NFL 2007 Forecast: Week 3

The season is still very early to begin adjusting your Super Bowl picks, and you still can't make too many rash judgements on a team's success or lack thereof.

But, there are some teams that had were tagged with very low expectations going into the season and suddenly they are raising some eyebrows. Green Bay, Houston, Detroit, San Francisco, and Washington are off to 2-0 starts, but several of them face a foe this week that has the firepower to bring them down to earth.

Dallas, New England, Denver, Pittsburgh, and Indianapolis are also undefeated and all but maybe Pittsburgh were expected to be here. There's some other surprises that have fans buzzing and reporters puzzled. New Orleans is creeping out of the gate having given up 72 points and scoring 24. Philadelphia is probably the most surprising with their very sloppy offense led by Donovan McNabb who seems more concerned about his sensitive side than winning. The Rams have a potent offense and improving defense that was figured to produce at least one win by now, but they find themselves in a hole as well.

Who will continue on to the 3-0 plain? Is there a 1-1 team or one of these winless squads that will have a breakout performance and keep prognosticators and fans from checking them off their list? The foundations is laid for another provocative and wild week in the NFL!

• Arizona Cardinals (1-1) at Baltimore Ravens (1-1): FOX, 1pm EST - Each of these teams have scored 40 and given up 40 points. Both have a running back that has the potential of having a breakout game although Edgerrin James leads the NFC in rushing. They each have a top-10 defense who must set the dominating tone and allow the offenses to be effective. If the Cardinals are going to make a statement that they are to be taken seriously, then QB Matt Leinart must avoid mistakes and move the chains against this stingy defense. EDDIE'S PICK - BALTIMORE
• Minnesota Vikings (1-1) at Kansas City Chiefs (0-2): FOX, 1pm EST - There are some situations in sports that must be avoided due to the certainty of immanent defeat: Ahead of Tiger by three on the 12th hole at Augusta, facing A-Rod with bases loaded, playing Roger Federer at Wimbledon, and battling the Chiefs in Arrowhead. KC is 102-34 at home since 1990 and 20-4 vs. the NFC since 1995. The Vikes will be without QB Tavaris Jackson which is supposed to be a bad thing but it won't matter this Sunday. EDDIE'S PICK - KANSAS CITY
• Detroit Lions (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (0-2): FOX, 1pm EST - Virtually every other NFL season and the records shown to the left would be a misprint for each team. This year it's real. Detroit is not messing around as they truly believe in themselves and have a car factory-load of enthusiasm and confidence right now. Philly has been very sloppy this year and that includes the insipid performance of Donovan McNabb who lately seems more interested in his sensitive side and the color of his skin than winning football games. It's been 21 years since Detroit has beaten Philly, and unless Detroit is for real, I don't see Philly going 0-3. EDDIE'S PICK - PHILADELPHIA
• San Francisco 49ers (2-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0): FOX, 1pm EST - Despite the talk about San Fran getting a strong and surprising start, this really is no contest. Pittsburgh has the elements to be a dark horse team this year, and they have a ton of momentum right now. That new offensive scheme is playing to Big Ben's strength's and the defense is living up to its reputation. RB Frank Gore is going to have a hard time chewing up any serious yardage which leaves it in the hands of QB Alex Smith and that 31st-ranked passing offense. The Niners haven't lost in Pittsburgh since 1987. EDDIE'S PICK - PITTSBURGH
• St. Louis Rams (0-2) at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1): FOX, 1pm EST - This should be a more enjoyable game to watch than what's on paper or what the records show. Rams RB Steven Jackson vs. this Tampa defense, which can crank out a dominant run-stopping effort at any time, will be interesting to watch. The Rams must avoid turnovers on the road and move the ball to wear down this Buc D while Tampa's O-line needs to keep Garcia upright and open holes for the running game to keep St. Louis on its heels. EDDIE'S PICK - ST. LOUIS
• San Diego Chargers (1-1) at Green Bay Packers (2-0): CBS, 1pm EST - Will the Lambeau mystique ever return? A 2-0 start facing a struggling Chargers squad during a historic year for Brett Favre just might be what the doctor ordered. The Pack is pulling at the country's heartstrings with their unexpected start while Favre goes for the all-time TD mark for a QB after already wrapping up the NFL record for most wins. Green Bay's defense is the real story showing remarkeable resilience and fortitude. They face a Chargers offense that either has a longer lit fuse than originally planned or it's wet. The San Diego defense better be on guard too or it's going to be a long day for L.T. and Co. This is a statement game for both clubs. EDDIE'S PICK - GREEN BAY
• Indianapolis Colts (2-0) at Houston Texans (2-0): CBS, 1pm EST - Another team that has the headlines and radio waves red-hot is the Houston Texans. The signing of QB Matt Schaub was a stroke of genius by Houston management and a pin-headed decision by the Atlanta hierarchy. The Texans defense is also playing better ranked ninth in the league and will be pitted against that steam engine offense conducted by Peyton Manning. The Colts are 9-1 vs. Houston in the last ten games as these squads battle for first place in the AFC South...that has an odd ring to it. EDDIE'S PICK - INDIANAPOLIS
• Buffalo Bills (0-2) at New England Patriots (2-0): CBS, 1pm EST - If Bill Belichick walked over and handed Buffalo his playbook, it wouldn't matter. EDDIE'S PICK - NEW ENGLAND
• Miami Dolphins (0-2) at NY Jets (0-2): CBS, 1pm EST - These two teams are really hurting in more ways than one. NY will more than likely be without Chad Pennington paving the way for Kellen Clemens to show what he's made of and that may be easier than he originally thought with the news that LB Zach Thomas will be out with a mild concussion. Both teams also have bruised egos as they possess very poor running attacks, run defenses, and a stagnant offense. The Jets have won five of the last six vs. Miami and a win for either squad would put them in at least a tie for second place in the AFC East. EDDIE'S PICK - NY JETS
• Jacksonville Jaguars (1-1) at Denver Broncos (2-0): CBS, 4:05pm EST - The Broncos are the only team in the NFL this season to have a 100-yard rusher and receiver in each of the first two games. Travis Henry and Javon Walker lead the league's #1 offense vs. a daunting Jags defense that had a very strong showing vs. the pathetic Falcons. J-town's running tandem of Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor must be effective for David Garrard to have a prayer vs. the top-ranked and lethal secondary of the Broncos. EDDIE'S PICK - DENVER
• Cleveland Browns (1-1) at Oakland Raiders (0-2): CBS, 4:05pm EST - Last week's ridiculous 51-point outburst by Cleveland's offense was a nice display of the Browns' talent level on offense. It would have been more impressive vs. a defense like New England or Pittsburgh, but nonetheless it was healthy for Cleveland to get it all out of their system after many dormant games. Now, they travel to Oakland who is habitually unstable at QB, ineffective running, and just simply not intimidating. But, the fans will be, and the young Derek Anderson will have a hard time repeating last week's numbers. Oakland has won 6 of the last 7 vs. Cleveland. EDDIE'S PICK - OAKLAND
• Cincinnati Bengals (1-1) at Seattle Seahawks (1-1): CBS, 4:05pm EST - Despite taking the loss, the Bengals showed a ton of firepower vs. Cleveland last week in the most explosive shoot-out since the O.K. Corral. This potency should continue its growth vs. Seattle's 23-ranked defense. It's hard to win in Seattle so QB Carson Palmer must avoid costly turnovers and win the time-of-possession battle due to Seattle's own offensive capabilities. If Matt Hasselbeck can stay protected and RB Shaun Alexander returns to his dominating self, which has been absent lately, then Cincy will return to Ohio limping even more. EDDIE'S PICK - SEATTLE
• Carolina Panthers (1-1) at Atlanta Falcons (0-2): FOX, 4:15pm EST - Not that filling "Bad Newz" Vick's shoes were enough pressure, but QB Joey Harrington must now feel the hot steam from newly-signed Byron Leftwich breathing down his neck. He faces a Panthers team led by QB Jake Delhomme who is 4-0 and a passer rating of 103.5 in his last four divisional match-ups. EDDIE'S PICK - CAROLINA
• NY Giants (0-2) at Washington Redskins (2-0): FOX, 4:15pm EST - I've harped on teams like Buffalo, Oakland, Atlanta, and Philly but there may not be a more disheveled and discordant team out there than the Giants. Heading to FedEx Field and becoming enveloped by the frenzied Skins fans does not appear to be the path of redemption. Coach Gibbs has this team believing in itself and their young QB Jason Campbell. This has all the signs of a slaughter and coach Tom Coughlin inching his way towards the edge of a rocky cliff. EDDIE'S PICK - WASHINGTON
• Dallas Cowboys (2-0) at Chicago Bears (1-1): NBC, 8:15pm EST - This is not do-or-die time for the Dallas Cowboys, but it is an excellent litmus test for QB Tony Romo who is living up to the hype and performing brilliantly this season. This Chicago defense and the utter explosiveness of Devin Hester is enough to make any offense and special teams units involuntarily empty their bladder on the spot. It's the Chicago offense led by "Train Rex" Grossman that is unnerving to Bears fans. How will they fare vs. this Dallas defense who seemed to improve last week despite all the key injuries? Chicago has won the last three contests vs. Dallas at Soldier Field and 15 of 18 at home including the playoffs. Dallas still poses a threat to win the NFC but a win in Chicago will put a stake in the ground. EDDIE'S PICK - DALLAS
• Tennessee Titans (1-1) at New Orleans Saints (0-2): ESPN, 8:30pm EST - There may not be a more pissed off team right now than the New Orleans Saints. Expectations were set very high for this squad who reached the NFC Championship Game last year when many didn't expect them to win five games. Now, the bar is set high and they don't want to show their fans that they were just a one-year wonder. Tennessee has the league's highest-ranked running offense and this is not good news for the porous front-seven of the Saints. Despite the crawling start, the Superdome crowd is going to be loud as they welcome their beloved Saints home for the first time this season. EDDIE'S PICK - TENNESSEE

STANDINGS
Cris Collinsworth: 10-6, 24-8
Joe Theismann: 12-4, 23-9
Cris Carter: 11-5, 22-10
Bob Costas: 8-8, 21-11
Dan Marino: 9-7, 21-11
Eddie Chinn: 10-6, 20-14
Chris Mortensen: 8-8, 18-14