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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Week 2 Game Rankings: Ravens-Eagles, Broncos-Falcons not as tasty but still good

The last time the 49ers and Lions met, their coaches had to be separated. (Getty Images)

On paper, I probably don't like this week's schedule as much as last week's. Not quite as sexy. A few fewer marquee games.

But this is nothing to be ashamed of. Highlights of the week: Out-of-conference tilts like Ravens-Eagles and Broncos-Falcons. And it's an odd week in that there are only four divisional games over a full slate, and the best of the bunch likely comes Thursday night.

We still have five rookie quarterbacks starting -- though after Week 1 you have to wonder if all five retain that position all season -- and no one has even endured a two-game skid yet, so spirits and expectations remain high. It's still a crazy time of the year, when rookies like Robert Griffin III are being compared to Cam Newton, but with such a limited sample size to analyze anyone, these things will happen in September.

Time will tell the contenders from the pretenders.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why To Watch: Are the Jets for real? Will Mark Sanchez put up those kind of numbers with any regularity? Stephen Hill for rookie of the year? Oh, yeah, and the Steelers are still too old on defense, right? Even though we all said this a year ago and they were still ranked first. Sanchez will get a real test from Steelers coordinator Dick LeBeau, and Steelers safety Ryan Clark -- a calming and settling influence -- is back this week. How many of us would have projected New York 2-0 and Pittsburgh 0-2? Well, that's what's at stake here.

What To Watch For: Pittsburgh already suffering a bunch of injuries to its offensive line, so some vulnerability there. Rashard Mendenhall might actually be able to go in this one, a good 10 weeks ahead of schedule, and James Harrison is likely to play as well ... Ben Roethlisberger generally has given Rex Ryan defenses fits, going back to Ryan's time in Baltimore ... Santonio Holmes will be mega-fired up to return to Pittsburgh ... Heath Miller will get a ton of balls thrown his way in this Todd Haley offense, and especially against this group of linebackers ... Austin Howard better not get too impressed with what he did against Mario Williams, because he's about to get swarmed with overload blitzes and guys like Troy Polamalu coming his way.

Monday, Sept. 17, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)

Why to Watch: Peyton Manning turned back the clock in the opener -- and suddenly its euphoria time in the Rocky Mountains. Anything he does this season will be highly anticipated and watched, and this game is no different. He goes on the road for the first time in his return, and has a little more of a feel for being back at this level now, as he tries to find old friends like Brandon Stokley through the air again. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is coming off a superb outing as well.

What To Watch For: How do the Falcons hold up with their top corner, Brent Grimes, now out for the season? It was already a position of need ... Will Michael Turner get more looks to try to keep Von Miller off of Ryan's back? Does Champ Bailey end up on Julio Jones or Roddy White? (My money is on Jones) ... If Atlanta can't muster a multi-faceted pass rush, and that's not really their nature right now, then the loss of Grimes will be compounded. Manning will be content to merely find the best matchup, so Dunta Robinson could get picked on quite a bit ... It's a homecoming for Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas, who I think will have a monster game, as he played in college at Georgia Tech.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why To Watch: Two out-of-conference teams -- separated by a mere 90-minute drive -- under the burden of lofty expectations meet, with Joe Flacco getting awfully close to his college stomping grounds at Delaware. Mike Vick badly needs to rebound and restore some faith, but may have to do so without Jeremy Maclin, and if so, the Ravens will find it easier to focus on DeSean Jackson and try to physically intimidate him. Ravens linebackers are leaner this season to cope with more slot action. Flacco, who was on the cusp of a meaty contract extension during camp, is uber-motivated to continue balling out ... If a raven and an eagle actually were to throw down, who would have the longer talons/claws, and who would have the advantage?

What To Watch For: Ravens uncharacteristically unstable against the run last week (losing Jarrett Johnson in free agency could prove substantial), so can Andy Reid curb his pass-crazy tendencies -- especially in the red zone -- and try to pound Shady McCoy? ... Vick had better be much more careful with his decision making this week, or Ed Reed will make him look silly ... Baltimore flipped its offensive line just before the season. Can this younger unit hold up on the road against a stout Eagles pass rush after getting to face the Bengals' impotent thrust Monday? ... Young interior of Philly's offensive line will be tested by Haloti Ngata, who ravaged the Bengals last week.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 8:20 p.m. ET (NBC)

Why To Watch: Is it too much to ask that Jim Schwartz and Jim Harbaugh go bonkers again and start talking trash and back slapping and damn near fight on the sidelines? Probably. But, man, I'm still hoping it somehow comes about. Alex Smith seems ready to slice up a Lions secondary that was auditioning help en masse this week. But as good as the 49ers have been the past two seasons, brawny defensive linemen have given them some trouble -- and the Lions have no shortage of those. And after throwing three picks last week, Matthew Stafford will be fired up to perform better.

What To Watch For: Do the Lions, stripped of so many running backs, even try to stick with the ground game against Justin Smith and these guys? ... How do the Lions find a way to deal with Vernon Davis? ... Sneaking suspicion that Randy Moss ends up making a few huge plays here ... Calvin Johnson nursing a foot injury, coupled with the 49ers' corners and ability of their linebackers to run, means this may be the rare team equipped to shut him down ... Field position, sans Ted Ginn, could be a problem for San Francisco.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why To Watch: Did you happen to see, or maybe even just hear about, what RG3 did to the Saints' defense in Week 1? Of course you did, and I'm sorry, but Cam Newton is going to present even more problems. He will be fired up after struggling against Tampa and Carolina knows that starting 0-2 within the NFC South could be damning. Drew Brees needs to take a deep breath and keep things a little more simple. Carolina must discover a run game and the Saints need to figure out some discernible strength defensively. Saints should be a little more stable emotionally after failing to adjust to the charged atmosphere at home a week ago.

What To Watch For: Does Will Smith, able to practice all of this week after having to sit out last week before his suspension was lifted Friday, perk up and help New Orleans get some pressure on Newton after Griffin got out unscathed? ... Is Panthers pass-rush specialist Charles Johnson ready to have a breakout game? Brandon LaFell could be in for a big outing for the Panthers. ... Jimmy Graham will be Brees' go-to guy in a time of need. ... If Cam decides to keep it and run, not sure the Saints linebackers can keep close, much less mug him.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why To Watch: Few teams get as high as the Cowboys and few get as low. They come in to this one riding a crest from beating the Giants, but Seattle is no joke on defense and the 12th Man is very real. So how will Tony Romo and a shaky offensive line handle that, to say nothing of Bruce Irvin on third down? Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson makes his first home start for Seattle.

What To Watch For: Nose tackle Jay Ratliff is still out for Dallas, and Marshawn Lynch wants to pound the ball between the tackles ... Seattle will have veteran guard John Moffitt back at right guard. Seattle needs much better play than what what it got from J.R. Sweezy at that spot against the Cardinals. Couple that with left tackle Russell Okung dealing with a bone bruise around his knee, and DeMarcus Ware could have a field day. Of course, look for Seattle to run the heck directly at him to neutralize that ... Romo had better be smart with the football against this secondary. These safeties will jump on the football.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why To Watch: Tampa coach Greg Schiano, former longtime coach at Rutgers, returns to New Jersey off an impressive win over the Panthers. And the Giants try to shake off the post-Super Bowl hangover that stalled them in the opener by giving the home fans a better performance. New York is still decimated by secondary injuries, though, which could mean Vincent Jackson has his first big game for the Bucs. All eyes will be on Giants receiver Victor Cruz, who is playing with a heavy heart after dropping pretty much everything thrown his way in Week 1 and then losing his grandmother, to whom he was very close.

What To Watch For: Ronde Barber is a freak of nature. Two-hundred straight starts and still going strong. Now he gets to do it at the Meadowlands, where his brother played home games. The addition of Mark Barron makes that Bucs' secondary look deadly, and Eli Manning will have to be careful not to force things ... Josh Freeman has lost a lot of weight, but still didn't look free and easy to me in the opener ... If Bucs keep LaGerrette Blount on the sidelines, a trade request could be looming ... Gerald McCoy, a former top-five pick, is coming around -- his pressure on Eli Manning would be huge for the Bucs. ... Tampa has the kind of offensive line that should be able to hang tough with the Giants' potent rotation up front.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why To Watch: Jake Locker was doing quite alright a week ago before being forced out of the game because of a shoulder injury, but how will he respond if, in fact, he proves able to start here? Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips looks ready to rediscover his top gear and is coming off a big game. Chargers should be more dynamic and quicker along the front seven.

What To Watch For: Can Chris Johnson show the burst that made him historic? Some scouts believe he is over-running his holes and forcing things in pursuit of the home run ... If Ryan Mathews is able to play -- and it's highly doubtful he will be -- can he really provide much? And will he ever prove to be a dependable option? ... Kenny Britt is back from suspension and probably set for 30-some snaps in this one ... Titans offensive line looking a little sluggish, and needs to step up ... If Locker isn't comfortable he tends to sail the ball and put it up for grabs ... Johnson was at his best with Vince Young providing another run threat in the backfield, so a few designed runs for Locker early could end up being huge for the Titans' run game.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why To Watch: RG3 is coming off a historical debut in the opener, so who wouldn't want to see what he can do after that? And Alfred Morris is the new featured back du jour for Team Shanahan -- and gets a second straight start. The Rams camethisclose to beating Detroit last week, and if not for a clock screw up they likely would have that W. Sam Bradford's suspect offensive line was ravaged by injuries last week, but Steven Jackson will set a physical tone and Bradford has enough smarts to catch former Rams coach Jim Haslett in some of those all-out blitzes. Should be a very interesting game, and Griffin gets a look at one of the more fearsome corner duos in the league this week (yeah, I think this kid Janoris Jenkins is that good).

What To Watch For: If Pierre Garcon (foot) does play, how effective is he? Clearly, he is Griffin's favorite receiver. Now that there is regular-season tape on Griffin, and he is more or less running his college offense from Baylor. How will the Rams adjust and what will Griffin do if quality corners like Cortland Finnegan and Jenkins squat on the bubble screens and underneath stuff? ... Hard to think Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan won't have some fun against this offensive line ... Have a hunch Steve Smith makes a big play or two in the slot for the Rams.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why To Watch: You will be hard-pressed to find two teams who looked worse in Week 1 getting together in Week 2. But it's the battle of Ohio, a divisional victory is at stake and perhaps the Browns can keep up the defensive tone they set last Sunday by creating more turnovers. The Bengals hope to have some bite to their defense after a debacle Monday night, and getting Carlos Dunlap back would go a long way. Andy Dalton should be much more effective and comfortable at home.

What To Watch For: With no Joe Haden for the Browns, good luck finding a way to slow down A.J. Green. And with the way Benjarvis Green Ellis ran on the Ravens, the Browns must be a little worried in that regard as well ... After all the missed time in the preseason, maybe another week of practice will get Trent Richardson going ... Look for the Bengals to challenge Cleveland's rookie right tackle ... Brandon Weeden can't be as bad as he was in the opener, right? And if he is, how long before Cleveland's young receiving corps gets frustrated?

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why To Watch: Give Maurice Jones-Drew credit -- regardless of what you thought of his holdout, he came to play in Week 1 despite the long layoff. And as big a Blaine Gabbert skeptic as I was a year ago, his continued incremental progress in 2012 is impressive. So I'm trying to build a compelling case for the Jags having a chance here, though I don't really see it. Should be a nice setting for new owner Shahid Khan's first home game, though. Oh, and I haven't even mentioned the Texans yet, who turned Miami over on four straight possessions at one point a week ago.

What To Watch For: Is Jags tackle Eugene Monroe ready to make a leap this season after a stellar outing in Week 1? He's going to have to be if Gabbert is going to stand tall against this Texans pass rush ... Arian Foster got better as the game went on in Week 1, and if the Texans get up early look for them to take the air out of the ball with Foster and Ben Tate ... Have a feeling Andre Johnson goes off ... Matt Schaub couldn't be in a better place mentally after bouncing back from his 2011 foot injury in Week 1, then getting a four-year contract extension after the game. Could be a very big week, and year, for him ... Look for Gabbert to target Justin Blackmon a ton early ... J.J. Watt good for knocking down at least two passes a game.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why To Watch: Cards have been much better on defense since the middle of the 2011 season, and defensive coordinator Ray Horton knows the Pats well from his time in Pittsburgh, but still have to wonder if Arizona can even keep this close. Have a feeling after all the crazy speculation about Wes Welker -- given his limited role in Week 1 -- that he ends up being featured prominently in the slot. The Patriots, with their reworked front seven, have the chance to be truly smothering against the run and change their entire identity this season.

What To Watch For: Darnell Dockett is coming off a massive game and New England is vulnerable, particularly at guard. And Tom Brady already had his nose bloodied and smashed by the Titans last week ... Brandon Lloyd should see a lot of Patrick Peterson trying to dissuade him from getting deep, and Peterson on either of the Pats young tight ends is a matchup worth paying to see ... New England will retain its commitment to the run, I believe ... Chandler Jones is going to have some fun with Arizona's patched-together offensive line.

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why To Watch: There must be a drinking game in here somewhere -- count the empty seats? Multiply the number of Dolphins incompletions times the numbers of balls caught by its starting receivers (all of three a week ago) and see if it surpasses Chad Johnson's old jersey number? Set an over/under for the number of in-game camera shots that find their way to whatever suite Ryan Tannehill's wife is occupying?

What To Watch For: I have been hearing and reporting since before his trade to Oakland that there are no shortage of people in the league convinced that Carson Palmer's shoulder, accuracy and throwing velocity never will be the same, and he is in steep decline. Yet to see much evidence to the contrary since he got there, but draw your own conclusions from this one. Dolphins' undermanned secondary actually could make Palmer look good Sunday, and Oakland's speed will prevent problems. ... The size of Oakland's defensive front could cause problems here ... Wonder if we see Terrelle Pryor in a Wildcat-type formation?

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)

Why To Watch: Are you a fan of truly inept defensive coverage? Can't get enough wayward passes or gifted interceptions? Have a thing for popular preseason bandwagon teams that probably don't have the chops to warrant raised expectations? Then this is the game for you.

What To Watch For: Tamba Hali comes back off his one-game suspension and is being looked at as something of a savior to establish a pass rush for a Chiefs team that was gashed by the Falcons at will ... With Fred Jackson out, C.J. Spiller figures to see a ton of action after ripping some explosive plays last week ... Would tend to think Bills coach Chan Gailey still isn't real comfortable with the fact he was whacked as offensive coordinator in K.C. a few years ago, just before the season began. Tends to motivate you. And along those lines, could Ryan Fitzpatrick implode to the point where Tyler Thigpen gets to enact some revenge of his own against the Chiefs?

Sunday, Sept. 16, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)

Why To Watch: Andrew Luck makes his home debut in what I suspect will be a successful campaign to eventually make Colts fans stop pining for Peyton Manning. A.P. ended up leading to the Vikings to a victory in Week 1 in his return from knee surgery and surpassed the 10-15 carries projected for him. Coach Leslie Frazier will have a hard time holding him back after that. And the Colts truly have issues against the run. Always good to see a superstar like Adrian Peterson back in the game.

What To Watch For: Jared Allen needs a bounce back performance after another AFC South team with a less-than-elite offensive line -- the Jaguars -- held him in check aweek ago ... Colts, thin to begin with, already getting crushed by the injury bug, which will be a problem, especially if Dwight Freeney can't go. Indianapolis signing more offensive linemen this week, not a good sign for young Mr. Luck ... Christian Ponder showing signs of being capable under center and Vikes rookie kicker Blair Walsh should have a few big kicks in him back in a dome again this week.

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