Overview

Oakland (1-2) can’t find an offense this season, and the performance of JaMarcus Russell is troubling. Many suggest he has regressed this season and the numbers validate that point: 41.3 percent completion rating, one touchdown, and four interceptions. If the Raiders don’t find some offense this week, it could wind up looking a lot like last week when the Broncos blew them out 23-3.

Houston (1-2), on the other hand, is the anti-Oakland; Matt Schaub has completed nearly 69 percent of his passes for 657 yards, seven touchdowns and one interception in Houston’s last two games. The obvious note to take is that, in spite of that, Houston has the same record as Oakland. The Raiders, who have scored 16 points in their last two games, and the Texans, who have scored 58, have the same record.

When Oakland has the ball …

… this is the week to score points. The Raiders have one glimmer on offense, the running game, and it’s going toe-to-toe with the league’s worst rushing defense. Houston has allowed 615 rushing yards in three games this season, and though the Raiders haven’t had a lot of luck running the ball — Darren McFadden and Michael Bush average a combined 3.8 yards per carry — the talent is there.

McFadden is explosive and the Texans may struggle to contain him, just as they have failed to contain Maurice Jones-Drew, Chris Johnson, and Thomas Jones this season. All three running backs broke 100 yards in their respective games against Houston, and Oakland’s only real shot in this one is to keep the ball out of Matt Schaub’s hands and make plays in the running game.

It would be nice to bank on JaMarcus Russell keeping pace with the Texans, but it’s a silly suggestion. Russell has looked worse in each progressing game this season: week one he completed 40.0 percent of his pass attempts for 208 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions; the following week he completed just 29.2 percent of his passes for 109 yards; and last week he completed 57.1 percent of his attempts for 68 yards and two interceptions. By every measure he has gotten worse and even against a poor defense like Houston, expecting more than 150 passing yards and a touchdown seems naive.

When Houston has the ball …

… they should not underestimate the Raiders’ defense. Oakland hasn’t allowed more than 24 points in a single game this season, despite facing San Diego week one. Furthmore, fantasy players should recognize that the Raiders held Philip Rivers to just one touchdown while forcing an interception.

In other words, Houston’s running backs — mainly Steve Slaton — should see more work this week against a Raiders defense that has allowed 155 rushing yards and one touchdown per game this season. Slaton is off to a slow start, but this may be the opponent to get him back on his feet.

That said, Houston’s passing game is very good. As noted in the overview, Matt Schaub has played stellar the past two weeks and this is a scary offense to face. At the same time, both Jacksonville and Tennessee — Houston’s last two opponents — have struggled throughout the season to stop quarterbacks. Compare that to Houston’s week one opponenent, the New York Jets, a team that has defended the pass very well this season and held Schaub to 166 passing yards and an interception week one.

I’m not necessarily suggesting Schaub will have a bad week, but it may not be the week some fantasy players expect when they Oakland’s name on the schedule.

The player who will no doubt have a good week is Andre Johnson. The Raiders have consistently allowed an opponents’ starting wide receiver to have a respectable game; that won’t change when they face arguably the best wide receiver in the NFL.

The advantage goes to …

Houston. Oakland simply doesn’t have enough offense to contend with Houston, and unless JaMarcus Russell pulls something out of a magic hat, this could be another tough loss for the Raiders.

Studs and Duds

Stud: Steve Slaton — Oakland has consistently given up yards and touchdowns to opposing running backs this season and with Chris Brown listed as questionable (shin), there’s no doubt Slaton will get the vast number of touches. Besides, Slaton has been a consistent contributor in the passing game with nine receptions for 97 yards this season. This week is lined up to be a 100-yard, touchdown matchup.

Dud: Anyone Involved in Oakland’s Passing Game — The Raiders have had almost no success passing the ball this season, and in spite of the fact Houston has allowed seven passing touchdowns, Russell is the worst starting quarterback in the NFL. If Kansas City kept him from completing 30 percent of his pass attempts, I doubt other NFL teams will have trouble.

Overview

Cincinnati (2-1) is hot off two wins and is this close to a 3-0 start. Their opponents are an impressive bunch, the worst in terms of record being the Pittsburgh Steelers, and it’s no wonder this team was the unanymous “sleeper” pick of the 2009 season.

This week the Bengals travel to Cleveland (0-3) where the Browns have struggled in vain. Cleveland’s offense ranks 31st in points scored while the defense is dead last in points allowed. This week a desperate Eric Mangini named Derek Anderson the starting quarterback after a horrendous start to the season on offense. Will it be enough to knock off the Bengals this week?

When Cincinnati has the ball …

… Cedric Benson is the player to watch. Benson is off to a robust start with 293 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. In his last two starts he’s carried 45 times for 217 yards, and against the Steelers last week he averaged 4.8 yards per carry. Cincinnati needs to get him the rock and test this Browns defense which ranks 30th in the NFL in rushing yards per game allowed.

Carson Palmer also needs to limit his mistakes when the Bengals opt to pass. He has four touchdowns and four interceptions this season, and last week was the first in which he didn’t throw a pick. His numbers this season aren’t impressive by any measure; 615 yards and a completion percentage a tad over 60 will keep the Bengals at a disadvantage when they play division leader Baltimore in a week. Palmer and the passing game need to come alive before that game if Cincinnati hopes to beat the league’s best rushing defense.

In regards to Palmer’s touchdown passes, all four have gone to wide receivers. Chad Ochocinco, Andre Caldwell, Laveranues Coles, and Chris Henry each have one. Ochocinco and Caldwell are tied for the team lead in receptions this season with 14, but note that Ochocinco is averaging nearly twice as many yards per catch — 16.7 to 8.7. He’s a playmaker who has been consistently involved, catching four or five passes each game.

When Cleveland has the ball …

… Derek Anderson needs to 180 this offense. Cleveland may be without Jamal Lewis (doubtful - hamstring) this week, and the Bengals has fared significantly better against the run than pass. Brady Quinn averaged 5.4 yards per attempt and threw one touchdown and three interceptions while the running game floundered in the first three games of the season. This offense must pass the ball effectively to beat the Bengals this week.

It’s difficult to say whether Anderson will breathe new life into this offense, or whether the Browns’ problems run much deeper. For example, both Robert Royal and Mike Furrey are tied for 12th in the NFL in drops this season, and Quinn was sacked 10 times in the first two-and-a-half games of the season. Furthermore, when Anderson made his debut in the second half of last week’s game against Baltimore he threw three interceptions on Cleveland’s first five drives. The Browns don’t have enough talent on defense to overcome that many turnovers.

The advantage goes to …

… Cincinnati. They’re on a roll right now with two wins against good opponents, Green Bay and Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, the Browns 61-9 in their last two games. The offense commits too many turnovers and struggles to move the ball down the field; don’t expect that to change this week.

Studs and Duds

Stud: Cedric Benson — RB — One of the league’s most pleasant surprises is off to a hot start with two rushing touchdowns in three games. Cleveland is allowing over 184 yards per game rushing and nearly three rushing touchdowns per week.

Dud: Derek Anderson — QB — He threw three interceptions in one half last week and the Browns scored just three points under his leadership. Expecting a big game this week, even at home, is a longshot.

Overview

The Detroit Lions (1-2) are hot off their first win since December, 2007, and are traveling to Chicago in hopes of getting their first division win since October 28, 2007. Coincidentally, that win was against the Bears.

Chicago (2-1) is hot off two consecutive wins and is enjoying the presence of star quarterback Jay Cutler. The Bears have outscored their opponents by just nine points the past two weeks and both games were won after fourth quarter go-ahead drives led by Jay Cutler. This week they hope to spoil the Lions’ good spirits while getting their first division win of the season.

When Detroit has the ball …

… watch to see how often the Bears blitz and bring pressure to Matthew Stafford. The rookie quarterback has five interceptions this season, and last week was the first he didn’t throw a pick. It was also his second consecutive game with a touchdown pass; he has two this season.

It certainly seems as if he is progressing at a rapid pace. Since his week one shock against the Saints, Stafford has completed nearly 60 percent of his passes for nearly 400 yards and 2 touchdowns/interceptions. When he’s under pressure, however, Stafford rushes his throws and makes poor decisions. If the Bears can pressure him and get some hits in (sacks or not), he’ll struggle to maintain composure.

No doubt Detroit will try to establish a running game to keep Chicago’s defense honest. The Lions are ranked 7th in running attempts this season, and over the past two weeks Kevin Smith’s numbers have been most impressive: 40 carries for 184 yards and one touchdown. Chicago’s defense ranks 13th in yards and 15th in yards per carry. It won’t be easy for Detroit to run the football, but the absence of Bears star linebacker Brian Urlacher is certainly an advantage for the Lions.

When Chicago has the ball …

… Jay Cutler needs to continue making smart decisions. After a rocky start week one, Cutler’s decision-making has improved tenfold. He’s checking down to receivers running shorter routes, and the Bears passing game is much more methodical. Cutler has completed over 70 percent of his passes each of the past two weeks, and he’s thrown five touchdowns to just one interception.

His favorite targets have varied on a week-to-week basis, but the three emerging stars at wide receiver are Devin Hester (as expected), Earl Bennett (Cutler’s college teammate), and Johnnie Knox. The last of those names has surprised defenses with his sure hands and blazing speed, and over the past two weeks he’s caught two touchdown passes. Meanwhile, Bennett and Hester both lead the team with 13 receptions this season, while Hester is the only one with a touchdown (he has two).

Perhaps the biggest surprise this season is the absence of Chicago’s running game. Matt Forte has carried 59 times for just 150 yards this season. His 2.5 yards per carry average is startling, and one wonders when he’ll turn it around. This week is a prime opportunity, as the Lions have allowed 4.5 yards per carry this season.

Advantage

Chicago has a significant advantage, especially at home. It will be interesting to see how Detroit follows up its first win in more than a season, but traveling to Chicago will be difficult with Jay Cutler’s confidence flying high.

Fantasy Football Booms and Busts

Boom: Jay Cutler — Cutler has passed for 483 yards and five touchdowns in his past two starts. His rapport with the wide receivers is growing, and Detroit’s secondary remains very suspect. The Lions are ranked 30th in passing yards allowed and 32nd in passing touchdowns allowed this season. Expect Cutler to shred them.

Bust: Matthew Stafford — Stafford’s season is turning around, but this game will be as difficult as any he plays this season. He’s traveling to Chicago where the Bears rank 5th in passing touchdowns allowed and 7th in net passing yards per attempt (yards per attempt adjusted for sacks). Stafford is poised for a rough outing.

The Overview

Hot-lanta (2-0) is on a roll with wins over Miami and Carolina at home, while New England (1-1) continues to struggle, their first loss coming in a road loss against the Jets. Incidentally, this is Atlanta’s first road game of the season. Whether it’s a good thing they’re playing against the Patriots this season is a question mark: yes, New England has struggled this season, but, at the same time, one assumes they’ll turn it back on at some point this season.

When Atlanta has the ball …

Atlanta’s offense has surprised a lot of fans with their impressive passing game; Matt Ryan has already thrown 5 touchdowns and is currently tied with Joe Flacco for second in the NFL. His favorite targets are Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White, the former of which has been one of the most noticeably crucial free agent acquisitions. Gonzo already has 12 receptions for 144 yards and two touchdowns. His presence has opened up the Falcons’ passing game and helped Ryan’s development immensely.

Michael Turner, expected to be the lynch pin to Atlanta’s offense this season, has 50 carries this season, and he especially excelled last week with 28 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown. He’s poised to once again carry well over 300 times; and if the first two games are any indication, he’s once again going to play a minimal role in the passing game.

New England’s defense has played bend-but-don’t-break this season, allowing just three touchdowns (none rushing) and four field goals. The one interesting thing to note about the three allowed touchdown passes: they have gone to tight ends or running backs. In other words, Tony Gonzalez is the guy to watch.

When New England has the ball …

Tom Brady struggled immensely last week against the Jets, completing under half his pass attempts and throwing an interception. He didn’t have much more luck against the Bills week one until the final minutes of the game, and it begs to questions, is Brady 100 percent yet? And how long will he be out of sync with the offense?

Brady is still a great quarterback, and it’s important to remember that Peyton Manning had a slow start last year before he won the league MVP. That said, Atlanta’s defense has forced five sacks and two interceptions, allowing just two passing touchdowns this season (one in each game).

The Falcons have struggled to stop the run this season, allowing 5.1 yards per carry. DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart ripped the defense for 144 rushing yards and one touchdown on 25 carries. If the Patriots establish the running game and control the clock, they could bounce back with a win at home.

The advantage goes to …

Atlanta on the road. This isn’t going to be a blow out victory, and it’s probably going to come down to which team kicks a field goal in the fourth quarter; but the Falcons have too much momentum right now, and it’s going to be difficult for the Patriots to wipe the slate clean this week.

Booms and Sleepers

Boom: Tony Gonzalez — Gonzalez has played a major role in the passing game this season, and considering New England has already allowed two touchdowns to tight ends, Gonzo is the safest bet in this one.

Sleeper: Fred Taylor — The Falcons are allowing 5.1 yards per carry as their defense struggles for the second consecutive season against the run. Taylor is the leading tailback in New England’s offense, and with Brady’s struggles of late, the Patriots might be inclined to focus on the run this week.

The Overview

Despite a strong effort against the Colts week one, Jacksonville (0-2) fell to Arizona a week later by a margin of 14. In the same day, Houston’s offense found its spark in a shootout win at Tennessee. The Texans (1-1) were reeling after a smothering defeat at the hands of the Jets, 24-7, the week before.

Both teams have displayed serious inconsistency through two weeks, and this division game will come down to which team shows its best face.

When Jacksonville has the ball …

The Jaguars best weapon, Maurice Jones-Drew, was one of the most underutilized players on offense last week against Arizona. Despite his 5.1 yards per carry average in the game, Jones-Drew carried just 13 times, while David Garrard went to the air 43 times.

Garrard wasn’t too spectacular in that game. In fact, he hasn’t been very good at all this season. His completion percentage has hovered around 50 percent in both games — it’s 52.1 percent this season — and his touchdown percentage (2.8 percent) is quite low.

Meanwhile, against the Cardinals, Jones-Drew was stopped for a loss once, and he picked up three or more yards on 11 of his 13 carries. When he carried 21 times the week before, he rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown in a much closer game. Furthermore, David Garrard didn’t throw an interception or fumble three times.

Considering Houston’s defense allowed Chris Johnson and Thomas Jones to rush for 197 and 107 yards, respectively, a big dose of Jones-Drew could be exactly what Jacksonville needs to win its first division game of the season.

When Houston has the ball …

Matt Schaub lit the Titans up for 357 passing yards and four touchdowns last week and it proved to be enough to get Houston past division foe Tennessee. Schaub’s stellar performance was matched only by Andre Johnson who caught 10 of Schaub’s 25 completions for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

The week before wasn’t the same story; Schaub struggled to pass the ball against the Jets’ defense, putting up just 166 yards, while completing just a tad over half his pass attempts. Andre Johnson caught just four passes for 35 yards in that game.

Steve Slaton is the one player who has noticeably struggled in both games this season. Slaton is averaging just two yards per carry this season, and he hasn’t broken that mark in either game. He has 51 rushing yards this season, and is still yet to score a touchdown. Whether he’ll turn it around soon is a big question mark for the Texans this season.

Jacksonville has been weaker against the pass this season, partly due to facing two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL: Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner. Schaub can hold his own, too, so the passing game will be crucial to the Texans’ success.

The advantage goes to …

Houston at home. The Texans finally found a spark last week, whereas Jacksonville only found more struggles. Unless Jacksonville can contain the Texans potentially lethal offense, this will be a very difficult road game.

Booms, Busts, and Sleepers

Boom: Matt Schaub — Matt Schuab was outstanding last week against the Titans, and considering the Jaguars’ trouble getting pressure to opponents’ quarterbacks, this could be another big week for the Texans’ passing game.

Bust: Steve Slaton — The Texans have the 22nd ranked passing defense, so the odds of this game turning into a high scoring affair is relatively high. That means less carries and touches for Slaton, and more pass attempts for Schaub.

Sleeper: Omar Daniels — He has 10 receptions for 116 yards and one touchdown this season, and last week was a big game for him: 6 receptions for 72 yards and a touchdown. He could be primed for another solid showing this week.

The Overview

Washington (1-1) travels to Detroit where the Lions (0-2) are hoping to earn their first win since December 23, 2007. Detroit has already been outscored by 32 points this season, and though its offense has scored three touchdowns this season, the defense has allowed nine.

The Redskins haven’t fared much better. They got their first win of the season at home against the struggling Rams, 9-7, last week. Before that was a loss to division rival New York, 23-17, a game in which the Giants controlled the ball for more than 36 minutes. One wonders whether the defense can salvage Washington’s season, or if it’s going to be another disappointing year for fans of the ‘Skins if Jason Campbell and Co. don’t put more points on the scoreboard.

When Washington has the ball …

The offense has struggled this season to score points. Jason Campbell has passed for 453 yards in two weeks, setting a pace to shatter last year’s career high mark of 3,245 yards. Unfortunately, he’s also on a pace to pass for fewer touchdowns than any other single season, too. In other words, this season is beginning to play out like most recent seasons for Washington: they can move the ball, but they can’t punch it in the endzone.

But it’s not just Campbell. Clinton Portis is off to one of the slowest starts in his career with Washington. His 35 attempts for 141 yards is second only to 2006 when he missed the second game of the season; and his zero touchdowns are matched only by a few seasons, all of which he rushed for more yards.

Overall this offense ranks as a mediocre-below average group thus far. Putting up just 9 points against the Rams, arguably the Lions only competition for “worst in the NFL”, just emphasizes the point.

The key to Washington’s game will come down to field position and the offense scoring touchdowns to conclude drives. They’re punting unit hasn’t been good this season, netting just over 36 yards per boot. Furthermore, all four of the team’s field goals have been under 30 yards; that means they’ve moved the ball down field but didn’t convert on third downs in opponents’ territory. That will be crucial for them all season.

When Detroit has the ball …

After a rough start this season, Detroit has now lost 25 of its last 26 games. Matthew Stafford is playing as you might expect a rookie in Detroit to play; he’s thrown five interceptions to just one touchdown in two games, setting a bad tone for this season.

Kevin Smith and Calvin Johnson have been Stafford’s only consistent targets. Smith leads the team with nine receptions this season, while Johnson is averaging 17.6 yards per reception on his 8 catches to lead the team in all other categories: yards (141) and touchdowns (1).

Johnson has been the team’s one playmaker, while Smith, who already has 47 touches this season, is only averaging 2.6 yards per carry and has 165 total yards from scrimmage. His saving grace has been receptions; without them, below average wouldn’t begin to describe his totals as a running back.

Washington’s defense has been very strong this season, forcing turnovers and keeping scores low. Detroit has scored 20 points per game, though one touchdown was scored by its defense. Don’t expect the Lions to be particularly effective on offense this week; do expect Stafford to build on his interception total.

The advantage goes to …

Washington. Though they haven’t put up a lot of points this season, their defense has been tremendous. Detroit’s quarterback situation and struggles running the football will play into Washington’s hands as the ‘Skins make a run at putting up 20 points for the first time this season.

Booms, Busts, and Sleepers …

Boom: Jason Campbell — Campbell is off to a great start in a lot of ways (mostly in terms of yards), but this is a prime week to shred a defense. Detroit has already allowed eight passing touchdowns this season, and Campbell’s odds have never looked so good.

Bust: Kevin Jones — Washington’s defense still hasn’t allowed a rushing score, but it has forced two fumbles. Jones, who is already off to a very slow start running the football, probably won’t find his first solid game this week.

Sleeper: Clinton Portis — He’s off to a slow start, but it’s a matter of time before he gets enough touches to light a defense up. He’s averaging four yards per carry and, if the Redskins run it enough, he’ll break the century mark against a defense that allowed Mike Bell to do it week one.

The Hype

Chad Ochocinco (I’m already tired of calling him that) has told fans he’s going to do a Lambeau leap if he scores against the Packers. After watching the Bengals and Packers last week I’m not confident he’ll get that opportunity.

Green Bay’s defense was brilliant blitzing the Bears and forcing Jay Cutler into bad decisions and throws that resulted in four interceptions. Prior to that game Carson Palmer threw two interceptions; that evidence alone should be enough to make Cincy fans nervous.

When You Look at Cincinnati …

… you see an offense that needs a better line. Cedric Benson was held to under four yards per carry in spite of a 20-yard carry against the Broncos, and Carson Palmer was pressured into throwing two interceptions and getting sacked twice. Better offensive line play will be crucial to the Bengals success in this game.

The Broncos are not a great team this season. The Bengals had the game won until a miraculous catch by Brandon Stokley put the Broncos up with seconds left on the clock. This means two things: first, the Bengals can stop small ball and prevent a running attack pretty well; second, this offense looked awful when it scored 7 points.

If the Packers play even half as well on defense as they did last week, you’re going to see Carson Palmer under a lot of pressure and forced into throwing passes he shouldn’t. And you’re going to see a very limited running game from the Bengals.

When You Look at Green Bay …

… the offensive line (mostly looking at you, right tackle Allen Barbre) needs to protect Aaron Rodgers better, but the defense is brilliant. The Packers underachieved on offense last week in spite of all the Chicago turnovers. In fact, I’m not confident the Packers would have won last week if the Bears hadn’t audibled to an ill-advised fake punt deep inside their own territory.

The guy to really watch in this game is Ryan Grant. After the Packers established a bit of a running game the rest of the pieces fell into place and Rodgers had more time in the pocket. Grant looked quick and explosive last week in spite of his relatively pedestrian totals: 16 carries for 61 yards. But studying that game it’s important to see the connection between his improvement as the game progressed and the success of Aaron Rodgers. When he came alive in the second half, so did the passing game; expect a good dose of Ryan Grant throughout this game (18-20 touches).

One more thing: Jordy Nelson needs to meet Rodgers after practice to play catch. He dropped two passes last week and finished with no receptions. One of those incompletions could have put six points on the board. In all Green Bay’s offense dropped four passes, something that can’t happen in future games.

After Looking Around …

The Packers need to eliminate blunders on offense, and Allen Barbre needs to protect Rodgers better. Green Bay’s real strength will be its defense and blitzing, so don’t be surprised if Carson Palmer throws at least one more interception this week. The key for the Packers will be taking advantage of any turnovers. Likewise, the key for the Bengals will be to limit mistakes on offense and blitz the right side of Green Bay’s line on passing downs.

Expect the Packers to establish the run game throughout this one while Cincinnati employs a similar strategy. The team with the best offensive line play and blitz protection will win it in the end; that team is probably Green Bay.

Most Likely To …

… Go Big: Donald Driver — He struggled a little last week but his fight after making catches was telling. If he can limit mistakes he’ll be a big target for Aaron Rodgers; expect Driver to improve significantly over last week’s disappointing numbers.

… Go Home: Chad Ochocinco — The Packers blitzed a lot last week and that’s something to expect again this week. Unless the Bengals react well to the many packages Green Bay brings it’s going to be a long game for Cincinnati’s passing game. And Ochocinco is in for a very physical game against Green Bay’s top-notch man-coverage corners, Al Harris and Charles Woodson, especially after he told the media he’s going to do a Lambeau leap if he scores.

The Hype

It’s an NFC North matchup a week removed from Detroit’s blowout defeat and Minnesota’s 14 point-victory. Adrian Peterson made the fantasy players who drafted him one overall very happy when he carried the Vikings’ offense with 180 rushing yards and 3 ground scores. But don’t assume drafting Lions was the worst plan: Kevin Smith picked up 72 yards of offense and scored once while Calvin Johnson did what he could, taking his three receptions for 90 yards.

When You Look at Minnesota …

… you see a Vikings offense with untold potential and a defense with plenty to bring to the table. Brett Favre’s numbers weren’t gaudy, but he completed 67 percent of his passes and didn’t turn the ball over. Oh, and he did throw a touchdown pass to emerging threat Percy Harvin in the third quarter.

But as stated earlier, this was the Adrian Peterson circus: dude blew up against the Browns, rushing for 180 yards on 25 carries (that’s 7.2 per touch) and even catching a pass for 18 yards. That’s nearly 200 yards from scrimmage and three scores — enough to take a huge advantage over anyone in your fantasy league (unless they had Drew Brees, but that’s another article).

As I said before, Percy Harvin is looking pretty good himself. He’s a playmaker who caught 3 passes for 36 yards and a touchdown and added 2 carries for 22 yards. He’s scary fast and when he gets in the open field he’s liable to score at any time.

When You Look at Detroit …

… you see a team in rebuilding mode. Is 0-16 a possibility again? Well, maybe. Matthew Stafford rushed for a touchdown but also threw 3 picks in a bizarro twist. He didn’t complete half his passes (he was 16-of-37) but he did manage to break 200 passing yards. Leagues that penalize for interceptions should steer clear of the rookie.

The biggest problem for Detroit in this game was New Orleans offense. Brees threw 6 touchdowns and was a relentless force, and the Lions had no answer. That kept the ball in Stafford’s hands and prevented the offense from focusing on the run like I’m sure it wished it could.

Having said that, Kevin Smith carried 15 times for 20 yards. That’s pretty inexcusable from any perspective. Still, if he can get some traction it will be a huge boon for the offense. The Lions need to establish an effective running game so Stafford doesn’t need to put the ball in the air. After all, New Orleans wasn’t noted for its pass defense in the past; either they’re great this season or the Lions have a nervous and ill-prepared rookie quarterback. If it’s the latter the Lions are in for some big struggles again in 2009.

After Looking Around …

Detroit’s offense only scored 20 points — two touchdowns and a pair of field goals — and the defense allowed Drew Brees to pass for 358 yards and Mike Bell to rush for 143 yards. That’s outrageous. The Lions must contain Adrian Peterson and force Brett Favre to beat them or they’re in for another embarrassing defeat.

The Vikings must establish the running game and do what New Orleans did last week: stop the run and force Stafford to beat them. He’s uncomfortable under pressure and he tries to force success; asking him to beat the defense could result in some big turnovers.

Most Likely To …

… Go Big: Adrian Peterson — Yeah, again. If Mike Bell can rush for 143 yards Adrian Peterson can break 100 without much trouble. Granted, Detroit will focus to stop the run; but then again, there’s no doubt they gameplanned to stop Drew Brees last week. We all know what happened on gameday.

… Bonus Go Big: Calvin Johnson — I know Stafford struggled last week and I don’t expect a big game from him this week, but Calvin Johnson is a phenomenal wide receiver. Remember, he took 3 passes 90 yards last week. If the Lions need to play catch-up, he’ll be the go-to receiver. And (brief) history has shown he’s successful against the Vikings: only once (in four games) did the Vikings keep him out of the endzone and his yardage is typically respectable: he finished with 84 and 85 yards in their two meetings last year.

… Go Home: Kevin Smith — The Vikings have a notoriously stout run defense and they’ll want Matthew Stafford throwing passes. Kevin Smith is unlikely to have a great game against them; last season he rushed for 126 yards in two games and failed to score a touchdown. Expect nothing different in this meeting.

Everyone’s making their lists of matchups for the opening weekend so I decided to make one of my own.  Here is a listing of the best matchups for team defenses (special teams not included).

1. Baltimore vs. Kansas City – Any time a top-5 defense faces off against a bottom-5 offense, the D is a must start.  But what makes Baltimore #1 is the fact that in 2008 the Ravens had the lowest average opponent QB rating at 60.6 and everyone knows how much Todd Haley likes to throw the ball.  Expect plenty of interceptions thrown by Matt Cassel and because of his sprained MCL limiting his mobility, also expect multiple Ravens sacks.
2. Minnesota vs. Cleveland – Another top D vs. bottom O matchup.  If Brady Quinn only completed 50.6% of his passes against Denver, Buffalo, and Houston then how will he do against a legit defense like Minnesota?  The Williams Wall will be eligible to play and that all but shuts down any attempts for Cleveland to establish a running game.
3. San Diego vs. Oakland – I don’t think people realize how vital Shawne Merriman is to his defense.  He goes beyond just sacks-his presence forces the offensive coaches to gameplan around him and the double teams he attracts allows for easier one-on-one matchups for guys like Shaun Phillips and Luis Castillo.  There’s also the little fact that JaMarcus Russell has historically struggled against San Diego.  In his three games vs. the Chargers Russell has thrown four interceptions, lost three fumbles, and been sacked 11 times.
4. New England vs. Buffalo – This isn’t based so much on Dallas’ D as it is on Buffalo’s O.  The Bills have looked horrible on offense this preseason and their O-line has zero players starting in the same position that they played in last season.  Marshawn Lynch being suspended certainly won’t help the running game either.  As for the Richard Seymour trade, I think it may galvanize the team and especially the D-linemen.  For the past week they’ve had to listen to everyone say how great Seymour was for the Patriots and he was the main reason for their defensive success.  That kind of chatter usually fires up the guys who played alongside a departed player and the Patriots will be ready to go Monday night.
5. Pittsburgh vs. Tennessee – I’ll say that I think Pittsburgh will finish the season as the top ranked season but I have them at #5 for this week because of the previous success that Tennessee has had against the Steelers.  Last year Tennessee was the only team to put up more than 300 yards of total offense and score at least 30 points against Pittsburgh.  While I don’t think the Titans will do either of those on Thursday night, what they will do is protect Kerry Collins.  Part of the reason Pittsburgh is so great on defense is because of their pass rush, but Tennessee’s O-line negates that great pass rush.  Pittsburgh was second in the NFL in sacks last year while Tennessee had the fewest sacks allowed.  This combination lends itself to a low-scoring, low-turnover game that will come down to field goals.
6. NY Giants vs. Washington – In 2008 Washington managed only 14 points against New York.  Now the Giants get back their best pass rusher and also added quality depth to their entire front seven.  However, many of their players will not be at full strength.  MLB Antonio Pierce is dealing with a sore foot and a little thing called Father Time.  Despite being only 30, Pierce’s play has slipped since he lined up for the Redskins and his first couple of years in New York.  Also OLB Michael Boley is suspended for this game and CB Aaron Ross may not play due to hamstring issues.  Despite all of that, the Giants ferocious pass rush will get to Campbell and force him into a mistake or two.
7. Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh - Even with the loss of Albert Haynesworth, this team will still be a top-10 defense.  The Titans have Giant-esque depth on their D-line and had six players with at least 3.5 sacks last season, not including Big Albert.  They got to Roethlisberger five times last season and Michael Griffin also had two picks.  While neither of those is likely to happen in this game, I do expect this to be a very physical game and no one usually associates the phrase “physical game” with a lot of points.  Even if they lose the game, Tennessee is still a safe defense to employ this week.
8. Dallas vs. Tampa Bay – Dallas had more sacks than anyone last year, so why do I don’t have them higher up?  Because the Bucs run-heavy offense won’t allow many pass rushing opportunities.  I do think the Bucs will have success against the Cowboys’ defense but only in yards and not in points.  So if your scoring format penalizes you for yards allowed, then Dallas may not be a good play.  But if you’re looking for a defense that won’t allow a touchdown and may get a sack or two, then the Cowboys are a safe pick.

Bills head coach Dick Jauron must be frustrated, and perhaps alarmed at this point with his struggling defense and plodding offense. Buffalo’s offense has been especially nauseating this preseason, so much so that I think they’d kill to be playing as well as Oakland circa 2006.

15 series for the starters this preseason, and 3 points to show for it. 0.2 points per series? Seriously?

Certainly it’s important to remember that this is preseason, and the Bills have been struggling in exhibition games. But week three is considered by many to be “dress rehearsal” for the regular season; Buffalo lost to Pittsburgh, 17-0. Those points were scored in the first half, during which Pittsburgh controlled the ball for 21 minutes.

Less than nine minutes of offense for the starters?

Over the course of the game the offense managed just eight total first downs and did not convert a single third down. The offense moved the chains a mere three times in the first half and just once in the first quarter. Buffalo may have turned the ball over just once, but 135 yards of offense over the course of the game isn’t enough. Including penalties, the offense moved 55 yards in the first half and never past their own 42 yard line. If the Bills can’t convert on third down it will be a very long season for Bills fans. Again.

Buffalo played a no-huddle, no-success offense during the game; in other words, drives were short and bitter. Trent Edwards didn’t complete a pass for more than six yards until nearly midway through the second quarter. Prior to that he had thrown an interception returned for a touchdown and completed 3-of-7 for 11 yards.

The biggest missing piece of Buffalo’s puzzle at this stage is Terrell Owens, who has missed three weeks with a toe injury. In his absence the Bills have found limited success, having been outscored 68-6 before halftime in four preseason games. Buffalo is actually averaging less than one point per first half.

The question we must ask is, can Terrell Owens breathe life into this offense? He’s certainly a great wide receiver and a playmaker, but his age is a concern and Trent Edwards has been very disappointing thus far. Even if he’s on the field, it seems unlikely he’ll be enough of a presence to turn this team around in a hurry, especially after missing three weeks of practice.

This situation is shaping to be an ugly one. It seems unlikely Owens has formed a rapport with Edwards with all the time missed; that could lead to Buffalo stumbling out of the gate to start the season. The division projects to be very competitive again with the return of Tom Brady and emergence of Miami as a legitimate contender last season.

One can only hope Owens doesn’t create a locker room schism or beg for the football following a few rough outings this season. I would never wish that upon any team, especially one poised to draft early when April rolls around.