25 Most Important NFL Questions We Need Answers to in Week 2

Week 1 of the NFL season was filled with amazing story lines. From Cam Newton throwing for a rookie record and Tom Brady eclipsing 500 yards to Sebastian Janakowski's record-tying 63 yard field goal on Monday night. There was also Ted Ginn's kick return and punt return for touchdowns in just over a minute, it was an extremely exciting opening weekend of NFL football.

To top that off if was the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on Washington D.C., New York City and Pennsylvania. The NFL and fans paid homage to those who lost their lives and were affected the most on that horrible day. These ceremonies re-affirmed the idea that the NFL is now America's past-time.  

Gone are the days where many of us waited for news to break in regards to the collective bargaining agreement. Those days have been replaced with fans doing what they do best: rooting for their teams, showing up in mass at games and helping make the NFL the best sport in the entire globe.

Week 1 may have given us a lot of answers but it probably yielded as many, if not more questions. Today, I am going to focus on 25 questions that we need answers to around the league this week.  

25. Who Will Rebound: Colt McCoy or Kerry Collins?

For once it was the Cleveland Browns, not the Indianapolis Colts, that went into opening weekend with high expectations.

However, the Cleveland Browns ended up playing like the Cleveland Browns last Sunday against Cincinnati and Colt McCoy looked average at best. Browns fans and the franchise as a whole had high expectations for the 2010 third round pick. But he didn't look too good.

McCoy completed less than 50 percent of his passes, finishing the afternoon with four punts, a turnover-on-downs and interception on the Browns final six possessions. Not exactly what Ohio's faithful had in mind.

Kerry Collins on the other hand did not come into Sunday's game with many expectations to perform like his predecessor, Peyton Manning. Still, Collins looked lost out on the field and wasn't helped out by the poor play of the Colts offensive line.

It is going to be a long season for Indianapolis but it has to get better than the 34-0 halftime score against Houston would indicate, right?

My Answer: Colt McCoy

This is an interesting matchup to look at. I mean Colt McCoy had just turned eight years old when Kerry Collins made his NFL debut. Talk about a generation gap between the two. 

I would have to give the advantage to Colt McCoy here. He has a better offensive line in front of him and running game behind him. It also doesn't hurt that the Indianapolis Colts look to have one of the worst defenses in the entire league.

Look for McCoy to have a solid game and for Cleveland to rebound from a disappointing opening season loss.  

24. Is Starting 0-2 Really a Big Deal?

There were many teams that had high expectations heading into opening weekends. Some of these teams succeeded in a great way, others not so much. 

This week there are going to be a few teams that expected to contend for the playoffs start with a 0-2 record. Does this mean that their season is on the brink of collapse?

Last season no team that started 0-2 made the playoffs. In fact, history shows that only 12.5 percent of the teams that started 0-2 have made this playoffs since 1990. Compare that to the whole percentage of teams that make the playoffs in the 32 team NFL (37.5 percent) and you are looking at incredibly low odds at making it to the postseason.

There are exceptions. The 2008 New York Giants, who started 0-2, ended up winning the Super Bowl. Overall, three teams that started with that record ended up making the playoffs that season. 

My Answer: Yes, it is a big deal. 

You have to put teams that start 0-2 in a couple different categories. The "haves" and "have nots." For example, I think we can all agree that if the Atlanta Falcons start 0-2, it wouldn't be the end of the world but an 0-2 start for the Indianapolis Colts would probably spell doom. 

Another example would be the St. Louis Rams. If they start 0-2 in the weak NFC West it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Many people believe that division will be won with single digit victories. So, St. Louis would only have to win nine of their final 14 games to have a shot at the postseason.

Still, history shows 0-2 starts are not good indicators of a teams' ability to make it to the "golden" round. 

23. Can the Cincinnati Bengals Surprise Everyone and Start 2-0?

Many skeptics, including myself, concluded that the Cincinnati Bengals would be lucky to win more than two games this season. And we were well-warranted in assuming this.

However, Cincinnati stands at 1-0 after a surprising victory over the Cleveland Browns. A game that they trailed throughout and came back for a victory in the fourth quarter.

Is it possible that they start 2-0?

Andy Dalton was limited at practice on Wednesday, so there remains a possibility that Bruce Gradkowki will get the call for Cincinnati against Denver on Sunday. This wouldn't be the worse scenario in the world. The veteran has experience playing on the road generally and in Denver, specifically.

He could end up being a little more poised in a tough road situation in Denver. On the flip-side, Gradkowski is nothing more than a backup at this point and doesn't have nearly as many physical tools as Dalton.

Matchup's to watch would be Cedric Benson going against Denver's weak rush defense, A.J. Green up against Champ Bailey and the Bengals pass defense against Kyle Orton.

A 2-0 start would give Cincinnati some vindication following a preseason in which skeptics concluded they were the worst team in the entire NFL. That said, it wouldn't guarantee them anything more than two wins on the season.

My Answer: Possible but unlikely.

The Denver Broncos lost a tough game against Oakland on Monday night and are not going to let Cincinnati come in and take control in their home stadium. Issues remain in regards to the Broncos quarterback play and defense but they are still much more talented than Cincinnati. 

The Bengals come out of week two with a 1-1 record, which isn't too shabby. 

22. Can Mark Ingram Give the New Orleans Saints Some Balance Offense?

The New Orleans Saints really have not had a balanced offense since they began winning a few seasons ago. Instead, they have relied heavily on Drew Brees to lead the offense and timely turnovers to support the defense.

However, it appears the Saints defense has regressed a great deal over the last year and they need another variable to come into play, a little bit of time management.

This is why New Orleans traded back into the first round to select the former Heisman winner, Mark Ingram. He does seem to have what it takes to be an every down back in the NFL. And I really like Ingram's ability to get past the pile-on in the red zone.

However, he struggled a great deal in yards per rush during the preseason and that didn't change against Green Bay last week. Ingram averaged just a little bit over three yards per rush and had a long of nine yards.

Those are not numbers that will enable New Orleans to have more time-controlled possessions on offense. Instead, they force Brees to continue throwing the ball forty plus times per game. It is vital that New Orleans keeps their defense off the field as much as possible at this point. 

My Answer: It will happen in time.

New Orleans will be going up against a really solid Chicago Bears rush defense this weekend, so it is going to be slim-pickings in the run game. 

Listen, Drew Brees is still the heart and soul of that team and I am not advocating taking the ball out of his hands. However, with a defense that is playing as poor as the Saints' is right now, you need to find a happy medium on offense. 

Right now the Saints do not have that. I still think it will come in time because there is no questioning the talent of Mark Ingram. 

21. Will Jim Harbaugh Put His Faith in Alex Smith Against the Dallas Cowboys?

If you live in the Bay Area or follow the San Francisco 49ers, this topic has been over-played so much over the last five seasons. That said, there is a new era of 49er' football beginning right now and this question needs to be rehashed. 

Last week against the Seattle Seahawks, Jim Harbaugh played it close to the vest. He didn't open the offense up at all. Some of this had to do with his confidence in San Francisco's defense but a lot of it had to do with his lack of confidence in the offense. 

San Francisco escaped the Seattle game with a double-digit victory but they didn't look anything like the west coast offense that the rookie head coach had been preaching. 

Alex Smith did complete 75 percent of his passes (15/20), didn't turn the ball over and wasn't sacked. This will work against Seattle but it isn't going to work against a superior team in the Dallas Cowboys.

In my opinion, Harbaugh needs to put more confidence in Alex Smith. The former No. 1 overall pick has thrown only one interception in his last 180 passing attempts and has been able to limit mistakes in the red zone. During Smith's first six NFL seasons he has thrown 30 red zone touchdown passes, compared to a single interception. Last season, Smith had eight such touchdowns and zero interceptions. 

It is time Harbaugh gives Alex Smith the keys to the offense and puts his faith in the improving quarterback. 

My Answer: The 49ers will open it up a great deal this weekend.

Jim Harbaugh is a much smarter football man than myself or anyone reading this article. He knows what it takes to win a football game. So, there is no question in my mind that Harbaugh is going to open up the offense against Dallas. 

20. Is There Any Possible Way That Kansas City Avoids 0-2 Start Against Detroit?

Many people concluded that Kansas City's preseason issues were going to carry over into the regular season. Well, did it ever!

The Chiefs gave up 364 yards and 23 first downs to a Buffalo Bills offense that had finished among the league's worse last season. To add insult to injury, Kansas City lost arguably their best defensive player in Eric Berry.

This isn't even the half of it. Matt Cassel averaged less than three yards per pass against Buffalo as the Chiefs offensive game plan left a lot to be desired. Accordingly, Jamaal Charles ran the ball just ten times.

This all led to a 41-7 home opening loss against a team that went 4-12 last season.  

Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions continued their preseason dominance in their first regular season game. Their offense racked up 400 yards of offense and 25 first downs against a pretty solid Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. 

You don't have to be a football expert to know that Detroit's offense is much better than the one Kansas City faced last week against the Buffalo Bills. 

My Answer: Not unless some ham flies around Detroit on Sunday.

I am not advocating that anyone reading this article call up an illegal bookie or takes the next flight to Vegas but there is no way that Kansas City gets off the snide against Detroit on Sunday. There are just too many factors going against them in this game. 

Look for another blowout loss for Kansas City this weekend. 

19. Can the Oakland Raiders Start 2-0 While Committing so Many Penalties?

The Oakland Raiders had an impressive opening night victory against their rival, the Denver Broncos. In winning their eighth consecutive AFC West game, Oakland sent a message to both the San Diego Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs that there will be another team in the division race this season.

They ran for nearly 200 yards against Denver, while holding the Broncos to less than 40 yards rushing. This is a type of game that Oakland will continue to attempt to play moving forward. Give the ball to Darren McFadden and Michael Bush, control the clock and play good defense.

This is also an equation that should net Oakland a few wins on pure physical dominance alone.

However, you are not going to win many games when you commit 15 penalties for over 130 yards. Those numbers are not indicative of a winning or well-coached team. Rookie head coach, Hue Jackson, said he can handle the physical mistakes but not the mental lapses. Well, the Raiders had a ton of the ladder against Denver on Monday night. 

Oakland has always been one of the most penalized teams in the entire league but Monday's performance indicates a lot of issues in regards to discipline.

My Answer: The Oakland Raiders should be fine.

 Just imagine how good Oakland would be if they could limit these penalties. I am not talking about pulling a New York Jets, who had zero penalties against Dallas last week. I am talking about maybe cutting them in half.

If Oakland is able to do that, San Diego will have stiff competition for the division crown this season.  

18. Will the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks Avoid 0-2 Starts?

One is the defending NFC West champions, the other is the favorite to take the division title this season. Both are staring right into the possibility of starting 0-2. Of course, I am talking about the Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams.

The Seattle Seahawks lost to San Francisco by 16 points last week but the score wasn't an indicator of how close the game was. Ted Ginn Jr., the 49ers' kick returner, broke it open with two touchdown scoring returns: one on a kick-off and the other on a punt.

Still, the Seahawks looked horrible in the game. They averaged less than three yards per rush and allowed Tarvaris Jackson to get sacked five times. He was also hit another eight times.

Needless to say, it was a poor performance by the defending NFC West champions.

The St. Louis Rams ran right into a top-echelon team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Following their 31-13 defeat another major issue came up, injuries to some of the Rams best players. Danny Amendola will be out for the remainder of the season, Steven Jackson will most likely miss this weeks game and Sam Bradford had an injury to a finger on his throwing hand.

Overall, it was a really bad opening weekend for the Rams.

My Answer: Both teams will struggle and start 0-2.

The Seahawks have to go on the road against an angry Pittsburgh Steelers team that is much better than the opponent they lost to last week. There is absolutely no way that Seattle goes into Heinz Field and comes out with a victory.

St. Louis, on the other hand, does stand a chance against a struggling New York Giants team. However, injuries are going to play an important factor in that game. Bradford was able to sustain three double digit drives following Jackon's injury but only came away with six point.

It looks like both teams are going to start 0-2, which could open the door for either San Francisco or Arizona to take an early stranglehold on the division. 

17. What Coach Will Be Fully Entrenched on the Hot Seat Following Week Two?

At some point it becomes evident that an NFL head coach is doing less for him team than what the "powers to be" expect. Rarely are coaches shown the door early in the season but we do get an idea as to what coaches may be looking for work in short order. 

This year is no different.

On the surface it would seem that Todd Haley would be on the hot seat. His Kansas City Chiefs looked really bad in the preseason and that carried over against an inferior Buffalo Bills team. Kansas City gave up nearly 400 yards of offense against a team that won just four games last season.

Additionally, their offense bordered on horrendous. Matt Cassel averaged less than three yards per game and Jamaal Charles ran the ball only 10 times. A lot of the Chiefs ineptitude had to do with a lackluster game plan that saw them play way too conservative.

That said, the New York Giants had a lot more expectations heading into this season and laid an egg against the Washington Redskins. They played miserable in nearly every aspect of the game and lost by two touchdowns.

Tom Coughlin has been here before. The Giants started 0-2 in 2008 as pundits in New York were calling for his head. Well, the Giants finished that season as the Super Bowl champion.

It would be foolhardy to expect them to repeat that feat this season.

My Answer: Todd Haley.

 New York stands a good chance of defeating the injury depleted St. Louis Rams Monday night. It will be their home opener and passions will be flying high.

On the other hand, Kansas City will have to travel to Detroit and play against the Lions. As I indicated before, there is no way the Chiefs go into Michigan and come out with a win.

Another blowout loss will fully entrench Todd Haley on the hot seat.  

16. How Many Passing Yards Will the Houston Texans Rack Up Against Miami?

Monday Night's game was a failure of epic proportions for the Miami Dolphins secondary. 

By now the Patriots record setting performance is well documented. That said, let me give you a little bit of a synopsis.

Tom Brady and his bunch treated the Miami Dolphins like Marcia on The Brady Bunch. But unlike Marcia, the Dolphins couldn't sniff out a Patriots receiver if their collective lives depended on it.  It really was that bad.

What confuses me is the fact that Miami was considered to have one of the best defenses in the NFL heading into the season and had one of the best corner duos in the league. Obviously, they did not look like that Monday. 

Another aspect of Miami's performance could be the fact that the Patriots might just be really good on offense. Still, Miami will have to go up against Andre Johnson and the Houston Texans Sunday which is no easy task.

My Answer: Under 500 but over 300. 

If you expected me to give you a solid number I wonder how your doing with Shrek and the donkey in Ever After. If your joining me back here on earth, let me say this: Matt Schaub and the Houston Texans will run rough shot over Miami's secondary if they don't get their act together quick. 

15. Will Tim Tebow See Action Against the Cincinnati Bengals?

Denver Broncos head coach, John Fox, said that he couldn't hear the chants of "Tebow" during Monday Night's loss to the Oakland Raiders. I think its safe to assume that he either had a lot of wax in those ears or just pretended it wasn't happening.

For all of us watching the game at home, it was pretty evident what was happening in Denver. Less than one game into the 2011 season Denver Broncos fans were already calling for their savior, Tim Tebow, to enter the game.

I will not defend Kyle Orton's play on Monday night. He was extremely inaccurate, held onto the ball for too long, had a lot of balls tipped at the line and didn't read Oakland's defense too well. It was a bad overall 2011 debut for Denver's starting quarterback.

Keep in mind that this was against what promises to be a struggling Oakland Raiders secondary.

My Answer: No, we will not see Tim Tebow Sunday.

First, John Fox has been around the league a long time and he isn't going to drop a starting quarterback that he has backed throughout the entire training camp because Broncos fans are asking for it.

Secondly, Tim Tebow is not the Broncos No. 2 quarterback, Brady Quinn is. So, if Orton were to be pulled from the game against Cincinnati, Quinn would come in.

Either way, John Fox is going to give Kyle Orton every opportunity to maintain the starting job.  

14. What Rookie Will Step Up Next?

There was some real nice performances from rookies in their debuts last weekend. First, Randall Cobb of the Green Bay Packers scored two touchdowns in his debut against the New Orleans Saints.

Then Cam Newton went off against a real bad Arizona Cardinals secondary. He broke the rookie record with over 400 yards passing and four scores.

It was an electrifying performance for the No. 1 overall pick.

This week there remains a couple other rookies who look like they are ready to step up.

While Von Miller did not record a sack in his debut. The first round pick did force Oakland Raiders wide receiver, Jacoby Ford, into a fumble early in Monday's game. Denver would turn the turnover into three points. I am looking for him to step up against Cincinnati and record his first career sack, if not more.

Aldon Smith did not start for the 49ers against Seattle last weekend but he did play a lot. Smith batted down a Tarvaris Jackson ball on a crucial third down situation and put pressure on the signal caller a couple other times. It is just a matter of time before Smith breaks through and has a huge game. 

Another rookie you should take a look at is J.J. Watt of the Houston Texans. He did record five tackles against Indianapolis last week and put pressure on Kerry Collins a couple other times. This week Houston will be going up against the Miami Dolphins and I fully expect Watt to build off his strong debut.

My Answer: Aldon Smith because he is going up against a weak Cowboys' offensive line.

This could be the "homer" in me but I believe Aldon Smith will have a huge game against Dallas this weekend. He is going to be going up against an extremely inexperienced and questionable Dallas Cowboy pass protection.

The first round pick came really close to a couple sacks last week against Seattle and showed his tremendous athletic ability. Look for him to build on that this week. 

13. Who Will Have a Better Game Donovan McNabb or Josh Freeman?

These two quarterbacks disappointed a great deal last week. While Donovan McNabb threw for less than 40 yards against the San Diego Chargers, Josh Freeman was taking a major step back against Detroit.

The Minnesota Vikings ran an extremely conservative offensive scheme against San Diego but when they did put the ball in the air, McNabb didn't perform up to snuff. He was late on multiple throws and looked lost in the pocket a couple different times. Some of that had to do with running a new offense but McNabb needs to shoulder some of the blame. 

Josh Freeman did throw for 259 yards against the Detroit Lions last week but his performance didn't compare to a solid 2010 campaign. The Buccaneers offense was not in sync for most of the game and the third year signal-caller was unable to take advantage of what had been a shaky Lions secondary. 

This week McNabb will be going up against a weaker secondary than what he saw in San Diego in the opener. He will also have another week of learning the offense in practice.

Freeman, on the other hand, will have to work through these issues going up against a still solid corner in Antoine Winfield. 

My Answer: Josh Freeman will prove why I have him in the Pro Bowl at season's end.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have more talent on offense than the Minnesota Vikings, even with Adrian Peterson. You will see Josh Freeman utilize Kellen Winslow a great deal as LeGarrette Blount gets more action in the running game.

Look for Tampa Bay to bounce back and Freeman to lead them to a win against the Minnesota Vikings.  

12. Will the Saints Secondary Continue to Struggle Against Jay Cutler?

I do understand that the Saints were facing a prolific offense in the Green Bay Packers last week but their secondary looked really bad. Patrick Robinson looked lost in coverage against Greg Jennings as Drew Brees picked apart the Saints secondary.

Additionally, the Saints struggled a great deal in this aspect towards the end of last season and didn't do much to upgrade the unit in the off-season.

This week, New Orleans will be going up against Jay Cutler and the Chicago Bears, who had a solid passing performance against Atlanta last week.

Cutler was able to share the wealth as four receivers topped 55 yards against Atlanta. He looked strong in the pocket and the Bears pass protection was really good.

If Cutler can cut down on mistakes, a big if, the Saints will continue to have problems in pass defense this week.

My Answer: Jay Cutler is no Aaron Rodgers but the Saints will still struggle. 

 You have to look beyond New Orleans opening matchup against the Green Bay Packers, I highly doubt any defense will be able to handle that offense. 

However, this is the same Saints defensive unit that gave up 272 yards to the Seattle Seahawks and their former quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, in the wild card playoffs last season.

This will be a continuing theme for the New Orleans Saints all season long unless something changes quick. 

11. Will Cam Newton Maintain His Strong Play Against the Green Bay Packers?

Well that crow didn't taste too good last weekend, it was really tough. I had called out Cam Newton for being extremely over-rated a couple weeks ago. While that still may be the case, he performed at a real high level last week against the Arizona Cardinals. 

Cam Newton looked nothing like the raw quarterback that we saw in the preseason last week against Arizona. Instead, he seemed very comfortable in the pocket and made several really good decisions. 

We do have to recognize the fact that Carolina was playing against a dreadful Arizona Cardinals secondary, whose best player was still hampered with an injury. 

Still, it is hard to discount Newton's record-setting performance. You don't throw for a rookie record in your first start if you are not ready to play in the NFL.

My Answer: Carolina is going to struggle a great deal against Green Bay.

Carolina is going form one of the worse pass defenses in the NFL to the best. Cam Newton will not have those wide open lanes to throw into, nor will he have the time to assess coverage. Instead, this game is going to be played much faster and his performance will show that. 

10. Can the Arizona Cardinals Stop the "great" Rex Grossman?

There are to different factors that come into play when attempting to answer this question.

First, look how bad Arizona played against a rookie quarterback, Cam Newton, last week against Carolina. Secondly, the New York Giants defense looked just as bad.

So, it would appear we are right back at square one. Grossman didn't just look good last week, he has been performing at a high level all preseason long. While this may not mean much, it does indicate he is really comfortable with the Redskins offense.

On the other hand, Arizona's secondary looked completely lost against Carolina last week. Patrick Peterson struggled a great deal in coverage as did the rest of the players on that unit. It is hard to imagine them being able to stop many teams this season.

My Answer: The Redskins will light it up against Arizona with weekend.

It doesn't bode well that Arizona gave up a record setting performance against a rookie quarterback making his first start last week. That is not an indication of future success this season.

Additionally, it appears that Washington's offense is hitting on all cylinders right now. I cannot imagine a scenario in which the Cardinals are able to shutdown Washington's surprising passing game.  

9. Can the Atlanta Falcons Avoid 0-2 Start Against Their Former Quarterback?

As if there weren't enough headlines going into this Sunday Night matchup, Michael Vick will be returning to his old stomping grounds. Besides the obvious questions about what response he will get, I am more interested in seeing how Atlanta is going to handle adversity.

The Falcons had a really weak preseason performance and that leaked into the first week of the 2011 regular season. They got destroyed by the Chicago Bears in nearly every aspect of the game.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia was doing their thing and throttled a good Rams team in St. Louis. These are still two of my favorites to win the NFC but Atlanta really needs to get going in order to avoid a difficult 0-2 start.

My Answer: Philadelphia will come to play and handle the Falcons relatively easy.

 My major issue with Atlanta's ability to succeed is handling the pass rush. They did a horrible job of that last week against the Chicago Bears. Julius Peppers had multiple sacks and Matt Ryan was put on his backside a ton of times.

I can see Jason Babin having a field day against Atlanta's pass protection. I also see both Roddy White and Julio Jones struggling to get open against Philadelphia's trio of corners.

I don't think the game will be that close.  

8. Will Chris Johnson Regain Form Against the Baltimore Ravens?

Chris Johnson looked extremely rusty against the Jacksonville Jaguars last week. And for good reason, he missed most of training camp due to a holdout. You really can chalk Johnson's weak performance against Jacksonville up to not being game-ready.

I have no doubt in my mind that Johnson will come to play and be at full speed against Baltimore this week. However, that doesn't mean that he is going to get it going. Baltimore should be able to focus on Johnson a lot with seven or eight in the box, while letting Matt Hasselbeck to try and beat them in the passing game.

It didn't work too well for Ben Roethlisberger last week.

My Answer: The Baltimore Ravens will contain Chris Johnson with ease.

 This is an issue that Johnson has faced for most of his career and will continue to until Tennessee gets a viable passing game. He will continue to face eight men in the box as opposing defenses hone in on him at the line of scrimmage.

I have a hard time envisioning Johnson breaking loose this week but it only takes one huge run for that to start a trickle-down effect for the dynamic running back.  

7. Will Tom Brady Have His Second Consecutive 400-Yard Passing Game?

Tom Brady's performance on Monday night was nothing short of stupid. It might have been one of the best individual performances that I have ever seen. Brady looked like one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history last week, it really is that simple. He is probably is top five in most people's books.

This week the Patriots will be going up against San Diego in what promises to be a high scoring affair. This means that Brady will be putting the ball up another 40 plus times, which could lead to another huge passing day for the future Hall-of-Fame signal caller.

Some could argue that San Diego has some solid corners in Quintin Jammer and Antoine Cason but that was the case against Miami last week as well.

It could be that New England is just this good.

My Answer: No, Brady will not surpass 400 yards but it will be close.

 Make not mistake about it, the Patriots will ride Tom Brady's arm until it falls off and is enshrined in Canton. This is what they have been doing for a long time now and it will not change.

I do envision a scenario in which a close game turns into a passing contest between Philip Rivers and Tom Brady. If that happens look for the ladder to acquire over 300 yards passing and lead the Patriots to another victory.  

6. Will the San Diego Chargers Show They Are One of the Elite Teams in the AFC?

The Chargers performance against a hapless Minnesota Vikings team wasn't too spectacular. While San Diego did surpass 400 yards and acquire 30 first downs. The game was close until the end, which defies logic.

Remember, this is a San Diego team that is notorious for starting slow and despite a win last week it appears this trend has continued.

They will have to go into Foxboro and take on the New England Patriots, who just got done putting up 600 yards against a good Miami Dolphins defense. The Chargers will have to play like it is December in order to have a chance Sunday.

My Answer: San Diego will not be able to stay with New England.

 If the Chargers play like they did against Minnesota, this game will not even be that close. Yet, if they are able to step up their game a possibility remains that San Diego will be able to pull off the upset.

However, I wouldn't count on San Diego coming out of Sunday's matchup at 2-0.

5. What Quarterback Will Be the First to Get Benched?

There was some really good quarterback play last week in the NFL and there was some horrid play from signal callers.

This happens week after week in the NFL. But as teams attempt to find ways to win and get up to snuff, some quarterbacks will be left riding the pine.

Which one will get the early hook this weekend? There are a couple different options.

The first quarterback that comes to mind is Tarvaris Jackson, if nothing else because of the situation he is in. Seattle has absolutely no running game to speak of and Sidney Rice is still injured. This enabled San Francisco to zero in on the passing game and caused Jackson to be ineffective. This week Seattle will have to travel to Pittsburgh and take on one of the best defenses in the entire league. It promises to be a real struggle for Jackson and the Seahawks. I could easily see Charlie Whitehurst finishing the game if it isn't close.

I previously covered the quarterback situation in Denver and said that Kyle Orton will probably remain the Broncos starting quarterback for the foreseeable future. However, he needs to be in this conversation because of his bad performance Monday night. 

While Orton wont get pulled in favor of Tim Tebow there remains a possibility that Brady Quinn sees some action if the Broncos continue to struggle early on against Cincinnati.

My Answer: Charlie Whitehurst will finish Seattle's game at quarterback.

Seattle is going to be put in a difficult situation this week at Pittsburgh. The Steelers just got throttled by Baltimore last week and have a lot to prove in their home opener. Additionally, Seattle's offense looked absolutely horrible against the 49ers in their opener and it doesn't promise to get any better this week. 

Its probably going to be ugly too. 

4. Will the Dallas Cowboys Have a Hangover Against San Francisco and Start 0-2?

I remember when the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys were among the best rivalries in the NFL. Those days have long since passed. That said, there does remain some interesting story lines in this week's game.

Tony Romo received a lot of slack following his meltdown against the New York Jets last week. After performing at a high level for three quarters, Romo lost control in the fourth quarter and was the culprit of two costly turnovers.

This lent credence to the idea that Romo isn't a big time quarterback and only succeeds when the pressure isn't on.

The Cowboys also have major issues in regards to their secondary and pass protection. Two areas that San Francisco should be able to exploit with the talent they have at receiver and in the front seven of the defense.

San Francisco also has a chance to start 2-0 under rookie head coach, Jim Harbaugh. Getting off to this type of start will build confidence for this talented team in a weak NFC West division. 

My Answer: San Francisco will upset the Cowboys and send them to a 0-2 start.

Tony Romo will receive more slack following this weeks game against the San Francisco 49ers. Dallas has a ton of matchup issues going into this game. 

First, it is hard to imagine their offensive line being able to hold up against what promises to be an extensive blitz package from San Francisco. Secondly, the Cowboys secondary remains depleted, which will cause issues going up against Braylon Edwards and Joshua Morgan on the outside.

3. Can Vincent Jackson Show He Is Worth the Money Against New England?

Well, Vincent Jackson made about $360 thousand dollars a catch last week against the Minnesota Vikings. Not exactly what I would call getting a bang for your buck. 

Its hard to imagine why San Diego would franchise a player that has only had limited success in the NFL and continues to have major character concerns. 

All this said, Jackson is still an extremely talented receiver with a knack for making big plays. This will continue to be his MO in the NFL. The issue is will he ever be a consistent receiver in the league?

Somehow I doubt it.

Still, the New England Patriots have their own issues in the secondary so it remains probable that Jackson will make a couple big plays come Sunday.

My Answer: It wont prove his worth but Jackson should have a big game against New England.

The Patriots gave up over 400 yards against Brandon Marshall and the Miami Dolphins last week (more on that later). This bodes well for San Diego's ability to get the ball in Jackson's hands down field. He should have a 100 yards receiving and a score against the Pats. 

2. Can the New England Patriots Secondary Show They Are Championship Material?

Besides the fact that Tom Brady looked unstoppable, another thing came out of the Patriots record-setting victory over the Miami Dolphins: their secondary just isn't that good. 

However, it wasn't just that one performance that questions New England's secondary. The Patriots gave up five 300 yard passing games last season and were in the bottom third in passing defense.

The only major transaction that New England made during the off-season was to release Brandon Meriweather. While, he wasn't the best cover safety in the NFL his loss doesn't exactly make New England much better in the back end of the defense.

This week they will be going up against a prolific San Diego Chargers passing game. If Chad Henne can pick apart the Patriots defense, imagine what Philip Rivers can do.

My Answer: The Patriots secondary will continue to struggle but Brady will make up for it.

New England's secondary will not be the strength of the team. Instead, it is going to be their offense that leads them to the promise land. That said, there could be issues when they have to go up against the likes of Baltimore, Pittsburgh and San Diego. All of whom have good passing games.

Look for the Patriots to address this position but it might be too little too late. Either way, with an offense like this, the impact of a sub par defensive secondary will not be too great. 

1. How Will Ben Roethlisberger Respond Following Five Turnover Performance?

If you watched the Pittsburgh Steelers humiliating loss to the Baltimore Ravens last week one thing must have jumped out to you. Seven turnovers, yes that is right seven.

I started to wonder who those men actually were in the Steeler' uniforms last Sunday. Sometimes it looked like Keanu Reeves was leading his Replacement's co-stars on the field.

It really was that bad.

We still have to recognize that this is a Pittsburgh Steelers team that continues to be one of the most consistent in the NFL. They have remained among the league's elite teams despite having some issues in regards to certain positions on the field.

The Steelers also have the benefit of playing Seattle this weekend in their home opener. Playing a team as bad as the Seahawks can cure a lot of different ills. 

My Answer: Pittsburgh will get back on track and destroy the Seattle Seahawks. 

Ben Roethlisberger committing five turnovers in one game if more of an anomaly than anything else. Look at the high level he has played at since joining Pittsburgh in 2004.

The Steelers are still extremely talented and look for them to bounce right back into the playoffs in 2011.