NFL: 2009 Week 3 Predictions

Week 2 Results: 11-5
Season Results: 26-6

Washington Redskins (1-1) @ Detroit Lions (0-2)

Pick: Redskins

Green Bay Packers (1-1) @ St Louis Rams (0-2)

Pick: Packers

San Francisco 49ers (2-0) @ Minnesota Vikings (2-0)

Pick: Vikings

Atlanta Falcons (2-0) @ New England Patriots (1-1)

Pick: Falcons

Tennessee Titans (0-2) @ New York Jets (2-0)

Pick: Titans

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) @ Philadelphia Eagles (2-0)

Pick: Eagles

New York Giants (2-0) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-2)

Pick: Giants

Cleveland Browns (0-2) @ Baltimore Ravens (2-0)

Pick: Ravens

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) @ Houston Texans (1-1)

Pick: Texans

New Orleans Saints (2-0) @ Buffalo Bills (1-1)

Pick: Saints

Chicago Bears (1-1) @ Seattle Seahawks (1-1)

Pick: Seahawks

Miami Dolphins (0-2) @ San Diego Chargers (1-1)

Pick: Chargers

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-1)

Pick: Bengals

Denver Broncos (2-0) @ Oakland Raiders (0-2)

Pick: Raiders

Indianapolis Colts (2-0) @ Arizona Cardinals (1-1)

Pick: Cardinals

Carolina Panthers (0-2) @ Dallas Cowboys (2-0)

Pick: Panthers

Notes

Week 3 of the NFL is arguably the most interesting week of the entire season. It is the week in which 0-2 teams are playing for their playoff livelihood. Essentially 0-3 teams do not make the playoffs. In the 19 years of the Wild Card Era (12 teams in the playoffs), only three teams have ever started the season 0-3 and made the playoffs. Those teams would be the '92 Chargers (went 0-4), '95 Lions (Barry Sanders led team) and the '98 Bills. So expect some hard fought battles as we begin to see the playoff picture already begin to take shape.

Other notable week 3 observations include:

* The Pittsburgh Steelers do not have the look of a team that is going to repeat as Super Bowl Champions. Last year, they skated by to a championship by having home field advantage and drawing the weakest opponent in Super Bowl history, the 8-8 Arizona Cardinals. The Steelers looked mediocre in their win over the Titans. The Steelers are a defense oriented team, but scoring 27 points in two games is not going to cut it.

* The Chargers and Dolphins play this weekend which always brings back memories of their early 1980s battles often replayed on ESPN Classic. But the thing I always marvel over is how the two best 'good weather' teams probably take it for granted. Cold weather teams like the Packers and Bills probably circle their calendars and smile when they see a game in San Diego or Miami, especially if the game is in December.

* This is the week in which we will know more whether teams like the Bengals, Packers, Patriots, Texans, Chargers and other 1-1 teams are for real. Sometimes you kind of know but then you really do not as things so often change drastically year to year in the NFL.

* It is worth pointing out that this could be the week that the Lions break their 19 game losing streak. They do not want to break the all-time mark of 26. Playing at home and playing a team searching for their identity, the Redskins are two factors that help the Lions. If they can avoid negative turnover differential then they will have a great chance at winning their game.

Picture: Baltimore Ravens wide receiver, Kelley Washington prances around inside the end zone as his teammates check him out from behind during last week's game against the San Diego Chargers