game against the Jets should be fascinating. New York has become quite the sexy pick after an impressive first two weeks, but the Titans are desperate and they're good. Should be a fascinating game.

I don't think that Steelers are as good as last year, and I don't think the Bengals are as bad as last year. It might be a changing-of-the-guards as the two AFC North rivals meet in Cincinnati.

For the game of the week, however, I'm going with the Falcons' trip to New England. Frankly, this game wouldn't be as interesting to me if both teams were 2-0. But the fact that the Patriots stumbled against the Jets last week and now have to host a hot Falcons team makes this a bit of a defining moment for them.

The Patriots are an interesting story. They pulled off that unbelievable perfect season in 2007, only to get upset in the Super Bowl. I can't imaging the bitter taste that left in those mouths. And then, in 2008, their hopes for revenge went down with Tom Brady in Week One. They struggled through with a previously unknown but very effective back-up, and they ended the season as the best team (and record) not to make the 2008 playoffs. The conventional wisdom at the time was: If only they had Tom Brady, then...

So, now he's back. But how good is he and how good are they in 2009? The struggled to win in Week One and lost in Week Two. Can the Brady-Belichick Patriots possibly open 2009 at 1-2? And then they have to host the Baltimore Ravens in Week Four. Interesting stuff.