Week 3 Preview

As I noted in my previous post, there is a strange dearth this year of winless and undefeated teams.  Most of the league is at .500, including our own beloved Packers.  We will return to them at the very end.  In the meantime, though, I am fascinated especially this week by those match-ups of teams that are both 2-0 or both 0-2.

The 0-2 Chiefs visit the 0-2 Saints on Sunday.  Kansas City finished so strong last year, and I saw some preseason predictions that Romeo Crennel would win Coach of the Year in 2012.  But KC has underachieved so far this season.  As have the Saints, whose coach might also deserve consideration for Coach of the Year: he’s not coaching, and his absence seems to be proof of his value.  It’s hard to imagine either the Chiefs or Saints starting 0-3, but one of them has to.  Under ordinary circumstances, I’d guess it would be the Chiefs to be that team.  This year, however, I’m not so sure.

No other winless teams are squaring off this weekend, but several undefeated teams are.

The 2-0 Falcons visit the 2-0 Chargers.  Atlanta must be considered the favorite right now in their division, and perhaps the Chargers are also in theirs.  It should be a good game.  All else being equal, my instinct is to go with the home team when a West Coast trip is involved for someone from the east.

Meanwhile, in a battle of birds, the 2-0 Cardinals host the 2-0 Falcons.  Arizona stunned the NFL by beating the Patriots in Foxboro last Sunday.  The Eagles, meanwhile, are stunning the NFL by winning their games while playing so badly.  I know that Philly was supposed to be good this year -- and their record suggests they are -- but I’m not sold yet.  I’m leaning toward the Cardinals in this one, for sooner or later the Eagles’ turnovers have to catch up with them.

Within our own Division, the Packers are the only team that seems to be involved in a competitive game.  It’s hard to imagine that the 49ers won’t beat the tar out of the Vikings.  Conversely, I think the Bears will easily get the better of the Rams and the Lions will defeat the Titans.

The Packers, meanwhile, head out west to play the Seahawks on Monday Night Football.  Seattle is an enigma, and they have been for each of the past several seasons.  They can be world-beaters, or they can be mediocre.  It’s hard to know exactly what the Packers are going to get -– apart from a very noisy un-welcome, that is.

Seattle boasts a good-looking defense, and you’ve got to like the distinctive leadership, can-do attitude, and play-making ability of Russell Wilson.  Nevertheless, I believe that Green Bay is the superior team, top to bottom, and so I’m counting on a Packer victory.

In the end, I see the NFC North coming out of Week 3 looking like this:

1. Packers (2-1)
2. Lions (2-1)
3. Bears (2-1)
4. Vikings (1-2)