1. Game of the week
Two of the league’s most surprising 2-0 teams square off (Sunday, 1 p.m.) in what should be a downright brutal defensive affair. The Steelers D held Michael Turner and Chris Johnson, two of the league’s top running backs, to a combined 78 rushing yards in the first two weeks. Meanwhile, the Bucs “Tampa 2” defense has given up the second fewest points in the league.
Mike Tomlin gave veteran Charlie Batch the nod at quarterback, but he might be best-served going with Byron Leftwich, who would love nothing more than to stick it to a team that gave up on him.
The pick: TB?12, PIT 9
2. Quote of the week
“That’s Philadelphia. Things like that happen. I’ve been a part of that for 11 years and, obviously, as you see, it just doesn’t stop.” Donovan McNabb on the eagles’ treatment of starting qbs
3. Player to watch
Cameron Wake, OLB, Miami Dolphins.
NBC will try making Jason Taylor’s return to Miami into a major event, but the Dolphins have already long moved on. The reason? A guy just two years removed from the CFL. Wake went undrafted out of Penn State in 2005, couldn’t get a gig in the NFL and went way north, where he recorded 39 sacks in two years with the BC Lions. He took his talents to South Beach last year as a free agent, and as Taylor’s replacement in 2010, he’s already recorded three sacks and caused a fumble. Jason who?
