8. Washington vs. 9. New York Giants
How Washington can win: The Giants think they can give RB Jim Brown the ball all day, and that’s a good plan until you realize that both LB Lawrence Taylor and DE Bruce Smith are on the other side of the line of scrimmage, not to mention S Kam Chancellor and S Darren Sharper, who can stack the box and neutralize the run. On offense, you put QB Michael Vick in today’s NFL game and let him go to work with WR Plaxico Burress and TE Vernon Davis. Washington’s skill players may struggle a bit in the running game, but we expect a defensive matchup that can be won by the burgundy and gold. — Zachary Neel, Washington Wire
How New York can win: It’s real simple — New York will hand the ball to RB Jim Brown from sun up until sun down and run him behind an offensive line that features Hall of Famers in OT Lou Creekmur, OG Danny Fortmann and C Jim Ringo. That will help neutralize the threat from Washington’s dominant team of pass-rushers, led by LB Lawrence Taylor, and potentially open up things down the field for WR Drew Pearson off the play-action. Meanwhile, a stout front seven led by DE Andy Robustelli should be able to slow Washington’s trio of running backs, while LB Andre Tippett could be used to spy QB Michael Vick, forcing him to throw and making his offense one-dimensional. — Dan Benton, Giants Wire
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Other matchups:
Hou vs Den / LAC vs Buf / Jax vs KC / Cin vs Ten / Pit vs Bal / Cle vs Ind / NYJ vs LV / Mia vs NE // Dal vs Min / Atl vs TB / SF vs Sea / Car vs Ari / LAR vs GB / Phi vs Det / NO vs Chi