Lion's seek first 3-0 start since 1980 / Teams going for 3-0

Contender or pretender?

After two weeks of the NFL season, there are 10 teams that have 2-0 records and seven of those teams failed to make the playoffs last season. Here's a look at those seven teams and the opponents they'll face as they try to establish a 3-0 start:

• Detroit -- at Philadelphia (0-2)
  
• Green Bay -- San Diego (1-1)
  
• Denver -- Jacksonville (1-1)
  
• Houston -- Indianapolis (2-0)
  
• Washington -- N.Y. Giants (0-2)
  
• Pittsburgh -- San Francisco (2-0)
  
• San Francisco -- at Pittsburgh (2-0)

Stay tuned - this could get interesting

Week 3 - Mulligan

Last week was both brutal and embarrassing from a football prognostication standpoint. I have no excuses for you. We just have to get better as a blog. We know our loyal readers expect more from us and we intend to deliver.

Week Two record - 8-8 Overall Record 19-12-1
Winners (ATS) in red

Indy @ Hou (-6)
Houston will be playing without their #1 target in Andre Johson. Schuab will still hit Owen Daniels and Jacoby Jones all day long. Employing the same blueprint the Titans used last week and several teams used early last year the Texans will play a lot of three deep six in the box coverage to limit big passing plays and depend on Mario Williams and their prized rookie Amobi Okoye to get pressure on Peyton. Without all the bullets in their offensive arsenal, Houston will fall short but they are improving quickly. Indy will counter with a healthy dose of Addai and Clark across the middle.
Start: Peyton, D. Clark, Addai / Sit:Ahman Green

SD (-5) @ GB
This should be all about LT. If they get him going it is all over. If he continues to struggle watch out for a resurgent GB defense to force Rivers into some mistakes. My guess is LT goes for over 100 and 2 TDs.
Start: LT, Gates, Chargers DST/ Sit: Farve

Minny @ KC (-3)
This should be the most boring game of the year. Both teams want to rely on the run with shaky QB play and both teams will. The key difference is Viking run D which will shut LJ down and make the KC offense "no-dimensional". All that said, I am going with the home team to pull this one out some how, some way.
Start: A. Peterson / Sit: LJ

Detroit @ Philly (-6)
The game of the week as far as I am concerned. I expect both teams to put points up. If D-nabb doesn't he better get on the bus with the Detroit players and leave town. This is a broken Eagles team and the problem largely stems from Donovan's play. With Westbrook (RB), Dawkins (DB) and Sheppard (DB) either questionable or out entirely they are playing with a less than full compliment of players facing the best passing offense in the league.
Start: Roy Williams, Donvan, Calvin Johnson / Sit: Detroit DST, Eagles DST

Buff @ NE (-16)
Everyone is expecting a route and the Patriots will not disappoint. I expect the usual suspects to do damage against a bad Bill's defense. It is doubtful that NE will approach this game with the same energy they marshaled against SD and CHI. Consequently, Buffalo will score a few points against the vaunted NE D making this a bit closer than people expect.
Start: Lee Evans, Moss, Tom Brady, Maroney / Sit: JP Losman

Miami @ NYJ (-3)
The Jets will welcome the Fin's with open arms after facing Baltimore last week. Thomas Jones finally gets on track with a big day rushing the ball.
Start: Laverneous Coles, Thomas Jones, C. Chambers / Sit: Ronnie Brown (always)

SF @ PITT (-9)
The SF offense is broken and Pittsburgh is not the place to fix it. With one of their starting line backers out for the season with a knee injury, SF should expect a steady diet of fast Willy.
Start: Willie Parker, Heath Miller/ Sit: Gore

Zona @ Balt. (-8)
Matt Leinart has a lot to learn and Ed Reed and Ray Lewis will be willing teachers this week. The run game of the Cardinals will do nothing and Leinart will give the ball up multiple times.
Start: All Cardinal O Players / Sit: Baltimore DST

St. Louis @ TB (-4)
St. Louis misses Orlando Pace more then then they are willing to admit. They are also missing starting guard Ritchie Incognito and the result will be a poor offensive output for a third straight week.
Start: S. Jackson, Galloway, Caddy/ Sit: Bulger

Jac @ Den (-3)
The one thing we do know is that Jacksonville sure isn't going to pass the ball consistently against the Denver secondary. Like everyone else they've played this year, the Jags will be forced to run the rock against the 27th ranked Bronco run D. Look for MJD and Fragile Fred to finally get their game going.
Start: MJD, T. Henry / Sit: Cutler, Gerrard

Cincy @ Seattle (-3)
After last week's putrid defensive showing against the Browns, Cincy looks to rebound out west. Seattle will make sure to capitalize with the run featuring S. Alexander prominently both to put points on the board and to keep the Carson, Chad and Housh on the sideline. The home team pulls this one out in the end.
Start: All O players / Sit: both DSTs

CLE @ OAK (-3)
This is not last year's Oakland team. I expect them handle the Browns the way Cincy should of last week.
Start: Braylon, R. Curry, L. Jordan / Sit: J. Lewis

Car (-4) @ Atl
Should Joey get to keep his locker or does he have to give that to Byron as well. Bye Bye Joey!!
Start: S. Smith, J. Delomme / Sit: Norwood, Dunn

NYG @ WASH (-4)
Jason Campbell is on his way to becoming a respectable starting QB in the NFL. He will shred this defensive secondary just like Romo and Farvre did the first 2 weeks of the year.
Start: S. Moss, C. Cooley, Portis, Buress, D. Ward / Sit: Shockey, A. Randle El

Dallas @ CHI (-3)
This one is all about Romo. Facing a tough D in their home stadium is never easy and people will start to believe in him if he is able to pull a W out of his hat in this one.
Start: TO, Berrian / Sit: Rex Grossman

Tenn @ NO (-4.5)
NO rebounds with a big offensive effort at home on Monday night.
Start: Colston, Bush, Brees, C. Brown / Sit: Mcallister

Sneaky Play of the week: Nate Burleson (SEA WR) He will take advantage of DJ Hackett's absence and the poor Cincy pass coverage.

Busted stud of the week: Vince Young (TENN QB) The most vulnerable part of the NO D is deep pass coverage, that is not Vince's strong suit. He will have trouble playing catchup with Drew Brees and the boys once they get going in prime time.

10 Q's from the Weekend

Only 10 Q's, yes. And on Friday. It's been a busy week.

1. Should I just stop picking against the spread? I just went 4-11-1 (although the underdogs went 12-3-1). Had I bet all these games, I'd be a broke man. Thankfully, I didn't, but I did come out a winner in my 'straight up' pick 'em league. SO much easier when you negate the spread...

2. Does anyone else hate Tony Bennett? As far as I'm concerned, there was Sinatra, and then there was everyone else. And now 'everyone else' is dead. You're up, Tony. I just spent your entire Emmy performance wearing earplugs and looking for confirmation that X-tina is pregnant.

3. Do the Patriots even need to cheat? That was a message. And it was clearly delivered: 'we don't need cameras to beat the 'sexy', overrated Super Bowl pick.' They CRUSHED San Diego. It really just makes the Chargers look terrible. They had an entire offseason to build up rage for the playoff loss. ALL the pressure and media attention was on New England with the 'Cameragate' incident, and they still annihilated them. Norv Turner can't make this team better.

4. Derek Anderson?

5. Who scored the most points in my keeper league, Ashley's New Teeth? Yours truly. My lineup was Carson Palmer, Larry Johnson, Rudi Johnson, Edgerrin James, Javon Walker, TJ Houshmanzadeh, Jason Witten, Neil Rackers and New England DST. (on the bench: Deion Branch, Joey Galloway, Braylon Edwards, Santonio Holmes, Laurence Maroney, Kolby Smith, Tony Hunt) God my team is sick.

6. Things have officially turned sour for Donovan McNabb. Can he accomplish what the Philadelphia fans want and deserve?

7. No, seriously, Derek freakin' Anderson??

8. Is skipping an awards ceremony when you're nominated ever worth it? Just ask Ricky Gervais.

9. What has happened to the New Orleans Saints?

10. Who told you Randy Moss was going to stud out this year? Yeah, I thought so.