Waddle's World

Buffalo at New England

Did you see the Patriots on display Sunday night in Foxboro? Any questions? So much for the Belichick distractions or the Chargers' revenge factor. That was an old-fashioned MAULING! Once again, Tom Brady took his shiny new toys out for a game of catch. Randy Moss racked up his second consecutive 100-yard game and looks like he found the fountain of youth. The Bills don't have an answer for Moss, Welker, Stallworth, Watson, and company. Nearly half of last year's starting defenders are either injured or playing elsewhere. I give the Bills credit, they play hard, but you don't get points for effort in the "Big Boy League." J.P. Losman shouldn't fare much better than his defensive counterparts. He has been inconsistent at best and will see the most disruptive pass rush he's seen to date. If ever there was an unwinnable game, this may be it. To travel to Gillette Stadium is challenging enough, but bringing a butter knife to a gun fight ain't gonna get it done. I like the Patriots in a big way.

Carolina at Atlanta

After an 0-2 start, Falcons GM Rich McKay reached out to recently unemployed Byron Leftwich. I'm told that Leftwich wouldn't take his call. OK, I'm embellishing,, but would you wanna drop back behind that Falcons offensive line? Obviously, the prospects were awfully bleak, because Leftwich did sign with the Falcons, now he better contact his insurance agent! Look, Let's face it, I know Dan Marino, and Joey Harrington is no Dan Marino, but Joey's not their biggest problem. Sure, he makes some silly decisions and has a tendency to throw it to the guys in the other colored jerseys, but that young man has taken a beating. He's been sacked 13 times in two weeks, nobody's gonna survive in that environment, much less win on Sundays. And don't expect any real improvement this week in Carolina. The Panthers are chapped after getting de-pantsed by the Texans, and they boast one of the best front sevens in the league. The Panthers jumped out to an early 14-zip lead over the Texans last Sunday and then fell asleep. John Fox won't let that happen again. The battle outside between Steve Smith and DeAngelo Hall is worth the price of admission, but the rest of the show should be a bore. I like the Panthers to get back on track.

San Francisco at Pittsburgh

A matchup of 2-0 teams in Pittsburgh this weekend as the Steelers play host to the 49ers. The Steelers have been brilliant so far, getting after quarterbacks and creating turnovers, while producing the most balanced offensive attack in the league. Of course, the Browns and Bills aren't the stiffest of competition, but the dominance has been obvious. Ben Roethlisberger looks healthy and confident as he thrives in an offense that is asking him to do more than just manage the game. The Niners did a nice job slowing down Steven Jackson last week, but the Steelers' O-line will provide more of a challenge. I expect Willie Parker to win the rushing duel with Frank Gore, who will find out that facing this Pittsburgh front seven is a lot like putting your hand in a meat grinder: You're gonna lose a bit of flesh. Now, I'm not gonna say that the Niners are lucky to be 2-0, but they've been outgained 327 yards to 190 yards per Sunday, so you know what, check that, they are lucky to be 2-0. This one's good for frequent flyer miles only. The Steelers have way too much for the 49ers in Pittsburgh.

Jacksonville at Denver

Somebody needs to go over the rules with the Broncos one more time. Driving the ball up and down the field is "pretty," but you don't get points unless you get to that painted area at each end of the field. When you get it in the red zone, you've gotta punch it in and quit settling for field goals. How do you average 450 yards per game and have only three offensive touchdowns? If not for the calm nerves and accomplished leg of Jason Elam, the Broncos' record would be the opposite of their 2-0 mark. No complaints with Travis Henry. He's averaging 134 yards per game on the ground and will face a Jacksonville defense that is not nearly as fierce as predicted. And on the topic of the running game, what happened to the dynamic duo of Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew? The truth is, the Jags are losing the battle at the line of scrimmage. This would be a good week to turn it around as they face a Broncos front seven that has been gashed by the offensively challenged Bills and Raiders. I wanna pick the Jags in this one, but they look uninspired and unhappy under the direction of Jack Del Rio, who's seat is starting to smolder. I'm sticking with the home team. I like the Broncos.

San Diego at Green Bay

What was it that Jim Croce sang? "You don't tug on Superman's cape. You don't spit in the wind. You don't pull the mask off the ol' Lone Ranger. And you keep your mouth shut and don't give the Patriots bulletin board material that they can use to rub your face in after they've paddled you like a room full of misbehaving children." I think that's the way it went. Anyway, I think we've learned that the Chargers are better talkers than performers, and Norv Turner would be wise to drop a gag order on his crew. For the second straight week, they failed to get on track offensively. Ladanian Tomlinson, widely considered the best back in the game, is averaging 1.9 yards per carry, and Phillip Rivers hasn't proven that his is capable of beating teams with his arm. And believe it or not, they may not get on track this weekend in Green Bay. The Packers play defense about as well as anyone in the NFC. The problem is they don't have a running game, and their future Hall of Fame quarterback isn't mobile. Bad combo with an irritated group of Chargers rolling into town. This is the quintessential bad matchup. The Chargers may not have to take an offensive snap to win this one. They should be able to do it all with their defense. I like San Diego to get their second win of the season.

Cincinnati at Seattle

The Bengals and Seahawks meet in Seattle for the "I guess neither of these teams is as good as we thought Bowl." The Bengals continue to have one of the leagues most explosive offenses, and one the most disappointing defenses. I thought they had solved some of their secondary problems, but after Derek Anderson threw for 328 yards and five scores, it's back to the drawing board. When was the last time you saw a quarterback throw for six touchdowns and LOSE? It's not good for any QB's health to drop back and throw every down, especially behind that Bengals offensive line. The Seahawks have their own problems. They're starting to show their age and have struggled to get rolling on offense, despite being at full strength. Enter the Bengals' defense, and all is well. If the Browns can thump ya, the Seahawks should have no trouble. And, by the way, a discussion of bad defenses should also include these Seahawks, who haven't stopped the run or the pass. The deciding factor in this game will most certainly be the site of the contest. The Seahawks are 14-3 at home since 2005. Forgive me for dwelling on it, but how do you force six turnovers in Week 1 against the Ravens and allow 51 points to the Browns in Week 2? I'm taking the home team, Seattle, in this one.

Cleveland at Oakland

You saw the highlights all week, the Browns embarrassing the Bengals and putting 51 points on the board. But did you realize they had scored a total of 44 points in their previous five games? Something tells me they will return to planet Earth this weekend when they visit the Raiders. Both of these teams have been a bit of a surprise. The Browns' offensive explosion is a shocker considering their preseason QB drama, and the Raiders' soft defense is certainly a head scratcher after their 2006 campaign, when they ranked third in yards allowed. Speaking of surprising quarterback play, Josh McCown is banged up and wasn't very effective against the Broncos last week. Don't be surprised if Daunte Culpepper takes the field before this one's over. If Romeo Crennel and Lane Kiffin want to air it out, this one could become a turnover festival. My "gut," which is usually more accurate than hours of statistical analysis, says the Raiders defense will get back on track, and give Derek Anderson fits. And those silly stats tell me LaMont Jordan is avering nearly 6 yards per carry and should be the focal point of that Raiders offense. I like Oakland at home.

New York Giants at Washington

Big NFC East tilt this weekend in Washington, as the Giants visit the Redskins. The G-Men dominated this series last year, when they rushed for 416 yards in their two matchups. Unfortunately, Tiki Barber accounted for 357 of them, and he's now more dangerous to the Giants than their opponents. The Giants are in trouble here. They can't stop a belch these days, giving up 40 points per game so far. And while this Washington offense wont WOW you like the Cowboys, they will push the Giants around. The combo of Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts has been good for 120 yards per game. Their success has taken pressure off of Jason Campbell, who's starting to show potential. He would develop faster if he had a look at the Giants secondary on a weekly basis. They are dead last in pass defense. The Giants' calling card is their passing game, but they will face one of the league's best secondaries. It's never pretty with the Skins - they make their share of mistakes - but they're always around in the end. I don't think they're gonna have to wait till the final minutes to put this one away. The Giants are a lifeless bunch that already looks like they're playing out the string. I like the Skins at home.

Tennessee at New Orleans

An interesting matchup in the bayou, as the Titans visit the Saints. The New Orleans Saints are the biggest surprise of the early season, and it's not a warm and fuzzy surprise. Their offensive ineptitude is truly a mystery. Despite a huddle filled with playmakers, they have only two offensive touchdowns. It starts up front where the O-line has struggled to create space in the running game. The Deuce McAllister/Reggie Bush train has yet to leave the station. Bush is the bigger disappointment. He doesn't seem comfortable running between the tackles and can't outrun everyone like he did in college. The Saints may find he's best used as a receiver and return specialist. Drew Brees, who's out of sync as well, should keep an eye on Titans end Kyle Vanden Bosch. In my world, the Saints' defense is the bigger problem. They haven't stopped anyone, and they don't have the ability to flip the switch like Brees and company. They will have their hands full slowing down the Titans' running game, which includes the incredibly elusive Vince Young. I believe the home crowd support is just what the Saints need after their 0-2 start. I like New Orleans to get back on track at home.

St. Louis at Tampa Bay

The 0-2 Rams travel to Tampa this week to face the 1-1 Buccaneers. Despite a slow start from Steven Jackson, the Rams have moved the ball up and down the field at will, but can't quite find the endzone. Marc Bulger should have success against an aging Tampa secondary, so getting the lead should be no problem. Holding a lead has been the issue for St Louis. With injuries on the O-line, including the loss of Orlando Pace for the season, Jackson is finding no room to run, and the Rams can't control the clock. And once they punt, it's a free for all against their defense. Opponents don't need to throw it because the Rams' front seven can't stop the run. Fortunately for them, the Bucs aren't running the ball well. Cadillac Williams has been banged up, and the Bucs' O-line continues to struggle. This one comes down to a battle of quarterbacks, and while I like Jeff Garcia's ability to function within the West Coast system, Marc Bulger has more to work with. It should be a battle, but I expect the Rams to get their first win of the season.

Minnesota at Kansas City

The Vikings visit the Chiefs in a matchup of one dimensional offenses. If not for the dreadful four-interception performance of Tavaris Jackson last week in Detroit, the Vikings would be sitting tied atop the NFC North at 2-0. Unfortunately for them, quarterback play, is a pretty important part of this game. With Jackson nursing a sore knee, the Vikings may turn to Brooks Bollinger. Regardless, the best plan includes a whole lot of Adrian Peterson. He is by far the most dangerous weapon, but he's averaging 20 carries per game and may not be able to hold up for 16 weeks with this kind of workload. The Chiefs are a one-trick pony on offense, as well. Larry Johnson is Option 1,2, and 3. He won't find a lot of room to run against the Vikings' front seven. They haven't been as dominant as last year, but Kevin and Pat Williams are 700 pounds of run stuffing fun in the middle. I'm not overly excited about either team, but the Chiefs are a better team at Arrowhead and will have Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen in the lineup for the first time this year. I like the Chiefs at home.

Miami at New York Jets

The Jets and Dolphins meet in the Meadowlands in a must win game between two 0-2 teams. Certainly, the Jets have faced stiffer competition, falling to the Patriots and Ravens, but the Dolphins have been surprisingly competitive to start the season. First things first, a tip of the cap to Jets backup Kellen Clemens, who stepped in for Chad Pennington and did a nice job against a very good Ravens defense that beat him up for 60 minutes. If Pennington isn't able to go, Eric Mangini can breath a little easier after seeing Clemens in the heat of battle. Regardless of who's under center, the Jets have to run the ball better. They're averaging less than 3 yards per carry and providing no relief for their passing game. This may be the week to get on track, as the Dolphins have been dreadful defending the run, yielding 4.5 yards per carry. Miami quarterback Trent Green also needs a helping hand, and he isn't getting it from his O-line or Ronnie Brown. The Dolphins have become a throw first, run second offense, and at the age of 37, Green may not be up to that kind of challenge. The Jets have won five of the last six in this series. I like that trend to continue. I like the Jets at home.

Detroit at Philadelphia

The 2-0 Lions travel to Philly to face the 0-2 Eagles. And yes, you heard me right. Maybe Jon Kitna knew what he was talking about when he told everyone in training camp that the Lions would win at least 10 games this year. Or maybe we shouldn't over value wins over the Raiders and Vikings. Regardless, Kitna has come out throwing, and his group of receivers is as good as advertised. The Lions have thrown for more yards than any team in football through the first two weeks, and they won't be changing their game plan anytime soon. The Eagles are banged up in the secondary and will struggle to hang with Roy Williams and friends. Philly's best bet is to try and get to Kitna early and rattle him. Rest assured, defensive guru Jim Johnson will have a high pressure plan for Sunday. As for the Eagles' offense, Donovan McNabb is understandably rusty, not to mention under staffed at wide receiver. For the time being, Brian Westbrook has to carry the ENTIRE load. Look for the Eagles to try and isolate Westbrook on the Lions' linebackers and attack the middle of the field. The Lions are a much improved team, but this is a tough spot for them. Philly is in a must-win situation at home. I like the Eagles in this game.

Indianapolis at Houston

With all due respect to the Bears and Cowboys, before the season began, who thought the game of the week in Week 3 would be the Colts at the Texans? The Texans are 2-0 for the first time in franchise history, and they don't look like a fluke. With Matt Schaub at the controls, this Houston team seems legit. Schaub has been poised and efficient, completing 72 percent of his passes with three touchdowns and only one interception. The Texans' offensive line, which got David Carr killed over the years, has done a nice job keeping Schaub protected. So has the presence of veteran Ahman Green in the backfield. Defensively, they have a strong foundation up front, with rookie Amobi Okoye and last year's No. 1 pick Mario Williams. But this week they step up in class with the Colts coming to town. Jake Delhomme gave them trouble last week, and the guy wearing No. 18 in the blue and white is just a bit more dangerous than Delhomme. Last week the Colts struggled in the red zone, and we all know that doesn't happen two weeks in a row. The Colts are gonna score points, the question is, can the Texans keep up and make this one competitive? My guess is no. The Indianapolis defense did a nice job slowing down Vince Young and the Titans without two of their starting linebackers. Keiaho and Morris may be back, but if not, look for a heavy dose of Ahman Green. The best way to contain Peyton and friends is to run the ball, control the clock and keep the high-powered Colts offense on the sidelines. I do believe the Texans are for real, and they will win more than than they will lose, but they're not beating the Colts. I like Indy on the road.

Arizona at Baltimore

The Cardinals bring their 1-1 record to Baltimore this weekend to face the also 1-1 Ravens. The Cardinals showed tremendous improvement in Week 2, as Matt Leinart made better decisions and got his high profile receivers, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald, involved. The improvement was made possible by a continued emphasis on running the ball and leaning on Edgerrin James. James rushed for 128 yards last week against the Seahawks and will be asked to carry the load again this week. Mr. James may face a little more resistance this week from the Ravens, as they are allowing just 62 yards per game on the ground. The pass rush hasn't been dominant, YET, but that doesn't mean Leinart is gonna have all day to throw. Offensively, the Ravens haven't gotten on track. Kyle Boller stepped in for the injured McNair last week and had a nice day completing 25-of-35 for two scores and no picks. Regardless of who's taking snaps, Willis McGahee is the story on offense. He's gotten off to a solid start despite a so-so performance from his offensive line. The game plan at home is very simple for the Ravens: Run it and play punishing defense. The Ravens have won eight of their last nine games at home, allowing an average of just 12 points in those games. I like that trend to continue. The Cardinals have improved, but this is a tough assignment on the road. I like the Ravens.