Remember when the Titans started last season 10-0 and amassed the league’s best record? Well that’s nothing but a distant memory because the 2009 version of the Titans is done.

That statement might be overblown given that it’s only Week 3 of the season, but after their 24-17 loss to the Jets on Sunday, it’s clear that this isn’t the same Tennessee team that was among the NFL’s best last season.

Look, I realize that the Titans started 0-6 in 2006 and still made the playoffs. And I also realize that had rookie corner Ryan Mouton not fumbled twice on kick returns today (both resulting in scores by the Jets), Tennessee might be 1-2 and fighting its way back into contention.

But there’s just something missing on this Titans team and it’s not only Albert Haynesworth. Kerry Collins has lost a lot of that veteran magic that he had last year, the secondary is an absolute mess and while Chris Johnson is a superb player, this team is still lacking offensive playmakers in the passing game.

Things just aren’t clicking right now for the Titans and while it might be premature to write them off at this point in the season, I just don’t see this team mounting a comeback given their issues.

The Jets, meanwhile, are the team to beat in the AFC East – period. Mark Sanchez (17 of 30, 171 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT) isn’t tearing up the stat sheet by any means, but he’s playing like a 10-year veteran and is giving his team a chance to win every week (not unlike Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco did as rookie starters last year).

What was impressive today about Sanchez is that Tennessee did a nice job taking away the Jets’ running game and the rookie QB still found ways to make enough plays to win. The play-action fake that Sanchez made on a 2-yard touchdown pass to Ben Hartsock in the first quarter was a thing of beauty. And despite not having the skill set as a No. 1 receiver, Jerricho Cotchery managed to haul in eight passes for 108 yards and a touchdown while giving Sanchez an open target to throw to all game.

It’s hard to gush about the Jets without talking about the job Rex Ryan has done with New York’s defense. Ryan continues to use different defensive looks to disguise where pressure is coming from and confuse opposing quarterbacks. A lot of times the opposing signal caller can’t figure out where the extra defender is going to come from until it’s too late.

Some may disagree, but the Jets are the team to beat right now in the AFC East. Their defense can contend with anyone in the league and as long as Sanchez can cut down on the fumbles (he already has three on the year) and show the poise he has in his first three games, the Jets are going to be tough to beat all season.

Here are quick-hit previews for all the Week 3 games in the NFL.

Redskins (1-1) at Lions (0-2), 1:00PM ET
Don’t be shocked if the Lions end their massive losing streak today at home against a very average Redskins team. Thanks to Jim Zorn’s conservative play calling, Washington’s offense has become unimaginable and bland. If Matthew Stafford limits the turnovers, the Lions have a shot.

Packers (1-1) at Rams (0-2), 1:00PM ET
St. Louis played well defensively last week and Green Bay has major issues along its offensive line – could this be an upset in the making? Probably not. The Rams’ offense has looked atrocious in the first two weeks of the season and although Dom Capers’ defense looked horrendous last week, the Packers should manage to beat a bad St. Louis team. (Although this game might be tighter than most expect.)

49ers (2-0) at Vikings (2-0), 1:00PM ET
This is the only matchup in Week 3 that features two 2-0 teams. This game will be the Vikings’ first real challenge after earning victories against the lowly Browns and Lions in the first two weeks. The key for the 49ers will be stopping Adrian Peterson, because Brett Favre won’t find much success through the air against San Fran’s solid secondary. Can Shaun Hill make enough plays in the passing game to lead his team to victory once the Williams Wall takes away Frank Gore?

Falcons (2-0) at Patriots (1-1), 1:00PM ET
This game will be a great test for both teams to see where they are at this point in the season. A win for the Falcons and they’ll be viewed as one of the elite teams in the NFC, while a loss for the Patriots means that it could be panic time for Tom Brady and Bill Belichick. Conversely, if Atlanta loses then everyone will question whether or not the Falcons can beat the top teams in the league, while a win for New England will quiet some of the concerns surrounding the Pats.

Titans (0-2) at Jets (2-0), 1:00PM ET
A loss for Tennessee would be shocking considering the Titans started 10-0 last year. Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez have the Jets playing with toughness, emotion and swagger. Will the Titans really fall to 0-3 to star the year? Or will they bring Ryan and Sanchez back down to earth after their hot start has everyone buzzing about the J.E.T.S?

Chiefs (0-2) at Eagles (1-1), 1:00PM ET
Kansas City should be just what the doctor ordered for a Philadelphia team that was absolutely shredded by Drew Brees and the Saints last week. Kevin Kolb will get his second consecutive start filling in for the injured Donovan McNabb, although the Eagles did vow to get Michael Vick on the field in some capacity so keep an eye on that.

Giants (2-0) at Buccaneers (0-2), 1:00PM ET
The Giants have major concerns on the defensive side of the ball due to injuries to Justin Tuck, Kenny Phillips, Aaron Ross and Chris Canty. The Bucs haven’t played well defensively so far this year, but they have moved the ball surprisingly well thanks to Byron Leftwich and Cadillac Williams. Will the G-Men’s injury issues hurt them today in Tampa?

Browns (0-2) at Ravens (2-0), 1:00PM ET
Cleveland is having tons of problems moving the ball offensively, mainly because quarterback Brady Quinn doesn’t look comfortable throwing the ball vertically. Unfortunately for Quinn and the Browns, things don’t get any easier this week when they pay a trip to Baltimore to visit the undefeated Ravens. While Baltimore has issues in its secondary, the Ravens’ offense has had no problem putting points on the board in the first two weeks. The Browns haven’t played that bad defensively, but Joe Flacco and company shouldn’t have any problem securing a win today.

Jaguars (0-2) at Texans (1-1), 1:00PM ET
So who are the real Texans? The ones that were crushed at home in Week 1 by the Jets or the ones that earned a hard-fought win in Tennessee in Week 2? Houston has a perfect chance to show the rest of the league that it can beat up on a bad opponent, because that’s exactly what Jacksonville is. The Jags still have the capability to move the ball offensively, but Jack Del Rio’s defense has major issues that Matt Schaub, Steve Slaton (who is off to a slow start) and Andre Johnson can exploit.

Bears (1-1) at Seahawks (1-1), 4:05PM ET
It’ll be the Seneca Wallace show today in Seattle as he fills in for the injured Matt Hasselbeck (rib). The Hawks have looked like a different team under Wallace then Hasselbeck, so the Bears have a perfect opportunity to earn their second victory of the year. As long as Jay Cutler resembles the quarterback that helped Chicago beat the defending Super Bowl champions last week and not the one that was filthy awful in Green Bay in Week 1, the Bears should be fine.

Saints (2-0) at Bills (1-1), 4:05PM ET
If it weren’t for Leodis McKelvin returning a kickoff instead of taking a knee late in the fourth quarter against the Patriots in Week 1, Buffalo would be 2-0 right now. The Bills will get a huge test today as Drew “MVP” Brees and the Saints’ explosive offense comes to Ralph Wilson Stadium. This is the second week where New Orleans will have to travel to the east coast, although nothing (not even the travel conditions) looks like it can slow the Saints’ offense. New Orleans’ defense is still a question mark, although if the Saints continue to score 40-plus points a game it won’t matter how bad Sean Payton’s squad plays defensively.

Steelers (1-1) at Bengals (1-1), 4:15PM ET
Pittsburgh needs to put its ugly loss to Chicago behind it and pick up a big divisional win in Cincinnati. The Bengals looked great offensively last week in Green Bay and will get the chance to show that they’re going to be competitive this year. Can Carson Palmer move the ball against a stingy Steelers defense?

Broncos (2-0) at Raiders (1-1), 4:15PM ET
It’s amazing to think by the end of the day Josh McDaniels’ Broncos could be 3-0. It’s amazing because this was a team in complete turmoil this offseason and is led by a very limited Kyle Orton. Denver’s defense has been fantastic so far and will face an inconsistent JaMarcus Russell today. Can the Bronco defense continue to play well or is this the week things start to come unglued?

Dolphins (0-2) at Chargers (1-1), 4:15PM ET
This is a matchup of two playoff teams from a year ago that have issues at the start of this season. Miami can run the ball, but their loss to the Colts last Monday night proved that the Dolphins can’t win when they have to throw late. San Diego certainly has all the talent to succeed, but for some reason can’t seem to put it all together. Which team can overcome their weaknesses to earn a much-needed win?

Colts (2-0) at Cardinals (1-1), 8:20PM ET
This will be an interesting test for Peyton Manning and the Colts, because the Cardinals have enough offensive firepower to hang with Indy’s up-tempo offense. Can the Colts continue to win by leaving their defense on the field all game? Will Indy force Kurt Warner to throw the ball vertically instead of relying on short, underneath passes like he did last week? This will be an intriguing game.

Panthers (0-2) at Cowboys (1-1), Monday, 8:30PM ET
A loss would be devastating to the Panthers, who are already two games behind New Orleans and Atlanta in a tough NFC South. A loss for Dallas and the hot seat that Wade Phillips is currently sitting on will be on fire. Likewise for quarterback Tony Romo, who is coming off a brutal performance against the Giants in Week 2. Something has to give for two teams that desperately need a win.

For Week 3 point spreads and over/under totals, click here. For Week 3 picks and predictions, click here.

Here are my four predictions for Week 3 in the NFL. Last week I went 3-1 straight up (friggin’ Titans) and 1-3 against the spread so as usual, gamblers should have no qualms about fading. (These are also my season totals since I didn’t make any predictions for Week 1.)

Titans (0-2) at Jets (2-0), Sunday, 1:00PM ET
It would be foolish to pick against a hot team with everything working in their favor right now…right? Well, I’m going to do it anyway. Jeff Fisher’s team is too good to be 0-2 and while I love what Rex Ryan and Mark Sanchez have brought to the Jets, the law of averages suggest that a rookie quarterback is going to struggle at some point. Tennessee’s defense has a way of making opposing quarterbacks look bad (save of their performance last week against Matt Schaub, who threw four touchdown passes) and I’m willing to bet Sanchez suffers some growing pains this week. The key for the Titans is whether or not Kerry Collins can avoid turnovers while facing a New York defense that will use multiple fronts and attack him from all angles. Getting Chris Johnson involved in screen and draw plays would be beneficial for Tennessee, especially if the Jets’ defense continues to be aggressive under Ryan. I don’t see the Titans falling to 0-3 and I think Ryan and Sanchez’s come down to earth a bit this week.
Odds: Jets –3.
Prediction: Titans 16, Jets 13.

Falcons (2-0) at Patriots (1-1), 1:00PM ET
This is the most intriguing game on the Week 3 schedule because it will serve as a great indication of where both of these teams are right now. The Falcons are 2-0 after beating two playoff teams from a year ago (the Dolphins and Panthers, respectively) and Matt Ryan is off to a tremendous start (108.5 QB rating). But Atlanta’s defense will be tested this weekend against a New England offense that was held to only nine points a week ago and will no doubt be focused on rebounding. Tom Brady hasn’t looked comfortable on his surgically repaired knee and seemed confused by the amount of looks that the Jets’ defense gave him last week. If the Falcons can get creative with their front seven, they might be able to generate pressure on Brady and come up with a couple of turnovers. If that happens, Ryan has more than enough weapons (Tony Gonzalez, Roddy White, etc.) in the passing game to pick apart a Patriots’ defense that is riddled with holes right now. It’s usually unwise to go against Bill Belichick and the Patriots when they’re pissed off and needing a win, but this isn’t the same New England defense that we’ve seen throughout the years and I think Ryan will lead Atlanta to a huge victory at Foxboro.
Odds: Patriots –4.
Prediction: Falcons 30, Patriots 27.

49ers (2-0) at Vikings (2-0), 1:00PM ET
Who would have thought that the only game on the Week 3 schedule featuring two 2-0 teams would pit the 49ers against the Vikings? San Francisco’s defense has played great in their two wins, taking away the opponents’ passing attack and frustrating opposing quarterbacks. Thanks to Frank Gore, their running game has been outstanding as well, especially last week when it churned out 256 yards against Seattle. That said, the Niners’ passing game has been a weakness and considering Minnesota will probably limit Gore and San Fran’s rushing attack, it’s time for Shaun Hill to step up and make plays through the air. I think the Vikings will control this game on the ground with Adrian Peterson and take away Gore in order to make Hill beat them through the air. They’ll allow AP to open things up for Brett Favre and the passing game and eventually pull away in the second half to improve to 3-0 on the year.
Odds: Vikings –7.
Prediction: Vikings 21, 49ers 13.

Bears (1-1) at Seahawks (1-1), 4:05PM ET
Jay Cutler bounced back from his brutal showing in Week 1 to lead the Bears to a victory last week over the defending champs. Meanwhile, Matt Hasselbeck was injured in the Seahawks’ loss to the 49ers and is questionable to play this Sunday. If Hasselbeck can’t go, Seneca Wallace will once again get the start, which doesn’t bode well for Seattle. The Hawks are a different team under Wallace then they are Hasselbeck and if doesn’t start, the Bears’ front seven should control this game by limiting the effectiveness of the underneath completions that Wallace usually relies on. If the Seahawks’ defense is left on the field too long, Cutler should make them pay, as long as he can limit the turnovers. Chicago would be wise to get Matt Forte involved early and often and allow the run to set up Cutler and the passing game. I like the Bears in this one, especially if Hasselbeck (who didn’t practice on Wednesday) can’t go.
Odds: Bears –2.5.
Prediction: Bears 17, Seahawks 13.

Along with the odds and over/under totals, here’s a look at some of the marquee matchups for Week 3 in the NFL.

Falcons (2-0) at Patriots (1-1), Sunday, 1:00PM ET
This will be a great test to see where both of these teams currently lie. The Falcons are 2-0 with wins over two struggling 2008 playoff teams, while the Patriots could very easily be 0-2 right now. Behind quarterback Matt Ryan’s (108.5 QB Rating) great start, Atlanta’s offense is gearing up for big things this season, but the defense is giving up 5.1 YPC and just lost starting DT Peria Jerry for the year. New England has its own defensive problems without middle linebacker Jerod Mayo and Tom Brady still hasn’t looked comfortable on his surgically repaired knee. It would be unwise to doubt Bill Belichick and the Patriots, but the Falcons would go a long way in proving that they’re a legitimate Super Bowl contender with a win at Foxboro.
Odds: Patriots –4.

49ers (2-0) at Vikings (2-0), Sunday, 1:00PMET
Who would have thought that the only matchup this week featuring two 2-0 teams would be the 49ers at Vikings? San Francisco’s defense has been solid in the first two games, yielding less than 300 total yards per game and limiting opponents to only 13 PPG. But neither Arizona nor Seattle posed the rushing threat that Adrian Peterson and Minnesota will provide this Sunday. This will be a great test to see where Mike Singletary’s team is and whether or not the Niners are legitimate playoff contenders. Can Shaun Hill beat the Vikings through the air if/when the Williams Wall takes away Frank Gore?
Odds: Vikings –7.

Titans (0-2) at Jets (2-0), Sunday, 1:00PM ET
Panic hasn’t set in yet for Jeff Fisher and the Titans, although a loss this week in East Rutherford would make things unsettling in Tennessee. Jets’ rookie Mark Sanchez has looked more like a five-year pro than a quarterback with only two career starts under his belt, but will this be the week that he finally suffers some growing pains? Tennessee’s defense has a way of making opposing quarterbacks look bad, although that certainly wasn’t the case last week when Houston’s Matt Schaub threw a career high four touchdown passes against the Titans. If Fisher’s squad falls to 0-3, the Titans may never recover. On the flip side, if the Jets start 3-0 they’ll set themselves up for making a run at the AFC East crown.
Odds: Jets –2.5.

(2-0) Colts at Cardinals (1-1), Sunday, 8:20PM ET
If you like watching quick-tempo offenses, then the Sunday night game will be right up your alley. The Colts defeated the Dolphins on Monday might despite only running 35 plays, which means Peyton Manning and the rest of Indy’s offense is already in midseason form. The Cards bounced back from their opening week loss to the 49ers by pounding the Jaguars last Sunday thanks to Kurt Warner’s amazing 24-for-26 passing day. Watching Manning and Warner dissect the opposing defense is going to be one of the more intriguing things to watch in Week 3.
Odds: Cardinals -2.5.

NFL Week 3 Point Spreads and Over/Under Totals:

Titans +2.5 Over 37
Jets –2.5 Under 37

Jaguars +3.5 Over 46.5
Texans –3.5 Under 46.5

Browns +13 Over 38.5
Ravens –13 Under 38.5

Giants –7 Over 44
Bucs +7 Under 44

Redskins –6.5 Over 38.5
Lions +6 Under 38.5

Packers –6.5 Over 41
Rams +6.5 Under 41

49ers +7 Over 40.5
Vikings –7 Under 40.5

Falcons +4 Over 44
Patriots –4 Under 44

Bears –2 Over 37
Seahawks +2 Under 37

Saints –5.5 Over 52.5
Bills +5.5 Under 52.5

Dolphins +6 Over 44
Chargers -6 Under 44

Steelers –4.5 Over 37
Bengals +4.5 Under 37

Broncos +1.5 Over 36
Raiders –1.5 Under 36

Colts +2.5 Over 48
Cardinals -2.5 Under 48

Panthers +9 Over 46
Cowboys –9 Under 46

Check out updated odds on Week 3 at Bullz-Eye.com.