Peek at the Week: Doomsday for Dallas -- unless Rex factor kicks in

Game of the week

Dallas at Chicago, 8:15 p.m. ET | Preview | Endzone

The line: Chicago by 2½

The injuries: The Cowboys are without wide receiver Terry Glenn (knee) and linebacker Greg Ellis (ankle), while cornerback Terence Newman continues to struggle with a foot injury. Chicago's Alex Brown (ankle), Ruben Brown (shoulder), Olin Kreutz (ankle) and Ricky Manning Jr. (back) were held out of Wednesday's practice but returned a day later. All are expected to play.

Midway Monsters: Brian Urlacher and the Bears D aim to shut down the Cowboys. (US Presswire)

The story: This reminds me of that Seattle-Chicago Sunday night game at about the same time last year, with the Bears ripping their opponent. Dallas thinks it might be the best team in the NFC; Chicago was the best -- and still might be. Which means this is a chance to determine who rules the conference ... at least for now.

The Cowboys have been overwhelming -- scoring 82 points, averaging a league-best 6.1 yards per play and leading the conference with six takeaways. But their opponents were dreadful, with Miami committing five turnovers a week ago and Tony Romo dissecting the Giants the week before for 23 yards per completion.

If there's a break here it's with the Chicago offense, sputtering along under the uneasy hand of Rex Grossman. The club ranks 30th in total offense, has two touchdowns in two games and is tied for last in turnovers with seven. Plus, Grossman has been, well, Rex Grossman -- and that's not good. He ranks ahead of only Tavaris Jackson in the league's passer ratings.

The Bears will try to control the ball with running back Cedric Benson, but your best bet to beat the Cowboys is with the pass. They rank 26th in pass defense and are 25th in sacks per pass play. Put those numbers together, and here's what you have: an opportunity for Rex. Uh-oh. Only two of Chicago's 24 drives this season have covered more than 35 yards, and tell me you trust Grossman in a game of this magnitude to rectify that.

A scout I trust doesn't see how the Bears score here, and maybe he's right. But I look at that Chicago defense and wonder how Romo can be as successful as he was his first two weeks. More, I wonder how the Cowboys' rushing attack does anything. Remember, in successive weeks the Bears held LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson to 80 yards rushing combined. Then there's the home-field advantage: The Bears have won 15 of their past 18 at Soldier Field, including the playoffs. Maybe Tank Johnson can offer inside help to beating Chicago. He can't play, but he can advise.

The pick: Chicago. It's time the Bears started acting like Monsters of the Midway.

Three games I'd like to see

San Diego at Green Bay, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

This is where we discover how good the Packers are. We already know about San Diego. The Chargers are the league's most talented club and should win a second consecutive division title. The Packers? Sorry, don't know. They won their first two and six in a row dating back to last season, but even quarterback Brett Favre says he has trouble getting a fix on this club.

Brett Favre faces San Diego's tough pass rush. (US Presswire)

Green Bay could be a playoff contender if it finds a running game, but so far there has been no response to the APB. That will make it tough on Favre because San Diego will unleash an all-out assault on the pocket, with two of the league's best pass rushers (Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips) testing Favre's protection. If he has time he can dissect the San Diego secondary. Tom Brady did a week ago, shredding it for 279 yards and three TDs.

Green Bay's job, of course, will be to keep Tomlinson down. The league's Player of the Year hasn't run for 50 yards in either of his first two games, the first time that has happened in his NFL career.

Something to consider: In his only game against the Packers, Tomlinson had 11 catches for 144 yards and two TDs. The Chargers are 7-1 when L.T. rushes for 100 yards in inter-conference games.

San Francisco at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

This is where we discover which 2-0 team is flawed. My guess? San Francisco, come on down.

Ben Roethlisberger is 16-5 in home starts. (US Presswire)

The 49ers are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 1998, when the club advanced to the divisional playoffs. Steve Young was the quarterback, and he was Hall of Fame material. Alex Smith is the quarterback now, and he's struggling. You figured he might with the departure of Norv Turner, but a passer rating worse than Joey Harrington's? Ouch.

Smith's struggles make it difficult for Frank Gore to find anything but defenders in his path. With defenses pressing the line of scrimmage, daring the 49ers to pass, it's Gore who suffers -- and the evidence is there in his 3.6 yards per carry average. Now he faces a 3-4 defense that has surrendered 10 points.

Pittsburgh has been bullet-proof, with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger committing few mistakes and running back Willie Parker carrying 50 times. San Francisco is improved on defense, particularly with the additions of rookie Patrick Willis and free agent Nate Clements, but the loss of Manny Lawson is a killer. If Pittsburgh doesn't turn the ball over, the Steelers stay undefeated.

Something to consider: Roethlisberger is 10-1 with 15 TDs, six interceptions and a passer rating of 101.5 as a starter against the NFC. He also is 16-5 in home starts.

Indianapolis at Houston, 1 p.m. ET | Preview | Endzone

Will Mario Williams make a statement vs. Indy? (US Presswire)

This is where we discover if the Texans are legit. They're already better than they ever were, with a four-game winning streak dating back to last season. But this is the litmus test. They're 1-9 against the Colts, with that one win last December -- and it happened in Houston. That gives the Texans hope, but get real, guys: These are the defending Super Bowl champions, and they're taking this one seriously. This isn't a division champion playing out the string until the playoffs.

The concern for Indy is a Texans defense that leads the league with seven takeaways, but the Colts seldom make mistakes. And I don't see them making them here. In two games this season, Peyton Manning was sacked twice and threw one interception. If Mario Williams is the difference maker he's supposed to be, he makes another statement here. Remember, he has a rookie tackle to use as a speed bump.

Bad news for the Texans: Wide receiver Andre Johnson is out with a knee injury, which is another reason to believe the Texans' run of success stops here.

Something to consider: Under Tony Dungy, the Colts are 16-2 in September -- including 9-0 against the AFC South.

Crummy game of the week

Buffalo at New England, 1 p.m. ET | Preview

How many TDs for Randy? (US Presswire)

It's hammer time, and the Bills are the nail. I don't know what to say about this mismatch other than Buffalo's depleted defense should come dressed in asbestos. Tom Brady leads all quarterbacks with a passer rating of 134.2 and a completion percentage of 80, so good luck, Buffalo, trying to cover Randy Moss with Terrence McGee, who is questionable.

I'd take the Patriots by two touchdowns even if Buffalo stole New England's signals.

Something to consider: Moss has played the Bills three times, producing two 100-yard games and scoring in all three.

Upset of the week

Tennessee (+4½) over New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. ET Monday | Preview

I want to thank Cam Cameron for last week's upset. Wow. What a disgrace. Hopefully, the Titans show up, which is more than Miami did.

Vince Young can beat anyone. (US Presswire)

Hey, what am I talking about? The Titans always show up with Vince Young. They played hard and close in their first two games and would be 2-0 if Brandon Jones held that third-down pass in their game against Indy.

I'm conflicted about New Orleans. I know the Saints should be better, but their offense has been as bad as their defense. Tennessee is no gimme, folks, and Young makes the Titans a tough opponent. They will hammer New Orleans with the league's top-ranked rushing attack and with a short passing game that is more accurate than it was last season.

Two things sold me on this game: 1) Vince Young, and 2) the Saints were 4-4 at home last season. Whenever I look for upsets I always check to see whom the Titans play.

Something to consider: The Titans have scored 86 points in their past two Monday night appearances.

Five guys I'd like to be

Damon Huard, QB, Kansas City: Because he's 6-0 as a starter at home and has a 107.3 passer rating.

Laveranues Coles has nine career TDs vs. Miami. (US Presswire)

Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis: Because in his past three games against Houston he has nine touchdown passes and no interceptions.

Laveranues Coles, WR, New York Jets: Because he has nine career touchdowns vs. Miami -- his best against any opponent. When Coles scores a touchdown against the Dolphins, the Jets are 5-2.

Torry Holt, WR, St. Louis: Because he has 100-yard games in all four of his games against Tampa Bay, with this as a breakdown: 35 catches for 567 yards (a 141.8-yard average) and three touchdowns. What's more, he averages 53.3 yards a catch on the TDs.

Aaron Schobel, DE, Buffalo: Because he has more sacks against Brady -- 10.5 in 12 career games -- than anyone in the league.

Stat of the week

The St. Louis Rams are 9-1 when Steven Jackson rushes for 100 yards.

Blog of the week

Poll What is this week's best game?   11%  Colts at Texans     60%  Cowboys at Bears     10%  49ers at Steelers     18%  Chargers at Packers     Total Votes: 37416

"The people of Philadelphia have criticized my coach for not answering questions. Now I'm criticized for answering questions. I understand if people have a different opinion or view point than I do, I really do. I think if there is one thing I understand better than most people -- it's OK to be different." -- Donovan McNabb on his website.

Where we will be

• Pete will be in Houston to buy bandwagon tickets.

• I'll be in Philadelphia to see if it's OK to be Donovan McNabb.

• Mike will be in Chicago to levy the next fine against T.O.