Here's a look at the Week 3 schedule in the National Football League:
49ERS 21 BENGALS 20.....San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith owns an experience edge over Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton in a meeting of former Mountain West quarterbacks. Niners outplayed the Cowboys in most areas of the game last week only to lose in overtime, 27-24.
PATRIOTS 30 BILLS 20.....New England looks to score 30 or more points in its eleventh straight regular-season game. The Pats should accomplish the feat against a permissive Buffalo defense.
SAINTS 35 TEXANS 31.....Look for New Orleans to start a long winning streak after losing its Week 1 assignment against the defending Super Bowl champions. The Texans are clearly the team to beat in the AFC South and they're likely to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but this is a tough spot for Houston.
EAGLES 24 GIANTS 17.....With or without Vick, the Eagles should defend their home field with a defense that will improve as the season progresses. Vince Young and Mike Kafka are capable replacements for the concussed Vick.
DOLPHINS 17 BROWNS 14.....Desperate game for the 0-2 Dolphins because Miami's three division opponents (New England, New York Jets and Buffalo) started the season a combined 6-0. Miami takes a class drop here after facing New England and Houston in Weeks 1 and 2.
TITANS 28 BRONCOS 17....Tennessee veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be fueled with confidence after leading his new team to a 26-13 win last week over Baltimore. Denver looks average at best.
LIONS 34 VIKINGS 17.....Detroit has not won a game in Minneapolis since 1997. Time to exorcise the demons this Sunday as the emerging Lions, led offensively by Matthew Stafford and spearheaded defensively by Ndamukong Suh, look to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
JAGUARS 27 PANTHERS 24.....Let's call for a mild upset in a match-up of rookie quarterbacks, Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton. Jacksonville owns the slightly better defense and the Jags have a legitimate chance to win a road game this Sunday.
CHARGERS 35 CHIEFS 21.....Looks like a free Bingo square for San Diego this week as the banged-up Chiefs visit Qualcomm Stadium. Kansas City lost its best defensive player (Eric Berry) in Week 1 and its best offensive player (Jamaal Charles) in Week 2.
JETS 19 RAIDERS 16.....Slight edge to the road team. Mark Sanchez returns to the West Coast where he starred collegiately at USC. Oakland head coach Hue Jackson is not the answer to revitalize a moribund Raiders' franchise.
RAVENS 24 RAMS 20.....Baltimore should be in an angry mood following a listless effort last week in Nashville. St. Louis running back Steven Jackson may return to the lineup, but Baltimore's physical defense will present a challenge for the aging and oft-injured running back.
BUCS 28 FALCONS 24.....Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman is 14-12 in 26 NFL starts with eight of his 14 victories featuring fourth-quarter comebacks. Atlanta exerted a lot of energy in its Sunday night victory over Philadelphia.
SEAHAWKS 24 ARIZONA 23.....The Seahawks historically play well at home and Tarvaris Jackson should find some open receivers against a rebuilt Arizona secondary.
PACKERS 31 BEARS 21.....Green Bay is the class of the NFC and the Packers will be ready for this important divisional showdown. Chicago's inability to protect Jay Cutler will manifest itself against the Packers' blitzing style.
STEELERS 27 COLTS 7.....Pittsburgh rebounded from its Week 1 loss to the Ravens with a dominating 24-0 victory over Seattle. Look for Indy to struggle against a Steelers' defense gunning for their second straight shutout.
COWBOYS 24 REDSKINS 20.....Hard to trust the re-emergence of Washington quarterback Rex Grossman, who has led the Redskins to a surprising 2-0 start. Look for the Dallas defense to be the best unit on the field, hoping to account for the possible absence of injured quarterback Tony Romo.
COMING MONDAY.....A look at the top five NCAAF teams in the country.<VAR id=yiv725151521yui-ie-cursor></VAR>
49ERS 21 BENGALS 20.....San Francisco quarterback Alex Smith owns an experience edge over Cincinnati rookie Andy Dalton in a meeting of former Mountain West quarterbacks. Niners outplayed the Cowboys in most areas of the game last week only to lose in overtime, 27-24.
PATRIOTS 30 BILLS 20.....New England looks to score 30 or more points in its eleventh straight regular-season game. The Pats should accomplish the feat against a permissive Buffalo defense.
SAINTS 35 TEXANS 31.....Look for New Orleans to start a long winning streak after losing its Week 1 assignment against the defending Super Bowl champions. The Texans are clearly the team to beat in the AFC South and they're likely to make the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, but this is a tough spot for Houston.
EAGLES 24 GIANTS 17.....With or without Vick, the Eagles should defend their home field with a defense that will improve as the season progresses. Vince Young and Mike Kafka are capable replacements for the concussed Vick.
DOLPHINS 17 BROWNS 14.....Desperate game for the 0-2 Dolphins because Miami's three division opponents (New England, New York Jets and Buffalo) started the season a combined 6-0. Miami takes a class drop here after facing New England and Houston in Weeks 1 and 2.
TITANS 28 BRONCOS 17....Tennessee veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will be fueled with confidence after leading his new team to a 26-13 win last week over Baltimore. Denver looks average at best.
LIONS 34 VIKINGS 17.....Detroit has not won a game in Minneapolis since 1997. Time to exorcise the demons this Sunday as the emerging Lions, led offensively by Matthew Stafford and spearheaded defensively by Ndamukong Suh, look to make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
JAGUARS 27 PANTHERS 24.....Let's call for a mild upset in a match-up of rookie quarterbacks, Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton. Jacksonville owns the slightly better defense and the Jags have a legitimate chance to win a road game this Sunday.
CHARGERS 35 CHIEFS 21.....Looks like a free Bingo square for San Diego this week as the banged-up Chiefs visit Qualcomm Stadium. Kansas City lost its best defensive player (Eric Berry) in Week 1 and its best offensive player (Jamaal Charles) in Week 2.
JETS 19 RAIDERS 16.....Slight edge to the road team. Mark Sanchez returns to the West Coast where he starred collegiately at USC. Oakland head coach Hue Jackson is not the answer to revitalize a moribund Raiders' franchise.
RAVENS 24 RAMS 20.....Baltimore should be in an angry mood following a listless effort last week in Nashville. St. Louis running back Steven Jackson may return to the lineup, but Baltimore's physical defense will present a challenge for the aging and oft-injured running back.
BUCS 28 FALCONS 24.....Tampa Bay quarterback Josh Freeman is 14-12 in 26 NFL starts with eight of his 14 victories featuring fourth-quarter comebacks. Atlanta exerted a lot of energy in its Sunday night victory over Philadelphia.
SEAHAWKS 24 ARIZONA 23.....The Seahawks historically play well at home and Tarvaris Jackson should find some open receivers against a rebuilt Arizona secondary.
PACKERS 31 BEARS 21.....Green Bay is the class of the NFC and the Packers will be ready for this important divisional showdown. Chicago's inability to protect Jay Cutler will manifest itself against the Packers' blitzing style.
STEELERS 27 COLTS 7.....Pittsburgh rebounded from its Week 1 loss to the Ravens with a dominating 24-0 victory over Seattle. Look for Indy to struggle against a Steelers' defense gunning for their second straight shutout.
COWBOYS 24 REDSKINS 20.....Hard to trust the re-emergence of Washington quarterback Rex Grossman, who has led the Redskins to a surprising 2-0 start. Look for the Dallas defense to be the best unit on the field, hoping to account for the possible absence of injured quarterback Tony Romo.
COMING MONDAY.....A look at the top five NCAAF teams in the country.<VAR id=yiv725151521yui-ie-cursor></VAR>
