National Football League

FOX Roundtable: Fab five games for Week 3

Published Sep. 27, 2009 3:11 p.m. ET

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Falcons at Patriots

Bill Belichick can't afford to lose to another young quarterback in back-to-back games or his "genius" title will take a few hits. Bill's problem, though, is who is he attacking Matt Ryan with?


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At the end of the day it is always about the players. The Patriots don't appear to be able to generate a pass rush and I am not sure their secondary can hold up with too much man-to-man if Belichick has to commit a lot of people to the rush.

Last year when I did the Atlanta-Carolina game and the game was on the line in the fourth quarter, I saw Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey put Ryan in a no-huddle offense and let him win the game. Ryan is capable of running the no-huddle against the Patriots to minimize the schemes Belichick may devise. — Brian Billick

49ers at Vikings

The 49ers have an identity. Many times in the NFL a team's identity is not truly formed until later into the season. But these Niners are simply an extension of their head coach Mike Singletary (aka "The Samurai"). They're tough, smart and they grind in their preparation.

Despite the Vikings' reputation as solid run defenders, they have been gashed a little on the ground in the first two games. The 49ers are committed to the ground-and-pound philosophy. They will run G-power and counter OT until the cows come home with Frank Gore. He blew up Seattle with 207 yards last week. Shaun Hill's play-action passing game will work off the power run.

The can't-miss matchup in the intermediate passing game is between the Minnesota linebackers and tight end Vernon Davis. To me, the Vikings are becoming a complete football team and Brett Favre is the key. Favre is playing extremely efficient and just running the offense. No more, no less.

Despite Brett's addition, Brad Childress is well aware of and constantly reminded that Adrian Peterson is the true bell cow of the offense and they will ride him all day. The 49ers play good team defense and are only allowing 13 points per game.

Defensively, the Niners biggest challenge with Peterson will be not letting him get the big pop of 30-plus yards to the house. I'm looking forward to the matchup of Peterson vs. 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis in the open field. Good luck, Pat! Also keep a good eye on Percy Harvin in this one. He could be a problem out of the slot against Dre' Bly. — Tim Ryan

Saints at Bills

Can anyone stop Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints? This is an exciting matchup between the unbeaten Saints and the Bills, who are one Leodis McKelvin fumble away from being 2-0. The Saints are off to one of the most prolific offensive starts in NFL history, becoming the first team since the 1968 Oakland Raiders to score 45-plus in their first two games.

Brees (nine TD passes in his first two games) has been nearly flawless and flat-out unstoppable. It will be interesting to see how Dick Jauron and the Bills attempt to cool the Saints down. Last week against the Bucs, Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell blitzed early and often with great success. That was against Byron Leftwich though, not Drew Brees.

Buffalo's best defense might be wearing No. 22 for the Bills. RB Fred Jackson, subbing for the suspended Marshawn Lynch, rushed for a career-high 163 rushing yards on 28 carries last week against Tampa Bay. Controlling the clock will be essential for the Bills as possibly the only way to stop Brees right now is to keep him on the sidelines.

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