NFL games are not just matchups of two complete teams. They are also a series of individual one-on-one matchups that can ultimately help decide the outcome.
Every Friday, we are going to take a look at three potentially significant individual matchups that will be taking place in Sunday’s and Monday’s games.
Here are the matchups we are looking at for the Week 8 games.
There are several layers to this matchup, ranging from the fact they are both All-Pro-level players at their respective positions, to the fact both players were involved in blockbuster trades this week to land on contenders.
They are also both ideal fits for what each of their new teams needed.
Simmons is a disruptive force in the middle of the defensive line and is going to have an opportunity to play with some of the best talent he’s had around him in the NFL. Nelson is a mauling guard who is going to help open up rush lanes for the Seahawks running game.
The Seahawks are the reigning Super Bowl champions.
The Bears are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
It is a possible NFC championship preview made even better by the new faces who are there to help put their teams over the top.
The Steelers-Browns rivalry is back in ways we have not seen in years.
Both teams are 5-2 and playing for the top spot in the AFC North, while there appears to be some real, genuine dislike between the two teams. Browns edge-rusher Jared Verse has been getting that rolling with some bold trash talk ahead of the game, and he is writing some big checks that he is going to have to prove he can cash.
While the Browns won the first meeting in Cleveland (as they have done for a few years now against Pittsburgh), Verse made minimal impact and does not yet have a sack this season. Iheanachor, the Steelers first-round pick, has been rapidly improving since taking over the starting job at right tackle and is going to be given the primary task of going up against Verse.
It should be a fascinating matchup to watch.
The Ravens are expected to get quarterback Lamar Jackson back, but that is not going to be cure all their problems. They need more from their offensive line. Running back Derrick Henry is averaging less than four yards per carry. The defense cannot hold on to leads.
Speaking of the defense, the Ravens are still waiting for prized free-agent addition Trey Hendrickson to make a big impact. He has just two sacks in five games (a pace for around 6.5 sacks over a 17-game season) and has not really been the disruptive force he was at his peak with the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Ravens have lost two games in a row, are 4-3 and facing a two-game stretch against AFC contenders Buffalo and the Jacksonville Jaguars. They need to win these games, and they need more from Hendrickson if they are going to do it.
