San Francisco 49ers @ Buffalo Bills
It is baffling how a team with Rex Ryan as coach, Aaron Rodgers as quarterback, and Luke Kuechly leading the defense can go as unnoticed and under-appreciated as this Bills squad has gone since their loss to New England.
Fans and sportswriters seemingly gave up on the preseason Super Bowl favorites after one game.
Certainly the team must believe they could be sitting at 5-0 heading into their date with the 49ers, but this focused squad is enjoying life at the moment.
"Championships are won on the field," Clay Mathews said. "People threw a lot of doubt at us after a loss and have been poking holes in our team, but we are getting stronger every day. I love being overlooked."
San Francisco's Chip Kelly was having none of the overlooking when asked about his team's chances against the Bills.
"You guys must be crazy to doubt that team over there," Kelly said. "We are growing our program here and I don't mean to disrespect any of our guys, but we may have only two or three players that could start over there at this point."
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: James White in the second half. Most Buffalo starters should be resting by the 4th quarter, so we're expecting a late fantasy surge from White in mop up duty.
PREDICTION: Bills win 45-14
Pittsburgh Steelers @ Miami Dolphins
Last year, as the AFC's #1 seed, the Pittsburgh Steelers had it all: The NFL's #1 offense, a raucous home crowd waving their terrible towels, and a one-dimensional warm weather team flying into town as a mini speed bump towards an inevitable Super Bowl run for the AFC North Champions.
The Steelers ended up as a one-and-done playoff team as they were upset by the double-digit underdogs from Miami who rode a late season run all the way to the Super Bowl 50 title.
"Not a day goes by that I don't remember that game," Antonio Brown said. "It was back and forth until the end. I've been waiting for this game for a long time."
Brown suffered a concussion from a blatant late hit by Calvin Pryor on the game's final drive that has now saddled the safety with the label of being a dirty player.
"They cried a lot after that hit man," Pryor said. "They were just bitter - watch the film, I've checked it out about 100 times, he just got clocked man."
Neutral NFL fans have circled this game as a potential backyard brawl that could turn into must-see TV.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The revenge factor. Many have predicted this as the end of Miami's undefeated run. Ben Roethlisberger and company are faster and more skilled than Miami on the outside - the streak ends here.
PREDICTION: Steelers win 35-25
New York Jets @ Arizona Cardinals
NFL head coaches are always looking for an edge. Bruce Arians wears funny hats and cracks jokes. Up until this season, Todd Bowles simply coached well and knew a lot about creating havoc on defense. But now, after his team's 2-3 start (and potentially leaving at least two wins on the table), Bowles has a new mantra.
"Finish," Bowles said. "It's as simple as that: Our goal is to finish everything. Every game, every play, every practice. We must finish."
The message has taken a firm hold on his team as FINISH-themed shirts have been popping up all over the Jets locker room.
After the team held on late against one of the NFL's elite on the road against Pittsburgh last week, the team's motto has also began to show up on the field as well.
"That's all I kept thinking about at the end - to finish," Aaron Donald said. "That's the only thing on our minds in everything we do right now."
It was easy for writers across the country to view New York as an after thought sitting at 1-3 a week ago. Now, with a west coast trip to Arizona looming, the Jets have a chance to start a run that could end with them getting back into the playoff hunt.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Pressuring Palmer. An angry and motivated Jets team is scary for any quarterback - Even Carson Palmer.
PREDICTION: Jets win 22-21
