The Steelers won their Monday night game but lost a pair of players for the season. Starting guard Kendall Simmons and backup running back Rashard Mendenhall will be placed on IR, Coach Mike Tomlin said after Monday?s 23-20 OT victory over the Ravens. Simmons tore his right Achilles while Mendenhall, who was starting in place of the injured Willie Parker, fractured his left shoulder. The Steelers have now won 14 consecutive games on Monday night.

Rashard Mendenhall has been coy to the press, but via text messages to a friend, he expects to have a big game against the Ravens. Mendenhall texted friend Ray Rice, who passed the text message along to his teammates, who are not taking Mendenhall's proclamation lightly. "He said later that he was just joking, but it's too late," Ravens' linebacker Bart Scott said. "Thanks for the bulletin-board material, rookie."

Last Week?s forecast: 11-5, pushing the overall season mark to 31-16. The skies should be clear across the country for this weekend?s slate of games. Now that it?s officially autumn we will start seeing more cold weather games, though from now until Halloween is often ideal football weather for the East Coast and Great Lakes teams. The changing of the season also means the forecast models are more accurate, as the increased pool of game film provides more accurate readings. You?ll still see some flukish results that defy all explanation, but at least you?ll know it was a fluke. I?m sure you are familiar with the emergency alert system on television and the radio; it?s that annoying high-pitched alarm that is always followed by the ?This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is only a test.? Here?s an open question for the folks who operate this system: how come it never activates when there is an actual emergency? I?ve been through a couple of hurricanes, I?ve been within 500 yards of a tornado that struck both a nuclear power plant and a heavily populated resort, I?ve seen large cars swept away in floods, I?ve seen hail the size of baseballs. But not once in my life have I ever heard this supposed ?alert? system ever activate for anything but a test, and anyone who knows me will tell you I live with either the radio or television perpetually on. Either put this system to use or stop annoying the crap out of everyone with the pointless tests! Bright and sunny games Washington (14) at Dallas (1): Thanks to all the Dallas fans who continually remind me I predicted the Cowboys would miss the playoffs. I?d like to say that it?s still early, that they haven?t hit their patch of adversity yet, but I?ve got to admit they have easily been the most impressive team in the NFL thus far. The rival Skins have looked solid, playing smart and fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball. If Jason Campbell can continue to manage the offense and keep control of the ball, and the Skins can get some pass rush up the gut on Tony Romo, they can pull off the road upset. But I see Marion Barber running strong, Jason Witten exploiting the weaknesses in the Redskins back 7, and the Dallas defensive front giving trouble to the Skins solid but unspectacular line. Cowboys 30, Redskins 20. Baltimore (10) at Pittsburgh (8): Pittsburgh?s offensive line couldn?t handle the Eagles or even the Browns, and now they get the Ravens impressive pressure defense. Baltimore is very quietly playing real sound football, and the defense is playing just as well as it did during the 13-3 season of 2006. The Steelers D has paved their early road to success, and they have the ability to bring the heat themselves. But Pittsburgh will be without NT Casey Hampton and DE Brett Keisel, and S Troy Polamalu continues to nurse a thigh injury. Baltimore isn?t an explosive offense, but they do have a power running game and a young QB getting more confident each drive. It?s rare I pick against the Steelers at home, but missing RB Willie Parker seals it. Baltimore seizes control of the AFC North with a hard-fought 13-10 victory to atone for last season?s MNF gig where the Steelers embarrassed Steve McNair into retirement. Don?t think Ray Lewis & Co. have forgotten about that one... Seasonably pleasant games Atlanta (20) at Carolina (11): Very interesting game in Charlotte. The Falcons have looked good thus far, but their two wins are over punching bags Detroit and Kansas City. The Panthers have earned two wins in three games against three pretty strong defenses (alleged in the Chargers case), and the two-headed RB of Deangelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart complements Jake Delhomme well. I like what I saw of the Panthers defense, who bottled up Adrian Peterson and the Vikings potent rushing attack nicely last week. Their LBs are tough and fast, and safety Chris Harris is quickly becoming the bedrock of a strong defense. Atlanta?s D has played well too, led by Jon Abraham, who would be touted as an MVP candidate if he played in Dallas or New York. Most of the forecast models indicate a big day for Steve Smith and the Panthers TEs and a learning-curve game for young Matt Ryan, who hasn?t seen anything like Julius Peppers or the strong Carolina secondary. Panthers 24, Falcons 17. San Francisco (18) at New Orleans (16): I exchanged emails with a 49er this week, and his team is flying high with confidence and optimism, something they haven?t had under Coach Nolan. Other than nickel back Shawntae Spencer (now on IR), they?re pretty healthy and are coming off an easy win over Detroit where they didn?t have to open up the playbook much. The Saints dropped a shootout in Denver, and they?re fooling themselves if they think they can continue to give up over 20 first downs per game. They rank near the bottom in sacks, turnovers, yards per attempt, yards per 1st down snap, and points per game. That does not bode well against a Mike Martz offense with self-confidence. What bodes even worse is the loss of G Jamar Nesbit, the best interior run blocker on the team. However, the Saints have won the last 4 meetings by an average score of 34-22, and two of those games came in years where the Saints were worse than this year. We?ve seen the Niners start strong before and quickly wilt, and I think this game begins the wilting. New Orleans 34, San Francisco 24. Green Bay (5) at Tampa Bay (19): Tampa will need to improve their pass coverage if they have any shot, because last week the Bears had little trouble moving the ball and the Packers are better at every offensive spot than Chicago. Aaron Rodgers needs to have a big game, as RB Ryan Grant is looking like a half-year wonder the more he plays. Even though they threw the ball 67 times last week, the Bucs aerial attack doesn?t scare defenses unless TE Jerramy Stevens has his head (and hands) in the game. Green Bay hasn?t successfully covered the TE all season, and that gives the Bucs hope. Tampa?s kicker Matt Bryant lost his infant son this week, and that unspeakable tragedy could either be a rallying point for the Bucs or cost them in special teams. I?m betting on the former, as Bryant is as popular with his teammates as any kicker in the league. Tampa Bay 27, Green Bay 24. Philadelphia (4) at Chicago (23): The Eagles defense terrorized Pittsburgh last week, netting 9 sacks and snuffing out the potent Steelers run game. That?s a major problem for the blocking-challenged Bears offense. Chicago rookie RB Matt Forte is playing very well, and QB Kyle Orton appears to finally have a go-to WR in Brandon Lloyd. That provides hope for Chicago, but the Bears undisciplined, underachieving defense looks like they?re in for a long night against a rejuvenated Donovan McNabb and his increasingly healthier WRs. I expect a better showing from Urlacher & Co., but I just don?t see the Chicago offense able to score enough (if at all) to make it matter. Special mention to the Bears special teams, proving that the injured Devin Hester was far from a one-man gang. Eagles 20, Bears 6. Cool with wind and light rain games San Diego (6) at Oakland (24): You saw a real tale of two teams last week. San Diego regrouped with a laser-sharp focus and took the Jets behind the woodshed. Oakland played perhaps their best overall game of their last 10 outings but found a way to choke away a victory against the Bills. Good teams find ways to win, bad teams find ways to lose. These Raiders are probably better than you think they are, but they?re still not a good team. San Diego keeps rolling with a 33-13 victory. Arizona (13) at New York Jets (25): Kudos to the Cardinals for trying something new in their quest to break their East Coast futility. After playing in Washington last week, the team stayed East instead of returning to Arizona in preparation for the reeling Jets. Those Jets are returning from their drubbing in San Diego on Monday night, so they get the cross-country travel on a short week. Savvy move by Ken Whisenhunt & Co., and I bet it pays off. Obligatory Brett Favre name drop: Favre is just 3-7 in his last 10 starts against 3-4 defenses, though one of those wins came against Arizona. For as much talent as the Jets have in their secondary they sure struggle to stop the pass, and that?s a very real problem when facing Kurt Warner and the dynamic duo of Fitzgerald and Boldin. The Jets haven?t beaten an NFC team in nearly two years, and that drought continues in a 33-17 Cardinals victory. Minnesota (21) at Tennessee (3): The Titans defense has dominated thus far, and they present an interesting challenge to the Vikings. Minnesota is built to win by running wild with Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, and stopping the opponent from doing the same. But the Tennessee defense aggressively attacks the run, and their excellent LBs often get clean shots at ballcarriers thanks to the best DL in football. That means the Vikings will have to throw to win, and I don?t trust Gus Frerotte to beat the opportunistic Titans secondary, certainly not with the WRs at his disposal. Kerry Collins and the Tennessee offense will find equally tough sledding against a Vikings D that also features great LB play behind a dominant DL. But I do trust Collins to make less mistakes than Frerotte, and I also like K Rod Bironas at home. Titans in a game that screams for you to bet the under, 16-13. Tornado in the trailer park games Houston (27) at Jacksonville (22): Several readers have been quick to criticize my criticism of the Jaguars. To you Jacksonville supporters, I give the team loads of credit for the gut-check victory and the fantastic 2-minute drill to earn that victory on the road in Indy. I still don?t believe that the offensive line or wide receivers/tight ends are good enough to win more than they lose unless David Garrard is near-perfect. Except for that last drive against Indy, aided by a couple of legit but iffy penalties, Garrard has been very ordinary, as has the running game. That?s still better than the Texans, who have the worst 1st down offense in the league even after Steve Slaton?s 50-yard scamper. Their defense is devoid of any playmakers other than Mario Williams; Demeco Ryans is a great tackler, but he doesn?t make plays in the backfield and doesn?t force turnovers. Jags CB Rashean Mathis is a nightmare matchup for Texans QB Matt Schaub, who leads the league in INTs despite playing one fewer game than everyone else. Jaguars get back into the playoff mix while burying the Texans firmly in the AFC South cellar. Jacksonville 24, Houston 13. Cleveland (28) at Cincinnati (29): Lost in Derek Anderson?s rapid decline for the Browns is the stunning disappearance of OLB Kamerion Wimbley. Bursting onto the scene with 11 sacks and 62 tackles as a rookie in 2006, Wimbley has just 5 sacks since, and just 2 in the last 12 games. That absent pass rush from a player who looked poised to be the next DeMarcus Ware is as much what ails the Browns as their sputtering offense. It will be interesting to see which Bengals team shows up, the one that showed little effort or emotion in the first two weeks or the inspired group that nearly beat the Giants last week. Because it?s at home and it?s the rival Browns, I see a repeat of the latter. It won?t matter if the Browns skill players on offense, not to mention Wimbley, get their acts together, but nothing we?ve seen this year indicates that forecast model is realistic. Bengals bury the Browns 33-24. Denver (7) at Kansas City (31): Astute reader Ryan Hansen pointed out to me that even though I?m one of the very few people who picked the Broncos to make the playoffs, I have yet to pick them to win any of their games. Ryan--this one?s for you! Denver 37, Kansas City 20. Buffalo (9) at St. Louis (32): How messed up are the Rams? Embattled coach Scott Linehan benches the highest paid player on the team, QB Marc Bulger, in favor of scrambled-brained fogie Trent Green. Green does offer better mobility, but that doesn?t help a lot when nobody is open and the pressure comes from all sides. The Bills survived a clunker against a game Raiders team, but the feeling around Orchard Park is that those are games that good teams win and bad teams find ways to lose. This Buffalo unit clearly believes in itself, and more people around the country are jumping on the bandwagon. That scares me to some degree, because the game that seemed like the biggest lock in each of the three prior weeks has wound up bombing. Keep that in mind before you use the Bills in those elimination fantasy games. Buffalo wins 30-17. Bye Week: Detroit (30), Miami (26), Seattle (15), New England (12), Indianapolis (17), NY Giants (2) Drinking in the Dorm Room Games 3-1 last week, 14-2 on the season. Note that I do not advocate breaking campus drinking laws, but rather strongly advocate the revocation of those laws on the basis they encourage binge drinking and irresponsible behavior. Enjoy alcohol in moderation, never alone, and never mixed with drugs. Moms everywhere, you?re welcome! - Georgia 27, Alabama 25. Just a hunch and my admitted anti-Saban bias bleeding through. - Penn State 40, Illinois 29. The Nittany Lions very quietly have great offensive talent across the board, and the Illini have major defensive problems despite the outstanding play of Vontae Davis, the best cover man in the country so far. - USC 44, Oregon State 17. The Trojans have stumbled in roadies like this recently, but not this year. - Wisconsin 20, Michigan 16. The Wolverines offense has to prove they can complete a pass for more than 8 yards before the Badger defense will stop flooding the box and stuffing the run. Thus far they haven?t shown that ability, and their OL faces their biggest test yet. Jeff.Risdon@RealGM.com

Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis believes that the Steelers are a better team with Willie Parker in the backfield, according to Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I haven't seen that much of [rookie running back Rashard] Mendenhall, but I just think that Willie is one of those warriors who is going to come and play the game right. ... When you lose a guy like that, I don't think that you try to replace him," Lewis said. "I think that they did a great job drafting Mendenhall. At the same time, I don't know the difference between him and Parker just yet. I think that losing what you lose with Willie is a lot of speed from the running back position." Mendenhall, who will start against the Ravens this weekend, is familiar with Lewis. "Oh, man I used to play with him on video games, so I know a lot about Ray Lewis. I mean, he's a great player, there's no doubt about it," Mendenhall said. "In this league, in this business, you're going to face great players every week. He's a great player, I look forward to playing against him."

The Steelers will be without injured running back Willie Parker and tackle Casey Hampton for Monday night?s game against the Ravens, as reported by the Associated Press. Parker has a sprained left knee that occurred late in Sunday's game. Coach Mike Tomlin did not say Tuesday if Parker might miss more than one game.

Steelers' wide receiver Hines Ward says that the blitzing of the Eagles confused the team's offense on Sunday afternoon, according to Philadelphia Daily News. "[The Eagles' blitzing] really seemed to confuse us a little," Ward said. "I think today was a good old-fashioned butt-kicking." "I think this was about as frustrating a game as it could be. I think sometimes you don't want to press the issues too much this early in the season. I think we really had a lot of guys that were not on the same page. In a 60-minute game, you have to be on that same page. It's tough enough to win on the road." Philadelphia held Pittsburgh to just six points at Lincoln Financial Field.

The hand of Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is set for more examination after he injured it against the Eagles on Sunday, according to Post-Gazette. He left the game in the fourth quarter, and x-rays taken immediately showed no broken bones. The injury occurred when he was sacked for the eighth time in Pittsburgh's 15-6 loss and fumbled with 3:31 left. He said afterward that he believed someone stepped on it.

The first two weeks are the hardest to forecast, but now that we have enough baseline data on the teams, the simulation models in my head provide a clearer picture. After two games the lipstick is off the pig, and it?s easier to tell if that pig is a blue ribbon winner at the state fair or destined for a fatback sandwich at a greasy spoon along US 58 in Southside Virginia. Last week?s forecast was a sunny 10-5, taking the overall record to 20-11. No hurricanes or major storm systems this week, so playing conditions should be optimal just about everywhere. Bright and Sunny Weather games - Pittsburgh (3) at Philadelphia (5): Whenever these teams meet, I?m unpleasantly reminded of the most haggard driving experience east of the Mississippi, that being the Pennsylvania Turnpike. With its narrow lanes, perilously close concrete wall shoulders, and heavy truck traffic, it feels like you lose a year off your life every time you drive between Harrisburg and I-79. And even though it?s always sunny in Philadelphia (and no, I don?t get that show), it always seems to rain on the Turnpike by Breezewood. That has nothing to do with the game, and that?s because the forecast models indicate a 50% chance of victory for both teams. Just on a hunch, I like Philly?s D to rebound from the thrilling whipping they took from Dallas. Eagles 27, Steelers 20. - Dallas (2) at Green Bay (6): All the hype and hyperbole aside, this game comes down to which secondary plays better. Both were more flaming marshmallow than lightly buttered wheat toast last week. The Packers secondary capitalized on a series of Jon Kitna brainlocks that likely won?t happen to Tony Romo, though he is prone to some boneheaded turnovers of his own. Dallas should be more concerned with their secondary because their LB's have been lousy in coverage and the pass rush sputtered until desperation time last week. The Cowboys have been great in prime time lately, but picking against the Packers when John Madden is calling the game is insanity, Favre or not. Do yourself a favor and watch this game on mute...you?ll thank me later. Packers 30, Cowboys 28. - New Orleans (13) at Denver (11): There must be something about the Saints uniforms that cause DB's to play dumb. They have some talented guys back there, but in every game they make a couple of inexcusable gaffes. It cost them last week, and this week doesn?t get any easier with the Broncos. Brandon Marshall probably won?t catch more than about 15 passes this week, but rookie Eddie Royal has proven a very capable second banana. The Saints OL needs to start run blocking with tenacity; they appear to really miss Jeff Faine?s leadership and grit. This could turn into a real entertaining shootout, and even without Marques Colston the Saints have more bullets in the gun. I like the Saints' ability to pressure Jay Cutler more than I trust the Bronco D to get a stop against the Saints versatile offense. New Orleans 36, Denver 33. - New York Jets (14) at San Diego (15): San Diego has lost both games on essentially the exact same play: goal line pass plays that force safety Eric Weddle to commit to a crossing route just behind the LBs. Just a hunch, but Norv Turner should have that corrected this week by getting LB Eric Wilhelm to drop quicker and having his CB's play inside technique. Of course the Jets are unlikely to exploit that play, as Coach Mangini appears locked in on running between the tackles in goal line situations despite having one of the best all-time goal line QBs running the show. Mangini continues to remind me more and more of his mentor-turned-rival Bill Belichick, but not the good Belichick we know today. Back in his Browns' era, Belichick was best known for ?Metcalf up the middle? and for having Bernie Kosar run a QB sneak on 4th and 2, along with many other bizarre decisions (kicking a last-minute FG when losing by 13) that seemed to indicate he was trying to prove he?s smarter than everyone else rather than actually trying to win games. The Hoodie learned; Mangini clearly has yet to make that leap. The Chargers have a load of pent-up frustration and should take it out on the Jets like a prisoner on a conjugal visit. San Diego 41, New York 17. Mostly Clear games - Carolina (7) at Minnesota (19): Vikings Coach Brad Childress finally bit the bullet and pulled the plug on developing Tarvaris Jackson at QB, switching to veteran Gus Frerotte. His downfield accuracy and gambler?s mentality will keep defenses off the line, but Frerotte isn?t a panacea. Having top WRs Sidney Rice (knee) and Bernard Berrian (toe) at less than full strength isn?t going to help either, and the Panthers have very quietly assembled a fast, attacking defense that can contain Adrian Peterson. Everything about this game screams ?Cardiac Cats?, but sometimes you have to follow Dr. Isaac?s advice. My meteorology professor at Ohio University told us repeatedly that all the models and simulations are great, but sometimes you have to stick your head out the window and look up. Minnesota is too good to be 0-3, and I don?t believe Carolina?s run of good fortune will carry to a third straight win, not even with the return of Steve Smith. Vikings 20, Panthers 17. - Arizona (8) at Washington (18): This game is a good barometer for just how good the NFC East truly is. The Cardinals have been impressive on both sides of the ball in winning their first two games, and their defense should be able to get pressure on Jason Campbell. How well the Skins' passing game, both Campbell and his wideouts, can handle the pressure and exploit coverage mistakes will likely decide this one. Washington found a keeper in rookie safety Chris Horton, who wasn?t even expected to play but went out and created 3 turnovers. He?ll have his hands full with the Arizona passing attack, coming off a perfect QB rating for Kurt Warner and several long passes that forced the safeties to make snap decisions. I think the Cards are the better team and should win here, but I need to see them actually do it before I trust that gut instinct. Washington somehow wins 26-24. - Tampa Bay (17) at Chicago (22): Savvy move by Bucs coach Jon Gruden to give Brian Griese an opportunity to show up his former team, which foolishly saddled him behind Rex Grossman. Gaines Adams is a major problem for the Bears OL, and the strength of the Bucs OL matches up well with the strength of the Bears defense. But this is Chicago?s home opener, and that?s usually a strong sign of victory. Devin Hester?s uncertain status might strip away the field position advantage, but this is one of the few matchups where the Bears might have a better passing attack than their opponent. Memo to Greg Olsen: if you thought the Panthers were opportunistic and aggressive at stripping the ball, you ain?t seen nothing yet. Chicago is the pick only because the game is at home and Tampa Bay is often punchless on the road. Bears 20, Bucs 10. Overcast and Breezy Games - Cleveland (26) at Baltimore (16): Last year the Browns really started to turn around their season by beating the Ravens in Week 4, and if they have any shot at salvaging 2008 it needs to start here as well. Baltimore got an unexpected bye last week, which allowed them to get healthy but also killed the momentum of their opening victory. Also taking the luster off that win is the fact the Bengals team they beat appears legitimately awful. Browns Coach Romeo Crennel has thrown the gauntlet down to struggling QB Derek Anderson, paving the way for a QB change if Anderson can?t get anything going. Savvy coaching move for a guy who apparently doesn?t realize that when you?re losing by 7 with little time left, you don?t kick a 31-yard FG; either Anderson responds and gets back on track, or Brady Quinn gets to come in and save the day. The Browns are too talented to fall to 0-3. Cleveland 26, Baltimore 17. - Jacksonville (21) at Indianapolis (10): You can call this one the battle of the injury bug. The teams will combine to have 6 regular starting OL out for this one, and the Colts injury report looks Dickensian in length. Losing star safety Bob Sanders is a huge blow, particularly considering the Jaguars appear refocused on pounding the ball with the run. Bringing back freak-nasty G Chris Naeole will help them in that regard. An Indy win would not surprise me at all, but with Sanders, Saturday, Ugoh, and Pollak all out and Dallas Clark and Kelvin Hayden both real iffy plays, the Colts will need a superhuman performance from Peyton Manning to do it. I like that JAX can control the clock with the run game, and that the Colts have little ability to run the ball themselves to keep the pressure off Manning. Jaguars 33, Colts 28. - Houston (27) at Tennessee (9): Has a defense with two legit stars ever been as horrible as Houston?s? Mario Williams is an All Pro DE, Demeco Ryans is an outstanding MLB, yet the Texans can?t stop the run and it?s even worse when the other team throws. The Titans win ugly, but they don?t beat themselves and figure to look better with another week of Kerry Collins at QB. The Tennessee secondary is quietly developing into one of the better ones, and they?ll survive the Andre Johnson test here. Real tough matchup for Houston after the last 10 days they?ve had with Hurricane Ike and the schedule shuffle; the Titans have won the last 6 meetings. The Texans have enough talent to put out an emotionally fueled game like the Giants did when Mr. Tisch died, but because they are so young they could also crumble quickly under the weight of it all. Titans 24, Texans 16. A November Afternoon in Kamchatka Games - Kansas City (29) at Atlanta (20): The Tyler Thigpen experience has begun! The Chiefs turned to their young 3rd stringer, and he performed about how you would expect for a seldom-used project QB. He has mobility and unwavering confidence in his arm, two assets that offer promise in KC. The Falcons really slowed down once rookie LT Sam Baker left the game last week; if he can?t go in this one, the Chiefs more aggressive D could net them a win. Watch for a big week from ATL WR Roddy White, a smart fantasy play for those in salary cap-based games. Michael Turner could run wild as well, as the Chiefs gave up over 300 yards rushing last week to an Oakland team that doesn?t even try to throw the ball. Falcons go to 2-1 with a 27-17 home win. - Miami (28) at New England (4): Shame on anyone who doubted the resolve of the Patriots or the remaining talent they still sport on both sides of the ball. You?d better believe Bill Belichick has sold this group on proving they can do it without the fallen Brady, and this veteran-laden team buys into it. Matt Cassel can really build more confidence facing the truly dreadful Miami secondary, on pace to allow the highest opposing QB rating in league history. Jake Long struggled last week against the quick 3-4 of the Cardinals, and now he faces an even tougher challenge with Ty Warren, Mike Vrabel, and Adalius Thomas, fresh from one of the more impressive sacks you?ll ever see when he tackled both Favre and Leon Washington with one hand. Patriots roll 37-9. - Oakland (25) at Buffalo (12): The Raiders wisely unleashed rookie phenom Darren McFadden last week and ran to a victory over the Chiefs. Mr. McFadden, meet Mr. Stroud, backed up by Mr. Posluszny. Tommie Kelly?s DUI and the uncertain status of Coach Kiffin bring more headaches that Oakland simply doesn?t need. It?s games like these that the Bills need to win comfortably if they want to be taken seriously as a playoff contender. They might make it look more difficult than it needs to be, but the Bills move to 3-0 with a 24-20 home victory. - Cincinnati (31) at New York Giants (1): All the offseason criticism leveled at the Bengals was about their defense, but thus far that has been the better of their units. In two games Carson Palmer has thrown for 228 yards and zero TDs despite having the best WR duo in the league. Their 19 total first downs are barely more than what they averaged per game two seasons ago. That franchise tag on Stacy Andrews looks horrific after how badly he has played the first two weeks, and now he draws the very strong Giants pass rush. This one has mismatch written all over it, but it?s these types of games that have historically given Tom Coughlin-coached teams fits. Expect an ugly affair and a big day from Brandon Jacobs. Giants 34, Bengals 10. - Detroit (30) at San Francisco (23): I know many members of the Lions defense blame last season?s woes on Mike Martz, now the offensive coordinator in SF, for causing them to be on the field too long. They desperately want to show him up, and they have the advantage of knowing 49ers QB JT O?Sullivan very well. This game has turnover battle written all over it, and the Lions haven?t won a game in which they lost the turnover battle this century. The Niners aren?t very good, but they do have some playmakers on defense that can continue Jon Kitna?s misery. Niners 30, Lions 24. - St. Louis (32) at Seattle (24): Seattle is currently auditioning wide receivers. St. Louis is currently seeking any competent interior linemen and cornerbacks. Watch this one only if you?re desperate. Seattle 36, St. Louis 13.

Steelers' Coach Mike Tomlin says that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's shoulder is sprained but not separated, according to Associated Press. "I have no idea where that report came from," Tomlin said. "It didn't come from me or my medical staff. If anybody in here has got any information about where that report came from, send them to me." Roethlisberger will not fully participate in practice this week but will play against the Eagles on Sunday.

The scoreboard is where games are officially won and lost, but they are largely decided by the team that wins the battles of yards per pass, yards per carry, penalty yards lost, first downs and turnovers. For this reason, I created the following formula called the ?Trench Counter? to look at which team truly controls the game: (2x Yards per pass) + (2x Yards per carry) + (.5 First downs) - (Penalty yards/10) - (2.5 Turnovers) - (Opposing Team's Trench Counter) Click here for more information on the Trench Counter For the 2008 season, our weekly team rankings will be based solely off of this formula. *Week 2 Trench Counter in parenthesis 1. Philadelphia Eagles: 15.3 (4.8) As has become the norm in Andy Reid?s offense, Donovan McNabb connected with nine different Eagles in their 41-37 loss in Dallas. Without the severe penalties for the Cowboys, the Trench Counter would have been on the minus side for Philadelphia. Their lack of an effective pass rush allowed Tony Romo far too much comfort in the pocket. Even still, the Eagles had enough dominance leftover in the bank from their Week 1 win against the Rams to remain atop this list despite the loss. 2. Pittsburgh Steelers: 13.3 (15.0) On a messy night, in a low-scoring game, Mitch Berger and Jeff Reed were vital for the Steelers. Reed deserved four points for the 48-yarder while Berger averaged 45.5 yards on his six punts and pinned the Browns inside their own 20 four separate times. 3. Denver Broncos: 13.0 (0.8) Brandon Marshall?s 18 receptions puts him second in single-game history. With the emergence of Jay Cutler and his receiving weapons, the possibility of a Steelers/Broncos AFC Championship rematch from January 2006 looks like a distinct one. 4. Tennessee Titans: 12.4 (10.2) Chris Johnson is averaging twice as many yards per carry (5.9) than LenDale White (3.0) even though they have virtual identical attempts through the first two weeks. White, who has two touchdowns to none for Johnson, will likely continue to be a goalline vulture. 5. New York Giants: 11.0 (18.2) Justin Tuck had an improbable interception return and has easily been the Giants? best defensive player through the first two games of 2008. 6. Arizona Cardinals: 10.2 (19.2) The Cardinals are 7-3 in their previous 10 games and have scored at least 20 points in each of them. 7. Baltimore Ravens: 10.1 (PPD) Their game against the Texans was postponed due to Hurricane Ike. 8. Buffalo Bills: 9.2 (7.0) The Bills are 2-0 for the first time since 2003 and they did it largely on the steady arm of Trent Edwards, who was 20-for-25 with a QB rating of 119.8 and FIC of 49. Fred Jackson caught seven balls for 83 yards and three first downs. 9. Washington Redskins: 8.8 (21.4) Jason Campbell looked like a different quarterback against a depleted Saints? defense, taking shorter drops and finishing the game with 321 yards and had a 104.1 QB rating. 10. Minnesota Vikings: 6.2 (9.6) Could two teams that begin the season 0-2 face each other in the Super Bowl? It?s doubtful but I expect the Vikings and Chargers to at least reach the playoffs. Minnesota limited the Colts to just 25 yards, picked off Peyton Manning twice and still lost. That is the price that is paid when a team has scored just two touchdowns even though they have a running back on pace for 2,152 yards. 11. New England Patriots: 5.6 (8.9) LaMont Jordan was New England?s workhorse down the stretch, carrying the ball 11 times for 62 yards with his first carry not coming until late in the 3rd quarter. 12. Dallas Cowboys: 5.1 (-4.8) Tony Romo completed 21 of his 30 passes for 312 yards (10.4 per pass), but turned the ball over twice, Barber and Jones couldn?t get much against Philadelphia?s run defense and the Cowboys had more than double the penalty yards. It was an exciting and hard fought game, but that McNabb fumble in the 4th really setup Dallas. This ranking is clearly one that is especially hard on the Cowboys and there is little doubt they will finish the season in the top-five. 13. San Francisco 49ers: 4.6 (10.3) Isaac Bruce caught four balls for 153 yards, all of which were first downs. 14. Green Bay Packers: 3.8 (10.2) Aaron Rodgers went 24-for-38 for 328 yards and three touchdowns while finding seven different receivers. 15. Atlanta Falcons: 3.0 (-5.4) The Falcons? defense wasn?t nearly as bad at the scoreboard appeared as 10 of the Buccaneers points came off turnovers when they began the series already in the red zone. 16. Carolina Panthers: 1.6 (5.0) Jonathan Stewart was brilliant for the Panthers against Chicago, averaging 5.5 yards per carry with two TDs. 17. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: 0.6 (5.4) The Buccaneers? running game was tremendous against the Falcons, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. Earnest Graham carried the ball 15 times for 116 yards and a TD, while Warrick Dunn had 49 yards and his first one with Tampa Bay since 2001. 18. San Diego Chargers: 0.5 (-0.8) Even though they were a Jay Cutler fumble away from coming out of Denver with a win, there are a couple serious problems for the Chargers. LaDainian Tomlinson?s injury and 2.6 yards per carry. Antonio Cromartie getting routinely burned by Brandon Marshall. 19. New York Jets: -0.7 (-8.9) Cornerback Darrelle Revis did an excellent job limiting Randy Moss to two catches for 22 yards. 20. Chicago Bears: -1.0 (-5.0) Greg Olsen?s two fumbles were terribly costly for the Bears; the first one cost them at least a field goal, while the second one was deep in their own territory and setup Jonathan Stewart?s first touchdown. 21. Kansas City Chiefs: -3.7 (-5.2) The Chiefs managed 190 yards against a Raiders? defense that allowed 441 six days earlier. 22. Indianapolis Colts: -6.4 (-9.6) The Colts really had very little business winning this game, but Ryan Longwell saw far too much time on the turf and at least some credit must go to the defense even though they yielded 5.1 yards per carry. 23. New Orleans Saints: -8.6 (-21.4) Reggie Bush touched the ball 18 times and had 146 yards and a TD (on the punt return), but only 28 of those yards came on his 10 carries. While the Saints are having major difficulties establishing their own running game, their defense is allowing 5.8 yards per carry. 24. Oakland Raiders: -10.0 (5.2) Six days after the Raiders secondary was torched by Denver, they held the trio of Thigpen, Huard and Hagans to just 3.6 yards per pass while picking off two balls. JaMarcus Russell?s 55 yards on 6-for-17 passing was offset by 300 total yards rushing by Darren McFadden (164), Michael Bush (90) and Justin Fargas (43). 25. Cincinnati Bengals: -10.2 (-10.2) Carson Palmer has a 37.1 QB rating and they only have 19 first downs through the first two games, which is dead last in the NFL and even behind the Ravens and Texans. They have been in the top-10 in each of the past three seasons. 26. Detroit Lions: -10.8 (-10.2) Detroit?s secondary was utterly dreadful against Greg Jennings and company, yielding a very easy 8.5 yards per pass. 27. Jacksonville Jaguars: -10.8 (-7.0) The Jaguars averaged 4.6 yards per carry in 2007 (3rd in NFL) and through two games have only averaged 3.0 (29th). 28. Seattle Seahawks: -10.8 (-10.3) Jim Mora and the Seahawks stopped the Niners? ground game, sacked J.T. O?Sullivan eight times, but O?Sullivan threw for 321 yards. 29. Houston Texans: -11.5 (PPD) Their game against the Ravens was postponed due to Hurricane Ike. 30. Miami Dolphins: -13.4 (-19.2) The Dolphins did an admirable job stopping the run (2.6 yards per carry), but let?s not look at the kind of day had by Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. The silver lining for Miami is how healthy Ronnie Brown looks, but that offensive line hasn?t done him or Ricky Williams many favors with their inept run blocking. 31. Cleveland Browns: -15.2 (-15.0) The countdown on Derek Anderson is clearly underway. He strung together four nice games last season, but he hasn?t had a 100.0+ QB rating in 11 consecutive games. New free agent Shaun Rogers, however, looked very good for the Browns up front. 32. St. Louis Rams: -22.0 (-18.2) The Rams are giving up 481.5 yards per game, which is unsurprisingly last in the NFL. Meanwhile, their offense is averaging 183.5 yards, also last in the NFL. It is a truly rare feat for a team to be equally matched on both sides of the ball at this degree.