The further the season drags on, the more these individual matchups mean. That great performance in Week 2 will mean nothing if you let yourself down against that division rival in Week 13.
As the Thursday night football season begins, we take a look at this week's marquee matchups as the shard end of the NFL season draws ever nearer.
LAST WEEK
In our headline matchup from Baltimore last weekend, Jake Long and Terrell Suggs played out to a relative, positive stalemate as both players showed their class and fine form this season. Suggs registered five total pressures (a sack, two hits and two pressures). Though only one pressure came against Long himself and both had similar amounts of success against each other in the run game, both grading out around average.
In Cleveland, Peyton Hillis and his offensive line inflicted on the Patriots their worst game of the season in run defense, as both Jerod Mayo (-1.1) and Brandon Spikes (-0.7) graded negatively in that part of the game. Mayo also missed his first tackle of the season in this game, though he showed great hustle to even get in position to miss that tackle.
In Seattle, the Seahawks' front seven either didn't show up for the passing game, or as another way of looking at it, debutant left tackle Shawn Andrews rounded off an already excellent unit. The Seahawks' front seven accounted for only a solitary pressure (by Chris Clemons) in the Giants' 36 pass plays.
In a crucial matchup for momentum in Houston, Antonio Garay had a huge game against Chris Myers, maintaining his fine season for the Chargers against one of 2010's better centers. Garay registered a sack and four tackles in the run game, all of which were stops as he completely dominated the middle for the Chargers. The Texans ran six times off either middle-left or middle-right, and Garay allowed them to pick up only 2 yards (0.3 yards per carry) on those plays.
Before Wade Phillips was fired Monday, we had confirmation Sunday that things had truly hit rock bottom for the Cowboys in their encounter with Green Bay. No, I'm not just talking about the score — Jay Ratliff had a poor game, his first graded below -1.0 since the Wild-card matchup against the Eagles last season. Scott Wells was chiefly responsible with a strong all-around game (+2.1) and now finds himself as our ninth-ranked center this season.
THIS WEEK
The main event
Philadelphia LT Jason Peters vs. Washington ROLB Brian Orakpo
Are you ready for some football? The Eagles head to Washington on Monday night, Donovan McNabb goes for the regular season sweep over his former employers and Michael Vick looks to continue his MVP-caliber season. Let's be honest, though, the matchup we're all looking forward is Peters against Orakpo, right? Well, it may not steal the headlines with Vick and McNabb taking the limelight on ESPN, but with Peters returning so well from injury last week against Indianapolis (+2.6, perfect pass protection), Andy Reid will be optimistic that Orakpo will be kept quiet. That would allow Vick to continue to make plays from the pocket and find the Eagles' explosive receivers.
The undercard
Cleveland RB Peyton Hillis vs. New York Jets ILBs Bart Scott and David Harris
There are no off weeks in the NFL. Just a week after getting the better of Brandon Spikes, Jerod Mayo and the New England Patriots, Hillis faces an even tougher challenge this Sunday against the New York Jets' run defense. His offensive line has a challenging matchup against a big, physical defensive line featuring the likes of Sione Pouha, Mike Devito and Trevor Pryce. Then if and when Hillis gets to the other side, he'll have to beat Scott and Harris. Harris is a sure tackler at the second level but Scott will be the main danger. No other linebacker in the league plays downhill to the run like Scott, and if Hillis can match his physicality or use it against him, he could be in for another big game as he continues to make a name for himself. This matchup rests as much on Hillis' offensive line as it does Hillis himself.
Denver WR Brandon Lloyd vs. Kansas City CBs Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr
Lloyd”s everywhere you look in the passing game, and there's not a bad player in this matchup. The Chiefs will look to rebound from a game they threw away against the Raiders. Carr and Flowers graded negatively last week, as the Raiders' passing game came alive in the second half and particularly the fourth quarter. They won't find life much easier this Sunday against Lloyd, who is surely a leading candidate for comeback player of the year. Lloyd reignited his season against the 49ers in London two Sundays ago and though their playoff hopes lie in tatters right now, Lloyd and the Broncos would surely love nothing more than to further bring the Chiefs back into the pack in the AFC West.
Miami RT Vernon Carey vs. Tennessee DLE Jason Babin
You would surely have been committed if you'd suggested before this season that Babin would be seriously featured within any sort of marquee matchups column. Being drafted in the first round was the high point of Babin's career to date, as he never showed the sort of performances to justify his lofty draft selection. That was until this season, when Babin has been a revelation for the Titans, playing close to a Pro Bowl level — and consistently at that, never grading below zero for the season. Only the five penalties he has registered this season (in line with Chuck Cecil‘s physical defensive blueprint) have blotted his copybook. He will provide another stern test for Carey, who didn't fare well the last time we featured him (-2.5 grade against the Steelers in Week 7).
Chicago LT Frank Omiyale vs. Minnesota DRE Jared Allen
If Levi Brown was the tonic Allen needed to get his 2010 season on track, then Omiyale and the rest of the Bears' offensive line could be just what he needs to ensure that performance isn't just a one-time deal. Allen registered 13 totals pressures on Sunday against the Cardinals. Though Omiyale may not have given up that many in a single game this season, he's allowed six or more twice and has graded below average in pass protection four times. Omiyale struggles getting out to speed rushers and at times even ignores them altogether. If Allen can't maintain some good form against this offensive line then it may be time to question whether he needs to surrender more playing time to Brian Robison.
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