TheStuckeyReport: NFL: Week 3 Predictions

My 2009 NFL Record: 8-8

The Marquee Matchups

Atlanta Falcons (2-0) @ New England Patriots (1-1)

The Patriots have not looked like the Patriots at all in the first two weeks of the 2009 NFL season. Flustered by Rex Ryan’s varied blitz packages, Tom Brady and the Pats were held to a paltry 3 field goals – all in the first half – last week in the Meadowlands. And they needed a bit of luck to escape week 1 against the Bills… this team is very fortunate they aren’t 0-2 right now.

The Pats were without Welker in that game against the Jets and his status is questionable for this game as is Randy Moss. If New England doesn’t have either of them, an already tough game looks even bleaker.

Even though it’s not their strength, the Pats would be wise to emphasize their running game against a team that lost one of their starting tackles in week 1 and ranks 19^th in rushing yards allowed.

History is not on the Falcons’ side – it rarely is. The Patriots have not lost back to back games since November of 2006, a span of 41 games. And Brady has an uncanny ability to follow up poor outings with superb games.

The Falcons will hang tough early, but expect the Pats to pull away late

My Prediction: Patriots 31, Falcons 17

San Francisco 49ers (2-0) @ Minnesota Vikings (2-0)

A lot of people expected the Vikings to be contenders this year, with AP, a stout defense and the addition of a Hall of Fame Quarterback (Favre). Not many expected the same of the Niners, who are also 2-0.

The matchup to watch for in this game is the 49ers stout run defense (ranked 3rd) vs. Adrian Peterson and the Vikings rushing attack, which ranks second (behind the Cowboys) with 169 rushing yards per game. Peterson might have revenge on his mind, as his worst game of his career came against the Niners in 2007, rushing for 3 yards on 14 carries.

The Vikings will have their hands full with San Francisco’s Frank Gore, who’s coming off a 207 yard rushing performance last week against Seattle.

These teams are pretty evenly matched and I see this game coming down to one thing – play at the Quarterback position. Brett Favre can still make plays with the short and medium passing game that the Niners cannot. Shaun Hill is the prototypical game manager – won’t make mistakes, but he won’t drive you down the field to win the game either.

This game will be won in the trenches, but I think Minnesota’s extra element (passing) will be enough to keep the 49ers aggressive blitzing defense off balance.

My Prediction: 49ers 17, Vikings 24

The Rest of the Pack

Indianapolis Colts (2-0) @ Arizona Cardinals (1-1)