The slumps of second-year head coaches may have hit Sean Payton and Eric Mangini hard this year, but the same can't be said about the San Francisco 49ers' Mike Nolan. Nolan, whose team has put together a 2-0 record, does battle with Steelers new head coach Mike Tomlin, whose team has also put together a 2-0 record. With both teams trying to make a statement, only one will come away undefeated heading into Week 4. The third week of the season is jam-packed with games of the week, so let's get right into this week's predictions...

NO FOR NOLAN?

San Francisco 49ers vs. Pittsburgh Steelers. It seems like it's been a long road back for the San Francisco 49ers into contention, but that isn't the case for the Steelers. After winning the Super Bowl two years ago, the Steelers aren't showing any signs of regression without Bill Cowher calling the shots. In fact, Ben Roethlisberger has been statistically unbelievable compared to last year, specifically the fact that he has yet to throw an interception. This week, he'll go up against a solid 49ers defense that will sorely be missing Manny Lawson's presence in the lineup. Roethlisberger's proven a lot already, but a fundamentally sound performance against a well-coached 2-0 team will elevate this team right near the top.

The key for the 49ers is to do what nobody else in the league can really do: run the football. Frank Gore is the right man to have in the backfield, but Alex Smith is going to have to be the difference maker. Through the first two weeks, the 49ers offense is near the bottom of the league, and the production from their top "receivers", Darrell Jackson and Vernon Davis, has been next to nothing. Unless Smith is able to get the ball to them early and often, the Steelers will be able to neutralize Gore for most of the game. Ultimately, in a closer game than the past two weeks, the Steelers will move on to 3-0. Steelers 23, 49ers 14

SUPER BOWL 2.0 - TEXANS' TURN

Indianapolis Colts vs. Houston Texans. It's been said for many years, but now the games are actually a sight to see right down to the final tick. After the Tennessee Titans took their crack at the Colts at home last week and suffered defeat, it's time for the Texans to do the same thing. Houston has without question been an extremely surprising team thus far, not only because they have a 2-0 record, but because they legitimately look good on both sides of the ball. Houston never used to have an identity - now they have so many of them. On offense, Matt Schaub, Ahman Green, and Andre Johnson have led the way. On defense, last year's rookie sensations DeMecro Ryans and Mario Williams have been at the forefront of discussion. The absence of one of those men - Andre Johnson - will cost the Texans a chance to be at their best this week.

Bob Sanders has shown why he's the Colts' defensive MVP. When he was asked to change his role from the norm last week, he ended up coming away with two and a half sacks on Vince Young. His uncanny ability to come up and just pound the running game is not teachable. The Colts' secondary won't have to worry about Andre Johnson this week, who has been Schaub's go-to-guy the first two weeks. The Texans have potential with a guy like Jacoby Jones, but in reality, the loss of Johnson will only hinder the Texans' ability to run the ball. The Texans can't win without the ground game getting on fire. Colts 28, Texans 13

PANIC STARTING TO SET IN?

San Diego Chargers vs. Green Bay Packers. It's not the Green Bay Packers that are panicking, as they're on an emotional high right now after starting the season at 2-0. However, if the Chargers aren't able to pull off a tough road win here, things in San Diego could go into turmoil. Not only would it mean that the team has poorly adjusted to their new coaching staffs, but it'll mean that the team will have lost as many games as they did all of last season by Week 3. In a game that may have seemed like a gimme at the beginning of last season, the Packers' defense has brought Green Bay to the top of the chain in the NFC. Coupled with Brett Favre mustering fastballs to a group of youngsters, this team has won seven straight dating back to last season.

Surely, this has to be the game where LaDainian Tomlinson breaks out, right? Or, where Philip Rivers breaks out? Or, where a Chargers' receiver actually forms an identity? One thing should be certain in this game: the running games should have completely opposite performances. Although the Chargers have struggled to get Tomlinson going, the Packers gave up fairly high yards-per-carry averages to Brian Westbrook and Derrick Ward through two weeks. Meanwhile, the Packers haven't gotten much of anything out of rookie Brandon Jackson, who can barely seem to crack three yards a pop. In a competitive game, those differences will come back to haunt Green Bay. Chargers 24, Packers 20

WHERE'S THE HYPE?

Dallas Cowboys vs. Chicago Bears. If I would've told you before the season that this was the fourth-biggest game of the week, you probably would've told me that I was crazy. It's not that this game isn't exciting either - it just shows the fact that this week is packed with games to see. What a better way to cap off Sunday's action than with what are probably the top two teams in the NFC going at it. The Cowboys are having fun on offense, with Marion Barber churning out the tough yards and Terrell Owens keeping quiet after Romo knows how to get him the ball.

The Bears were victorious over the Kansas City Chiefs after having success out of their units that make a difference in games: defense and special teams. I heard so much discussion prior to the season about how Rex Grossman would be better this season than he was last year. He may have gained some experience, but until the Bears actually add some weapons on offense, there's not a shot in hell that Grossman's going to be anything more than an average quarterback in the NFL. Cedric Benson is still a downgrade from Thomas Jones, and no one else has stepped up after the loss of Greg Olsen. The Cowboys' secondary thrived off of turnovers last week, and if Grossman tries to force the issue, he'll cost the Bears. Cowboys 27, Bears 21

REST OF THE WEEK

Arizona Cardinals vs. Baltimore Ravens. I was afraid that the Cardinals may disappoint me for the third season in a row, but part of that feeling changed after Edgerrin James breakout performance against the Seattle Seahawks last week. Matt Leinart hasn't gotten off to a hot start to begin the season, and if he was in a groove heading into Baltimore, I may have actually considered taking the Cardinals in an upset. The Ravens couldn't get any offense from Steve McNair in Week 1, who will take a second crack at running the Ravens this week as he returns from injury. Watching the Ravens play hasn't been pretty, which is why an upset still isn't out of the question here. Ravens 17, Cardinals 16

Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs. Fantasy owners that went crazy on drafting LaDainian Tomlinson are already going crazy, but the people that took Larry Johnson have to really be going nuts. The Chiefs do not have anything to show for on offense this season, and that includes any production from Johnson. It doesn't get any better this week, as the Chiefs are facing what I consider to be the best run defense in the NFL. The only positive for the Chiefs is the fact that they're facing a Vikings offense that hasn't thrown well at all under Tarvaris Jackson. I'm definitely intrigued about Kelly Holcomb filling in for Jackson due to injury, because home-field for the Chiefs really shouldn't matter anymore. Vikings 20, Chiefs 7

Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots. If someone never watched a single game played by either of these teams and only looked at the books, they'd probably stake their houses in the Patriots winning. If the Patriots were able to annihilate the New York Jets and the San Diego Chargers through two weeks, while the Bills lost crushingly in Week 1 only to get blown out in Week 2, why on earth would they have any chance in Week 3? Besides the statistical aspects, the Patriots are also better at every single position on the field. Patriots 35, Bills 17

Miami Dolphins vs. New York Jets. The season expectations were high for both teams for different reasons. The Jets are coming off a remarkable playoff season, and made a couple of necessary additions in the offseason. The Dolphins thought that Trent Green and Cam Cameron would lead the offense to new highs, but the efforts have produced mediocre results at best. Chad Pennington should be ready to play for the Jets, and he should be able to come back able to build from what really was a pretty good game throwing the ball back in Week 1. Whoever loses this game will seem out of it already with the way New England's playing. Jets 31, Dolphins 20

Detroit Lions vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Don't rub your eyes, you're seeing things correctly. It's the Detroit Lions that are 2-0 and the Philadelphia Eagles that are 0-2, not the other way around. Jon Kitna projected his team would win ten games this year, and they are well on their way to doing that if the schedule continues to be friendly towards them. They've had the benefit of facing two of the lower-rated teams, but that doesn't discredit the fact that they've strung two consecutive wins together. The Eagles offense has been horrible after two games, and Donovan McNabb needs to learn to take responsibility for it rather than creating some media fiasco. The Eagles will turn heads this week with an improved performance at home. Eagles 27, Lions 24

St. Louis Rams vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers. These games are only getting tougher to pick. Is it wise to take an 0-2 Rams team that has quickly fallen off the face of the earth, particularly since Steven Jackson can't get his motor going? Jeff Garcia has quickly turned the Buccaneers offense around, and that effect has settled into my mind that Tampa Bay will compete each and every week. I can't believe I'm picking the Rams to drop to 0-3, but I can't pick against the Buccaneers just because a certain record seems surprising. Buccaneers 27, Rams 20

Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Denver Broncos. When it comes down to both teams, where oh where have the touchdowns gone? David Garrard hasn't been atrocious for the Jaguars, making it overly surprising that Maurice-Jones Drew has failed to gain any steam on the ground. Going up against a Broncos defense won't cure any ill-effects that the Jaguars have been suffering offensively. Jay Cutler and Travis Henry have put plenty of yardage on the board; now it's time for them to put touchdowns on the board so Jason Elam doesn't have to kick another game-winning field goal. Broncos 20, Jaguars 10

Cincinnati Bengals vs. Seattle Seahawks. The games you always expect to be shootouts never really turn out to be shootouts, do they? With how badly the Bengals defense is though, it is impossible to correct all of those issues in the span of one week. On top of that, they'll have to stop Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander on the road, both of whom are looking for redemption after their miscommunication last week. The Bengals will have to hope they get some defensive support when they return home, because against half-way decent offenses, it won't be coming on the road. Seahawks 38, Bengals 31

Carolina Panthers vs. Atlanta Falcons. The Panthers deserve a mulligan after last week's loss to the Texans. Their defense has a shot at redemption this week versus Joey Harrington and the sorry Atlanta Falcons offense. I know it's not realistic since they just signed him, but why not just throw Byron Leftwich in the game to try and get something going? Panthers 26, Falcons 16

Cleveland Browns vs. Oakland Raiders. How about the drastic offensive turnaround from the Cleveland Browns last week against the Cincinnati Bengals under quarterback Derek Anderson? The thing that no one is looking at is how dominating the offensive line was: Cincinnati had no sacks, rarely got pressure, and were mauled on the ground. Anderson won't have the same success throwing the ball this week, but Jamal Lewis should have a great day against the Raiders defense. Until Oakland gains offensive stability, they won't be a winning football team. Browns 24, Raiders 14

New York Giants vs. Washington Redskins. Now this is a Redskins team I enjoy watching. The running game comes through with clutch plays, Jason Campbell can hit the big play at the right time, and the defense is setting up the offense with solid field position. The Giants' defense has no excuses: they can't get it done in the secondary. No matter how much pressure the Giants get up front, the Redskins can counter it. Redskins 24, Giants 20

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Tennessee Titans vs. New Orleans Saints. Seeing the Titans at 1-1 and playing good football heading into this game isn't a surprise. However, seeing the Saints at 0-2 playing horrible football is a shocker. Vince Young and Reggie Bush will both try to put on an exciting game, but it all comes back to basics for the Saints offense and defense. Drew Brees really struggled against two cover-two defensive approaches, and I expect him to rebound at home against the Titans. Anything short of a win for the Saints will be unbelievable, as good as the Titans may be. Saints 31, Titans 23

SURVIVOR PICK

It feels good to have a two-game winning streak for my survivor picks, but last week I nearly fainted after seeing the Raiders kick a "game winning field goal that wasn't". Back in Week 1, I took the Vikings to defeat the Falcons. Atlanta is such a poor team that I don't see the Panthers losing to them on the road. For Week 3, I'm going with Carolina over Atlanta.

STATISTICS

Predictions Record to Date: 22-10 (More than half as many wins than losses already.)
Last Week: 10-6 (Certainly sounds acceptable, doesn't it?)
Survivor Streak: Won 2 (Min over Atl and Den over Oak.)

Is it possible for the New Orleans Saints and the Philadelphia Eagles to start the season at 0-3? And will the 49ers or the Texans pull off upsets?