Ray Rice's indefinite suspension for an aggravated assault on his then-fiancee and now wife cast a dark cloud over the league, which was added to by Adrian Peterson's charge for child abuse being revealed last week.
Star running-back and 2012 NFL MVP Peterson was taken into custody on Saturday and charged with "reckless or negligent injury to a child" before being released "on bond."
Peterson had initially looked set to play when the Vikings travel to the New Orleans this Sunday seeking their second win of the campaign.
However, the Vikings released a statement on Wednesday confirming Peterson will play no part in their season until his legal proceedings have come to a close.
With any doubts over Peterson's involvement now cleared up, attentions on the pitch should be captured by the Broncos' attempts to exact revenge for their 43-8 hammering in last season's showpiece by the Seahawks.
Denver visit CenturyLink Field with a 2-0 record, while the Seahawks' aura of invincibility was damaged last weekend with a 30-21 loss at the San Diego Chargers, who will aim to build on that surprise victory by beating the Buffalo Bills.
A number of division rivals renew acquaintances in a weekend that features a plethora of potentially absorbing contests.
The Philadelphia Eagles will aim to continue their unbeaten start against a Washington Redskins team that approaches the NFC East match-up without quarterback Robert Griffin III.
Griffin suffered a dislocated ankle in the Redskins' 41-10 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars in week two, leaving deputy Kirk Cousins as the signal-caller for the trip to the Lincoln Financial Field.
Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals host the NFC West rival San Francisco 49ers, who lost their first regular season game at their new Levi's Stadium home following a 28-20 reverse to the Chicago Bears.
The Detroit Lions take on the Green Bay Packers in a meeting between two of the league's most exciting offenses, the Baltimore Ravens do battle with a Cleveland Browns team that stunned the Saints in their last outing, and the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers start week three with a nationally-televised game on Thursday.
An ankle injury sustained by running-back Jamaal Charles is set to keep him out of the Kansas City Chiefs' clash with the Miami Dolphins, whose AFC East foes the New England Patriots take on the Oakland Raiders.
Wide receiver A.J. Green will definitely be unavailable for the Cincinnati Bengals as they put their unbeaten record on the line versus the Tennessee Titans.
Elsewhere, the Carolina Panthers host the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Bears visit the New York Jets, the undefeated Houston Texans face the New York Giants, the St Louis Rams take on the Dallas Cowboys and the Jaguars meet the Indianapolis Colts in a bout between two winless teams.