The San Diego Chargers are the perfect team for the NFL this season because you never know what you'll get. Will it be the precision offense that put away New England last week or the team that stumbled in Miami the week before.
``It was a good win,'' quarterback Philip Rivers said after the 30-10 rout. ``And then the dust settles and then we come in here and we are 3-3. That's still where we are. We've got a long way to go.''
Long way literally and figuratively - to the East Coast to Buffalo, and then on to England.
This week, they could face Trent Edwards, knocked out early with a concussion in the Bills' last game, a 41-17 loss in Arizona that was their first defeat of the season. Buffalo was fortunate to have a bye, giving Edwards time to recover, although J.P. Losman is one of the league's few backup QBs with significant starting experience.
This game is pick 'em, which is fitting because last week was full of upsets in a league where form never seems to hold for a few minutes. Pick 'em? No one can pick anything.
The Chargers, for example, could be 5-1. But they lost on the last play of their opener to Carolina, then got a bad call from referee Ed Hochuli in Denver but still gave up two scoring passes to lose: one on a fourth down, the other on a 2-point conversion.
And they could muster just 10 points in Miami despite an offense full of weapons, albeit banged-up ones like LaDainian Tomlinson and Antonio Gates.
There's a similarity with the Miami game: a 1 p.m. EDT start. That's 10 a.m. PDT, something West Coast teams don't seem to adjust to very well.
To complicate things even more for San Diego, it will go directly from Buffalo to London for the NFL's overseas showcase with New Orleans. In fact, Rivers conceded the Chargers already are worried about packing for the long stay.
``It's getting packed and getting prepared to go and all that,'' he said. ``This is the week of preparation that can get you, so it's going to be key that we zero in.''
Based on that ...
BILLS, 27-24
The Patriots showed how much they miss Tom Brady in San Diego. But Denver's defense, especially on the road, isn't much.
PATRIOTS, 27-20
The Colts played last week as if they had finally found their form.
COLTS, 31-20
At least nobody will be yelling ``fire Childress'' in Chicago.
BEARS, 16-12
This is a night game, so it's not a 10 a.m. starting time for Seattle. But without Matt Hasselbeck and with Charlie Frye ...
BUCS, 27-3
Now that the Titans are the last unbeaten team standing ... they remain so.
TITANS, 16-2
The Panthers are another team that had their bubble burst last week.
PANTHERS, 34-32
If the Browns play as they did Monday night, they have a shot.
REDSKINS, 24-20
Another West Coast team starting early on the East Coast. And another NFC East team seeking redemption.
GIANTS, 31-20
The line dropped four points when Tony Romo was ruled out. Brad Johnson brings more discipline.
COWBOYS, 17-7
Brett vs. JaMarcus is a mismatch.
JETS, 27-10
The Steelers are getting their wounded back.
STEELERS, 19-5
Joe Flacco is no Matt Ryan.
DOLPHINS, 17-12
Dan Orlovsky may have learned where the end line is, but ...
TEXANS, 32-10
LAST WEEK: 3-11 (spread); 3-11 (straight up)
SEASON: 47-40-1 (spread); 50-38 (straight up)
