BEST HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUP
Steelers offensive line vs. Jaguars defensive line
The Steelers can't protect the QB and the Jaguars can't get to the QB. But someone has to win this matchup. Pittsburgh has given up 16 sacks and lost right guard Kendall Simmons (Achilles) for the season. Jacksonville has only five sacks. Ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves, the team's top draft picks, have combined for only one.
COACHING MATCHUP OF THE WEEK
Redskins' Jim Zorn vs. Eagles' Andy Reid
The NFC East's rookie coach (Zorn, left) visits the division's dean of coaches (Reid) a week after stunning the Cowboys in Dallas. This will be Zorn's third NFC East road trip in five games. Welcome to the NFL, Jimmy. If he can improve to 2-1, he'll be in much better shape heading into the rematches in November and December in Washington.
HEROES OF THE WEEK
Detroit Lions
Yeah, they're 0-3 and haven't led the entire season. Yeah, they've trailed 21-0, 21-0 and 21-3 in the first halves of games. But you just know they're going to beat the visiting Bears to go 1-0 in the post-Matt Millen Era. Right? Yeah, it's a reach. But I'm going with it anyway.
FANTASY PICKS
We're not ready to give up on ...
DeAngelo Williams. The Carolina timeshare is causing him to be dropped in leagues, but you can't count on Jonathan Stewart (rookie, toe injury) staying healthy and keeping Williams from finally busting out in his third year. ... Matt Cassel. No, he's not Brady. But his schedule is soft for a month. ... The Lions passing game. And that makes it 87 consecutive weeks of waiting for the Lions passing game to finally break out. (Chris Carr)
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Totino-Grace's Joe Alt is taken fifth overall by the Chargers in the NFL draft
Forty years after his father, John, was selected 21st overall by Kansas City, left tackle Joe Alt became just the third Minnesotan drafted in the top 10 since 2004.
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This mock draft has offensive players taken with the top seven picks. So if you like defense, you really don't need to show up for the start.
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Another big Vikings need might not be addressed early in draft
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Former Totino-Grace star set to follow father as first-round pick
Joe Alt, an offensive tackle out of Totino-Grace and Notre Dame, is expected to be a top-10 NFL draft pick. His father was a first-round selection 40 years ago.
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The mock drafts of today are 50-plus years in the making, paved by draftniks such as Joel Buchsbaum and Mel Kiper Jr.