Here's a look at all the key matchups to watch in Week 10:
Atlanta OT Sam Baker vs. Carolina DE Julius Peppers
There’s a lot at stake for Atlanta in this NFC South game. The Falcons have three losses, with games coming up against the Jets and Giants on the road, plus the Eagles and Saints at home. The Falcons have won six games in Carolina since 2000, and they beat the Panthers at home in this season’s opener, 28-20.
Baker, a second-year player who starts at left tackle, will have his work cut out trying to contain Peppers. Baker has long arms, gives great effort and does a good job in run blocking. He struggles some to redirect in pass protection, but he is a smart player.
Peppers has 21.5 sacks in his last 22 games, and he scored on an interception return earlier this season. His franchise tender contract makes him one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. He is an outstanding athlete, with great size and speed to go with long arms. It’s hard to throw over him, and he’s outstanding at blocking kicks. | |
Tampa Bay LB Barrett Ruud vs. Miami RB Ronnie Brown
These Florida teams have only played eight times, each winning four. The Bucs broke an 11-game losing skid last week with rookie QB Josh Freeman getting his first start. Miami is coming off a loss to New England and most likely needs to win out to make the playoffs.
Ruud is Tampa Bay’s leading tackler by a wide margin. He plays all-out all the time, with a lot of intensity. He is very instinctive, and plays on all downs. Ruud has two interceptions this season, and is a good tackler who makes good use of his hands. Ruud is a very good, underrated player on an average team.
The Dolphins rotate their backs, but Brown gets about 65 percent of the carries. Wildcat or not, the Dolphins run more than they pass and are a top-five rushing team. Brown is a well-built, strong runner with good hands and the ability to pick up the blitz in pass protection. He has a good burst and possesses the speed to break long runs. he also has the versatility to be dangerous throwing the ball from the Wildcat. | |
Detroit OT Jeff Backus vs. Minnesota DE Jared Allen
Minnesota has won 17 of its last 19 against the Lions, and has lost at home to Detroit just once since 1994. Detroit, meanwhile, has not won a road game since Oct. 28, 2007. Minnesota is coming off its bye and plays four of its next five games at home.
Backus has started 137 consecutive games for the Lions -- the fifth-longest active starting streak in the NFL. This is the fourth time in the last two years Backus will face Allen. He has allowed four sacks in the previous three -- not bad compared to most who face Allen. He is a very solid player, but he has some trouble with power moves. He does a solid job every week.
Allen has more sacks (68) than any player since he entered the NFL in 2004 as a fourth-round draft pick. He was the 12th defensive end selected that year. Allen plays hard on every down and is an excellent tackler. He plays the run better than most think. He has quickness to get into the gaps and can turn the corner and get to the passer. | |
Cincinnati OT Andrew Whitworth vs. Pittsburgh LB James Harrison
The winner of this game is in the driver’s seat in the AFC North, while the loser most likely will be a wild card. The Bengals are on pace to allow 100 fewer points than they did in 2008. They have won two of the last four in Pittsburgh. Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau spent 18 years with the Bengals as an assistant and head coach. Cedric Benson, who nobody wanted a year ago, is on pace for 1,600 yards.
Whitworth plays his position as well as anyone in the NFL. He is a massive man with long arms and very good athletic ability. He has good feet and is very powerful. He is one of the key reasons Cincinnati is playing so well on offense.
Harrison was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2008, leading the AFC with 16 sacks. He has eight this season. He never stops competing and plays hard on every down. He is very good dropping into space, and will chase down the line on running plays to make tackles. | |
Buffalo NT Marcus Stroud vs. Tennessee QB Vince Young
These teams have played two of the most famous games in NFL history, both in the playoffs. In 1999, the Titans beat Buffalo in the Music City Miracle. In 1992, when the Titans were still the Oilers, they had a 32-point halftime lead and the Bills came back to win, 41-38, in overtime. Vince Young has now won six consecutive regular-season games: Four in 2007 and two this season.
Stroud is a power player. He does a good job pushing the guard back. He has very good quickness for his size, and likes to bull rush. Stroud does a good job of getting his hands on offensive linemen, and is smooth in his hips for a big man.
Young is starting for the third consecutive game, and he seems to have regained the confidence he displayed in 2006-07. He has been very effective in games against Jacksonville and San Francisco. Young is a gifted athlete with a strong arm. He makes decisions too quickly, and needs to be a little more patient. He doesn’t have the best accuracy, but he’s a good scrambler and is a threat to run on any play. | |
Denver RB Knowshon Moreno vs. Washington LB London Fletcher
Both of these teams have struggled to score this season and both have played well on defense, so don’t expect a lot of points. The Redskins ahave the No. 1 pass defense. Denver, on a short week following a Monday night loss to Pittsburgh, returns to the Eastern time zone after losing in Baltimore two weeks ago. The Redskins are most likely without Clinton Portis this week, while Denver might be without right tackle Ryan Harris.
Moreno is a rookie with skills and toughness. He will block in pass protection, catch the ball out of the backfield and has strong legs to break tackles. Moreno has excellent instincts, and he holds onto the ball well. If Denver is to win, it needs to get the running game going.
Fletcher is the Redskins’ leading tackler, with 30 more tackles than the second-leading guy. He plays all-out every play, no matter what the score and no matter how much time is left. He came into the league as an undrafted free agent and has started 143 consecutive games. | |
New Orleans QB Drew Brees vs. St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo
From 1970 to 2000, these teams played twice a year as rivals in the NFC West. Both cities are located along the Mississippi River, so Saints fans can travel by boat to this game if they choose. The Saints are off to their best start ever at 8-0. The rebuilding Rams are coming off a bye and showing signs of improvement.
Since coming to New Orleans in 2006, Brees leads the NFL with 16,246 passing yards. The Saints lead the NFL in scoring with 303 points this year, 59 points more than the second-highest total. Brees is not real tall, but he makes up for that with his quick release and clear understanding of defenses. He spreads the ball around, which is one reason why his teammates love him. He’s been a winner everywhere he’s played.
Spagnuolo coached against Brees twice in 2006 when he was the Eagles’ defensive backs coach. Brees had four TD passes in those two games. Spagnuolo, who is his own defensive coordinator and calls the defensive plays, will blitz on a high percentage of plays. | |
Jacksonville WR Mike Sims-Walker vs. N.Y. Jets CB Darrelle Revis
Jacksonville leads this series, 5-2, including a 41-0 win in 2007. Both teams are 4-4, and a loss most likely eliminates either team from serious playoff contention. Both have good young players on the roster.
Sims-Walker is a player who people felt could be a big-time receiver when he came out of college. Injuries have hurt in previous years, but he is fulfilling that potential in 2009. He has good height, and ran a sub-4.4 40 at the combine at 210 pounds. He is able to get off press coverage, will catch the ball in traffic and has the ability to get open. He caught six passes for 147 yards and a touchdown last week.
Revis is an outstanding athlete coming off a Pro Bowl year and having another one. He is very strong and aggressive with very good jumping ability. Not many balls are thrown his way because he is playing so well and receivers have a hard time getting separation on him.
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Kansas City WR Dwayne Bowe vs. Oakland CB Chris Johnson
This is a one-time great rivalry between teams that have fallen on hard times. They met for the 102nd time in September, a game won by Oakland, 13-10. Look for the Raiders to run the ball a lot here and for Kansas City to pass. That said, don’t expect a lot of yards in this game. The Raiders have scored just 78 points all season -- 36 of which have come from kicker Sebastian Janikowski.
Bowe is a big target, who had 86 catches in 2008. He came to camp heavy this summer, and didn’t start playing well until recently. He had four receptions for 74 yards last week. The Chiefs will throw about 40 times in this game, so he should have a chance to do well.
Chris Johnson is tall and athletic, with speed and quickness. He’s been playing well this season, which is mandatory for the Raiders since opponents often throw his way because they don’t want to challenge Pro Bowl corner Nnamdi Asomugha on the other side. Johnson is tough and he makes plays. | |
Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck vs. Arizona CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
The Cardinals have a two-game lead in the NFC West but have lost three of four games at home this season. Seattle is 0-3 on the road this season. The Cardinals lead this series 11-9, after winning the last three at home in the series.
Hasselbeck has dealt with back and rib injuries this season, but he keeps on playing. He rallied the Seahawks from a 17-point deficit last week, completing a franchise-record 39 passes. Hasselbeck has been a good quarterback for a number of years, and he’s got better receivers than he had in the past. The problem is his offensive line is not very good, and he has trouble vs. the blitz. He is a rhythm passer, who does a good job at converting third downs. He’s got 10 TD passes and four interceptions.
Rodgers-Cromartie makes game-changing plays every week. He is very fast, with good closing speed. He’ll come up to support the run, and his long arms help him knock down a lot of passes. He is a future Pro Bowl player, maybe as soon as this year. | |
Philadelphia WR DeSean Jackson vs. San Diego CB Antonio Cromartie
This is a very important game for both teams, who are second place in their respective divisions. Starting this weekend, the Eagles play four of their next five on the road. They hope to have RB Brian Westbrook back this week, which will help the offense. These teams have played close games in the past, but the Eagles have lost four straight in San Diego.
Jackson is coming off a game in which he was held in check by directional punting in the return game and by lots of double coverage in the passing game. Expect more of the same, certainly with the punt returns. But Westbrook's potential return should help on offense and open things up for Jackson. He has great quickness and the speed to make big plays.
Cromartie is returning to his Pro Bowl form, especially now that Shawne Merriman is back healthy. Merriman’s pressure on the passer helps both San Diego corners. Cromartie is better in coverage than he was in 2008. He likes to get his hands on the receiver, but he has trouble with double moves. The Chargers are fifth in overall defense. | |
Dallas QB Tony Romo vs. Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers
The Cowboys hold a 12-10 lead in this series, but Dallas won in Green Bay for the first time last year, 27-16. Football was invented to be played on Sunday afternoon in Green Bay. The Packers need a win after losing at Tampa Bay last week. Dallas needs a win to stay on top in the NFC East.
Romo returns to his home state for the second straight year. He’s having a Pro Bowl-type season, with 13 TDs, seven interceptions and 2,215 yards. He doesn’t seem to be the risk-taker he was in previous years. Romo is an athletic player with good arm strength and accuracy. He has a quick release, and he seems more mature than in yaers past.
Rodgers was playing well until last week’s three interceptions vs. Tampa Bay. He has 16 TDs, five interceptions and 2,255 passing yards. The Packers’ offensive line is not playing well, causing him to take a lot of sacks. He is athletic, can run if necessary, and has a good strong arm with outstanding accuracy. He has completed 63.1 percent of his passes and has a 103.3 passer rating. | |
New England QB Tom Brady vs. Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning
Since 2000, the Colts have won 109 regular-season games and the Patriots have won 108 regular-season games. In what has been the rivalry of the decade, these teams have played 10 times with the Patriots winning six of the 10.
Brady has won 107 of the 136 games he’s started, and he is the only quarterback to start and win three Super Bowls before his 28th birthday. In 2007, he threw 50 TDs and only eight interceptions. He is tall and not real fast, but he feels pressure in the pocket and slides or steps up to avoid it, a lot like Dan Marino used to do. He is one of best ever at throwing the deep ball, and is outstanding throwing to his left. He is excellent vs. the blitz, and has very good accuracy and arm strength. Brady was not great earlier this season after coming back from a knee injury, but he seems to be back to normal. He has great rapport with his teammates, who play hard for him.
Everyone tries to find the best way to explain how good Manning is, and the numbers really do the best job of telling the story: With eight games remaining in this decade, he already has passed for 40,299 yards. By comparison, Marino passed for 33,508 yards in the ‘90s, which was the most in that decade. Manning has thrown 297 TD passes in this decade. Brett Favre had the most TD passes in the ‘90s with 235. I think these two stats answer the question. | |
Baltimore OT Michael Oher vs. Cleveland LB Kamerion Wimbley
Cleveland hosted the first-ever Monday Night Football game, on Sept. 21, 1970. Baltimore played in the second-ever Monday Night Football game the following week. This is the 22nd game between these AFC North rivals. The Ravens need to win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive, because they have a tough remaining schedule. The Browns give up a lot of yards, and they don’t score a lot.
Oher has started every game this season after being drafted in the first round. He started out at right tackle and has moved to left tackle following the injury to Jared Gaither. Oher has very long arms, very good feet and can slide to protect the edge. He sets quickly in pass protection. Oher was the subject of the best-selling book, "The Blind Side," and the movie version of that book premieres next week. Oher looks to be a future Pro Bowl player.
Wimbley, a first-round pick in 2006, has started all four years with the Browns. He has 25 sacks, five of which have come this season. If he is able to reach double digits this year, he would be the first player in Browns history to have two seasons with 10 or more sacks (he had 11 in 2006). He’s not real tall, but he has great first-step quickness and good pass-rush skills. | |
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