Here's a quick look ahead to 5 games this weekend to keep an eye on:
Chicago at Detroit (+2 ½)
Can Brian Griese be Trent Dilfer? That should be the question circulating around Chicago this week because Lovie finally made the move that every one else has seen coming since late last year. The defense is really good if not great and the running game is average if not slightly better, but the passing game and Grossman's inability to step on the field without turning the ball over has plagued this team to no end. In his last 16 games, not counting the playoffs, Grossman turned the ball over 28 times.
Seattle at San Fransisco (+2)
Last week's opponent versus next week's opponent is the about the only reason this game would interest the Steelers. The Seahawks (2-1) scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to win an exciting game against Cincy. Shaun Alexander will attempt to play with a fractured wrist and the Niners will be without Vernon Davis. This will be a game that San Fran needs to win if they want to be taken seriously in the race for the NFC West.
Kansas City at San Diego (-11 ½)
When the schedules were made this offseason, this game was probably billed as the match up of the two best running backs in the league. So far though both backs have stumbled out of the gates and both have yards per carry averages below 3 (LJ @ 2.8 and LT @ 2.3). How bad have they been? Tennessee and New England both have two backs that have out rushed LT and LJ through week 3. Not only that, but both teams are a disappointing 1-2 and need a win to keep up with Denver (2-1).
New England at Cincy (+7)
New England has looked unbeatable in three games this year scoring 114 points while only allowing 35. Tom Brady has a gaudy QB rating of 141.8, Randy Moss is on pace for 2,144 yards and 27 touchdowns and Wes Welker is on pace for nearly 1,200 yards. Now of course they won't be able to maintain those numbers over the course of 16 games but so far they have thrown all over each team they've played and don't look now but they're playing the Bengals. The Bengals have given up 95 points already this year (31.6 points per game) and rank 27th in the league in pass defense at 257.7 yards per game. There might be a hundred points scored in this game.
NY Jets at Buffalo (3 ½)
Why in the world should anyone outside of the state of New York be interested in this game? Here's why I'm keeping my eye on Buffalo all year, they have a legitimate shot be the first team since the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to go winless in an entire season and the first team to go 0-16 (it was a 14 game season until 1979). They have been decimated by injuries throughout the first three games. They already have 3 defensive starters all out for the entire season. JP Losman is out for the next two games and his backup is a rookie QB from Stanford. Those injuries combined with a pretty tough schedule should leave then at 0-7 (4 straight playoff teams from last year). The next nine games only has 3 playoff teams so they might be able to pick off a game or two. Either way it'll be worth keeping an eye on.
So what do you guys think? Any of these games interest you and do any other games?