Updated Dec 6, 2002 4:39 PM ET
San Francisco at Dallas, 1 p.m. ET
Matchup to watch: San Francisco secondary vs.
The have been winning, but their pass defense has been a major concern over the past few weeks. It's definitely made it more difficult for them to seek home-field advantage in the playoffs. Rookie has struggled like most rookie corners, and the Niners are really depleted by injuries inside.
Meanwhile, this could be an intriguing opportunity for the . They feel confident about some favorable matchups they see with . Galloway has the speed and explosiveness to make happen downfield. has shown progress in recent weeks and has the arm to push the ball downfield to Galloway. And the also gave and . Both have the ability to do damage. It's going to be imperative for ' defensive coordinator Jim Mora, Jr. to come up with various looks that could confuse Hutchinson. If he can't, the could be in for a tough day.
St. Louis at Kansas City, 1 p.m. ET
Matchup to watch: St. Louis pass protection vs. Kansas City pass rush
The have the weapons to create a lot of matchup problems against Kansas City's shoddy defense. But that advantage could be negated by the ' problems at offensive line and at quarterback with . The have only 23 sacks heading into the matchup, and they need much more production from guys like . Clemons is a good athlete with upfield speed, but hasn't posted very good numbers. The secondary certainly doesn't help, but defensive coordinator Greg Robinson must allow Clemons to rely on his athleticism rather than have him execute fancy stunts.
| Scout's sleepers, Week 14 |
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1. , , DE: Could break out of pass rush slump with weak Carolina pass protection.
2. , , RB: Motivated to show old team what he can do while enlivening the ' ground game.
3. , , RB: The are vulnerable against the run and L.T. is very hot right now.
4. , , LB: The ' pass rush will awaken against Houston.
5. . , WR: Favre and Driver will be up for some revenge with a huge game against the .
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Atlanta at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. ET
Matchup to watch: vs. Tampa Bay defense
The Tampa Bay won't back down. They will be coming after . They know that despite their speed on defense, matching up with Vick's quickness outside the pocket is tough to defend. The plan is to try forcing Vick passing into the very opportunistic secondary with and .
What could slow Tampa Bay down? Certainly 's feet. But they hope to also counter Tampa Bay's aggressiveness with running back and .
N.Y. at Washington, 1 p.m. ET
Matchup to watch: vs.
The had a lot of problems defending the last time these two teams met. And expect a large dose of Shockey again by the . They know they don't have many favorable opportunities on the outside against the corners led by .
The will look to create their opportunities inside with Shockey and running back . They'll work to create a lot of matchups against , who replaces in the lineup. Mitchell has been a decent linebacker over the last several years but lacks the athletic skills to match up with Shockey over the deep seam of the defense.
Detroit at Arizona, 4 p.m. ET
Matchup to watch:
vs. Arizona secondary
has given the a spark but has also delivered the expected rookie mistakes. Harrington's natural instincts have been taken over by learning the nuances of the ' playbook. This week, he has a chance to establish a flow against a struggling Arizona defense.
This also will be an opportunity for Billy Schroeder and establish themselves in the passing game for next season. It's critical for the to surround Harrington with talent. At this stage, Az Hakim (on injured reserve) is the only certainty if he fully recovers from his hip injury for next season. Schroeder and Crowell must show they can separate from coverage and make plays.
New Orleans at Baltimore, 4 p.m. ET
Matchup to watch: vs.
It's a given that will see a lot of carries against a slumping ' run defense. The have put forth a great effort this season. They've been competitive on the defensive side of the ball, and Mike Nolan deserves a lot of credit for that. But their limitations have shown up lately.
I expect the to work on developing some plays down the field with . Look for the to focus on attacking cornerback . Baxter has been adequate, but is really vulnerable against good downfield receivers. That's a favorable matchup for New Orleans.
Philadelphia at Seattle, 4 p.m. ET
Matchup to watch: N.D. Kalu vs.
The Seattle offense has shown signs of becoming a very productive unit with the evolving of several young players. figures to have a major test against a very strong ' defense that looks to create turnovers.
' defensive end N.D. Kalu emerged with a huge game against the last week. He's an excellent pass rusher with intriguing speed and quickness. But his opportunities have been limited during his career due to his lack of ideal size. He'll face a tougher matchup this week against . In terms of playing ability, Terry has the tools to become a building block for the long-term.
Scout's spotlight
, linebacker
has emerged as a very strong defender and centerpiece of the Atlanta ' defense last season and has built upon that for another strong season.
Brooking is a blue-collar defender who is an excellent character player to build around. He's a pure football player. Brooking is a tough and instinctive player inside that locates the ball well and gets off blocks. He plays his best laterally where he displays good range and closes on the ball with good quickness to cut off the flanks. He is athletic enough against the pass but will sometimes be exposed when he gets over-aggressive.
Overall, Brooking is a very solid football player who can fit inside or outside most schemes. He'll be very sought after as a free agent if he doesn't re-sign with Atlanta.
Final Thoughts
Don¿t be surprised if the Chargers miss defensive tackle Jamal Williams, who was knocked out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle. Williams is a physical interior physical with excellent size and power. He really makes a difference against the run. That makes the run defense a concern without Williams¿ massive frame playing in front of undersized middle linebacker Donnie Edwards.
The Bears hated the loss of tight end Dustin Lyman for the season after he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee last Sunday. Lyman was a project when the Bears drafted him a few years ago after he was a linebacker at Wake Forest. Lyman is a good athlete with some stiffness. But he moves well and shows good toughness.
The Bears were trying to get answers on Lyman as they evaluate the long-term future at the tight end position. They would like to get more production here next season in the passing game. But now they have some concerns over Lyman¿s future because this is the second time he tore up his left knee.
While Chicago Bears¿ Rosevelt Colvin looks to play out the Bears¿ miserable season, he¿s eyeing free agency with a lot of anticipation as he¿s posting some solid performances as a pass rusher. It wouldn¿t be a surprise to see Colvin land in New Orleans next spring. The Saints need to boost their defense, especially with upfield production on the perimeter. A lot will depend on how the Saints shape their defensive philosophy. Houston, Atlanta, and Kansas City remain viable options for Colvin.
Rookie Jonathan Wells is being given another opportunity to claim his role as the starting running back for the Houston Texans. Wells has displayed some potential as a runner. He¿s not dynamic, but has good power. Unfortunately, he tries to become too much of a fancy runner at times. He¿s an ideal version of the Patriots¿ Antowain Smith.
Wells must also show a lot more consistency in pass protection, which remains one reason why James Allen has received a large load this season. The Texans rank near the bottom of the league in rushing. That has to change. David Carr can¿t have all that pressure on him. He needs a solid running back who will put up strong numbers to complement his efforts and also protect him in passing situations.
Brian DeLucia is a respected college and pro personnel consultant around the NFL. Formerly a consultant with Rivals.com, and currently a contributor for ProFootballDigest.com, Brian heads into his third season with FOXSports.com providing commentary around the NFL and NFL Draft.
