Editor's note: ESPN senior NFL writer John Clayton's weekly "First And 10" column takes you around the league with a look at the best game of the week followed by primers for 10 other games to get you ready for Sunday and Monday. Here's his look at Week 3.

First ... Miami Dolphins at St. Louis Rams: Following road victories over the Eagles and the 49ers, the Rams are all thumbs up about their chances of getting back to being a Super Bowl team.

Kurt Warner's right thumb, banged up in the opener, is fine as long he keeps it warm and keeps it loose. A hot start helps all of that. Warner is completing 67.5 percent of his passes for 314.5 yards a game and has four touchdown passes. Isaac Bruce leads the NFC with 233 receiving yards. Halfback Marshall Faulk is second in receiving with 16 catches and third in rushing with 177 yards.

	Kurt Warner faces a Dolphins defense that yields just 165 passing yards a game.

What makes Sunday's game against the Dolphins interesting is that the Rams are facing a defense that can match their offense talent for talent. Cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison are man-to-man fiends who can keep up with Bruce and Torry Holt stride for stride. Middle linebacker Zach Thomas is a smart middle linebacker who can position himself to try to stop Faulk, one of the smartest offensive players in the game.

The Dolphins are off to an incredible start. They've pulled out great wins over the Titans and the Raiders. Their defense has only been beaten for two offensive touchdowns. If the Dolphins can pull out a victory in the TWA Dome, they could set up the possibility of being 5-0 by their first bye week after their Oct. 14 trip to the Jets.

Unlike most teams that face the Rams, the Dolphins have experience against fast-pace offenses. They face the Colts' no-huddle twice a year. Because the Dolphins' defensive line can get a good push at the line of scrimmage, the game could come down to the play of the Miami linebackers.

As the Rams spread the field with receivers, the Dolphins can counter with cornerbacks, although they have an interesting situation. First-round choice Jamar Fletcher is playing behind Terry Cousin as the main backup. Certainly, Mike Martz will try to test Cousins early.

The Rams' defense, meanwhile, have come out of games against Donovan McNabb and Jeff Garcia ranked in the top 10. The Dolphins don't have an offense that is prone to get big numbers, but they did score five offensive touchdowns against the Titans and Raiders, two pretty good defenses.

Great offense versus great defense. It should be a blast.

And 10. Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos: In the playoffs last year, the Ravens pounded the Broncos' defense with halfback Jamal Lewis and advanced to an eventual Super Bowl victory. All of a sudden, the Ravens are an offense in crisis. If they lose this road game to the hot Broncos, they would be heading into their Oct. 7 showdown against the Titans and could be two games behind in the AFC Central standings. Sure, the Ravens survived last year without an offense, but this is different. At least, the Ravens could run last year and eat up the clock and make it easier on their great defense. With Lewis out and the running game non-existent, the Ravens have dropped back to pass 96 of their 146 plays and are more prone to turnovers. They've had seven turnovers in two games. That's too many. The Broncos have everything going for them. Brian Griese has a 134.9 quarterback rating. The offense has survived the losses of Terrell Davis and Ed McCaffrey and hasn't lost a step. One of Mike Shanahan's smartest moves was keeping Rod Smith at split end and letting him do what he does best -- get open and catch passes.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings: If the Vikings don't come out with two or three quick first-half touchdowns, the Bucs will have a moral victory that could give them confidence. Right now, the Vikings' offense is at odds with itself. Receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss are freelancing on routes and leaving quarterback Daunte Culpepper mystified. Coach Dennis Green tried to calm the troops by telling Carter and company to stop complaining openly on the field. The Bucs, who will have a 20-day layoff between games, will do everything possible to disrupt the Vikings' timing and confidence on offense. Their best weapon, though, could be former Vikings quarterback Brad Johnson. If Johnson can establish the offense against the Vikings' defense, which won't have leader Robert Griffith because of a broken leg, the Bucs can play with a rare lead in the Metrodome. Normally, the Bucs are pressing in this early fall road trip. This year, the pressure is on the 0-2 Vikings.

8. New Orleans Saints at New York Giants: Saints coach Jim Haslett's biggest challenge is preventing his team from going crazy by Thursday. Like the Bucs and Steelers, the Saints haven't played since Sept. 9. They've been practicing against each other so hard and so long that they can't wait to play another team. The Giants will be playing before an emotional crowd because this is their home-opener. Normally, teams coming off long layoffs struggle on offense during their first week back. The Saints had a slow start in their opening victory over the Bills. What the Saints can't do is committ early turnovers because the Giants' defense can destroy the best of offensive lines. Two of the most active defensive lines in football will be on the field.

7. Cincinnati Bengals at San Diego Chargers: Who would have ever thought that this game would be a battle to see who could get to 3-0? The Bengals have had two huge home victories, but they have to make their first road trip against a Chargers defense that is pretty stingy. As they did against the Ravens, the Bengals will probably spread the field with three or four wide receivers, but this time, the Chargers probably won't remove run-stopping defensive tackles Jamal Williams and John Parrella. Chargers quarterback Doug Flutie proved last week that he can expose poor cornerbacks. He threw for 353 yards against the Cowboys. If Bengals quarterback Jon Kitna doesn't make mistakes, the Bengals have a chance. The Chargers hope to win this game and try to beat the Patriots and Browns before their ultimate test against the Broncos on Oct. 21.

6. Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars: It's like old times in Jacksonville. The Jags are undefeated and Tom Coughlin is miserable. He bristled at questions that the Titans blew two scoring chances at the end of Sunday's victory. He's mad everyone keeps bringing up Fred Taylor's history of injuries.

	Gary Moeller has done a great job with the (Jaguars') defense. ... Unfortunately, Coughlin would not let Moeller talk about it to the press because he doesn't let his assistants speak. Lighten up, Tom.

Heck, two years ago, the Jags had one of the easiest schedules and no one was happy. Coughlin knows their offense isn't as potent without Taylor, who will miss at least two games because of a partially torn abductor muscle, but Stacey Mack should do a decent job. The Browns' defense is better, but it doesn't have as much chance to rush the passer with end Courtney Brown out with a knee injury. One thing that's different about the Jaguars is that former Lions interim coach Gary Moeller has done a great job with the defense. Weeks ago, Jaguars players complained that it was too soft. It's been great against the Steelers and Titans. Unfortunately, Coughlin won't let Moeller talk about it to the press because he doesn't let his assistants speak. Lighten up, Tom.

5. Green Bay Packers at Carolina Panthers: The Packers are back. Really, they are. Brett Favre isn't even putting up monster numbers yet, but the Packers have rolled to easy victories. They've played great team football. Ahman Green has had back-to-back 100-yard games. The defense is applying pressure and forcing turnovers. Still, the Panthers aren't a team that can be overlooked. There is something about Chris Weinke that gives them a spark. Their starting defense is young and without stars, but they do a pretty good job. Coach George Seifert has to sort out his rushing offense and determine if he wants to go with rookie Nick Goings or veteran Richard Huntley, who is coming off a training camp of hamstring problems. Tim Biakabutuka is fading out of the mix.

4. Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots: Anytime Peyton Manning faces a Bill Belichick defense, you worry about an ambush. Well, Manning couldn't be facing the Patriots at a more opportune time. The Patriots won't be able to muster much offense without quarterback Drew Bledsoe. All the Patriots have is a suspect offensive line that may be without its best blocker -- center Damien Woody -- and a bunch of skilled players plucked from the cheap free agent market. The Patriots' defense is starting four or five former Jets whose average age is 33 and lack speed. If Belichick ever commits to stopping Manning, then halfback Edgerrin James should have a big day. If Manning can get a couple of early touchdowns, the Patriots don't have the firepower under second-year quarterback Tom Brady to bounce back.

3. San Francisco 49ers at New York Jets: The Jets got their first win for motivational coach Herman Edwards. This is a pretty balanced showdown. The 49ers are young on defense. The Jets have a defensive line that has just been thrown together and is feeling its way. Expect a big game from 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens, who should bounce back from a four-drop game against the Rams. Vinny Testaverde, the Jets' quarterback, has had some big games on Monday night. This one should be fun because each team is getting a feel for whether it will be good or not.

2. Kansas City Chiefs at Washington Redskins: Dick Vermeil had the first chance to take over the Redskins, but said no. He advised Redskins coach Marty Schottenheimer that he'd have no problems working with Redskins owner Dan Snyder. Even though both coaches are 0-2, you feel better about Vermeil's chances. The Redskins are in disarray. Jeff George has been replaced by Tony Banks, only signed a couple of weeks ago. The Skins lost two key defensive starters -- linebackers LaVar Arrington and defensive end Marco Coleman. Bruce Smith is hinting about retirement. The Chiefs are down at wide receiver, but at least Vermeil doesn't have the Redskins' problems to drag him down.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills: Normally, it takes a few games to get the Steelers' defense cranked up, but here we are in Week 3 and the Steelers have only one game played. The good news is that they came out of the Jaguars' loss banged up, so they enter the Bills game healthy. They also catch the Bills at a good time. Confidence in quarterback Rob Johnson is dropping rapidly, and the defense has lost enough talent that it is very vulnerable. The Steelers' key is keeping pressure on Johnson to get sacks and make turnovers. But to get this season started, the Steelers need to get the passing offense going with Kordell Stewart.

John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.