Showdown's at high noon (As well as 3, 7 and Monday Night)

ESPN called last weekend’s college football action ‘Separation Saturday’, and it sure didn’t disappoint. Michigan absolutely demolished Notre Dame, my Gators displayed their toughness in beating Tennessee, LSU and Auburn set offensive football back about 40 years and the outcome of the Oregon-Okalahoma game is still being argued. The national polls have completely changed, and were only in the fourth week of the season.

The NFL is one week behind the boys in college, but that doesn’t mean that their big day doesn’t deserve a clever nickname also. This Sunday should be as exciting as last Saturday was, because there are at least seven BIG games that could have direct playoff ramifications for both teams. So I’m going to break down the major matchups for ‘Showdown Sunday’ in Week 3 of the NFL. (Sorry, I won’t be revealing my picks for the games yet; you’ll have to wait till Friday for that.)

Carolina at Tampa Bay
Why it’s a big game ---Each of these teams had big expectations coming into 2006. The Panthers were picked by nearly every so-called expert to make it to the Super Bowl. (Except for me of course) There now 0-2. The Bucs, who were my choice for NFC champs (Damn!) are also winless heading into this ballgame. So you could say that this game is somewhat of an elimination game for the loser. With the two 2-0 teams in the NFC South, Atlanta and New Orleans, also playing this week (See below), this is a must-win for each. John Fox and John Gruden are both great coaches, and they need to get their teams ready to play for this one.

Who needs to step up---For the Panthers, it’s got to be Keyshawn Johnson. Mr. Gimmie the Ball hasn’t done much this season, and with Steve Smith still a question mark this week, Johnson has to give Carolina some type of receiving threat down the field. For Tampa Bay, there are tons of people who I could choose. I’ll give Chris Simms a bit of a break and got with Simeon Rice. For a guy who is supposed to be one of the top pass rushers in the game, four tackles and zero sacks in the first two games is un-acceptable. Everything starts up front, and Rice and the rest of the Buccaneers D-Line need to put some pressure on the QB if they want to play usual Tampa Bay defense.

Jacksonville at Indianapolis
Why it’s a big game ---The AFC South is a strange division. It has arguably the two worst teams in the entire league, Houston and Tennessee. But it also has two of the best in the Jaguars and Colts. So when these two face off, it’s basically a division championship game. The Jags showed their toughness by shutting out the Super Bowl champion Steelers on Monday night, but the Colts displayed their firepower by killing the Texans. When these two meet up, it’s always fun because they are such different type teams.

Who needs to step up---We all know the Jaguars strength is their defense. But against the Colts, the Jaguars will need to score more then the nine points they got against Pittsburgh, because you know Peyton Manning and Co. are not going to be shut out. So Fred Taylor will have to have a big game, gain the tough yards and keep that clock ticking. For Indy, it is also their running back. Rookie Joseph Addaii played well last week against the Texans, but facing the Jacksonville defense is a whole different thing. If Indy can’t run well, look for the Jaguars to get after Manning and keep the game closer then the Colts want it to be.

Chicago at Minnesota
Why it’s a big game ---Just like Jacksonville-Indy and Atlanta-New Orleans, this game is a battle of undefeated teams in the same division. The Bears have absolutely crushed two pathetic teams, Green Bay and Detroit, while the Vikings have won by a pair of last second field goals against two playoff teams from a year ago, Washington and Carolina. A lot of people doubted both teams’ starting quarterbacks at the beginning of the year, but now Rex Grossman and Brad Johnson have made believers out of everyone. But these two defenses will provide the biggest tests thus far for each of them.

Who needs to step up---I said it after the Packer game, and I said it again after the Lions game. Thomas Jones needs to play better. Sure the Bears can beat bellow-average teams averaging 99 yards a game on the ground, but it won’t work against a top of the line D. Jones needs to have a big game if he wants to hold off the fans and media calling for Cedric Benson. Safety Dwight Smith is the key for Minnesota. After missing Week 1 due to a suspension, he came back last week and had a solid game. But without Steve Smith, the Panthers never really challenged Smith and the Vikings DB’s. Bears WR Bernard Berrian has shown he can stretch the field, and it may be up to Smith to stop him.

Cincinnati at Pittsburgh
Why it’s a big game ---You can bet that this one has been circled on Carson Palmer’s calendar since the day the schedule was released. After the hit he took in the playoff game between these two last January, which caused his knee to shatter, you can guess he is salivating at the chance to get revenge against the Super Bowl champs. With the way the Ravens are playing, this is a must-win for both teams in order to not drop too far in the AFC North race.

Who needs to step up---I’m going to go with both teams quarterbacks for this one. As I mentioned, Bengals QB Carson Palmer will want this one for revenge, but it will be more difficult then it seems. Receivers Chad Johnson and TJ Houshmandzadeh are banged up, as is left tackle Levi Jones, making Palmer vulnerable from another big hit. Steelers QB Ben Rothlisberger got roughed around on Monday night from a tough Jaguars D, and it doesn’t get any easier against Cinci. He’ll need to be closer to 100% then he was against Jacksonville if Pittsburgh wants a chance.

New York Giants at Seattle
Why it’s a big game ---What do the NFL schedule makers have against the G-Men? Week one they had to face the Colts in maybe the most-hyped regular season game ever. Week two they had to go to division rival Philadelphia. And now in week three they have to travel all the way across the country to face the defending NFC Champs. So far they are 1-1 after playing OK against Indy and then last weeks miracle comeback against the Eagles. The Seahawks are un-beaten, but haven’t really been tested yet with games against the Lions and Cardinals. Qwest Field is a tough play to play, which should help out the ‘Hawks.

Who needs to step up---For Seattle, it’s the entire offensive line. Left tackle Walter Jones may be a future hall-of-famer, but for the other four guys, this is a big statement game. After losing Steve Hutchinson over the winter, the running game in the great northwest hasn’t been so great. Shaun Alexander hasn’t had a 100-yard game yet, and it doesn’t get any easier with Michael Strahan and LaVar Arrington coming in. For the Giants, it has to be kicker Jay Feely. Last year when these two teams played, Feely missed a field goal as time expired in regulation, and then missed two in overtime as the Giants ended up losing 24-21. After his game winner last week at Philly, he should have his confidence up for this one.

Denver at New England
Why it’s a big game ---Last year in Denver, the Broncos snapped the Patriots ten game playoff winning steak, beating New England 27-13. In that game, Tom Brady played like just an average QB, throwing two interceptions, including one in his own end zone. This season, the Pats are 2-0, but each game has been a struggle, beating the Bills and Jets by a combined five points. The Broncos are 1-1, and have yet to display an offense suitable for a Super Bowl contender. The usual dominant running game has been so-so, and many Denver fans are calling for rookie Jay Cutler to take over under center instead of the inconsistent Jake Plummer.

Who needs to step up--After trading Deion Branch to the Seahawks, the only proven receiver the Patriots have is Troy Brown. This means that rookie Chad Jackson (From Florida by the way) has go to make his presence known. Jackson is a burner, and he’ll have to make some big plays down the field to allow the New England running game to do their thing. As I mentioned earlier, for Denver the guy who has to play better is Plummer. In two weeks he has no touchdown passes while throwing four picks, resulting in only one touchdown thus far for the Broncos offense. Another bad night in Foxboro and Mike Shannehan might have no choice but put in the rookie Cutler.

Atlanta at New Orleans
Why it’s a big game ---Lets see, what are some keys for making a game a big one? The teams have to be good, and since both the Saints and Falcons are undefeated, I think that’s a check mark. There also needs to be some sort of anticipation from the fans. Considering this is the re-opening of the Louisiana Superdome after Hurricane Katrina and it’s the start of a Saints home season that is completely sold out for the first time in team history, that definitely gets a check. And last but not least, there has to be some player or player’s that will make the casual fan drop everything they are doing and turn the game on. And this game surely has that. The Michael Vick Experience is back, and judging from Weeks one and two; it’s better then ever. And Reggie Bush, though he’s been a bit quiet in the first couple of games, is due for a big breakout, and there’s no better place to do that then on Monday Night Football.

Who needs to step up ---This game will be decided by who can play the better defense. For the Falcons, that means middle linebacker Edgerton Hartwell has got to shut down the New Orleans run game, as well as playing good coverage on quarterback Drew Brees and the Saints wideouts. Hartwell has had injury concerns in the past, but he’ll have to be full speed to shut down Bush and Co. On the other side, it is nose tackle Hollis Thomas. The big boy in the middle of the Saints D-Line will have to put pressure on Vick while also making sure that Warrick Dunn doesn’t carve up the N.O. defense like he did Carolina and Tampa Bay.


Excited for Showdown Sunday yet? Thought so. And the great thing is, after this weeks games are done, it will only create even better matchups for the following Sunday.