Fantasy football matchups to exploit - Week 3
|
September 19, 2008 @ 13:03:10
|
|
|
|
|
|
By Hot off the Wire Network Contributors
Edited by Nicholas Minnix
Chiefs QB Tyler Thigpen vs. Falcons FS Erik Coleman
Thigpen, the former seventh-round pick from Coastal Carolina, is set to make his first NFL start. He was respectable in relief of Damon Huard last week, and the Chiefs will get to see what he can do with a week of preparation. Coleman will be the Falcons' center fielder in zone; strong safety Lawyer Milloy will play close to the line of scrimmage, keeping an eye on running back Larry Johnson.
Falcons RB Michael Turner vs. Chiefs LB Pat Thomas
Turner broke loose for 220 yards in the opener. The Chiefs were gouged for several long runs last week against the Oakland Raiders and allowed 300 yards because they failed to adequately control gaps. Turner will make them pay for that failure if they don't correct it. Thomas, as the middle linebacker, needs to get his teammates in the right positions and make sure his young front line stays disciplined.
Falcons WRs Roddy White and Michael Jenkins vs. Chiefs CBs Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr
With Patrick Surtain (shoulder) out, the Chiefs will like up two rookie corners against the Falcons. White has the ability to become one of the league's elite receivers. He has been able to get open in both games this season, while Jenkins' only catch is a 62-yard touchdown pass on rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's first NFL pass. The Falcons will have to throw to keep Kansas City from putting eight and nine men in the box. Flowers, a rookie, has played well, and the Chiefs may leave him alone in coverage as they attempt to improve their porous run defense. He needs to be ready for White's speed and limit his big plays.
Raiders RBs Darren McFadden and Michael Bush vs. Bills LB Paul Posluszny
The Raiders' rookie has rushed for 210 yards in two games, while Bush, the second-year man, rushed for 90 yards in his first NFL action. McFadden (toe) may be limited, but the Raiders want to run the ball a lot. The pair comes to Buffalo to face a rebuilt Bills run defense that has allowed 183 rushing yards the first two weeks. However, that included 32 yards in scrambles by elusive Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback David Garrard. Posluszny is off to a strong start, showing excellent speed to the sidelines. The Raiders figure to try to attack the edges of the Bills defense. Is the Bills' run defense so strong that fantasy players should consider benching No. 2 or No. 3 backs against it? This game will test that question.
Raiders TE Zach Miller vs. Bills SS Donte Whitner
Miller is the lone reliable receiver in a shaky passing game, with six receptions for 58 yards. Opponents have crowded the line of scrimmage because of Oakland's running prowess; foes have thus taken away some of the middle areas where Miller works best. Whitner is one of the NFL's top safeties but can occasionally be beaten when he plays up for the big hit and allows receivers to escape.
Bills QB Trent Edwards vs. Raiders pass defense
Can Edwards become a fantasy league asset in his first full year as a starter? We should know the answer by the end of the month. Edwards is coming off a solid outing at Jacksonville, throwing for 239 yards. He passed for 215 yards in Week 1 and has two touchdown strikes for the year. Oakland has two star cornerbacks in Nnamdi Asomugha and DeAngelo Hall, but they do not blitz much. Edwards should have time to sit back and throw. He has been very effective when he can scan the field.
Bills WR Lee Evans vs. Raiders CB DeAngelo Hall
Hall recovered from an awful opening game against Denver Broncos rookie receiver Eddie Royal and played well against Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe. Bowe finished with six catches for 90 yards but only did his damage in the fourth quarter, when the Raiders had the game under control. Hall covered well and also came up to tackle ball carriers. Evans, with eight catches for 179 yards, presents a smaller, more elusive target, more along the lines of Royal. Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan took the blame for Hall's first performance, saying he had him playing zone coverage. Hall should be turned loose to cover Evans one on one this week.
Buccaneers RB Earnest Graham vs. Bears LB Lance Briggs
Briggs may actually be the Bears' best linebacker. He is a powerful run stuffer with the athleticism to play very well in coverage. Graham is the Bucs' best offensive weapon. He's a power back with good speed and quickness, and if he finds an opening, he can break off a big gain. The Bucs will work to get linemen on Briggs, but he has the ability to shed any block and make a play. This could be one of Graham's tougher days as an NFL feature back.
Buccaneers WR Ike Hilliard vs. Bears secondary
Hilliard is once again the Bucs' go-to receiver, especially on third down. He's a sure-handed player who has the toughness to stay in there in the middle of the field and take a hit. He won't make a lot of yards after the catch, but he'll be the top target on almost every third down try, and he'll be a target on medium-range throws in the red zone. He's exceptional at finding holes in zones, so the Bears may have to play man to man to slow him down.
Buccaneers WR Antonio Bryant vs. Bears CB Nathan Vasher
With veteran Joey Galloway potentially sidelined with an ankle injury, Bryant could loom as the go-to man for quarterback Brian Griese. Bryant has had success against the Bears in the past, beating them with two late touchdowns when he played for the Cleveland Browns in 2005. Bryant possesses good size at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds; he can be physical with Vasher or his counterpart, Charles Tillman. Thus far, the Bears have done a good job of limiting the big play, and that's a must for a team that has not been getting the big play itself on offense.
Buccaneers OG Jeremy Zuttah vs. Bears DT Tommie Harris
Harris has not started the season the way he has the last two years, when he looked like a Defensive Player of the Year Award candidate in the early months. The left knee he had arthroscopic surgery on in January is bothering him some, and he simply has not been as productive as usual. That being said, Zuttah is a rookie whom Harris could exploit. He's not used to playing against an interior lineman with explosive moves like Harris. The Bucs must control him or he will be a menace for Griese, who lacks mobility and will be a target in the pocket. If given time to throw, Griese can challenge the Bears' safeties downfield.
Bears WR Brandon Lloyd vs. Buccaneers CB Ronde Barber
If there has been on target who has shown an early-season rapport with quarterback Kyle Orton, it's Lloyd, who has been the only wideout to make any plays downfield. The Bears' offense has been terribly bogged down because of its inability to convert any medium- to long-range passes. They have to be able to pick up yardage in chunks to remain effective, because the remarkable production the club has had on third down thus far (51.6 percent) will not continue all year. Barber is an experienced cover man who plays the Tampa 2 scheme perfectly and can be physical with Lloyd. It's a matchup the Bears have to win to loosen up Tampa's front seven.
Panthers WR Steve Smith vs. Vikings secondary
Think Smith will be a little fired up for this one? He has been out two weeks because of a suspension, and he's itching to go. Smith had 11 catches for 201 yards and a touchdown in his last game against the Vikings, three years ago. Smith's presence will also help the Panthers' running game since other teams won't be able to stack the box. Cornerback Cedric Griffin struggled in last Sunday's loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Receiver Reggie Wayne dropped a ball after beating Griffin for what would have been a big play, and wideout Anthony Gonzalez caught a 58-yard pass that led to a touchdown. The assignment won't get any easier if Carolina can get Smith matched up on Griffin.
Vikings RBs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor vs. Panthers run defense
Peterson has rushed for 100 yards in back-to-back games and had 160 yards in the loss to the Colts. The Panthers have given up an average of 110 yards in two games to rank 19th in the NFL in this category. The difference for Peterson is that he can expect to see a safety come down into the box on a consistent basis unless the Vikings somehow manage to establish a passing game. A hamstring injury could also limit Peterson, who's a game-time decision, and force Taylor into a bigger role.
Vikings OT Artis Hicks vs. Panthers DE Julius Peppers
With offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie suspended, Peppers gets to face Hicks, and that's a mismatch. Peppers doesn't have a sack yet, but he has not played poorly. In his last trip to Minnesota, he had one of the best games of his career.
Dolphins C Samson Satele vs. Patriots NT Vince Wilfork
Satele is extremely athletic, but his 6-foot-3, 300-pound frame doesn't help him hold up against nose tackles with girth like Wilfork, who is conservatively listed at 330 pounds. Satele has struggled at the point of attack the past two weekends, allowing a sack each against the Jets and the Cardinals. If this trend holds up, Wilfork, who earned his first Pro Bowl appearance last season, will be disruptive to the Dolphins' already stagnant running game, which is averaging 3.0 yards per carry. Satele openly admits Wilfork was his toughest matchup last season. New England's opponents are averaging 4.3 yards per carry. If Satele can hold his ground, Dolphins tailbacks Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown might finally improve their disappointing per-carry average.
Patriots QB Matt Cassel vs. Dolphins secondary
It's only Cassel's second start, but this may be his first chance to air it out a little bit: the Dolphins have allowed the first two opponents they've faced to pass for a combined 545 yards (the third-worst total in the NFL). Against NYJ last week, the Patriots and Cassel went with more short-to-intermediate routes on offense, but against MIA, Cassel may able to take a few downfield shots for Randy Moss. Moss averaged 30.5 yards per catch last year against the Dolphins in Miami.
Patriots WR Randy Moss vs. Dolphins CB Andre' Goodman
The 6-foot-4 Moss tortured whichever Dolphin was on him last year during the two times these team met, catching nine passes for 172 and four touchdowns. At 5-foot-10, Goodman struggled mightily against wideout Larry Fitzgerald (6-foot-4) and receiver Anquan Boldin (6-foot-1) last week; the Arizona Cardinals' duo combined to catch 12 passes for 293 yards and three touchdowns, all by Boldin. Goodman was also penalized two times, for holding and pass interference. He generally struggles against physical receivers. Moss is adjusting to a first-time starter in Cassel. Will Allen may cover Moss at times, but he usually gets assigned to the shiftier receiver, which in this case is Wes Welker, who exploited the Dolphins last year for 187 yards and two touchdowns on 14 catches.
Patriots OT Matt Light vs. Dolphins DE Vonnie Holliday
Light consistently struggled against former Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, and Taylor sacked quarterback Tom Brady on numerous occasions over the years. But Taylor is with the Washington Redskins, so now Light has to deal with Holliday. Holliday isn't as fast as Taylor, but Light still needs to keep Cassel upright and make sure he has time to look at all of his options. Cassel has been sacked five times through the first two games of the season.
Bengals WRs T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ocho Cinco vs. Giants pass defense
Amazingly, the Bengals are ranked last in the NFL in pass offense. The Giants have collected seven sacks, including six Sunday against the St. Louis Rams. Much of their pressure is generated by the defensive line, so the Bengals' line will face another challenge in protecting quarterback Carson Palmer. Giants defensive end Justin Tuck has three sacks.
Giants QB Eli Manning vs. Bengals secondary
With cornerback Johnathan Joseph (ankle) and strong safety Dexter Jackson (thumb) injured, the Bengals' secondary is a mess. They're extremely vulnerable to the Giants' three- and four- receiver sets. They may not have anyone able to cover wide receiver Plaxico Burress, and then there's still Amani Toomer, Steven Smith, Domenik Hixon.... If cornerback David Jones and free safety Chinedum Ndukwe are in the starting lineup, Manning could have a very big passing day.
Giants RBs Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward and Ahmad Bradshaw vs. Bengals run defense
The Baltimore Ravens rushed for 229 yards against the Bengals; then the Tennessee Titans rushed for 177. The Bengals have given up rushes of 38, 42 and 51 yards in the two games. The Giants' dangerous three-headed attack just lit up the Rams for 203 yards. New York has a balanced offense; they are averaging 5.13 yards a play on first down. Jacobs is a 264-pound battering ram that is sixth in the NFL in rushing with a 5.8-yard average on 36 carries. Ward is averaging 5.7 yards a pop. The scatback, Bradshaw, is capable of big plays; he has a 10.4-yard average, including a 31-yard touchdown run, on just five carries. He also has a receiving touchdown. The Giants love to pound the ball and roll fresh backs into the game. The Bengals' defensive line isn't good to begin with, and they'll have to do a lot of blitzing. That combination could open up a lot of running lanes.
Texans WR Andre Johnson vs. Titans CB Cortland Finnegan
Johnson is the strength of the Texans offense, and even when defenses put multiple defenders on him, the Texans still go his way. He has a knack for making plays, but so does Finnegan. Quarterback Matt Schaub will have to be careful not to force throws to Johnson, or Finnegan will snatch them away; he has three interceptions in two games. Johnson is physical enough to hang with Finnegan, but he'll have to be skillful enough to get open as well. Johnson had a nine-catch, 116-yard game in Houston's last meeting with Tennessee, last December. Last season, he opened the year with back-to-back 100-yard games. The Texans hope he can do it again.
Titans QB Kerry Collins vs. Texans LB DeMeco Ryans
Collins obviously doesn't move around as well as Vince Young (knee), and the Texans know it. Chances are that Houston will send extra players his way to try to disrupt the Titans' passing game. Ryans, one of Houston's most aggressive defenders, sacked Collins when Collins started in place of Young against Houston last year, forcing a fumble. Ryans picked it up and returned it for a touchdown. They'll hope for similar plays versus the Titans this time around.
Titans RB Chris Johnson vs. Texans DT Travis Johnson
Travis Johnson is supposed to be one of the team's main run stoppers, but how well he'll be able to play is in question this week as he nurses a sprained knee and sprained ankle. It doesn't help that his home was also basically destroyed last week during Hurricane Ike. Travis Johnson has a tough task ahead though. Chris Johnson is building confidence as he comes off his first 100-yard game. Travis must be on top of his game to keep up with Chris' elusiveness.
Cardinals WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald vs. Redskins CBs Shawn Springs, Fred Smoot and Carlos Rogers
Like every week for the Cardinals, the key matchup involves their receivers. Last year against Washington, the duo combined for 14 catches. Boldin's eight catches went for only 29 yards (but also two touchdowns); Fitzgerald had 97 yards. The guess here is that whichever receiver gets a fast start will have Springs on him quickly. Springs remains the Redskins' best cover corner. Arizona should take advantage of Smoot and Rogers' tendency to give too much cushion by throwing quickly and having the receivers use their bulk to overpower the pair of corners.
Cardinals OT Levi Brown vs. Redskins DE Jason Taylor:
The way quarterback Kurt Warner has played, the Cards only need to protect him to get good results. Taylor is the first elite defensive end Brown will face this season and is a good test. Last year, as a rookie, Brown struggled in Washington and later in the season was beat up by Seattle Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kearney. Brown has developed since then but needs to have a big game so that Warner, in turn, can do the same.
Redskins RB Clinton Portis vs. Cardinals LB Gerald Hayes
The Cardinals need to keep Portis in check, especially since they think they can handle quarterback Jason Campbell. Hayes is a key in the middle, especially with Alan Branch still learning at nose tackle and fellow nose tackle Gabe Watson still gimpy after offseason knee surgery. If Hayes can help plug the middle, the Cards have enough speed on defense to kill the corners for Portis.
Redskins TE Chris Cooley vs. Cardinals SS Adrian Wilson
Cooley made only one catch in Week 1 but bounced back with five catches for 72 yards against the New Orleans Saints. Wilson is a talented player who has one interception and one pass breakup this season. Depending on the scheme, it will be up to Wilson to keep track of Cooley down the middle of the field, where he loves to operate. The Saints were late a few times getting to Cooley. He had only one catch for three yards against Arizona last year.
Saints RB Reggie Bush vs. Broncos linebackers
The Broncos did not do a good job containing San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles last week. Bush is a similar back in that he is versatile, and the Saints will get him out in space by throwing to him in the passing game. The Broncos' linebackers will have to make sure Bush doesn't have too much space to work with.
Saints WR David Patten vs. Broncos CBs Champ Bailey and Dre' Bly
It's evident with the loss of wideout Marques Colston (thumb) that Saints quarterback Drew Brees' favorite target in the wide receiver corps is Patten. He's the steadiest of the group that's healthy (that includes tight end Jeremy Shockey), as he caught five passes for 55 yards last week at the Washington Redskins. While Bush may have the most receptions (15) and yards (175) on the team, Patten should be the team's go-to and most consistent guy on intermediate and deep routes.
Broncos WR Brandon Marshall vs. Saints CB Tracy Porter
The Saints' rookie corner knew Washington quarterback Jason Campbell was targeting him throughout their game last Sunday. Porter gave up the game-changing 67-yard touchdown pass to receiver Santana Moss. Marshall caught 18 passes last week against what was supposed to be one of the better defenses in the league. The Broncos receiver could have another big game if the banged-up Saints defense doesn't help Porter in coverage.
Broncos WR Brandon Stokley and TE Tony Scheffler vs. Saints defensive backs
The Saints could be thin in the secondary once again because of injuries, and the Broncos are enjoying their passing attack. They'll likely use plenty of extra receivers to test New Orleans' depth in the secondary. Stokley is a fantastic receiver from the slot, and Scheffler creates matchup problems. Even if New Orleans does a good job against Marshall and receiver Eddie Royal, Stokley and Scheffler could get some catches. Expect quarterback Jay Cutler to have another good game no matter who gets the ball.
49ers QB J.T. O'Sullivan vs. Lions secondary
The Lions unceremoniously released O'Sullivan after last season. Now he has rejoined offensive coordinator Mike Martz in San Francisco and taken over the starting job. If O'Sullivan carves up the Lions' new and improved secondary, it would be a huge embarrassment. The Lions have given up big pass plays in their first two games, and you know Martz would love to test the Lions deep.
49ers RB Frank Gore vs. Lions run defense
With Martz, this could go either way. Either Martz wants to throw and throw and throw against the Lions, or he's wants to pound the ball at the Lions with the running game. It is entirely possible he will make Gore a huge part of the team's game plan. Martz said he has a number of touches per game he'd like to get Gore; that number is probably around 25. The Lions will have to emphasize defending the pass, but they are also vulnerable against the run. The opposition has rushed for 441 yards (6.1-yard average) and four touchdowns in two games.
49ers WR Isaac Bruce vs. Lions CB Brian Kelly
Bruce, the 49ers' flanker, lined up on the right side most of the time versus the Seattle Seahawks; he had four catches for 153 yards. It was the 10th-best day of Bruce's career, from a receiving yards standpoint. The 49ers' passing game is a lot more effective when Bruce is a factor. He said he feels better, faster, stronger and quicker than he has at any point in his 15-year career.
49ers offensive line vs. Lions pass rush
The Lions have only two sacks in two games, but the 49ers have allowed 12. With Martz as his offensive coordinator the previous two years, Lions quarterback Jon Kitna took 114 sacks. That's part of the reason the Lions fired Martz. Now Martz is in San Francisco, and the Lions need to take advantage of the things they complained about - seven-step drops, long-developing routes and minimal protection.
Lions RB Kevin Smith vs. 49ers run defense
Smith has 88 yards on 26 carries in two games. The 49ers allowed Seattle's Julius Jones 127 yards on 26 carries Sunday. The Lions want to run the ball to keep Martz's offense off the field and prove a point to him. To do it, they need to keep from falling behind badly, and Smith needs to keep developing early in his rookie season.
Lions WRs Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams vs. 49ers CBs Walt Harris and Nate Clements
For the 49ers this is a similar matchup to the one they saw in Week 1 against the Arizona Cardinals. What the 49ers have done thus far is take away the big play from opposing offenses. They've played coverage on the back side and allowed teams to throw the underneath stuff. They will likely do the same thing against the Lions. The Lions will probably try to get Williams more involved. He has only six catches in two games, and none have gone for more than 25 yards.
Rams QB Marc Bulger vs. Seahawks pass defense
Final score notwithstanding, Bulger played decently against the New York Giants. The offense still needs to get in rhythm, but the passing game showed that it is getting there. Bulger has had some big days against Seattle, including five 300-yard games. The Seahawks have been giving up almost as many big passing plays as the Rams' secondary these days. Defense was supposed to be the strength of this year's Seahawks team. The Seattle D has already made no-name passers Trent Edwards (Buffalo Bills) and J.T. O'Sullivan (San Francisco 49ers) look good. This year's unit showed a new flaw in Sunday's game, giving up big plays on third downs. That was the strength of the 2007 defense, so Seattle hopes to fix it before Sunday.
Rams WR Torry Holt vs. Seahawks CB Marcus Trufant
This may rank as the best corner-receiver matchup in the NFC West, dating all the way back to Trufant's rookie year in 2003. The difference this time is that Trufant is basically playing with one arm. A broken bone in his left hand has forced Trufant to play with a club-like cast for almost a week. It inhibits his ability to play bump-and-run and could make it tough for him to make a play on the ball. This time, Holt appears to have an advantage in the long-standing one-on-one rivalry.
Rams OT Orlando Pace vs. Seahawks DE Lawrence Jackson
The Seahawks defense leads the NFL in sacks so far and has had some big days in recent years against St. Louis. If the Rams are going to get anything going in the passing game Sunday, they must do a better job of protecting Bulger. Jackson had two sacks last week against San Francisco; his backup, Darryl Tapp, had four sacks in a game against the Rams last year. Although he's still a bit rusty because he's coming off shoulder surgery, Pace has easily been the Rams' most consistent lineman this year.
Browns RB Jamal Lewis vs. Ravens LB Ray Lewis
Lewis is off to a slow start, with 100 yards and no touchdowns on 32 carries (3.1-yard average). He has been hampered by a hamstring injury that caused him to miss the final two preseason games, but he's sure to be fired up for a meeting with his former team. In two games versus the Ravens last year, he carried 45 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns in two victories. Lewis remains the heart and soul of the Baltimore defense and is still productive. He had 11 tackles and forced a fumble in the opener vs. the Texans and will be looking for his old pal Jamal.
Browns WR Braylon Edwards vs. Ravens CB Chris McAlister
Despite a knee injury, McAlister is playing like an elite corner again. He limited Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco to one catch for 22 yards. He should keep Edwards in check even though Edwards had success against him last season. In the first meeting, Edwards beat McAlister for a 78-yard touchdown. In the second game, Edwards had 85 yards on eight catches. Edwards has struggled this season, making as many catches (five) as drops.
Ravens TE Todd Heap vs. Browns LB Leon Williams and SS Brodney Pool
The Browns - especially Williams - have a history of struggling to cover tight ends, and they've made little progress in the first two weeks. The Dallas Cowboys' Jason Witten caught six passes for 96 yards in the opener, and the Pittsburgh Steelers' Heath Miller caught two for 33 yards, including a 19-yard backbreaker late in the fourth quarter. Heap has struggled in the past few years against the Browns, relatively speaking, though; he has not scored in four games, and in those meetings, he has averaged 38 yards receiving. He is coming off his worst game as a Raven, fumbling his first catch and dropping a touchdown pass in the end zone. Heap could still be a security blanket for rookie quarterback Joe Flacco, though.
Jaguars RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Colts run defense
There have been grumblings in Jacksonville this week about the lack of production from the Jaguars running combo. After ranking as the second-best one-two punch in the league last year, Taylor and Jones-Drew have combined for a total of just 97 yards in the team's first two games. That's what each player would like to average per game. Jones-Drew was outspoken on his radio show this week and said he needed more carries than the dozen attempts he has had in two games. The Jaguars will likely emphasize the running game this week. Keep in mind that the Jaguars' offensive, like that of the Colts, is struggling, with backups at the three interior line positions. While Taylor is off to a slow start with just 67 yards on 23 carries, the Colts have allowed an average 181.5 yards rushing in two games. Taylor, with five career 100-yard games against the Colts, should be able to add to his total against a run defense missing the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year in safety Bob Sanders.
Jaguars OT Khalif Barnes vs. Colts DE Dwight Freeney
Freeney is back from foot surgery, no question. He has been held on several plays (most not called) and double-teamed on most others. When a team makes the mistake of single-blocking him, he can make them pay. He has two sacks in as many games - last week's forced a fumble that the Colts recovered when the Minnesota Vikings tried to block him one on one. Mistake. Freeney made a great speed rush for the turnover. The Jags have had issues blocking Freeney in the past. Don't expect Barnes to be by himself too often with No. 93.
Colts WR Reggie Wayne vs. Jaguars CB Rashean Mathis
These two Pro Bowl players have matched up on numerous occasions in the past five years, with Wayne winning a few, posting several good games, and Mathis also playing well in shutting Wayne down. Two of Wayne's top five yardage games have come against the Jaguars - 141 yards (2003) and 158 yards (last year). Wayne got the better of Mathis a year ago, burning the Jaguars for 17 catches and 289 yards in the two games. Prior to that, Mathis had held the upper hand, primarily covering Wayne and holding him to four or fewer catchers in five of the previous six games. Whoever wins the battle between these two top players could help their team post a win.
Colts OT Ryan Diem vs. Jaguars DE Paul Spicer
Spicer has owned Diem in the past. In two games last year, Spicer had two sacks, a forced fumble and seven quarterback pressures on Peyton Manning. Diem seems to have difficulty moving laterally with Spicer, an overachiever with a great motor.
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger vs. Eagles CBs Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown and Lito Sheppard
How long Roethlisberger can play at a high level with a sore throwing shoulder is a matter of debate, but a big test awaits in Philadelphia. The Eagles have, perhaps, the best trio of cornerbacks in the NFL, even though Samuel and Sheppard are playing hurt. Even with a game against the potent Dallas Cowboys, the Eagles are still 11th in pass defense (221 yards per game). They have only one interception, however, and Roethlisberger, so far this season, hasn't made any mistakes. He is first in passer rating (136.3) and tied for first in completion percentage (75.8). Of Big Ben's 33 attempts, 25 have been complete, with no interceptions. He threw an occasional and clutch deep pass against the Browns, but he is only 21st in the league in yards per game (161.5).
Steelers RB Willie Parker vs. Eagles run defense
The Eagles are ranked first in the NFL against the run (52.0 yards per game), at least in part because Dallas found them so easy to pass against. Parker is second in the NFL in rushing yards, with 243 on 53 carries. The Eagles might still be a little banged up from a physical Monday night game against the Cowboys.
Steelers TE Heath Miller vs. Eagles linebackers and safeties
The Eagles have allowed tight ends 15 catches for 214 yards through two games. Miller has just five catches for 59 yards, but if the Steelers are smart enough to take advantage, he'll double that Sunday.
Eagles QB Donovan McNabb vs. Steelers SS Troy Polamalu
Here's a matchup that will create a buzz all week now that both players are healthy again. McNabb controls an Eagles passing game that is No. 1 in the NFL, with an average of 336.5 yards per game, no interceptions and a 113.7 passer rating. Polamalu has two interceptions - one in each game - and leads a defense that is tied for the NFL lead in picks with four, ninth in aerial yards allowed (157) and fourth in total defense (221 yards per game). What makes this matchup so intriguing is that McNabb has the legs to salvage a play when it breaks down, but Polamalu is one of the most athletic pass rushers from the secondary. He must be careful, though. McNabb is throwing the deep ball as well as he has at any time in his career, and rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson is fourth in the NFL with an average of 108 yards per game.
Cowboys RB Marion Barber III vs. Packers run defense
Barber has averaged 17 carries in the first two games, with 143 yards and three touchdowns. He was able to wear down the Philadelphia Eagles, picking up more than 50 yards in the second half Monday night. In two games, against the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, the Packers are allowing 5.2 yards per carry, but Detroit ran the ball only 12 times last week. When these teams met last year, Barber picked up 81 yards on 17 carries.
Cowboys WR Terrell Owens vs. Packers CB Al Harris
No cornerback is more physical than Harris. He likes to get his hands on receivers early and reroute them. One problem: Owens' size makes that hard. In the teams' meeting last year, Owens had seven catches for 156 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn't like Harris was responsible for all of them. The Cowboys like to put Owens in motion to free him up from press coverage. This season Owens has three touchdown catches and has been quarterback Tony Romo's big-play threat, as always.
Cowboys TE Jason Witten vs. Packers LB Brady Poppinga and SS Aaron Rouse
Dallas' fallback weapon on offense is Witten, who had six big receptions for 67 yards when the teams met last season. The Packers have a good linebacker corps, but strongside linebacker Poppinga is a run stopper who sometimes struggles in coverage. With Atari Bigby (hamstring) out, Rouse will start at strong safety and will have some responsibility in covering Witten. That may or may not hurt the Packers. Rouse is only a second-year pro but has great size (6-foot-4) and had two interceptions in the three games he started as an injury replacement last year. Still, the Cowboys might try to attack him because of his inexperience.
Packers WRs Greg Jennings and Donald Driver vs. Cowboys secondary
The Cowboys are still weaker in the secondary than elsewhere on their defense. The Packers have a good tandem of starting receivers, so look for one or both to put up good numbers. Dallas' best defensive back is free safety Ken Hamlin, who is not involved in coverage of the wideouts as much as cornerbacks Terence Newman, Anthony Henry and Adam Jones, the nickelback. Last year when the teams played, Jennings and Driver combined for 12 receptions. Jennings is coming into his own and already has 11 receptions for a 23.5-yard average.
Jets QB Brett Favre vs. Chargers pass defense
Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler and wide receiver Brandon Marshall connected 18 times last Sunday, exposing the Chargers as an average pass-coverage team without the pass-rushing talents of outside linebacker Shawne Merriman (knee). Cornerback Antonio Cromartie (toe) didn't look anything like a Pro Bowl player and lost his cool while being torched regularly by Marshall. Favre, who carved up the Chargers last season while employed by the Green Bay Packers, must have taken note and will be looking to find the same holes in the Chargers' back end. Safeties Clinton Hart and Eric Weddle, as well as inside linebacker Matt Wilhelm, have all struggled to cover tight ends this season, so Favre will have ample opportunities to add to the Chargers' defensive woes.
Chargers RB Darren Sproles vs. Jets run defense
Running back LaDainian Tomlinson is still struggling with an injured big toe, so you can expect the diminutive Sproles to be given a big role against the Jets. The 5-foot-6, 181-pound Sproles had 53 rushing yards and 72 receiving yards against Denver in relief of Tomlinson last Sunday. Sproles turned a short swing pass into a 66-yard scoring play and is dangerous in space. The Jets have been hard to run against thus far this season, so the Chargers will likely need to keep from testing the middle too often if Sproles is in the game. Sproles will likely be taken off punt-return duties because of his bigger ball-carrying role but will still handle kickoff returns. He had a 103-yard kickoff return for a score against Denver.
More Articles You Will Like
