NFL 2010 Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears QB
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears QB

What a difference a year makes.

Two weeks into the 2010 NFL season, eight teams find themselves undefeated at 2-0. Of those eight clubs, six -- Chicago, Houston, Kansas City, Miami, Pittsburgh and Tampa Bay -- did not make the playoffs last year. In fact, four of them -- Chicago, Kansas City, Miami and Tampa Bay -- finished 2009 with a sub-.500 record. Just another example of the unpredictability of the NFL.

"It's still early," says Bears quarterback JAY CUTLER, who leads the NFL with a 121.2 passer rating. "There are 14 games left and a lot of tough football to be played."

And don't count out any of the 1-1 or 0-2 teams. Since realignment in 2002, 55 of the 96 playoff teams (57.3 percent) began the year at either 1-1 or 0-2.

"It's a 14-game season now and we're sitting at the bottom of it," says Minnesota Vikings quarterback BRETT FAVRE about the team's 0-2 start. "What we do from here remains to be seen."

History shows that 0-2 teams advance to the playoffs more often than people might think.

Since 1990, 22 teams have started 0-2 and still qualified for the postseason. The 2007 New York Giants started 0-2 but rebounded to win Super Bowl XLII, joining the 1993 Dallas Cowboys and 2001 New England Patriots as teams since 1990 to win the Super Bowl after an 0-2 start.

It's two weeks down -- but there is a long way to go.

In Week 3, there are many important matchups, including some key division games. Here's a look at some of the key division showdowns in Week 3:

ATLANTA FALCONS (1-1) at NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (2-0)

The defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints will host the division rival Atlanta Falcons in a key NFC South contest at the Superdome. The Saints have won seven of the past eight in the series, the best stretch by one team since the Falcons won 10 in a row (1995-99).

Both teams are coming off victories in Week 2.

Atlanta routed the Arizona Cardinals 41-7 last week as running back JASON SNELLING totaled 186 scrimmage yards and scored three touchdowns.

"That says a lot about the depth of our team," says Falcons head coach MIKE SMITH. "He's just a darn good football player, not only running the ball but also catching the football."

On Monday night, the Saints squeaked by the San Francisco 49ers 25-22.

New Orleans' GARRETT HARTLEY kicked a 37-yard field goal as time expired to propel the defending champions to victory.

"We are proud of the way we finished the game, but we certainly have some things to look at," says Saints head coach SEAN PAYTON.

The Falcons will look to slow down the New Orleans offense led by Super Bowl XLIV MVP DREW BREES, who is 15-4 (.789) at home (including playoffs) since the start of the 2008 season with 50 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 116.5 passer rating.

"The Saints are a big play team," says Smith. "They thrive on big plays and they're very talented on the offensive side of the ball. There are going to be matchup issues and that's going to be the biggest challenge for our defense this week."

NEW YORK JETS (1-1) at MIAMI DOLPHINS (2-0)

Two AFC East rivals will battle it out on Sunday night when the Miami Dolphins host the New York Jets.

Entering Week 3, the Dolphins (2-0) lead the division by a game over the Jets (1-1) and New England Patriots (1-1).

"Nobody really gave us a chance to be sitting where we are now," says Miami running back RONNIE BROWN. "We've got to keep grinding, but I like our chances, and everybody on this team believes in what we're doing."

The Dolphins defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14-10 last week behind a strong defensive effort.

Miami recorded three interceptions, scored on a fumble recovery in the end zone and stopped the Vikings on the one-yard line late in the game.

The Jets bounced back from a Week 1 loss to beat the Patriots 28-14 and even their record at 1-1.

"We're back to being who we think we are," says New York head coach REX RYAN. "The thing I'm most proud of is that it took every last man in our locker room to get it done for us. It's not about one player. It's about the team."

Looking ahead to Sunday night, the Jets know what is at stake.

"I always look at these division games as counting as a game and a half," says Ryan. "This is a big game, there's no doubt about it. We need a win against them."

GREEN BAY PACKERS (2-0) at CHICAGO BEARS (2-0)

This Monday night at Soldier Field, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will meet for the 180th time, the most games ever between two NFL franchises. Chicago leads the all-time series 91-82-6, including a victory in the only postseason meeting between the clubs, the Western Division playoff in 1941.

Both teams enter the Monday-night showdown tied atop the NFC North with 2-0 records.

"People think that winning in the NFL is easy," says Bears tight end GREG OLSEN. "It's not easy. To be 2-0 right now with a big Monday-night game against Green Bay coming in, we're in the best shape we can be at this point."

The Packers defeated the Buffalo Bills 34-7 last week at Lambeau Field. Green Bay quarterback AARON RODGERS threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns and added a rushing score. On defense, Packers linebacker CLAY MATTHEWS recorded three sacks, becoming the first Packer in team history to post at least three sacks in back-to-back games.

"I'm just glad he's on our team," says Rodgers about Matthews, the second-year linebacker from USC.

Chicago improved to 2-0 with a 27-20 road victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Bears quarterback JAY CUTLER passed for 277 yards and three touchdowns to lead the way as the team is 2-0 for the first time since its Super Bowl run in 2006.

"It was a signature game for our team," says Chicago head coach LOVIE SMITH. "We just made plays throughout. We've been saying what we are, which is a good football team. But you have to get wins to validate that."

2010 WEEK 3 SCHEDULE (SEPTEMBER 26-27)

(All times local)

Cleveland at Baltimore, 1:00 PM

Philadelphia at Jacksonville, 4:05 PM

Cincinnati at Carolina, 1:00 PM

Washington at St. Louis, 3:05 PM

Dallas at Houston, 12:00 PM

Oakland at Arizona, 1:15 PM

San Francisco at Kansas City, 12:00 PM

Indianapolis at Denver, 2:15 PM

Detroit at Minnesota, 12:00 PM

San Diego at Seattle, 1:15 PM

Buffalo at New England, 1:00 PM

NY Jets at Miami, 8:20 PM (NBC)

Atlanta at New Orleans, 12:00 PM

Tennessee at NY Giants, 1:00 PM

Pittsburgh at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM

Monday, September 27

Green Bay at Chicago, 7:30 PM (ESPN)

NFL 2010 week 2 results

ATLANTA 41, Arizona 7

DENVER 31, Seattle 14

Tampa Bay 20, CAROLINA 7

OAKLAND 16, St. Louis 14

CINCINNATI 15, Baltimore 10

NY JETS 28, New England 14

Kansas City 16, CLEVELAND 14

SAN DIEGO 38, Jacksonville 13

Chicago 27, DALLAS 20

Houston 30, WASHINGTON 27 (OT)

Philadelphia 35, DETROIT 32

INDIANAPOLIS 38, NY Giants 14

GREEN BAY 34, Buffalo 7

Miami 14, MINNESOTA 10

Pittsburgh 19, TENNESSEE 11

New Orleans 25, SAN FRANCISCO 22

NFL 2010 week 1 results

Thursday (September 9)

NEW ORLEANS 14, Minnesota 9

Sunday (September 12)

TAMPA BAY 17, Cleveland 14

TENNESSEE 38, Oakland 13

Green Bay 27, PHILADELPHIA 20

Miami 15, BUFFALO 10

Arizona 17, ST. LOUIS 13

CHICAGO 19, Detroit 14

SEATTLE 31, San Francisco 6

HOUSTON 34, Indianapolis 24

WASHINGTON 13, Dallas 7

JACKSONVILLE 24, Denver 17

NEW ENGLAND 38, Cincinnati 24

NY GIANTS 31, Carolina 18

PITTSBURGH 15, Atlanta 9 (OT)

Monday (September 13)

Baltimore 10, NY JETS 9

KANSAS CITY 21, San Diego 14

 

NFL 2010 Week 3: Key Division Games Highlight NFL 2010 Week 3