The third week of NFL action kicks off tomorrow, and now might be a good time to quickly preview some of the most intriguing games to watch Sunday and Monday night. And don’t forget that you can check how 5 football minds expect the games to play out at NFL Experts Pick ‘em.

Arizona @ Baltimore — Both teams enter tomorrow’s matchup with a 1-1 record and an eye on their respective division crowns. Neither is a sure-thing to win Sunday, though the Vegas spread (Baltimore by 8 ) might make you believe Baltimore will coast to a victory.

Not necessarily. The Birds have experienced a rebirth through the teachings and philosophies of Ken Whisenhunt, and he expects to establish the running game every week of the season. So far so good on that front; Edgerrin James has churned out yards both games this season and currently sits at 5th in the league on that front with 220. Ultimately, this game rests on his shoulders to an extent. If he can’t grind out yardage, it might be a long day for the Cardinals.

Projection: 23-20, Baltimore

San Diego Chargers @ Green Bay Packers — Before the season started no one would have guessed this game would shape up to be an interesting matchup. The Packers are an average team on paper while the Chargers are loaded with talent. Unfortunately, Norv Turner has disappointed hopeful fans and his squad currently sits at 1-1.

The Packers, on the other hand, are fresh off two victories over teams projected to contend for the NFC East title before the start of the season, Philadelphia and New York. The defense is clicking on all cylinders and it is among the best in the league, with two stars at corner (Al Harris and Charles Woodson), a pair of solid, young linebackers (A.J. Hawk and Nick Barnett), and one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. Plus, with 7 defensive tackles on roster, the Packers have the advantage of shuffling them through and wearing down the interior of an offensive line. It also creates mismatches that allow successful 4-man rushes.

If the Packers hope to win when they face off tomorrow the key will be containing LaDainian Tomlinson. If they can keep him under control, they can control the tempo of the game. Phillip Rivers has looked flustered this season and exploiting the Chargers weaknesses in the passing game could result in a 3-0 start for the Packers.

Projection: 20-17, Chargers

Detroit @ Philadelphia – Who would have thought the Eagles would start the season 0-2 while the Lions sit at 2-0? Donovan McNabb hasn’t looked, er, McNabb-ish yet and the Eagles don’t look like the Super Bowl contenders some thought they may be. Detroit is coming off two semi-quality wins over Oakland and Minnesota. Not that those don’t count, but those two opponents lack an offense.

If Philadelphia wants to seriously make a run for the playoffs, an 0-3 start would be crippling, especially in the division they hail from. The NFC East includes two other teams who are playing on a level far superior to Philadelphia at this point and both are 2-0.

Expect Philadelphia to come together this week and defeat Detroit. The Lions aren’t ready to take on a team of Philadelphia’s caliber right now and the Eagles are just too talented to lose at home.

The role of Brian Westbrook in the offense is crucial, however, and he being listed as questionable (and missing practice) isn’t a good sign. If he doesn’t get enough touches, it could be a long day for the Eagles while Mike Martz’s monster goes to work on Philly’s defense.

Projection: 27-20, Philadelphia

Jacksonville @ Denver — Despite leading the NFL in total offense this season, the Broncos are in the middle of the pack in points scored (rank: 17) and are coming off two games won by critical field goals. No doubt they can move the football, but punching it in is the goal and it hasn’t happened enough.

Lucky for Denver fans, the Jaguars haven’t done much better. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor have combined for a paltry 3.8 ypc average and zero scores this season. The David Garrard experiment, meanwhile, has yielded 2 passing touchdowns and a 101.8 quarterback rating. That’s just enough to rank the Jaguars ahead of Atlanta, Buffalo, and Kansas City in points scored — 11.5 per game.

Throw in Denver’s stingy defense (62.5 yards passing per game; rank: 1) and everything adds up to a victory. And it might be just the opportunity Denver needs to walk away with a convincing victory.

Projection: 24-14, Denver

Dallas @ Chicago — Sunday Night Football features two completely different opponents. While the Cowboys have aced their way to a 2-0 record with a powerhouse offense, the Bears have relied on their solid defense to earn a 1-1 record

Rex Grossman has been disappointing all season long. He’s been the Grossman we’ve all grown to associate him with — erratic and careless with the football. But he has an opportunity to silence his critics for at least one week when he takes on Dallas’s porous defense. Don’t forget that last season he had games in which he put up huge numbers. This might be one of those weeks.

The Dallas defense ranks 31st in passing yards allowed and 26th in points allowed. Assuming he’s smart with the football, Grossman and the Bears can take down the Cowboys. They’re not invincible on offense and da Bears have a way of finding teams’ weaknesses.

Chicago is a Super Bowl caliber team if they can get their offense under control. They’ve allowed only 24 points this season (rank: 5th) and Dallas will struggle on Sunday to score against the vaunted Monsters of the Midway, especially in Chicago.

Projection: 20-16, Chicago

Go to NFL Expert Pick ‘em to see how others expect these and the rest of Sunday and Monday’s games to play out.

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