Season overview: Week 3

After week 3 much is left to be discovered about the teams in the NFC North and around the League. The question marks on each team have shown both their potential and downside already, but the Minnesota Vikings are the only ones who have been able to overcome their flaws and remain perfect, even though it took a crazy last second pass from a legendary quarterback to a no name receiver for them to remain that way.

Minnesota's defense has been relatively stout thus far, but did struggle at points against a San Francisco team that was missing Frank Gore. Also, their other two opponents, the Lions and Browns, have proven to be two of the most anemic offenses in the league thus far. The talent on that side of the ball however is undeniable and we will see how they respond to tougher opponents. The special teams on the other hand have already given up two touchdowns in the first three games, an alarming stat that could come back to haunt them in a close game.

The offense on the other hand is still hard to get a handle on. Favre had to do much of the heavy lifting, passing for 14 of their 19 first downs in the game, but his consistency will be questioned the entire year after last season. If Adrian Peterson can stay healthy, that's a big if since he is averaging well over 20 touches per game, they can beat everyone, but I'm not ready to put them in the same level as the Giants, Eagles, and Saints, who have appeared to be the most impressive teams in the NFC so far in this young season (the Saints have gone on runs like this before however, it will be interesting if they will be able to continue to dominate later in the season).

Green Bay at a fortunate 2-1 takes on Minnesota this Sunday, preview coming in future blog, and this might mark their most difficult game too date. The Cincinnati loss does not seem as harsh this week after the Bengals knocked off the Super Bowl champs, but still it has to hurt to give up almost 150 yards on the ground to Cedric Benson. It might be a rejuvenated Benson and Bengals team but many players on defense look awkward still and out of place. The Rams who had scored seven points in the first two games, put up 17 when the game was competitive and where even winning in the third quarter. Stephen Jackson ripped through the Packers for 117 yards and it wasn't until the fourth quarter that this game became a blowout. Changes will have to be made to stop the run and actually utilize the players they have.

The Bears fans seem to have forgiven Jay Cutler for his opening day blunders, after back to back game winning drives. The team is lucky to be where they are, but have beaten the Steelers, who everyone else in the division still has to play, and a Seattle team which really slugged them in the mouth early. Cutler has definitely brought a new explosiveness and confidence to the Bears that has not been seen there for some time, but Matt Forte's 2.5 average per carry has to be disconcerting, especially sense they have played two teams, Packers and Seahawks, who have surrendered huge games on the ground. It can be seen as a good sign because their offense is only going to improve or a negative signal that they are shifting their identity and possibly asking Cutler to do to much.

The drought is over in Detroit, but another one is likely to begin next week. Their win was good to see and heartwarming, but the Redskins where ripe for an upset, as I predicted last week....had to. Jason Campbell still carved up their secondary, which did not translate into points this week, but against even relatively decent quarterbacks the outcome would have been much worse. But then again they won and that hasn't happened in a long time, so let's not dwell on the negatives.