Five matchups that will define NFL Week 10: Can Seahawks throw off Tom Brady?
The Seattle Seahawks will get their long-awaited chance for Super Bowl XLIX redemption Sunday against the New England Patriots, but the challenge looks even more imposing this time around.
Tom Brady has been nearly flawless in guiding an offense scoring 34 points a game since his return. In four games this season, Brady has completed 73.1% of his passes with 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. And he is second only to Russell Wilson with a 57.1% completion mark on throws more than 20 yards downfield.
But even with their offense consistently finding big plays, the Patriots might revert to a more methodical approach on Sunday. The Seahawks' defense is predicated on forcing teams to string together long drives, and teams have been doing just that in the last few games.
Seattle's defense has allowed scores on 10 of opponents' past 16 possessions. In its past two games, the group has allowed conversions on 65.6% of third-down opportunities. Adding to the troubles was the Bills' 40:17 time of possession last week.
And perhaps no offense is more patient and meticulous in its death-by-a-thousand-paper-cuts approach than Brady and New England.
Even with quick passes limiting the defensive line's impact, Seattle still needs its front to be disruptive. Defensive end Michael Bennett's absence could loom large, but Cliff Avril, who missed Super Bowl XLIX with a concussion, is having a career year with nine sacks.
Julian Edelman and Martellus Bennett provide reliable threats for Brady to keep the chains moving, and how the team fares in picking up yards after catch could set the game's tone. But Rob Gronkowski, who has 474 yards and three touchdowns the four games Brady has played, remains the most significant threat. Kam Chancellor's return should boost the Seahawks' secondary, but a group effort required for Gronk reveals the pick-your-poision nature of the Patriots' attack.
Here are four other matchups that will define Week 10 in the NFL:
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott vs. Steelers' front seven
For all of the talk about Dak Prescott and Tony Romo, this is the kind of game that solidifies Elliott as the offense's centerpiece. Facing another potentially dangerous offense on the road, the Cowboys have little reason to turn away from their star running back until forced to do so. For Pittsburgh, the game plan is to do just that.
Elliott has showed few signs of slowing down despite carrying a workhorse role. Reprising that role could prove crucial not only in limiting the
Pittsburgh, which saw its defense decimated by Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi's 204-yard outing four weeks ago, has already emphasized the need for a swarming effort against Elliott. Recently recovered defensive end Cam Heyward and linebacker Ryan Shazier, who might be the best sideline-to-sideline bet for corralling Elliott, could lead the way.
Broncos LB Von Miller vs. Saints OT Zach Strief
With Trevor Siemian and the Denver offense struggling, Miller's weekly impact is becoming all the more vital for the Broncos. In a showdown of the league's top-ranked passing offense against its best passing defense, the front-runner for defensive player of the year will be called on to generate consistent pressure on Drew Brees.
The Broncos gave up a season-high 30 points in last week's loss to the Raiders, though a bulk of the damage was done in the run game. Cornerback Aqib Talib and defensive end Derek Wolfe have been ruled out for the game, thinning Denver's margin of error.
Strief has been a key figure on the Saints' improved offensive line, with Brees being sacked on just 3.34% of his dropbacks (fourth-best in the league). The 38-year-old quarterback also has proven difficult to rattle, as he is completing nearly 70% of his passes with just six turnovers.
Eagles DE Brandon Graham, DT Fletcher Cox vs. Falcons' offensive line
Philadelphia's secondary allowed four touchdowns to Giants wide receivers last week, so Julio Jones and the Falcons' offense might be the least desirable matchup possible for this group. Yet the Eagles can't afford to continue to cede ground in a hotly contested NFC East.
Jones is too much to handle for Eagles cornerbacks Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll, who have both been hampered by hamstring injuries. Philadelphia will need a repeat of its Week 3 win against the Steelers, in which a dominant effort by the defensive line helped prevent any backbreaking plays by Antonio Brown. Graham has been a reliable and well-rounded standout this season, but Cox has to recapture his early-season form.
Atlanta, however, has proved it can prevail when Jones' production is limited, as it has won all three of its games in which he had three or fewer receptions. If the Falcons' front gives Matt Ryan time, the Eagles will have a hard time keeping up with almost any of his potential targets.
Bengals WR A.J. Green vs. Giants CB Janoris Jenkins
There's little mystery to Cincinnati's passing attack, as Green has been targeted on 30.6% of all Andy Dalton's passes. Coming off an idle week, the Bengals' star should be ready to resume the same workload.
Green leads the NFL with 59 receptions and can break the 1,000-yard barrier with 104 yards on Monday night. Cincinnati might need to ramp up its reliance on Green given the pace likely to be set by Odell Beckham Jr. and the pass-happy Giants.
Jenkins has shown improved restraint after signing with New York this offseason and is frequently being tasked with facing the opposing No. 1 receiver. Green had six catches for 61 yards and two touchdowns on Jenkins last year when the cornerback was with the Rams, but the old SEC rivals are both ready for a rematch.
Follow Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz on Twitter @MikeMSchwartz.