There's a reason people wait to draft defenses until well after all the best offensive players are off the board.
Actually, there are two reasons. The first is that defenses generally don't score very well. The other reason, which is partially a byproduct of the first, is that fantasy owners just don't really care about defense.
But on occasion, strange things happen. Whether it's by racking up sacks, turnovers or defensive touchdowns, a given defense can surprise you.
For Week 3 of the NFL season, I can't predict for sure which defenses will be the biggest point machines. I can, however, take a couple of educated guesses.
3. Green Bay Packers
For all the raving we do about Green Bay's defense, it's gotten off to a tough start so far this season, allowing a grand total of 57 points. Apparently, it can be beat.
But Green Bay's defense has an outstanding matchup on its hands this weekend against the Chicago Bears.
One thing the Packers do as well as anyone is rush the passer, and it just so happens that the Bears are the worst team in the league when it comes to defending the passer. Poor Jay Cutler has already been sacked 11 times.
Add that to the fact that Cutler can be a little interception-prone from time to time, and you get the sense the Packers are in for big things on Sunday. Maybe not in terms of points allowed, but certainly in terms of points produced, if you get my drift.
2. San Diego Chargers
The Chargers are another team that has gotten off to a slow start defensively, allowing 52 points and forcing just one turnover.
The Chargers should snap out of it on Sunday. They have the luxury of facing the Kansas City Chiefs, who have scored fewer points than any team in the league. That process is not going to be any easier without Jamaal Charles, who is out for the year.
As if that wasn't enough, Matt Cassel is coming off a three-interception game. He is also currently the lowest-rated starter in the league, a distinction he gained when Luke McCown was demoted in Jacksonville.
Should be easy enough for the Chargers.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers
One week after getting embarrassed by the Baltimore Ravens, the Steelers responded by pitching a shutout against the Seattle Seahawks. Not a bad turnaround, to say the least.
The Steelers could very well be in for more of the same on Sunday night against the Indianapolis Colts. Just as we expected, the Colts' offense has been dismal without Peyton Manning, as the Colts are almost entirely incapable of moving the ball or putting it in the end zone.
The Colts showed us this much against the likes of the Houston Texans and the Cleveland Browns. Against a team like the Steelers, one shudders at the thought of what could happen.
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