All three contenders in the NFL’s best division have difficult matchups Sunday, two of them facing off when top dogs Carolina and New Orleans go at it in the Big Easy. Atlanta, meanwhile, hosts NFC North leader Minnesota.
The Panthers and Saints are 8-3, and New Orleans has a win in Charlotte. So a season’s sweep by Drew Brees and company would make for a tidy tiebreaker.
Article continues below ... ”The fact is we play in a really tough division and there are a lot tough teams sitting at the top fighting for that spot, and we are all within a game of each other,” Brees says. ”This is a tough stretch, the toughest stretch as we could possibly have, but it is good for us. We need this. Hopefully it brings out our best football.”
Maybe a comforting thought for the three teams involved is they all could be playing in January.
”It’s really crazy. You look at the NFC South, and there’s a chance that three teams actually make the playoffs Bengals Logan Woodside Jersey , which is absolutely crazy to me,” Panthers veteran linebacker Thomas Davis says. ”I think it’s just the NFC South and the way we’ve been playing this year.”
At 7-4, the Falcons trail by a game in the NFL’s toughest division. They go outside of it Sunday, but hardly get a relief: Minnesota (9-2) can beat you every which way and has won seven in a row.
The matchup of the Vikings’ powerful defense and the Falcons’ revitalized offense is a spicy one. Nowhere is that more true than Atlanta’s brilliant receiver Julio Jones against Minnesota’s shutdown cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
”Don’t believe in the hype, don’t be afraid of the name, just believe in the game,” Rhodes says. ”I know he’s one of the best receivers in the league, and I’ve just got to go out and play with the mindset of having confidence going against him.”
The week’s action began Thursday night with Dallas’ 38-14 home victory over Washington.
Dak Prescott threw two touchdown passes, including a franchise record-breaker to Dez Bryant, and Dallas (66) finally won without suspended star running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Prescot shook off a hand injury and found Bryant on a 13-yard leaping grab in the end zone for the 2014 All-Pro’s first score in six games and 72nd of his career Bengals Mark Walton Jersey , one more than Hall of Famer Bob Hayes. Washington dropped to 5-7.
Philadelphia (10-1) at Seattle (7-4)
With the Eagles soaring toward the postseason behind the sensational work of second-year quarterback Carson Wentz and a dynamic defense that no one can run on, much attention will be centered on the hosts.
The Seahawks uncharacteristically need to win with offense as the Legion of Boom has been ravaged by injuries and penalties keep mounting.
Yet they can win that way thanks to Russell Wilson, who deserves consideration in the MVP race, and re-emerging tight end Jimmy Graham.
”I have to find ways to get him the football. It’s not just him, it’s everybody, but I think that he really stands out. He can do some special things,” Wilson says.
Philly has won nine in a row, four straight by at least 20 points. Only the 1999 St. Louis Rams did it five times. They won the Super Bowl.
Los Angeles Rams (8-3) at Arizona (5-6)
A nice bounce back by the Rams with a 26-20 win over New Orleans that followed a loss at Minnesota. This one can be tricky – witness what the undermanned Cardinals did to Jacksonville last Sunday.
These teams went at it in London in October, a 33-0 Rams win that was Arizona’s worst performance and cost it QB Carson Palmer (broken left arm). Los Angeles has displayed balance on both sides of the ball and was especially hard on Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 21 yards on 11 carries in London.
Pittsburgh (9-2) at Cincinnati (5-6), Monday night
The Bengals haven’t been bungling much lately, but this isn’t a matchup in their favor. Pittsburgh’s all-time edge in this series is 61-35, including two playoff wins at Paul Brown Stadium. The Steelers have won five straight and eight of nine in the rivalry. They also are 6-3 on Monday night vs. Cincinnati and have won 10 straight prime-time games. Pittsburgh is 11-2 on Monday nights under Mike Tomlin, including 6-2 on the road.
The Bengals are 11-23 on Monday nights, dropping its past three. During their loss in Pittsburgh on Oct. 22, the Bengals managed only one first down and 19 total yards in the second half.
New England (9-2) at Buffalo (6-5)
Shield your eyes, Bills fans, as we convey the numbers in this lopsided series. Under Bill Belichick:
– The Patriots are 29-5 overall vs. Buffalo;
– New England is 17-2 in games played after Halloween against the Bills;
– Tom Brady is 26-2 vs. Buffalo in games he plays more than one half;
– With a 15-2 record at Buffalo since 2000, Belichick has more wins at Orchard Park Bengals Sam Hubbard Jersey , New York, than any Bills coach since Wade Phillips went 17-7 from 1998-2000.
And, Brady’s 26 wins against Buffalo are tied with Brett Favre for most by a quarterback against one opponent in NFL history. Favre had 26 wins against Detroit.
OK, Bills fans, you can look now.
Detroit (6-5) at Baltimore (6-5)
A pair of wild-card chasers looking up at strong division leaders.
Detroit blew its chance to really tighten the NFC North by losing at home on Thanksgiving Day to Minnesota. Now, the Lions must concentrate on getting a wild-card invitation.
Hilfe Engel - Forum
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17.05.2018 10:21
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