Week 3 preview

With season-ending injuries mounting across the NFL, the whole concept of an 18 game regular season seems utterly preposterous. The league instituted the 16 game regular season back in 1978 and I see no reason whatsoever to change it now. Time now to take a look at some of the key games in week three.

The ballad of the Amish Rifle game

Here's something most people never expected to hear: the 2-0 Bills will host the 2-0 Patriots at Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Bills are led by the man they call the Amish Rifle, Ryan Fitzpatrick. He's no pretty boy like the Patriots Tom Brady, but Fitzpatrick has thrown just as many touchdowns passes as his more famous counterpart this year: seven.

I can see Chan Gailey trying to feed the ball to Fred Jackson early to establish a running game against the Patriots defence. The longer the Bills offence has the ball, the less chance Brady will have to put up points on the scoreboard. If the Patriots do have a weakness it is in their secondary as they have allowed more passing yards than any other team in the AFC. This one has all the makings of a wild offensive showdown.

The Rexy is bringing Sexy back game

Move over Justin Timberlake because Rex Grossman is bringing sexy back to Washington D.C. The Cowboys host Sexy Rexy and the Redskins Monday night in a classic NFC East showdown. The Cowboys are still beat up after their overtime win over the 49ers last week. That could be an issue facing a Redskins defence that features a couple of young studs like Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo.

Not only that, Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall said that if he has a chance, he's going to go after Romo's ribs. As cruel as that sounds, that is life in the NFL. Look for the Cowboys to utilize some extra blockers in their pass protection schemes in order to help keep Romo upright for four quarters.

The king of the Big Easy game

The undefeated Texans take on the Saints in New Orleans. With apologies to New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu, Saints quarterback Drew Brees is the most powerful individual in the Big Easy. The only problem for the Saints is Brees can't play cornerback as well as quarterback. The Saints defence will have their hands full trying to contain Texans receiver Andre Johnson.

Then again, Wade Phillips and the re-worked Texans defence will have their work cut out for them trying to contain Brees and the Saints passing game. That won't be easy because Brees is on pace to have the same kind of huge season that he had in 2009 when the Saints won it all. Texans running back Arian Foster continues to be hampered by a bad hamstring.

The win one for Arash Madani game

The Lions and the Vikings in Minnesota. In all seriousness, I am beginning to feel bad for my friend and colleague Arash Madani. His beloved Vikings are off to a 0-2 start to the season and now they have to find a way to slow down the high-flying Lions offence. If Jared Allen and the Vikings' front seven cannot get pressure on Matthew Stafford this game won't even be in doubt. Now that he's healthy, Stafford has been amazing through the first two weeks of the season.

That means the pressure is on Donovan McNabb to have a big game and take some pressure off of the Vikings defence. About the only way I can see the Vikings winning this game is if Adrian Peterson runs for 150 yards and three touchdowns.

The human Piñata game

The Bears and the Packers in Chicago. Through two games this season Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has been sacked 11 times. Pro-rated over a 16 games season and Cutler is on pace to be sacked 88 times this season. The NFL record for most sacks allowed in a season is held by the 1986 Philadelphia Eagles when they allowed 104 sacks. I am not saying the Bears will exceed that dubious distinction, but I am saying Cutler is unlikely to last the season at the rate he's getting pounded back there.

The Packers might be 2-0, but their defence has allowed a league-worst 800 yards passing the first two weeks of the season. Something to watch out for in his games is whether or not the Packers secondary can control the Bears receivers. Look for Clay Matthews and the Packers to try to exploit the holes in the Bears offensive line and get as much pressure on Cutler as possible. At the risk of jinxing him, Aaron Rodgers has yet to throw an interception this year.

The game that needs no introduction game

The Buccaneers and the Falcons in Tampa Bay. I think it speaks volumes about the state of the economy in the Tampa Bay area that this game will be blacked out to local residents because of a lack of ticket sales. According to Mike Florio of ProFootbalTalk.com this is the 10th straight non-sellout for the Bucs at Raymond James Stadium. That's too bad, because Josh Freeman and the Bucs are one of the most exciting young teams in the league.

While both teams are 1-1, the Falcons are under more pressure in this game. The Falcons have yet to look like the Super Bowl contender that many people feel they would be this year. The Bucs are a young and very tough team. Beating them won't be easy for the Falcons. However, beating the Bucs is crucial for the Falcons if they want to keep pace with the Saints in the NFC South.

The survivor pool tip of the week

Thanks to the Steelers win over the Seahawks, I am still alive in my survivor pool. This week I am going with the Chargers over the Chiefs. I am glad I was still able to take the Chargers because there are some tough games this week. But when you consider how bad the Chiefs look this year, just about everyone and their mother will be taking the Chargers this week. Hi Mom.

Jim Lang is co-host of Brady and Lang in the morning on Sportsnet Radio the FAN 590 and a columnist for sportsnet.ca.