Seven for Sunday: Can Patriots slow down Andrew Luck?
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots defense will be focused on trying to contain Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck on Sunday.
The third-year quarterback has a knack for extending the play and New England's ability to limit those chances will be critical.
"We have to make sure we keep him in the pocket," Patriots cornerback Darrelle Revis said. "He does a great job of stepping up in the pocket. He's athletic. People don't recognize he's extending plays and now as a secondary we have to plaster on our man on longer downs.''
The Luck Effect has enabled the Colts (6-3) to average a league-best 32.2 points per game.
"I think they've thrown for more yards at this point in the year than any other team in history, so I guess that speaks to what they're doing offensively," Patriots quarterback Tom Brady said. "It's a big challenge for our defense. We're going to have to score a lot. When you play another great offense, you're going to have to put up a lot of points."
Here are the most compelling seven matchups Sunday beginning with Patriots at Colts.
Patriots pass coverage vs. Andrew Luck
The skinny: Luck isn't looking to take off and bolt the pocket at the first chance. But he's bigger, 6-5, 250 and faster than most linebackers. And he's got an innate feel for sensing pressure and when to scoot left or right to set up downfield shots. The Patriots' best pass rusher, Chandler Jones remains sidelined with a hip injury.
Why it matters: The Patriots are trying to stay atop the AFC in the race to secure home-field advantage, knowing New England has won 34 straight regular season games at Gillette Stadium over AFC opponents.
Who has the edge: Bill Belichick's defense. Coming off the bye, Belichick's teams are always well prepared. Luck is 0-2 with four touchdowns and seven interceptions against the Patriots, who have confused him by disguising coverage looks. The key player this time might be linebacker Jamie Collins, likely to play a pseudo spy role to make sure Luck doesn't hurt the Patriots with his scrambling. Revis is likely to draw speed receiver T.Y. Hilton, who is a big play waiting to happen. Cornerback Brandon Browner is a 6-4, 221 chess piece capable of lining up against receiver Reggie Wayne or covering tight ends Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton vs. Detroit Lions front seven
The skinny: Detroit's defense is the backbone for coach Jim Caldwell's 7-2 team. The Lions are allowing a league-best 15.8 points per game. With Carson Palmer's season ending knee injury last Sunday, the 8-1 Cardinals are Stanton's team now.
Why it matters: This effectively is a November playoff game for the NFC's top seed. The Cardinals have prided themselves all season on their resilience. Now they must prove they can sustain it when it really counts.
Who has the edge: Ndamukong Suh and his Lions wrecking crew. The pocket-destroying defensive tackle owns 4 ½ sacks, one less than defensive end Ziggy Ansah's team best 5 ½. The Cardinals need to run the ball effectively to better protect Stanton, 2-1 as a starter this season. Cardinals coach Bruce Arians loves to throw the ball down the field. But the Lions defense won't give Stanton that time. This game will come down to Stanton versus Matthew Stafford, who has a now-healthy Calvin Johnson at his disposal teaming with leading receiver Golden Tate, who has been one of this offseason's best signings with 66 receptions and three touchdowns.
Houston Texans quarterback Ryan Mallett vs. Cleveland Browns quarterback Brian Hoyer
The skinny: This is the latest the 6-3 Cleveland Browns have been in first place since 1994. That's a mind-boggling statistic, but it shows the magnitude of the coaching job Browns coach Mike Pettine has done. Both players are former backups to Brady. Mallett is making his starting debut as coach Bill O'Brien benched turnover-prone Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Why it matters: The Browns are in first place in the tightly-packed AFC North and look to show they're for real. O'Brien's 4-5 team has been in every game, but this is Mallett's audition to show he has what it takes to be a regular starter.
Who has the edge: Hoyer. Mallett in his starting debut has big-play weapons in Andre Johnson and DeAndre Hopkins. But he figures to be missing Texans centerpiece running back Arian Foster, who has been hobbled by a groin injury. Hoyer hasn't been statistically flashy with his middle-of-the-pack 10 touchdowns and four interceptions. But he's been everything Pettine and offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan want in their quarterback – moving the chains and when needed, striking for big plays off play action set up by Cleveland's three-headed running back committee of rookie Terrance West, Ben Tate and undrafted rookie Isaiah Crowell.
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mark Sanchez vs. the Green Bay Packers secondary
The skinny: The former beaten-down New York Jets starter looked rejuvenated in Monday night's beat down of the Carolina Panthers, making the most of his second chance. Now let's see what he can do against a more talented, ball-hawking Packers secondary.
Why it matters: With Nick Foles recovering from a fractured collarbone, Chip Kelly's 7-2 Eagles go as far as Sanchez takes them. The 6-3 Packers are a different team at home, where they have won all four games this season.
Who has the edge: Packers secondary. Start with cornerback Casey Hayward, who leads the ball-hawking Pack with three interceptions. Green Bay's dozen interceptions is tied for third in the league. The key matchup will be Hayward or Davon House against 6-3 rookie receiver Jordan Matthews out of the slot. Sanchez is a 55.1% career passer and he will be tested against his former University of Southern California teammate, Packers middle linebacker Clay Matthews.
New Orleans Saints running back Mark Ingram vs. Cincinnati Bengals run defense
The skinny: Ingram is running angry in his contract year. And that's a good thing with Pierre Thomas and third-stringer Khiry Robinson banged up. The 5-3-1 Bengals are reeling following a 24-3 Week 10 loss to the Browns.
Why it matters: The 4-5 Saints haven't re-discovered their mojo for winning close games. And they appear salty coming off a 27-24 overtime home loss against the San Francisco 49ers. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton has been a target for criticism with eight touchdown, nine interceptions.
Who has the edge: Ingram. The fourth-year back is playing the best football of his career, coming off three straight 100-yard rushing performances. The Saints need to better balance their offense with Drew Brees averaging 41.8 passes per game. Brees's 10 interceptions are tied for second most in the league. A once stout Bengals defense ranks 31st against the run.
Seattle Seahawks running game vs. Kansas City's rush defense
The skinny: This is a strength vs. strength meeting of Seattle's top-ranked rushing attack matched against Kansas City's run game.
Why it matters: Andy Reid's 6-3 Chiefs keep finding ways to win with quarterback Alex Smith protecting the football from harm's way. The Seahawks just lost their best run stuffer, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane to a season-ending hamstring injury.
Who has the edge: The Seahawks. Marshawn Lynch has been in "Beast Mode" with 689 yards and nine touchdowns. And Wilson has been a complementary tag-team partner. If the Chiefs have a weakness, it is at the heart of their defense where they still miss linebacker Derrick Johnson, lost to a season-ending Achilles' injury.
San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore vs. the New York Giants defense
The skinny: The 3-6 Giants have lost four straight, including last week's 38-17 trampling by the Seahawks, who churned out 350 rushing yards.
Why it matters: The Giants are fighting to keep ceoach Tom Coughlin's job. The 5-4 Niners are trying to ride the momentum of last week's huge overtime win on the road against the Saints.
Who has the edge: Gore. Coach Jim Harbaugh has re-established his team's power running identity riding pulling guard Alex Boone and left tackle Joe Staley to punch open holes. The wounded Giants don't have injured middle linebacker Jon Beason. And the return of suspended pass-rushing linebacker Aldon Smith should provide a confidence boost for the surging 49ers despite losing linebacker Patrick Willis to a season-ending wrist injury.