Dave Betancourt | Sports Section Manager

What is going on in the NFL? After two weeks the premiere match up for week 3 is the Chargers versus the Bengals. And both of them are undefeated? How is this possible? The Chargers being 2-0 I can understand. Yes they were 1-15 last year but that's because they had absolutely no offense whatsoever. The defense was always solid but they always lost close games. This year they have Doug Flutie, a proven winner at quarterback, a stud first round pick at running back in LaDanian Tomlinson and a speedster at receiver and kick returner in Tim Dwight (Tomlinson and Dwight of course came over in the Michael Vick trade). And let's not forget they have quarterback Drew Brees waiting in the wings for when Flutie's time is up.

The Chargers are talented now and have a very bright future. And because they were so horrible last year, their schedule is cake this year, which means they could pile up anywhere from 8-10 wins and make a push for the playoffs this season. Keep in mind their first two opponents were the Skins and Cowboys. Not exactly the top of the crop in the NFC. But the Bengals? No not the 80's group, I'm talking about the team that plays in Cincinnati. They beat the Patriots in week one and that's understandable because let's face it, Rutgers has more offensive production than the Patriots. But putting the smack down on the world champion Baltimore Ravens like they were talking about their mamas, where did that come from? I didn't think the Bengals would score, let alone win the game.

Give the Bengals a little respect. Correy Dillon, their all-pro running back is one of the best and most underrated backs in the game and they have a game breaker in former FSU star Peter Warrick. Rookie defensive end Justin Smith(4th pick overall in 2001 draft) looks impressive and their linebackers are finally playing like people expected them to. But they were playing the Ravens. The same Ravens whose defense was so sick last year they won the Super Bowl with Trent Dilfer playing quarterback. Isn't it amazing what one key injury can do to a team? The Ravens running game since losing starter Jamal Lewis is pathetic to say the least and when you have to throw all the time teams tend to pick up on it, as was the case since the Bengals picked off Elvis Grbac three times.

Can the world champs rebound from one of their most embarrassing losses? Probably. The defense will regroup and Elvis Grbac will have better games. But the Ravens might find it difficult fighting for a division title at the end of the year, especially if the Titans and Jags end up sweeping the Bengals. If they can recover from Tony Banks throwing an interception on the one-yard line, and then win it all, something tells me that they should be ok. That running game is way to suspect thought and could cost them their chance to repeat as champs. Grbac can't do it all and they can't ask the defense to be super human every week.

In Atlanta it was a slight dose of déjà vu as the Falcon's Michael Vick and the Panther's Chris Weinke faced off for the first time since they met in the Sugar Bowl. Vick got his first NFL touchdown on an option run at the goal line, and looked good in the pocket passing to his receivers, as Atlanta would get the home victory. Despite the loss Weinke continues to look impressive as the Panthers starting quarterback. His poise in the pocket is beyond that of the average rookie quarterback and his accuracy and arm strength are impressive.

Are Payton Manning and the Colts on a mission or what? The Colts are putting up points like they were the 99 Rams. Manning continues to prove that he is one of the, if not the, best quarterback in the NFL. Of course it helps when you're running back (Edgerrin James) has led the NFL in rushing the past two seasons. Marvin Harrison is still one of the best deep threats in the game but Jerome Pathon is stepping up and giving the Colts the second deep threat they've lacked over the years.

Remember the Titans? No not the movie with Denzel, the team that was an inch away from winning the Super Bowl in 2000. Things are not looking good in Tennesee. Quarterback Steve McNair is nursing a sore shoulder and teams are putting 8 in the box to stop Eddie George. The defense is still solid with Jevon Kearse leading the way. They're not giving up a lot of points. The problem is they just can't score much. The Titans need McNair healthy to have a fighting chance this year. But even with McNair and George at full strength and a solid defense, the Titans still lack the game breaking receiver that almost every perennial team has. Makes you wonder why they didn't just draft Randy Moss instead of Kevin Dyson.

Speaking of Randy Moss, what's the deal in Minnesota? The Vikings have always been one of the more explosive offenses in the NFL with Moss leading the way. After two games moss only has 6 catches. Daunte Culpepper doesn't have running back Robert Smith as a safety valve like he did last year. Rookie running back Michael Bennett looks like he has a ways to go if hes to replace Smith's 1,500 plus yards rushing. If the Vikes don't win in week three against the division rival Buccaneers than it could be the beginning of an ugly season.

Here's something else to think about. The Vikings and Titans, both playoff teams last year, are both 0-2 right now. Of all the teams that started 0-2 last year, none of them made the playoffs. Not exactly inspiring news. Right now the Broncos look like the team to beat in the AFC after their easy victory over the Cardinals. Then again, anybody looks like a contender after playing Arizona.

The Rams aren’t looking like the offensive juggernaut of the first six weeks of last season but they are still putting up points none the less. The defense is way better than last years, but then again that's not saying much. If they can handle the Saints they should be able to take the NFC West. Why is it after I praise Seattle Seahawk Matt Hasselbeck saying he should have a great year he starts playing horribly? The Seahawks have yet to score an offensive touchdown in two games and fans at Husky Stadium were booing Hasselbeck like his name was A-Rod or something. Regardless, week two was crazy and week 3 should be even better. See you next week.