3 must-see NFL games in Week 3
Week 3 of the 2014 NFL season represents the last full slate of games before bye weeks begin, and, highlighted by a rematch of Super Bowl XLVIII, here are the three you can't miss:
San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills
1 p.m. EDT, CBS
With the San Diego Chargers notching an upset victory over the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2, and the Bills off to an impressive 2-0 start, this matchup may just make for the best of Sunday's early slate of games.
The Bills enter as the favorite and, despite the Chargers having just knocked off the defending Super Bowl champions, will have a good chance to pull out another win to start the season 3-0.
In two matchups against teams with capable ground attacks thus far, the Bills have held opponents to an average of just 83.0 rushing yards per game. Pairing that near-shutdown ability with a strong running game of their own, currently among the league's most productive, gives the Bills a recipe for success.
The Chargers were able to come away with a win against the Seahawks by dominating the time of possession, but doing so on the road against the Bills, and without running back Ryan Mathews in the lineup, may actually prove more difficult.
Expectations will certainly be raised after such a big win last week, but an East Coast trip to take on a hot Bills team is no easy follow up, and a letdown game for the Chargers is quite possible.
Denver Broncos at Seattle Seahawks
4:25 p.m. EDT, CBS
Without question, the game of the week is the Denver Broncos taking on the Seattle Seahawks in a rematch of February's Super Bowl.
The Broncos will be looking for revenge after the Seahawks dominated both sides of the ball on the way to a 43-8 win, but it certainly won't be easy in front of Seattle's 12th man.
While the Broncos are improved in a number of areas that plagued them last season, including the pass rush and defensive backfield, this game has the potential to end up as another convincing Seattle win.
Both teams are extremely talented, and both are the likely favorites to represent their respective conferences in the Super Bowl once again. However, the way the Seahawks' secondary matches up against the Broncos' passing game, and especially at home, should turn this matchup in their favor once again.
The Seahawks should be able to control the pace with both their home crowd and dominant ground game, forcing the Broncos into enough obvious passing situations that the secondary can take advantage.
Chicago Bears at New York Jets
Monday 8:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN
Monday night's game makes for one of the most intriguing of the week, largely due to each team facing the same kind of key matchups they did just a week ago.
Taking on the New York Jets, the Chicago Bears once again see a team with a defensive front among the NFL's best, as well as a secondary that can be exploited through the air if quarterback Jay Cutler can have the necessary time in the pocket.
Should the Bears take advantage and get the passing offense clicking from the start of the game, wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery may be too much for the Jets' defensive backs. However, should they start slow, as they did last week against the 49ers, a comeback would prove more difficult this time around.
The Jets, going up against a Bears defense that can be beat on the ground, won't abandon the running game the same way the 49ers did last week. Leading the league in rushing yards thus far, they'll certainly be able to move the ball that way throughout.
Football is not about how you start, but rather how you finish. However, if the Bears don't start fast and stretch the field early, the Jets could take control and eliminate any chance of another late surge by the Bears' dangerous offensive attack.