After Further Review: Here's why the Ravens run defense stinks

Numbers usually don't lie.

The tape never does.

Both say the Baltimore Ravens are struggling on defense in a lot of areas, but surprisingly one of them is against the run. The Ravens are 20th in rushing yards per game, which is so not like them.

So what's wrong?

It's really simple. They aren't getting off blocks and they aren't tackling.

Inside linebacker Ray Lewis is a big part of the problem, but he's not the only part. The down linemen are getting blocked. The linebackers are getting mauled at times, including Lewis. And the safeties aren't tackling like they should on some long runs.

The end result is games like we saw last week from the Chiefs, who ran for 214 yards with Jamaal Charles getting 140 of those on 30 carries. That's 4.7 yards per rush.

Who are those guys in the purple uniforms?

The Ravens are also 24th in total defense, tied for 28th in first downs per game and they're 24th in sacks per pass play. The latter we might have expected with star pass rusher Terrell Suggs out with an Achilles tendon injury, but it's the other numbers, especially the run problems, which have to be most concerning.

They were helped last week by some bad quarterback play by Matt Cassel, a fortunate bounce off Dwayne Bowe's hands for a pick and a called-back touchdown on a questionable pick-play call, or else this might be even more alarming.

One play from that game best illustrates the problems for the Ravens. It was a 25-yard run by Charles that came in the first quarter. The pictures below will tell the problematic story for the Ravens.

The Chiefs had a first-and-10 at their own 27. The Ravens had three down linemen, four linebackers, one -- Paul Kruger (yellow circle) -- who was split wide on the left side of the defense on a slot receiver. Safety Bernard Pollard (red circle) was also over there about five yards behind Kruger, who would eventually come on a blitz with Ed Reed (blue circle) as a single safety. With nine guys near the line of scrimmage, it looked to be a good run-stopping defense.

As you can see from the end-zone view below, the Chiefs blocked this play well. Center Ryan Lilja got a good reach block on nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu. Left tackle Brandon Albert got a good kick-out block on Haloti Ngata, and that left a lane for left guard Jeff Allen to get out on Lewis, which you can see in the second shot he did do, creating a huge lane for Charles.

Charles blasted through the hole, ran past Lewis, and tight end Steve Maneri also got a block on corner Cary Williams that helped Charles fly through a hole we all could run through. As Charles ran through it, Reed raced over from deep centerfield to tackle him. As you can see, he missed badly, which allowed Charles to gain an additional 10 yards before backside linebacker Jameel McClain could pull him down from behind.

It's just one play in a game of many, but that 25-yard run shows why the Ravens are struggling on defense, even when they give up just six points. There were several more runs that certainly had to stir the coaches during film work this week in Baltimore.

1. One of the things you notice sometimes with young quarterbacks who have star receivers is that they sometimes focus on them too much -- rather than scanning the field all the time. That was the case with Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton some last week against the Dolphins. He has A.J. Green, one of the game's best receivers, but at times he seemed to lock on him rather than find the open receiver. Here are two examples below of Dalton missing what should have been easy completions trying to get to the ball to Green.

On the first play of the game, you could see Dalton looking for Green deep. But he and receiver Andrew Hawkins (yellow circles) were in the middle of five Dolphins defenders. Down in the bottom of the picture, in the red circle, was tight end Jermaine Gresham. He was wide open for an easy throw. But Dalton looked deep too long and the pocket collapsed and he was sacked.

Later in the game, Dalton missed Gresham for what should have been a big play as he tried to force the ball to Green. You can see by the picture below that Green (yellow circle) was well covered by Sean Smith of the Dolphins. But Dalton forced the ball there anyway. You can also see that Gresham (red circle) was wide open in the middle of the field. That should have been an easy throw for a big play. As it turned out, it was an incomplete pass.

Dalton is too good and too smart for this pattern to continue, but I saw it a couple more times against Miami. He has to be patient and come off Green to other receivers when Green is covered.

2. Why do the Jacksonville Jaguars have the worst offense in the league? There are a lot of reasons, but how about playing too scared in terms of scheme? There has been a lot of blame placed on second-year quarterback Blaine Gabbert, but take a look at the formations for the first two plays of last week's blowout loss to the Chicago Bears.

In the first one -- a run by Maurice Jones-Drew -- the Jaguars had nine guys in the box area, including an extra tackle in Guy Whimper. The run went for no gain. In the second picture, it's even worse. The Jaguars had 11 players in the box area. That means the entire offensive unit is in the picture. That's horrible. They ran it to Jones-Drew, who gained three yards. On third down, the Jaguars asked Gabbert to go make a play into a six-man rush, and he had to throw hot to Mike Thomas for a 3-yard gain. That meant time to punt. That's how offenses get put in bad situations. Why not dictate to the defense? If the Jaguars don't open things up, they have no chance to win and they just might be killing any chance Gabbert has to show he can succeed.

3. Watching the San Francisco offensive line last week against the Bills was a real treat. They were special. Aside from one or two breakdowns, the line dominated all day. It is a line that has improved over last year. The right side is really upgraded. Adam Snyder, who started at right guard last year, is now with the Cardinals. Alex Boone, a converted tackle, plays right guard now and he is much more physical than Snyder. Center Jonathan Goodwin is playing really well, and right tackle Anthony Davis might be the most improved lineman in the league. He is dominant now. The only real negative at times is the pass protection of right guard Mike Iupati, who tends to get too aggressive. But he is a mauler in the run game. Right tackle Joe Staley is a good player as well. This is a unit that will be tested against the Giants this week. But it is a unit that is improving by the week. 4. With Jon Beason out with an injury, the Panthers moved Luke Kuechly into the middle last week against the Seahawks. While he was far from flawless, he did some nice things and looked much more comfortable in the middle than he did on the weakside. On a third-quarter run by Marshawn Lynch, Kuechly showed off his speed and instincts when he knifed through to drop Lynch for a 2-yard gain. Kuechly was still sometimes too aggressive and over-pursued plays, but I think his future is in the middle.

5. There are some who think Matt Slausen's block on Brian Cushing, which led to a torn ACL for the Houston linebacker, was cheap. After watching the play, I don't think it was cheap. But I also don’t think it was necessary. There was no way Cushing was going to be a part of the tackle on the run to the right from his right linebacker spot. But Slausen chopped him down from the side anyway, which led to Cushing immediately grabbing his knee. It is big loss for the Texans. Tim Dobbins came in against the Jets and did a nice job in the run game, but he lacks the ability to play the pass as well as Cushing. That will show up down the road.

6. Sometimes we are just wrong about a player. That player for me is Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict. When he came out of Arizona State last spring, a lot of people dropped him on draft boards because of his off-the-field issues and propensity for getting personal fouls. As a graduate of ASU, I watched him his entire career. The thing that turned me off was that he lacked suddenness. He played slow. But so far as a surprise starter for the Bengals, he has displayed much more athletic ability than he did at ASU. He had a solid game last week against Miami. And he has a knack for finding the football. In fact, he is playing better than the more-heralded Rey Maualuga. On one play against the Dolphins, Burfict shed a block and as he did he was able to slide down and trip Daniel Thomas as he was ready to make a big play. The other thing you notice on tape about Burfict: He runs to the football, which is something he didn't always do at ASU. I was wrong about this kid.

7. Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez had 13 catches last week for the Falcons. He might want to send Roddy White and Julio Jones thank-you cards. Because those two receivers are so good outside, they see a lot of doubles. That means Gonzalez is singled, sometimes with a linebacker. Even with Gonzalez at 36, that's a tough matchup for any linebacker. Gonzalez doesn't run like he once did, but he knows the tricks, such as using his body to box out defenders. Look for him to continue to put up big numbers, at least as long as teams double both outside receivers.

8. When 49ers tight end Vernon Davis told me this summer he couldn't beg for the ball, I could tell he wanted to be more involved in the down-the-field passing game. This is the era of the tight end after all. Davis is getting his chances now, and he's responding. He had a 53-yard catch on a wheel route against the Bills last week that put his athletic ability on display. Matched up with Bills safety George Wilson, he whipped him with a quick move off the line, then faked an out and ran the wheel up the sideline. He was wide open, and Alex Smith dropped the ball easily into his hands for a big play. Davis has tons of athletic ability and the 49ers are finally starting to use it more and more.

9. Why are the Bills so bad on defense? How can they give up more than 550 yards in consecutive games? After watching both the Patriots and 49ers tapes the past couple of weeks, there are a lot of reasons. It starts with the down four getting blocked, including Mario Williams, the $100-million man, and Marcell Dareus, the team's 2011 first-round pick. The linebackers are really bad. They don't fill holes. They miss tackles. And they look slow. The corners have really struggled, in part because there is no pass rush. And the safeties, George Wilson and Jairus Byrd, both bright spots last season, aren't playing nearly as well. Add it all up, and now you know why the Bills are horrible on defense right now.

10. This might sound crazy to Packers fans, but they will be a better offense with Alex Green than they would have been with Cedric Benson. The reason: He has quickness and speed. Benson is a plodder. On a second-quarter inside draw to Green against the Colts, he showed off his inside quickness with a nice 10-yard run. Later, he came back with a big 41-yard run in the fourth quarter. On that play, Green was lined up deep behind Rodgers between two lead blockers. He made a quick cut in the hole to the left side, made the safety miss with a nice shake move, cut back to the right and made Antoine Bethea, the other safety, miss and then ran down the right side for a 41-yard gain. It's the type of run the Packers wouldn't get from Benson. So put me on record as saying Green will help the Green Bay offense with Benson out, not hurt it.

1. Broncos OLB Von Miller: He was all over the field against the Patriots, getting two sacks.

2. Saints WR Marques Colston: He had three touchdown catches and put the Saints offense on his back against San Diego.

3. Texans DE J.J. Watt: Can we just keep him here? The guy is playing some amazing football. Is he the next Merlin Olsen?

4. Jaguars LT Eugene Monroe: He did a really nice job on Julius Peppers last week when matched with him.

5. Redskins DT Barry Cofield: Some of his coaches said he was the best nose guard in the league before the season. He just might be.

1. Eagles QB Michael Vick: He fumbled three times against the Steelers, losing two, to give him 11 turnovers on the season. He has to take care of the football.

2. Packers receivers: They didn't win enough against man coverage last week against the Colts.

3. Cardinals tackles D'Anthony Batiste and Bobby Massie: If they don't pick it up, Kevin Kolb won't make it.

4. Titans S Michael Griffin: Titans fans have to wonder why they paid this guy.

5. Jaguars QB Blaine Gabbert: He just isn't taking shots down the field and two pick-sixes will kill you.

Three assistants who won't sleep this week

1. Giants defensive line coach Robert Nunn: Normally he's the guy sleeping well, but he's preparing his guys to face one of the better lines from early in this season against the 49ers.

2. Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley: Yes, he has a damn good defense. But he has to get ready to face a New England offense that is tops in the NFL and getting better.

3. Oakland secondary coach Johnny Lynn: His group faces a tough test against that Atlanta passing game.

Three underrated rookies

1. Browns T Mitchell Schwartz: He has proved to be a nice complement to Joe Thomas on the other side.

2. Panthers DE Frank Alexander: This fourth-round pick has flashed some pass-rush ability.

3. Bucs LB Lavonte David: He was one of my favorites heading into the draft and he's done nothing to dispute that he's going to be a quality starter for a long time.

Three things I am tired of already

1. Mike Pereira sticking it to the replacement refs. They're gone, Mike. Your buddies are back. Move on.

2. Bounty-gate. Who cares? The Saints season is all but over.

3. The pro-Tim Tebow media. When will it end? He's found his niche -- as a punt-protector. That doesn't change who he is, right? And isn't that why most love him anyway? He's bigger than football, after all.

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Game Rankings: Week 3 menu not nearly as tasty, but here's hoping for better order

Ray Rice should be in for a busy day at the office when the Patriots visit. (US Presswire)

Maybe it's me. Maybe I'm just not as hungry this week. Could just be my appetite and feeble attempts at dieting. But to me, I just don't see quite the feast here this week.

If anything, I may have stretched it to get a few of these games into the foot-long category, and I feel like in general this is a six-inch kind of week -- not much in terms of divisional rivalries, a fair amount of games between teams that rarely play, and I'm probably a little muted as well by the agony of officiating blunders around the league in Week 2. May have taken a little of the shine off of it, with the delays and chippy stuff and things tending to get out of hand.

I'm hoping for a bounce-back week from the zebras and fewer controversies all around. Finding some middle ground between Week 1, when it was anything goes in some cases, and Week 2, when some real ticky-tack stuff helped decide some big games, might be in order. Then perhaps, I'll have a little more mayo and pickles and extra meat to sprinkle around on the docket come this time next week when we size up Week 4.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Why to watch: It wasn't that long ago they met with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line, and New England persevered when Lee Evans couldn't pull in a game-winning touchdown pass and Billy Cundiff missed a game-tying kick. Worth noting, neither stuck around all that long in Baltimore after that. One of these teams will be 1-2 after both lost games they believe they should have won last week, with officiating at least partly the story. Tom Brady's offensive line is not quite as stout as in the past, and Vince Wilfork must still chuckle to himself whenever he thinks back to that AFC Championship Game, and the way he tormented Baltimore's center and guards. Joe Flacco, playing for a fat new contract, needs to play better than he has in many other prime-time outings, but few teams have been better at home than the Ravens. Huge game.

What to watch for: Haloti Ngata is off to an MVP-type start, and there won't be a Brian Waters to get in his way this time. ... Both Courtney Upshaw and Paul Kruger, who were supposed to help offset the losses of Terrell Suggs and Jarrett Johnson, have been banged up and struggling some, however. ... The Wes Welker watch will be on, and corner Cary Williams has been picked on early, in the slot and otherwise. ... How much do the Pats suffer without Aaron Hernandez to complement Rob Gronkowski? ... Brady will be in beast mode, and he doesn't do a lot of losing streaks, even two games. ... Ravens rookie kicker Justin Tucker has been unreal, while Stephen Gostkowski comes in having missed a game-winner he usually makes. ... The Ravens leaned too heavily on the shotgun last week and abandoned what had been a fertile running game; look for Ray Rice to get a ton of touches in the screen game.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why to watch: Which Peyton Manning will show up? Isn't that what we all want to see every week? Will it be the unflappable dude who threw precise passes all over the field to triumph over Pittsburgh late in the opener, or the guy throwing picks all over the place in Atlanta a few days later, and looking noodle-armed at times in the process? Everything Manning does will be a big story, and no one knows exactly how his body will respond to the continued rigors of the game. And he just happens to be facing what might be the most fearsome defense in the NFL this week, and one that he used to torment as a division rival when with the Colts. J.J. Watt and the boys ain't playing. This game could have tiebreaker potential down the line as well.

What to watch for: Does Manning come out firing? Can he make anything happen in the vertical game? How does he hold up against this pass rush? Is it a ton of quick hits to Brandon Stokley and the tight ends in the slot? ... Arian Foster and Ben Tate are both in good form, and Gary Kubiak knows he doesn't have to get too cute, especially with Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller having their sights set on Matt Schaub. ... Denver's running game is not looking nearly as robust as it did playing Tebow ball a year ago. ... Guys like Champ Bailey will be very familiar with the kind of offense Houston runs, from the Kubiak/Shanahan ties, and he may need to gamble and guess a few times to jump a route and force a turnover.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why to watch: Raise your hand if you saw this one coming. Kevin Kolb faces his former team with the Cardinals 2-0, fresh off a win at Gillette, while for the second straight week the Eagles won a game by a single point with some late heroics and good fortune. It's the Kolb Bowl, baby! And the Cards just happen to be the NFL's hottest team over the past 11 games. Michael Vick took an absolute beating from the Ravens last week but hung in there to make crucial plays and throw for over 300 yards. No team has more sacks than the Cardinals over the past 11 games, so Vick's Kevlar jacket might get another workout.

What to watch for: Patrick Peterson can win a game in the secondary or on special teams. ... The Cards will throw a lot of zone blitzes at you and Vick's ability to read them and not force the ball will be critical. ... Expect a heavy dose of LeSean McCoy, trying to get Darnell Dockett running around and chasing outside and hoping to tire him out. ... Kolb loves to throw to the tight end. As long as Todd Heap's body holds up, which is a quarter-to-quarter proposition at this stage of his career, he could see a lot of targets. ... The Eagles are down a center and a couple of tackles at this point, so Vick's health falls even more into question. ... Arizona's offensive line will have its hands full with Jason Babin and Trent Cole.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why to watch: Atlanta continues to apply for its charter membership in the AFC West while facing San Diego after already taking on K.C. and Denver this season. Matt Ryan has looked the part against those foes, and if Atlanta's defense can continue turning teams over like it has been, it's going to be a fun year for the Falcons. San Diego is also undefeated, expects to get Antonio Gates and Ryan Mathews back and very quietly has re-established some bark on defense, looking more aggressive and swarming to the ball. Both of these teams have something to prove after the Chargers missed the playoffs in 2011 and Atlanta went out meekly in its first playoff game, again.

What to watch for: Michael Turner was arrested for DUI following Atlanta's Monday night win over Denver, so he will be under the microscope in terms of how much he plays, and how well he plays. Turner is a former Charger, and this would have been an emotional game for him, already. ... John Abraham will be testing the Chargers' tackles, and left tackle in particular is an area of concern with Jared Gaither still ailing. ... Ryan has not been as good on the road and outdoors in his career, though the weather in San Diego is rarely daunting, and by midweek the Chargers were still 11,000 seats short of a sellout. ... If the game turns into a blowout, or is long and slow and marred by questionable officiating, you can always try counting the empty seats.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why to watch: WWJCDN? What will Jay Cutler do next? He is becoming must-see TV, especially when things don't go his way. He might shove his left tackle, rip a coach on the sidelines, give off the too-cool-for-school nature of an arrogant schoolboy, but the dude is also one helluva quarterback when he's not acting as a double agent. Jeff Fisher will try to exploit Chicago's protection issues and with no Matt Forte the Bears aren't nearly as diverse offensively. The Rams have a few corners who can bait you into a bad throw and they are a clock operator error away from being 2-0. Oh. And Sam Bradford is playing like a stud.

What to watch for: With starting left tackle Rodger Saffold out, does Wayne Hunter have a prayer of a chance if the Bears start moving Julius Peppers around? ... Brian Urlacher's knee is not right and he wasn't the same last Thursday, so will the extra rest help him? ... Have a feeling Steven Jackson comes out hard after either being benched or suffering from a minor muscle injury last week, depending on who you talk to. ... With Mike Martz gone, who takes the blame in Chicago if Cutler continues to be thrown around like a pillow pet? ... Do the Bears have a nickelback who can handle Danny Amendola in the slot?

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why to watch: Robert Griffin III is capable of something unreal at any given moment, but it's riveting to watch the weekly chess match as teams figure out and try to take away what the Redskins want to do with him. The Rams used a physical approach, crashing the ends to force him out of read option plays. Carlos Dunlap could be a key to this game. And Andy Dalton must be licking his chops, with the Redskins losing linemen Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker for the year last week and the Redskins lacking anything close to a complete corner and looking particularly shoddy in the secondary. This could be an old-fashioned shootout, because the Bengals defense hasn't been effective through two weeks.

What to watch for: Uber-aggressive Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett is in a real jam. The team was built to get major pressure with Orakpo, Carriker and Ryan Kerrigan, but it is suddenly one-dimensional, using practice-squad pass rushers and still stuck with those defensive backs. So does Haslett run as much Cover 1 and Cover 0 as he normally would? And is putting DeAngelo Hall on A.J. Green the best he can do? ... Keep track of how many of Washington's successful runs are to the left side; they're pretty lopsided right now. ... How many reps does Josh Morgan get at receiver for Washington after his bone-headed penalty took the Redskins out of range for a tying field goal last week?

Monday, Sept. 24, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Why to watch: The Packers seemed to find their way, both defensively and in the run game, against the Bears, and perhaps are primed for a tear. The Seahawks have one of the best defenses in the NFL, a distinct home-field advantage and will be crazy fired up Monday night (or, well, just past happy hour PT). Marshawn Lynch and that physical run front could create some problems for Green Bay, and Russell Wilson is fun to watch while he is learning on the job. I'm sure when this game became destined for Monday night, it was probably with the idea that ex-Packers quarterback Matt Flynn would be starting for the Seahawks, but it's an intriguing matchup nonetheless.

What to watch for: Can anyone block Clay Matthews? He's pushing seven sacks already and the Seahawks have been wounded on the line. Russell Okung will need to come up big. ... Seahawks GM John Schneider spent years in the Green Bay front office, playing a role in drafting many of these Packers and should have plenty of inside info on this bunch. ... Might be hard for the Packers to go as run-heavy as they did at times against Chicago, but beware of the Seahawks' safety tandem. ... When does Charles Woodson not show up big in prime time?

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why to watch: There might not be a more desperate team in the NFL than the Saints. They're 0-2, Drew Brees is giving the ball away and the defense hasn't been capable of making a play, much less a stand. They badly need to get something going, and lucky for them they stumble into an even more hapless bunch than they are. If New Orleans were to somehow find a way to blow this, at home, it's going to doom their season, and I sense they know it. Because, you know, Sean Payton is not walking back through that door ... at least not until 2013.

What to watch for: Romeo Crennel is going to face more questions about remaining coach and defensive coordinator if he can't find a way to stifle the Saints downfield. ... Kansas City safety Eric Berry doesn't look right following his return from knee surgery, and running back Jamaal Charles has been limited following his surgery as well. Can either do more this week? ... Jimmy Graham is clearly Brees' go-to target now, and the Chiefs' linebackers have had some big-time coverage issues. ... If Aaron Kromer is going to remain some sort of hot-shot coaching candidate, he had better find a way to hang 35-40 points on the Chiefs, since that's all the rage these days.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why to watch: It's the Sparano Bowl. Peeps! Dontcha remember, wasn't much less than a year ago that people were putting out pools on when the Dolphins would fire Tony Sparano and whether or not his house was for sale, and now he's the architect of Team Tebow! Play calling was pretty unimaginative last week, though, and now Sparano's former boss, Miami GM Jeff Ireland, is under fire. You just know Sparano would love to have a trick or two up his sleeve after Ireland tried to replace him with Jim Harbaugh, you know, with Sparano still on the job and all. So we've got that going for us.

What to watch for: Mark Sanchez gets to face a team that can't really cover, but will it matter? ... How many balls will Santonio Holmes drop? ... Ryan Tannehill should be a little more settled down after getting a win last week. ... Reggie Bush is going all Barry Sanders through two weeks, but you know Rex Ryan will sell out to shut that down, so can the kid QB take advantage? ... This could be the week Cameron Wake goes off with the right side of the Jets' line still under review. ... If the Dolphins are able to shut down New York's ground game even close to the way they did to the Raiders, this could be a pretty interesting game.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why to watch: Will the real Dallas Cowboys please stand up? Or perhaps they already have -- same ol' up-and-down team. Consistency escapes them. Josh Freeman seems more willing to air the ball out, and after Russell Wilson got the better of Dallas a week ago, aided greatly by a power run game, one would expect a heavy dose of ground and pound from Tampa. On the converse, not sure this is the week you want to flopping right tackles if you are the Bucs, what with DeMarcus Ware coming to town and all. Ronde Barber remains the kind of dude who can jump on a Tony Romo pass or two. Can't wait to see how taskmaster Greg Schiano gets his team rallied after allowing 25 points in the fourth quarter a week ago.

What to watch for: Victory formation, sucka! Who isn't waiting to see what happens, if, say, the Cowboys are up by three and they take a knee with like 30 seconds left from their own 30? Will Schiano call off the dogs or attack the quarterback with hopes of causing a turnover? Will Tom Coughlin's words have a chilling affect? Or will the opposite happen? And Cowboys owner Jerry Jones came out this week and said he thinks kneel-downs should be eliminated. Delicious! And God forbid if Romo actually turned the ball over in such a scenario. Get your DVRs ready.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why to watch: Lions coach Jim Schwartz called Nashville his home for a long time as Titans defensive coordinator and he has a good feel for what Tennessee coach Mike Munchak is trying to accomplish. The Lions' lack of a run game shouldn't be an issue considering how good Matthew Stafford is and how weak the Titans' secondary has been. Chris Johnson needs to get himself going at some point, but the Lions' DL is stout. If the Titans fancy themselves a wild-card team, or the second-best team in the AFC South, they had best show a little something now because they've been dominated twice already this season.

What to watch for: Jake Locker showed no signs of life at all through the air last week and Schwartz likes to rush four and play coverage, which could have DBs in position to feast if Locker sails balls as he is known to do. ... Do the Titans make any schematic changes to rediscover the run game? Can Munchak crack the whip enough to get his team's attention and they finally get back to their physical ways? ... Calvin Johnson for 200 yards wouldn't surprise me. ... I bet Brandon Pettigrew goes off as well.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why to watch: Carson Palmer is looking like someone who might be searching for a job in 2013 and the Raiders can't run the ball a lick even with Darren McFadden finally healthy. The Dolphins absolutely ravaged Oakland's front seven in the run game a week ago, and the Raiders get the Steelers at a time when coach Mike Tomlin has let it be known he is far from pleased with the state of Pittsburgh's ground attack. Could make for an ugly combination. If the Steelers sell out to continue the McFadden shutdown, can Palmer make them pay?

What to watch for: Should Rashard Mendenhall complete his stunning recovery from knee surgery and dress for this game, monitor the carries. The goal is just for some game conditioning and then a more regular role coming out of the bye as long as the knee keeps responding. ... Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau has the book on Palmer dating back to his years with the Bengals. ... If this thing get lopsided, keep a close eye out for beer, batteries and other various sundries that might come flying out of the Black Hole.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why to watch: Maybe this should be a slider. You could make that argument. But watching the week-by-week development of Andrew Luck is enough to draw me in. He's going to be real tough to beat in his home dome soon enough, just like Peyton was, and I figure he come out emboldened by his game-winning drive from a week ago. Meantime the Jags are already reeling, they could be looking at some major offseason overhauls and their young quarterback, Blaine Gabbert, is coming off a woeful game in which a somewhat mysterious injury seemed to emerge. He will be something less than emboldened or empowered heading into Week 3, with backup Chad Henne flinging it around while he was on the sidelines.

What to watch for: The Colts are vulnerable to being gashed on the ground, and Maurice Jones Drew is generally jacked up for divisional games. ... Gabbert needs to have a good first quarter, and I expect a very rudimentary game plan early on to ease him into the game. ... Do Jags receivers like Laurent Robinson and Justin Blackmon get frustrated at some point by the lack of downfield intent? ... Can Colts rookie TE Coby Fleener start to find his way after a rough start? ... The Colts are going through tackles like Sean Payton spits out Chiclets, and the Jags need to find a way to exploit that.

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why to watch: Are the 49ers in a proverbial trap game? Are they due for a letdown after playing consecutive highly charged, emotional games against playoff teams from a year ago? Will Alex Smith never throw another interception? Is A.P. ready to carry a team the way AD once did? Have you noticed how solid Christian Ponder has been through two weeks? Won't you cry a little bit on the inside once you can't watch games telecast from the Metrodome anymore? Yeah, me neither. Oh, and did I happen to mention Randy Moss is returning to Minnesota? That might provoke just a smidge of fan reaction.

What to watch for: Would be a good week for Jared Allen to get it going, with the Vikings desperate for an edge somewhere. ... Do the Vikings come out playing seven or eight in the box, with Frank Gore still formidable? ... Vernon Davis could be a total beast against the Cover 2. ... Get ready for the now perfunctory footage of Harbaugh in the huddle with his team and throwing the ball around during pregame warmups. My, what a staple it has become. ... How long before all the fantasy football owners who took Toby Gerhart organize and begin a revolt outside the stadium?

Sunday, Sept. 23, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why to watch: Um, well, Brandon Weeden threw for 300 yards last week and looked a lot better than he did in the opener. And the Bills bounced back from their debacle in Week 1 and showed signs of life. C.J. Spiller is gashing people all over the place and averaging like 10 yards a carry, and the Browns are suspect against the ground attack. And Ryan Fitzpatrick actually didn't go out and undermine his team with a bevy of picks last week, which is definitely progress. So there you go -- convinced?

What to watch for: Trent Richardson needs to be a bell cow, and with Mario Williams feeling a boost from having that apparatus on his wrist, and Kyle Williams finally healthy, the Bills might be finally getting that pass-rush thing together. ... Can Josh Cribbs come up with a moment of brilliance for old-times' sake? ... The Browns are still without suspended corner Joe Haden, which could be an invitation for both the best and worst of Fitzpatrick. ... The Browns could use a win, what with a new owner about three weeks from taking over and all.

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