Chiefs-Ravens should be epic, Packers and Saints play critical NFC tilt
In Week 3 of the 2020 NFL season, Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes meet on Monday night, while the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints clash.
For all the stats you could ever want, check out Pro Football Reference.
Miami Dolphins at Jacksonville Jaguars
Best mismatch for Dolphins: Play keep-away. The Jaguars allow 77.1 percent of throws to be completed, only better than the Falcons. Ryan Fitzpatrick has to avoid turnovers and play smart.
Best mismatch for Jaguars: The money down. Jacksonville leads the NFL with a 62.5% conversion rate on third down. The Dolphins are 26th in defensive rate on third down (50.0%).
Stat to know: Miami allows an average of 12.7 passing yards per attempt, worst in football.
Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons
Best mismatch for Bears: Make a play. Atlanta ranks last in 355 yards after catch allowed, giving Allen Robinson and Co. a chance to break free.
Best mismatch for Falcons: Pass to move. The Falcons have the most passing first downs (38) in football. Chicago is a pedestrian 17th against in this department.
Stat to know: The Falcons have allowed touchdowns on 90 percent of red-zone trips, worst among all 32 teams.
Cincinnati Bengals at Philadelphia Eagles
Best mismatch for Bengals: Shorten the game. Cincinnati averages the longest drives per play in the NFL (7.7). To beat the Eagles, the Bengals must control the ball.
Best mismatch for Eagles: Make a special play. The Bengals are dead last in covering kickoff returns at 46 yards per attempt. Philadelphia will have opportunities to score or grab great field position.
Stat to know: The Eagles lead the league in giveaways with six, ending a league-worst 24 percent of their drives with one.
Houston Texans at Pittsburgh Steelers
Best mismatch for Texans: Find the deep ball. Houston needs to protect with seven and dial up some shots. Pittsburgh ranks fourth-worst with 392 air yards against in the passing game.
Best mismatch for Steelers: Here it comes. The Steelers lead the league in blitz percentage (61.7 ) while Houston has allowed the most sacks with eight.
Stat to know: Despite playing Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson, Houston has allowed the third-fewest passing yards (380) this season.
San Francisco 49ers at New York Giants
Best mismatch for 49ers: Passer beware. San Francisco is permitting 8.7 yards per completion, the lowest number in the sport. New York ranks 27th offensively with 10.2 YPC.
Best mismatch for Giants: Make a play. Special teams might be where the Giants win. New York is sixth in yards per kick return (28.0) while San Francisco ranks 24th against (29.5 yards)
Stat to know: New York is averaging 2.7 yards per carry, worst in football. Now, Saquon Barkley is out for the season.
Los Angeles Rams at Buffalo Bills
Best mismatch for Rams: Goff has comfort. The Bills struggle to generate pressure, ranking 24th in hurry rate at 6.6 percent. The Rams check in third in yards per pass attempt. at 9.3.
Best mismatch for Bills: Don’t run that in here. Buffalo is stout against on running plays, No. 9 in the NFL on yards per carry (4.1). Los Angeles has a banged-up Cam Akers and is average on there ground, at 4.4 YPC (14th-best).
Stat to know: Look for chunk plays. The Rams and Bills rank second and third respectively in yards per completion at 13.6 and 12.8.
Las Vegas Raiders at New England Patriots
Best mismatch for Raiders: Size matters. Las Vegas is huge up front with right tackle Trent Brown (380 lbs.), guard Richie Incognito (325 lbs.) and center Rodney Hudson (315 lbs.). They can move a smaller New England front and create lanes for Josh Jacobs.
Best mismatch for Patriots: Win on third. The Patriots have the fourth-best third-down conversion rate in football (54.5%) while Las Vegas is dead last defensively (58.3%).
Stat to know: The Raiders have scored on 66.7 percent of their drives this season, tops in the NFL.
Tennessee Titans at Minnesota Vikings
Best mismatch for Titans: Sustain the momentum. Minnesota allows 43.8 yards per drive, the fourth-worst figure in football. The Titans have the run and play-action game to exploit the weakness.
Best mismatch for Vikings: Ground and pound. Minnesota averages 5.4 YPC, fourth-best in football. Tennessee’s defense ranks 29th (5.1 YPA).
Stat to know: Kirk Cousins has had a league-worst 7.8 percent of his attempts intercepted.
Washington Football Team at Cleveland Browns
Best mismatch for Football Team: Harass Baker Mayfield. The Football Team has notched 11 sacks, most in the league. For an upset, they’ll need to get home.
Best mismatch for Browns: Stay on the ground. Cleveland averages 5.7 YPC, second-best in football. Washington checks in 17th against at 4.4 YPC. It also slows down the pass rush.
Stat to know: Washington is last in third-down conversation rate at 30.0 percent.
Carolina Panthers at Los Angeles Chargers
Best mismatch for Panthers: Return to sender. Carolina checks in seventh in yards per kick return (27.3) while Los Angeles is third-worst at 37.5 yards/return against.
Best mismatch for Chargers: Seeing red. Los Angeles is third-best defensively in the red zone (33.3%) while Carolina was 15th offensively (57.1%) before losing Christian McCaffrey.
Stat to know: The Panthers are the only team without a sack this year.
New York Jets at Indianapolis Colts
Best mismatch for Jets: Get pressure. The Jets knock down the quarterback on 15.1 percent of attempts against, the best figure in football.
Best mismatch for Colts: Thou shall not pass. The Colts rank first defensively in yards per play against (4.4) and net passing yards per attempts (4.6) The Jets check in 30th and 29th, respectively.
Stat to know: New York has missed 40 tackles, 11 more than anybody else in 2020.
Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks
Best mismatch for Cowboys: Go deep. Seattle has allowed a staggering 655 air yards against this year. The second-worst team, the Browns, have surrendered 441.
Best mismatch for Seahawks: Let Russ cook. Russell Wilson has thrown for 10.4 average net yards per attempt (ANYA), tops in the game. Dallas is 27th at 8.2 ANYA against.
Stat to know: The Seahawks are averaging 17.5 yards per punt return, best in the NFL. Dallas is yet to have any result but a fair catch or touchback against.
Detroit Lions at Arizona Cardinals
Best mismatch for Lions: Run it back. Detroit is tied for second with 16.0 yards per punt return. Arizona is average (16th), allowing 7.7 yards per punt. The Lions may need a big play or two in the kicking game to win.
Best mismatch for Cardinals: Run that rock. Arizona is eighth in yards per carry (5.0) while Detroit is dead last against, allowing 6.5 yards per attempt (0.9 worse than anybody else).
Stat to know: Arizona is tied with Pittsburgh for the best red-zone defense in football (28.6%).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Denver Broncos
Best mismatch for Buccaneers: Don’t run from us. The Buccaneers are tied with Pittsburgh for the best run defense, allowing 2.9 yards per carry. That’s tough news for the Jeff Driskel-led Broncos.
Best mismatch for Broncos: Get off the field. Tampa Bay is 28th in average drive duration (2:15) and 27th in yards/drive (26.9). The Broncos have a chance for quick 3-and-outs.
Stat to know: The Broncos have scored on only 25 percent of their drives, the lowest figure in the league.
Green Bay Packers at New Orleans Saints
Best mismatch for Packers: The Packers are averaging 7.1 yards per play through two weeks, the highest mark in the NFL.
Best mismatch for Saints: Go up top. Green Bay is surrendering 12.9 yards per completion, ranking 29th. New Orleans, especially if Michael Thomas plays, can take advantage.
Stat to know: Green Bay and New Orleans are the only teams to allow less than two sacks this year.
Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens
Best mismatch for Chiefs: Time for Patrick Mahomes. The Ravens rank 20th in pressure rate (19.5%) despite blitzing third-most (47.1%). Kansas City is third in sack rate against (2.5%).
Best mismatch for Ravens: Elusive speed. The Ravens have Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins against a Chiefs’ defense which has missed 29 tackles, second-worst in football.
Stat to know: Kansas City has the NFL’s second-best pressure rate at 37.2 percent. The Ravens have allowed a league-worst 10.7 sack percentage on dropbacks.