It finally happened. Much of the early-season NFL conversation has centered around the lacking performance of its replacement officials, and they finally cost a team a victory. Most NFL observers and pundits believe that the end of the Seattle Seahawks-Green Bay Packers clash on Monday Night Football set a new low for the league and commissioner Roger Goodell in 2012.

Two teams looking to build on big Week 2 wins will clash tonight when the Seattle Seahawks host the Green Bay Packers at 8:30 pm EST on ESPN. After losing the season-opener at home to the 49ers, the Packers rebounded last week with a resounding defensive effort in a 23-10 victory over the division-rival Bears.

A betting preview of every game (against the spread) on Sunday and Monday in Week 3.


Locks of the Week
Keep riding the hot hands and take two of the NFC’s top teams this season.

49ers (-7.5) at Vikings

NFL Week 3 previews and predictions for every game on the schedule:

Giants (1-1) at Panthers (1-1)
Carolina’s Cam Newton steps into the spotlight on Thursday night, taking on a Big Blue defense led by one of Cam’s few athletic peers, pass-rushing end Jason Pierre-Paul.
Giants by 2

We fell for it and we could not have been any angrier watching that disaster of a fantasy, er, football game Thursday night as the Green Bay Packers beat the Chicago Bears, 23-10.

Green Bay wide receiver Greg Jennings is officially listed as Doubtful for Thursday night’s game against Chicago. The Packer, who is dealing with a groin injury, is said to have a “50-50” chance of playing in this NFC North clash against the Bears.

NFL Week 2 previews and predictions for every game on the schedule:

Bears (1-0) at Packers (0-1)

The Thursday night game will feature the NFL’s oldest rivalry, with the Green Bay Packers hosting the Chicago Bears at 8:20 p.m. EST on the NFL Network. These two NFC North foes had very different experiences in their openers, as the Bears easily handled the Colts while the Packers ran into the juggernaut defense of the 49ers — losing 30-22 at home.

Throughout the 2012 NFL season, Athlon Sports will tackle the hot issues on and off the gridiron with our our editors and other pigksin experts.

Q: New York Giants, Green Bay Packers or New Orleans Saints: Which 0-1 Team is in the Most Trouble?

The marquee matchup of the NFL’s opening weekend will take place at historic Lambeau Field, with the Green Bay Packers hosting the San Francisco 49ers at 4:25pm EST on Fox. These two NFC stalwarts combined for 28 regular-season wins in 2011, and both clubs have Super Bowl expectations in 2012.