Giants @ Eagles, 1:00PM ET
You have to love that after all of the media reports dedicated to how Michael Vick is this mature, changed person that when walking to the locker room following his injury against the Falcons on Sunday night, he points to the scoreboard in response to heckling fans. He’s changed all right. Now instead of using his middle finger to diss Falcon fans, he uses his index. Get well soon, Mike.
Patriots @ Bills, 1:00PM ET
I’m sure the sentiment for most people heading into this game is that the Bills will “come crashing down to earth” after the Patriots get done with them. But I have a different take: I think this game is going to be fun as hell. Buffalo showed in the first two weeks that it has more than enough offensive weapons to be dangerous and obviously New England can score. This could be a 52-52 game about midway through the fourth quarter.
Texans @ Saints, 1:00PM ET
Sean Payton hasn’t quite mastered how to best utilize Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas in the same backfield, but once he does the Saints could revert back to their ’09 form when they blew teams out on a weekly basis. Meanwhile, Arian Foster once again looks doubtful to play and fantasy owners that drafted him with their top pick are starting to realize that yes, his hamstring is going to be a major problem early on.
Jaguars @ Panthers, 1:00PM ET
It’ll be the Rookie Quarterback Bowl in Carolina this Sunday when Blaine Gabbert makes his first professional start against Cam Newton, who has already thrown for over 800 yards in his first two games. Maybe if he stops throwing the ball to the other team he’ll pick up a win to go along with all of those fancy yards.
49ers @ Bengals, 1:00PM ET
Cincinnati receiver Jerome Simpson and offensive tackle Anthony Collins were detained by police late Wednesday when authorities investigated a package filled with 2.5 pounds of marijuana delivered to Simpson’s house while both players were present. Neither player was arrested but it’s great to see that the Bengals are already in mid-season form when it comes to obeying the law.
Dolphins @ Browns, 1:00PM ET
Just what every head coach on the hot seat needs: a three-game road trip following an 0-2 start. In three weeks if the Dolphins are 0-5, you can bet that Tony Sparano won’t be on the sidelines when Miami hosts its next home game (vs. Denver on October 23). And no, I mean literally bet on Sparano being canned: theSpread has his odds of being let go listed at 3/1.
Lions @ Vikings, 1:00PM ET
Let’s sum up Donovan McNabb’s career. Booed on draft day. Has appeared in 967 playoff games and one Super Bowl but has no ring. Had to put up with T.O. and a slew of media members and fellow athletes bashing him at every turn. Benched for Rex Grossman… possibly will be benched for Christian Ponder. I feel sorry for McNabb and I don’t mean that in a condescending way. I actually feel bad for the guy. Ah, well: Lions 56, Vikings 3.
Broncos @ Titans, 1:00PM ET
If there’s one game I don’t care if I see a down of this weekend, this would be it. I apologize to Denver and Tennessee fans but this matchup is the epitome of boring. But hey, go get ‘em Kyle Orton and Matt Hasselbeck. You do your thing. I’ll be over here watching Giants-Eagles, Texans-Saints or hell, even Jaguars-Panthers. Just anything but Broncos-Titans on a nice fall Sunday afternoon.
Packers @ Bears, 4:15PM ET
Jay Cutler says he won’t be able to hold up much longer if he keeps taking the vicious beating he’s endured over the last two weeks, while Matt Forte feels underappreciated because the front office has yet to give him a new contract. Rookie OT Gabe Carimi is also expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a partially dislocated kneecap so yeah, the Bears are in a good spirits with the defending Super Bowl champs coming to town this Sunday.
Chiefs @ Chargers, 4:05PM ET
No team has played worse than Kansas City through the first two weeks of the season. The Chiefs have been outscored 89-10, have turned the ball over nine times, and lost their star running back Jamaal Charles (ACL) for the season. That said, this is the type of game the Chargers somehow either find a way to lose or narrowly survive.
Ravens @ Rams, 4:05pM ET
I’m glad the league came down on teams and players who fake injuries because it takes away from the game and the fans’ entertainment. The only time the Rams’ offense was watchable on Monday night was when it was running the no huddle and you had some Giants defenders trying to slow them down by faking injuries. Ridiculous, I say. Ridiculous! Let Sam the Ram run the no-no and let’s have some freaking fun…
Falcons @ Bucs, 4:15PM ET
This has turned into a nice little rivalry over the years, especially seeing as how both games between these two teams last season came down to the final series. The Falcons won both of those contests but on a whole, Matt Ryan hasn’t been very good against the Bucs. He’s completed just 54-of-104 passes for 586 yards with four touchdowns and six interceptions. He hasn’t passed for more than 223 yards in any of his previous three trips to Tampa and was treated like Trent Cole’s personal punching bag in last weekend’s win over the Eagles. This is easily a game Tampa could take and get to 2-1 on the season.
Jets @ Raiders, 4:05PM ET
With Darrelle Revis coming to town this weekend, Stanford Routt will once again play second fiddle to a big name corner in Oakland. But the former 2005 second round pick is off to a nice start this season, as opposing quarterbacks have completed just 4 of 14 passes against Routt so far. Some fans thought the Raiders overpaid him this offseason by giving him a three-year, $31.5 million contract but he’s certainly held his own without Nnamdi Asomugha lining up opposite him in the secondary.
Cardinals @ Seahawks, 4:15PM ET
Good news for Seattle fans: Sidney Rice was able to practice on Wednesday and is expected to play on Sunday. The bad news is that Pete Carroll has a fever and the only prescription is more Tarvaris Jackson.
Steelers @ Colts, 8:20PM ET
In his career against the Steelers, Kerry Collins has completed 63% of his passes, with five touchdowns and just one interception while compiling a 3-1 record and a 92.6 passer rating. Yes, that Kerry Collins.
Redskins @ Cowboys, 8:30PM ET Monday
Says loudmouth DeAngelo Hall on whether or not he hopes Tony Romo will play on Monday night: “Absolutely. I want to get a chance to put my helmet on whatever’s hurt. Romo’s ribs – I’m going to be asking for some corner blitzes.” First of all, I appreciate Hall’s honesty. The media criticizes players all the time for their cookie-cutter responses to the media and here’s one guy who isn’t afraid to speak his mind. That said, saying that you want to hurt a quarterback via a corner blitz (which is usually to the QB’s blindside) is the equivalent to saying you want to inflict pain by way of a sucker punch. So way to man up, D-Hall.
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