Where to find the edge in Sunday's games
Covers.com
The following is a selection of Sunday games where mismatches in key positions could have a major effect on the outcome.
Bills running back Marshawn Lynch vs. Dolphins’ rush defense
Bills running back Marshawn Lynch should return from injury this week, just in time to terrorize a struggling Dolphins rush defense.
Lynch has missed the past three games with a high ankle sprain, but the latest word out of the Bills’ camp is that he is likely to play Sunday. The rookie was tearing it up before the injury, running for 751 yards and six TDs in just nine games. He ranks 15th in the league in rushing and is averaging 3.83 yards per carry.
The Dolphins, meanwhile, are still on course for a winless season and their rush defense is partially to blame. It ranks bottom of the NFL in yards conceded per game (149.7) and last week allowed the New York Jets to run for 163 yards and three rushing TDs.
Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe vs. Bengals quarterback Carlson Palmer
When it comes to interceptions, there is no hotter player in the league right now than St. Louis safety Oshiomogho Atogwe.
The third-year pro has managed to pick off opposing quarterbacks in four straight games, and ranks fourth in the NFL with five interceptions for the season. He has returned those picks for a total 81 yards and has already topped his previous high of three interceptions – set last season.
Atogwe has a chance to keep his streak alive when he faces Bengals quarterback Carlson Palmer this week. Palmer has thrown 15 interceptions in 12 starts, including a season-high four against the Cardinals on Nov. 18.
Cowboys receiver Terrell Owens vs. Lions’ secondary
Few teams can contain Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens, but when he lines up against Detroit’s secondary this week it will be a particularly lopsided mismatch.
Owens is the NFL’s top receiver with 1,249 yards and an average 17.59 yards per carry. He has scored at least one touchdown in seven straight games to total 14 for the season and has broken the 100-yard mark in five of his last six games.
Detroit’s secondary made a decent start to the season, but has gotten progressively worse. In the past four games – all losses – it has allowed opposing quarterbacks to throw for 10 touchdowns. It looked particularly lightweight in last week’s 42-10 loss to the Minnesota Vikings – a team not renowned for its passing game.
Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kearney vs. Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner
At 36 years old, veteran Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner must dread getting hit. With Seahawks defensive end Patrick Kearney in the best form of his career, Warner will be lucky to escape Sunday’s game against Seattle unscathed.
Kearney has recorded seven sacks in his last four games, including three-sack performances in wins over Chicago and St. Louis. He ranks fourth in the NFL with a total of 10.5 sacks. He also has an interception and three forced fumbles this season.
Patchy pass protection has contributed to Warner being sacked 10 times in six games since he took sole control of the starter’s job in October.
Browns’ red zone offense vs. Jets’ red zone defense
The Browns have managed a touchdown on almost 60 percent of their red zone appearances. That’s the fourth best record in the league and could signal problems for a Jets defense that is less than convincing inside its own 20.
Cleveland has reached its opponents’ red zone on 44 occasions this season, converting 24 of those opportunities into touchdowns. The Browns’ red zone success is largely due to quarterback Derek Anderson, who is fourth in the league in TD passes (24) and 10th in passer rating (87.7).
The Jets are giving up a touchdown more than 55 percent of the times opponents break into their red zone. They have allowed 15 TDs on 34 such occasions, a symptom of larger defensive problems this season.
Chargers’ turnovers gained vs. Titans’ turnovers lost
Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young has thrown eight interceptions in the past five games to exacerbate his team’s turnover problems. Things are unlikely to improve against a stingy San Diego defense.
The Titans have turned over the ball on 28 occasions this season, a record that ties them with two other teams for the third-worst record in the league. That giveaways break down evenly between interceptions and fumbles.
The Chargers are the best team in the league at forcing opponents into mistakes. They have turned over the ball in their favor 33 times in 11 games this season, including a league-high 20 interceptions. In last season’s game against Tennessee, the Chargers forced Young to throw two picks in a 40-7 San Diego win.