Oakland Raiders at Tennessee Titans (-6, 40.5)
Oakland rush defense vs. Chris Johnson
There were as many holes in the Raiders rush defense last season as you might find in a red-light district brothel. The unit ranked 29th in the NFL in 2009, yielded an average of 155.5 yards per game and gave up a league-high 24 touchdowns.
And if the preseason is any indicator, Oakland is going to struggle stopping the run again in 2010. The team surrendered an average of 4.9 yards per carry and 120.5 ypg in four exhibition outings.
Chris Johnson led the league in rushing last year, eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark, and says that 2,500 is his goal this season. He may knock off 200 from that total Sunday.
Adrian Peterson said on Wednesday that he was the best running back in the league claiming that the Titans speedster wasn’t “faster, stronger, anything” than he was…as if Johnson needed any extra motivation.
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (-6.5, 44)
Detroit D-line vs. Chicago O-line
This mismatch is a little more predicated on things to come rather than what we’ve seen in the past.
He doesn’t have as much pressure on his shoulders as Sam Bradford, but the world is expected of Ndamukong Suh in the Motor City. Suh may not ever put up lofty sack totals but there won’t be much running room between him and Corey Williams in the middle of Detroit’s defensive line.
Add Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril to the mix and Jay Cutler could be scrambling around before he gets through all of this reads in Mike Martz’s complex offensive system Sunday. The Bears endured major protection problems throughout the preseason (19 sacks) and offensive line coach Mike Tice admitted Thursday that his unit is still “a work in progress.”
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants (-6.5, 41)
Carolina rush offense vs. New York rush defense
In a 41-9 trouncing over the Giants during Week 16 last year, Carolina rolled up 206 rushing yards on 28 carries—and that was just Jonathan Stewart’s stat line. The Panthers might have set a single-game rushing record had DeAngelo Williams also been in the lineup.
Sunday, the two-headed monster in Carolina’s backfield will be in full strength and that could spell trouble for New York. The G-Men allowed the third-most rushing touchdowns last season (21) while giving up more than 110 yards per game on the ground. The linebacking corps was a major problem and not much was done to remedy that problem during the offseason.
Carolina offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson was asked if the team would throw the ball more this season to which he flatly replied, “No.” The Panthers ranked No. 3 in the NFL last year with an average of 156.1 rushing yards per contest.
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3, 37)
Cleveland pass offense vs. Tampa Bay pass defense
Maybe the Bucs boasted a Top 10 pass defense last year only because it was so easy to run against them. Regardless, the ageless Ronde Barber and Co. accounted for 19 interceptions last season and held opposing offenses to an average of 207.4 yards through the air.
There is a new sheriff in town with Jake Delhomme at the helm in Cleveland so last year’s stats could be thrown out the window, but this was the worst passing team in the NFL in 2009. The Browns posted fewer than 130 passing yards a game with just 11 touchdowns.
Oakland rush defense vs. Chris Johnson
There were as many holes in the Raiders rush defense last season as you might find in a red-light district brothel. The unit ranked 29th in the NFL in 2009, yielded an average of 155.5 yards per game and gave up a league-high 24 touchdowns.
And if the preseason is any indicator, Oakland is going to struggle stopping the run again in 2010. The team surrendered an average of 4.9 yards per carry and 120.5 ypg in four exhibition outings.
Chris Johnson led the league in rushing last year, eclipsing the 2,000-yard mark, and says that 2,500 is his goal this season. He may knock off 200 from that total Sunday.
Adrian Peterson said on Wednesday that he was the best running back in the league claiming that the Titans speedster wasn’t “faster, stronger, anything” than he was…as if Johnson needed any extra motivation.
Detroit Lions at Chicago Bears (-6.5, 44)
Detroit D-line vs. Chicago O-line
This mismatch is a little more predicated on things to come rather than what we’ve seen in the past.
He doesn’t have as much pressure on his shoulders as Sam Bradford, but the world is expected of Ndamukong Suh in the Motor City. Suh may not ever put up lofty sack totals but there won’t be much running room between him and Corey Williams in the middle of Detroit’s defensive line.
Add Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril to the mix and Jay Cutler could be scrambling around before he gets through all of this reads in Mike Martz’s complex offensive system Sunday. The Bears endured major protection problems throughout the preseason (19 sacks) and offensive line coach Mike Tice admitted Thursday that his unit is still “a work in progress.”
Carolina Panthers at New York Giants (-6.5, 41)
Carolina rush offense vs. New York rush defense
In a 41-9 trouncing over the Giants during Week 16 last year, Carolina rolled up 206 rushing yards on 28 carries—and that was just Jonathan Stewart’s stat line. The Panthers might have set a single-game rushing record had DeAngelo Williams also been in the lineup.
Sunday, the two-headed monster in Carolina’s backfield will be in full strength and that could spell trouble for New York. The G-Men allowed the third-most rushing touchdowns last season (21) while giving up more than 110 yards per game on the ground. The linebacking corps was a major problem and not much was done to remedy that problem during the offseason.
Carolina offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson was asked if the team would throw the ball more this season to which he flatly replied, “No.” The Panthers ranked No. 3 in the NFL last year with an average of 156.1 rushing yards per contest.
Cleveland Browns at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-3, 37)
Cleveland pass offense vs. Tampa Bay pass defense
Maybe the Bucs boasted a Top 10 pass defense last year only because it was so easy to run against them. Regardless, the ageless Ronde Barber and Co. accounted for 19 interceptions last season and held opposing offenses to an average of 207.4 yards through the air.
There is a new sheriff in town with Jake Delhomme at the helm in Cleveland so last year’s stats could be thrown out the window, but this was the worst passing team in the NFL in 2009. The Browns posted fewer than 130 passing yards a game with just 11 touchdowns.
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