Tag: matchups

3 pivotal matchups that will decide Saints vs. Panthers

The Saints have their first divisional matchup. Brian Burns versus Trevor Penning highlights our matchups to watch in Week 2 | @southexclusives

The Saints prepare for their first divisional game of the season against the Carolina Panthers. New Orleans comes into the game undefeated, while Carolina is looking for their first win of the season. History suggests this will be a difficult game, regardless of the victor.

Both teams come into the season with new starting quarterbacks. Derek Carr is entering his second game as a Saint, and Bryce Young is entering his second game as a pro. This is a showdown we could see between divisional rivals for the next few years. These are the pivotal matchups that will decide this game:

Top matchups in Packers vs. Falcons in Week 2

The Week 2 showdown between the Packers and Falcons features fun matchups all over the field.

The Week 2 showdown between the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons offers an exciting matchup between two young teams with playoff aspirations in the NFC. The Falcons are led by Arthur Smith, who worked with Packers coach Matt LaFleur in Tennessee. Both teams have young starting quarterbacks, exciting skill position talent and the ability to win at the line of scrimmage and make plays in coverage.

Let’s take a quick look at some of the best individual matchups within Packers-Falcons on Sunday:

Packers DL Devonte Wyatt vs. Falcons RG Chris Lindstrom: Wyatt had six pressures and 1.5 sacks in the season opener, a potential jumping off performance to start his second year. Lindstrom was a second-team All-Pro at guard last season. A perfect test for the Packers’ 2022 first-round pick.

Packers QB Jordan Love vs. Falcons S Jessie Bates: Love didn’t have a turnover during his first start. Bates forced three takeaways, including two interceptions, during his Falcons debut. The turnover battle — and maybe the game — might be won and lost in this matchup.

Packers OLB Rashan Gary vs. Falcons RT Caleb McGary: 2019 first-round pick vs. 2019 first-round pick. Gary was dominant despite playing only 12 snaps in Chicago, while McGary had his hands full with Brian Burns in the opener. Desmond Ridder didn’t complete a pass under pressure in Week 1.

Packers C Josh Myers vs. Falcons DL Grady Jarrett: While flanked by Elgton Jenkins and Jon Runyan on the interior of the Packers offensive, Myers struggled in the season opener and now gets a matchup against one of the NFL’s top interior disruptors. The third-year center must be better in Week 2.

Packers DL Kenny Clark vs. Falcons LG Matthew Bergeron: The Falcons’ second-round pick didn’t allow a pressure in his NFL debut. Can he keep Clark out of the backfield on Sunday? Clark could be a menace against the run.

Packers CB Jaire Alexander vs. Falcons WR Drake London: Despite catching 72 passes as a rookie, London didn’t have a single catch over 47 snaps in Week 1. Will Alexander, who helped shut down D.J. Moore, keep London under wraps again?

Packers TE Luke Musgrave vs. Falcons LB Troy Andersen: Can Andersen, who gave up a couple of catches to Hayden Hurst in the opener, keep up with Musgrave’s speed? The Falcons linebacker has elite speed himself. In terms of overall athleticism, this is a terrific one-on-one matchup.

Packers LB Quay Walker vs. Falcons RB Bijan Robinson: It’s unclear Walker, who is in concussion protocol, will play. The Packers need his athleticism to chase Robinson all over the field, both in the run and passing games.

Packers LB De’Vondre Campbell vs. Falcons QB Desmond Ridder: Of Ridder’s 15 completions in Week 1, eight came behind the line of scrimmage, including five screens. Campbell (and possibly safety Darnell Savage, too) must go hunting against the short passing game.

3 key matchups that will decide Saints vs. Titans

For the Saints to defeat the Titans, they must stop Derrick Henry and Jeffery Simmons. Marshon Lattimore opens the season vs. DeAndre Hopkins | @southexclusives

The New Orleans Saints open the season versus the Tennessee Titans this Sunday in the Caesars Superdome. The matchup will feature the debut of Derek Carr and the anticipated return of Michael Thomas. These players should impact the game heavily, but neither are a part of the three most important matchups of the game.

The outcome of these matchups have the ability to decide the game. If the Saints win all of these battles, they will win the game.

Ranking every 2023 Saints game from easiest to toughest

Ranking every 2023 New Orleans Saints game from easiest to toughest. Which matchups look like the most challenging? via @DillySanders:

One of the biggest conversations surrounding the New Orleans Saints since the NFL schedules dropped for the 2023 season, is that the Saints have one of the easiest schedules on paper. With the state of the NFC South and some people having doubts about the NFC North.

With the weaker schedule, the Saints are not going to have much of a leash if they follow up last year with another disappointing showing. The addition of Derek Carr should also make things easier as well.

To have a better understanding of what to expect this year, we took a look at every game and ranked them from easiest to hardest:

Packers vs. Bears: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 13

The key matchups when the Packers face the Bears in Week 13.

The Green Bay Packers don’t need any extra motivation when it comes to facing the Chicago Bears. However, both teams have something meaningful to play for at 786 wins a piece. That means the winner of Sunday’s game will have the most regular season wins in NFL history.

Unfortunately, this is nothing more than a conciliation prize with the Packers and Bears both in the middle of underwhelming seasons. At the beginning of the year, Green Bay had expectations of making the postseason, but a Week 12 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles may have crushed any hope they had left. Meanwhile, Chicago has a far less talented roster and considered this a rebuilding year.

Regardless of records, there’s enough bad blood between these two teams for both to want to walk out of Sunday’s game with bragging rights. As always, here are four key matchups that will help decide the winner.

Packers vs. Eagles: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 12

Highlighting the four key matchups of the Packers’ Week 12 battle with the Eagles.

The Green Bay Packers desperately need a win this week to save their season. Unfortunately, that win will have to come against the Philadelphia Eagles, who own the NFL’s best record at 9-1.

The Eagles are one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL, including a top-five offense and the No. 2 overall defense. Meanwhile, the Packers have struggled on offense all season and have a defense performing well below expectations.

Sitting at 4-7, this week marks the start of the postseason for Green Bay, as another loss would essentially end their season. Coincidentally, when this team made its improbable run in 2016, it started with a win in Philadelphia.

If the Packers want to repeat history and pull off an upset in Week 12, it could come down to these four key matchups.

Packers vs. Titans: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 11

Highlighting the top matchups to watch when the Packers battle the Titans on Thursday night.

It’s a quick turnaround for the Green Bay Packers after snapping a five-game losing streak with a comeback win over the Dallas Cowboys in Week 10. This Thursday night, they will face another tough opponent in the Tennessee Titans, with one of the premier running backs in the league and a stout defense.

For the Packers to come out on top for a second straight week, it could come down to these four key matchups.

Packers vs. Cowboys: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 10

Four matchups to watch when the Packers take on the Cowboys in Week 10.

With five straight losses and a playoff berth slipping further out of reach, the Green Bay Packers (3-6) desperately need to pull off an upset over the Dallas Cowboys (6-2) on Sunday. A win would spoil Mike McCarthy’s homecoming and help revive a season currently on life support.

However, it won’t be easy against a challenging opponent in Dallas, touting an offense with a talented two-headed backfield and one of the best defenses in the NFL. Meanwhile, Green Bay can’t seem to get out of its own way to get back in the win column.

This meeting between two storied franchises could come down to multiple key matchups, so here are four to keep an eye on.

Packers vs. Lions: 4 key matchups to watch in Week 9

Highlighting the top matchups between the Packers and Lions in Week 9.

On the heels of four consecutive losses, the Green Bay Packers have one finger over the panic button. A loss this week to the Detroit Lions 1-6 would probably be the tipping point, as falling to 3-6 would make it very tough for the Packers to make the playoffs – cue the Jim Mora rant.

Green Bay isn’t focused on the postseason yet, but it’s tough to ignore the strain another loss would put on a wavering season. The Packers want to win one game, which Aaron Rodgers thinks could be enough to change the momentum and possibly alter the course of the season. He would know because it has happened before.

“Nobody feels sorry for us. We’ve got to find a way to get one win. I feel like if we can just get one, then the whole momentum changes,” Rodgers said after last Sunday’s 27-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

But the Lions aren’t going to lie down like tabby cats and let it happen. Detroit has actually played decent football in 2022, despite what the win-loss column says. They have lost four games by four or fewer points and would have a winning record if they knew how to finish their opponent.

Jared Goff and the offense are capable of putting up points. The Lions are 9th overall in points per game and may want to turn this week into a shootout against an indistinguishable Green Bay offense. Meanwhile, Rodgers and company have an opportunity to get back on track against a bottom-dwelling defense.

However, before we get too specific, let’s discuss four key matchups to look forward to in this meeting between two NFC North foes.