NFL Week 3: Dallas and Minnesota Both a Shocking 0-2

Week 3 in the NFL is the first huge week of the season. For 0-2 teams, it is their first must win game, 0-3 is too big of a hill to climb. Tennessee started last year at 0-6 and finished at 8-8. With a win in Week 3, they would have been 9-7 and might have made the playoffs.

Teams can climb out of 0-3 holes but it's easier to climb out of a 1-2 hole.

On the opposite side, surprise 2-0 teams can push their mark to 3-0 and become instant playoff contenders. Denver started last year at 6-0, finished at 8-8 then watched the playoffs with the Tennessee Titans.

There are no guarantees but for teams like Kansas City, Tampa Bay, and Houston, 3-0 is a real possibility.

Matt Schaub to Andre Johnson has been a solid connection for a few years now. With the Texans at 2-0 and facing the 0-2 Dallas Cowboys in Week 3, Houston can do two things with a win on Sunday:

1. Set themselves up for a playoff run.

2. Make the Dallas Cowboys a shocking 0-3.

America's team is in dire straits. When teams fall on hard times, it is when the coach shines. Too bad the Cowboys have Wade Phillips running their ship. With the talent assembled on their roster, the Cowboys were my pick to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Jerry Jones, with all of the nutty things he has done, has never fired a coach in mid-season. It seems a coach like Jon Gruden could turn this talented team into a winner.

Maybe next year.

Dallas 31 - Houston 27.

Brett Favre has looked overwhelmed for the first time in his career. Injuries to his receivers and missing training camp could be to blame, but what if the old gunslinger is finally over the hill? The Vikings and Lions meet in a matchup of competitive 0-2 teams.

Would anyone be shocked if the Lions find a way to win this game?

I would be.

Minnesota 20 - Detroit 16.

Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay meet in a game of surprising 2-0 teams. When the suspension of Ben Roethlisberger was handed down, this was the one game that the Steelers knew they could win. Josh Freeman is playing good and the Buccaneers defense is solid but the Steelers will go 3-0.

Pittsburgh 19 - Tampa Bay 13.

The AFC East has a huge one this week when Mark Sanchez leads the New York Jets into Miami. The Dolphins did all they could to fumble away the game to Minnesota but found a way to win and enter the game at 2-0. This is a game that the Jets need to win to stamp that they are the team to beat in the AFC East.

The problem is that the Dolphins are a better team and will win this defensive slug fest.

Miami 10 - New York 7.

Kansas City is in the same position as Houston this week. They can mark themselves as playoff contenders while dealing the San Francisco 49ers an 0-3 start. The Chiefs look like a solid team but the 49ers are not going to fall to 0-3.

San Francisco 24 - Kansas City 21.

Cleveland has had fourth quarter leads in both of their games and have an 0-2 record to show for it. Still, when the Dawgs meet the Baltimore Ravens, it always a grudge match. I look for Cleveland to get another fourth quarter lead then lose to a better team, unlike the first two weeks when those teams were not better than Cleveland.

Baltimore 16 - Cleveland 15.

The Packers and Bears meet on Monday night with 2-0 records. The Packers are supposed to be there but the Bears are a surprise.

The Bears will keep surprising.

Chicago 28 - Green Bay 26.

Look for the Saints to go to 3-0, the Colts and Chargers to go to 2-1 and a sense of urgency among all of the teams. Mike Vick will make his claim to be the Eagles starting quarterback as he guides Philly to a 2-1 record.

Week 3 is the last week that some teams will play a meaningful game. When bad teams go to 0-3, and even 1-2, they have a habit of throwing in the towel.

Is it fair?

No.

Will an 18 game regular season change the importance of Week 3?

No.

It will just make the 17th and 18th games all the more meaningless.