Add The New York Post on Google Someone alert Chris Berman.
The iconic ESPN host (and his “Swami” alter ego) predicted a 49ers-Bills matchup in the Super Bowl so often during the 1980s and 1990s — reportedly 12 straight years — that it seemed bound to happen eventually.
Except it never did. Even as one team or the other went to seven straight Super Bowls.
Decades later, the Bills and 49ers have put together the most impressive first two weeks of the season. And no one would call that a foolish pick for Super Bowl 61.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Here are The Post’s NFL power rankings for Week 3:
Josh Allen was as good in his first game at the Bills’ new home stadium as he was in so many at their last digs. He accounted for five touchdowns, including four on the first four offensive possessions of a 41-31 victory against the Lions. James Cook added 134 rushing yards and a put-away touchdown.
Returning from Australia, the 49ers showed no signs of fatigue in a 35-6 win against the Dolphins. Christian McCaffrey became the fourth-fastest player in the Super Bowl era with 100 career touchdowns (114 games) and Brock Purdy completed 20-of-22 passes. The 49ers have season-opening back-to-back wins by 20-plus points for the first time in franchise history.
Filling in for the injured Sam Darnold, Drew Lock looked the part of a starting quarterback in a 31-7 rout of the Cardinals. Of course, throwing to Jaxon Smith-Njigba (nine catches for 155 yards and three touchdowns) helped his cause. The Seahawks scored 24 unanswered second-half points to win for the 10th straight time in the series.
Yeah, the Chiefs are back. Harrison Butker kicked the walk-off 40-yard field goal as time expired in overtime to finish off a 33-30 victory against the Colts. Patrick Mahomes passed for 382 yards and three touchdowns, Kenneth Walker totaled 178 yards from scrimmage and Travis Kelce turned back the clock with nine catches for 101 yards.
Ja’Marr Chase made a spectacular toe-dragging 32-yard touchdown catch for the first of his two scores against the vaunted Texans’ defense in a 20-6 victory. Joe Burrow battled through back tightness to throw for 207 yards. Dexter Lawrence had a key fourth-and-1 stop and was part of holding the Texans’ backs to 18 rushing yards.
Matthew Stafford reminded everyone that he is the reigning MVP by throwing four touchdown passes, including two to Davante Adams, who feasted (195 yards) without Puka Nacua to split targets in a 28-6 win against the Giants. The Rams piled up 481 yards of total offense. Aaron Donald had three tackles (one for loss) in his debut after a two-year layoff.
On a day when the temperature on the artificial turf was measured at 157 degrees in Tennessee, Jalen Hurts overcame two interceptions and threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Darius Cooper with nine seconds remaining to cap a 24-20 comeback win against the Titans. Saquon Barkley suffered a stinger in his left arm and was limited to four carries.
TreVeyon Henderson ran for a 39-yard touchdown in his season debut and Elijah Ponder returned a fumble recovery 19 yards for a touchdown to highlight a dominant defensive effort (four sacks and two takeaways) in a 20-3 win against the Steelers. Drake Maye (208 yards and an interception) still doesn’t look right but had a 63-yard connection with Romeo Doubs.
One year after a remarkable 11 one-score wins and 12 comeback wins, the Broncos were at it again with two fourth-quarter touchdowns to slip past the Jaguars, 20-13. Rookie Jonah Coleman rushed for the game-winning score. Jaylen Waddle looked like a difference-maker (eight catches for 138 yards) after his quiet Broncos’ debut in Week 1.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores flexed his muscle in a 9-3 win against the Bears, who scored 59 points in Week 1. The Vikings allowed just 297 total yards, forced two takeaways and tallied four sacks, including one of Tyson Bagent (replacing the injured Caleb Williams) to stymie a fourth down from the 12-yard line on the final play.
The Giants might have been better off forfeiting after Jaxson Dart was hurt on the seventh play against the Rams. At least then Malik Nabers, Arvell Reese, Andrew Thomas and Brian Burns wouldn’t have gotten banged up, too. The rushing attack (2.5 yards per carry) and pass rush (one sack) were non-existent for two supposed team strengths.
With a golden opportunity to start off with back-to-back wins for the first time since 2015, the Jets choked away a 10-point lead over the final eight minutes of regulation and lost 20-17 to the Packers in overtime. Aaron Glenn made costly coaching mistakes, Braelon Allen was stopped on a fourth-and-1 at midfield and the rushing attack averaged 2.5 yards per carry.
