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Predicted favorites start slowly

The way some NFL teams were being hyped, you would think they had their divisions already wrapped up

Not so fast.

How many media darlings are trying to right the ship after two games? Plenty. At 0-2, teams usually don't bounce back to reach the playoffs. An average of one team per year usually does. So who will it be in 2008?

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Cleveland. After finishing with a 10-6 record and just missing the playoffs, some felt the Browns were due for a breakout season.Braylon Edwards, Derek Anderson, Kellen Winslow Jr., Jamal Lewis were ready to build off great seasons. In two losses, the Browns have one touchdown and 13 total points. With the loss, they're now two games behind the Steelers.•

Jacksonville. The Jaguars were pegged as sleepers with playoff experience who were ready to take that next step and compete for the AFC Championship final.Offensive line woes has the team scanning the waiver wire for bodies. Quarterback David Garrard, who tossed three interceptions last season, now has three in two games and Jacksonville has been outscored 37-26.Also, the two-headed monster of running backs Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor are looking nothing like they did a year ago.Tennessee is 2-0 in the AFCSouth and has outscored its opponents 41-17. Indianapolis is 1-1 with Peyton Manning getting stronger every day. Things might not bode well for Jacksonville.•

San Diego. Two heartbreaking last-second losses have put the Chargers at the bottom of the AFCWest. Sunday's blown call on an apparent fumble gave Denver new life and the Broncos scored two plays later. Ouch.Then, the Broncos went for the jugular for a two-point conversion to win 39-38. Double ouch.The Chargers have scored 62 points and surrendered 65, and defensive stalwart Shawn Merriman is out for the year after electing to have knee surgery.•

Minnesota. You think not landing Brett Favre is coming back to hurt them? Not that Green Bay ever was going to deal Favre to a an NFCNorth opponent.Tavaris Jackson has been thrown into a tough situation. The third-year quarterback from Alabama State is in a tough spot for a team looking to contend for a Super Bowl berth. With Adrian Peterson carrying the load for the offense, plus a very potent defense, everyone wonders about Jackson.If he struggles, he's blamed for the team's woes. Still, it will take more from others to help him along. It's not his fault if the Vikings didn't pursue another quarterback if they weren't happy. Jackson did go 8-6 as a starter last season.•

Seattle. With the Arizona Cardinals (2-0 behind Kurt Warner), San Francisco and St. Louis, not a lot of stiff competition was expected for the Seahawks. But they seemed to have gotten out of the gate very sloppily.After Seattle's 33-30 overtime loss to the 49ers, the Cardinals could look like a real threat to win the NFCWest. Where's the defense? They've allowed 67 points in two games. That certainly won't help them get back to the Super Bowl.Of all these teams, the Chargers and the Jaguars have the ability to bounce back the best. Still, digging a hole this early won't make it any easier.Sam Tallarico is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.

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