Seven for Sunday: Dolphins' task tough with Calvin Johnson back
DAVIE, Fla. — Detroit Lions all-pro receiver Calvin Johnson is set to return to action Sunday against the Miami Dolphins after a three-game absence due to a high ankle sprain.
The 6-5, 236-pound Megatron is a tough assignment for any cornerback, and Johnson will own a 7-inch, 46-pound advantage when he draws Miami's Brent Grimes.
But Grimes, a two-time Pro Bowler, is no slouch. His four interceptions are tied for second most in the league. And his 40-inch vertical leap will come in handy if he needs to climb the ladder when quarterback Matthew Stafford heaves jump balls toward Johnson.
"It's a tough matchup," Grimes admitted. "He's a great receiver, one of the best receivers ever. Those are the facts of the matter.
"You just have to compete."
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But guess what? Johnson may be the least of the Dolphins' worries when considering the other matchup they must contend with.
1. Dolphins right guard Mike Pouncey vs. Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh
The skinny: This is a battle of strength versus strength, one Pro Bowl lineman pitting his aggressive prowess against the other.
Why it matters: The Dolphins (5-3) have won three in a row in their bid to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2008. Beating Detroit (6-2) would only build their confidence before the quick turnaround for Thursday night's meeting against the AFC East rival Buffalo Bills, who are also 5-3 and pounded Miami 29-10 in Week 2. But beating the Lions, who won all three games without Johnson, on the road will be no easy task. Now that they're back to full strength with a healthy Megatron and Reggie Bush on their Ford Field fast track, Detroit needs to stay ahead of the Green Bay Packers (5-3) in the NFC North.
Who has the edge: Suh. With Pouncey recently coming back from hip surgery, expect Suh to attack his weaker side with swim moves and bull rushes. Pouncey is also acclimating to guard after playing center most of his pro career, though he's done well, allowing just one sack in four games.
"Suh is going to be over me the whole time," Pouncey told USA TODAY Sports. "I've got a lot of respect for him. I had an opportunity to be around him last year at the Pro Bowl. And his mindset is just to be great.
"We have to match his intensity. Because he's going to be the best defender we go against all year."
Pouncey is likely going to need help from his fellow linemen, especially center Samson Satele. It should help that during Miami's three-game win streak, quarterback Ryan Tannehill has run a few times each game off designed read-option runs.
2. San Francisco 49ers offensive line vs. New Orleans Saints linebacker Junior Galette and defensive end Cameron Jordan
The skinny: The 49ers and Saints were expected to be two of the NFC's top Super Bowl contenders. But right now, both are just trying to climb above .500.
Why it matters: Though both teams are 4-4, the Saints are very much in the driver's seat to win the NFC South coming off consecutive wins in a weak division. The 49ers are nearing crisis mode as they sit on the playoff bubble while dealing with so much uncertainty swirling around coach Jim Harbaugh's future.
Who has the edge: The Saints duo. Jordan emerged as a Pro Bowler last season with a career-best 12½ sacks while Galette, who swings between linebacker and rush end in coordinator Rob Ryan's scheme, added 12 sacks in 2013. Galette owns a team-high six sacks this year, and Jordan has added four. Niners quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been taken down a league-high 27 times, including eight last Sunday at the hands of the St. Louis Rams. San Francisco's identity used to be its mauling O-line. Not anymore. It is vital that Harbaugh re-establish his team's running identity to ease pressure on Kaepernick. But if the athletic quarterback continues taking off on read-option keepers, expect Ryan to counter with a linebacker spy.
3. Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler vs. Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers
The skinny: When these teams met in Week 4 at Chicago's Soldier Field, Cutler was matching Rodgers touchdown for touchdown — in the first half. Then Cutler went Cutler, melting down with two interceptions that sealed a 38-17 Packers win.
Why it matters: The Packers need to keep pace in the NFC North with the division-leading Lions, whom they trail by a game. This may amount to an elimination game for the Bears (3-5), who need Cutler to exorcise his turnover demons.
Who has the edge: Rodgers. Since urging everyone in Titletown to "R-E-L-A-X," he has led the Packers to four wins in five games. Bears corners Tim Jennings and rookie Kyle Fuller played off and soft last time against him. Expect that to change. Packers slot receiver Randall Cobb is tied for second in the league with nine receiving touchdowns, and No. 1 receiver Jordy Nelson is on pace for nearly 1,500 receiving yards. Cutler is the anti-Rodgers. In 10 career regular-season games against the Packers, he is 1-9 with 13 touchdowns with 19 interceptions and has never won at Lambeau Field. Count on Cutler clapping his hands to his ear holes in disgust after throwing another game-turning interception. It's as close to a Week 10 sure thing as there is.
4. Kansas City Chiefs run game vs. the Buffalo Bills front seven
The skinny: The Chiefs were a surprise playoff team in coach Andy Reid's first year. Now they be headed for a return trip.
Why it matters: Both teams are 5-3, and the winner of this game would own the playoff tiebreaker if the records also wind up identical at season's end. The Chiefs have won five of six. The Bills are hoping to reach the playoffs for the first time since they lost to the Tennessee Titans in the "Music City Miracle" following the 1999 season.
Who has the edge: Jamaal Charles and Knile Davis. Kansas City's running back tandem has combined for nine touchdowns and 845 rushing yards. The Chiefs shouldn't expose quarterback Alex Smith to Buffalo's pass rush (28 sacks) any more than necessary. This one could come down to a Chiefs offense, averaging 136.9 rushing yards, imposing its ground-and-pound will to open play-action intermediate strikes to tight end Travis Kelce. Kansas City's leading target counts 32 receptions for 419 yards and four touchdowns. Bills quarterback Kyle Orton has provided stability, winning three of four starts since replacing EJ Manuel, but lacks a running game to take pressure off his arm and blockers.
5. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo's back vs. Jacksonville Jaguars pass rush
The skinny: Romo's back is as stiff as a Buckingham Palace guard's. And yet maverick Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is willing to risk his franchise's quarterback's tenuous healthy on London's Wembley Stadium slippery pitch because no one trusts backup Brandon Weeden.
Why it matters: Two weeks ago, the Cowboys were the league's runaway train. Then, Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett's blitzes resulted in every Dallas fans worst nightmare, Romo and his surgically repaired back on the turf. For the Cowboys (6-3) to remain playoff relevant, Romo must survive against the desperate Jaguars (1-8).
Who has the edge: Romo and his offensive line? The quarterback practiced on a limited basis Thursday and Friday and is listed as probable to start. But put him down for questionable to make it through the season. It's incumbent on his front five to punch open holes for the league rushing leader DeMarco Murray. Jacksonville's 27 sacks are tied for third most in the league, so expect Jaguars coach Gus Bradley to test Romo with an array of early blitzes. Even assuming he plays, Romo is likely back to being the diminished quarterback who couldn't throw deep the first few weeks of the season.
6. St. Louis Rams tight ends Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks vs. Arizona Cardinals safeties Tyrann Mathieu and Deone Bucannon
The skinny: The Cardinals are the league's lone 7-1 team but have had a few high-wire escapes. Coach Jeff Fisher's Rams (3-5) might just be the team to knock them off considering recent wins over the Seattle Seahawks and 49ers.
Why it matters: Coach Bruce Arians' Cards are driven to keep the pedal to the metal after missing the playoffs last season despite 10 wins, and no wins are more important than the divisional variety.
Who has the edge: Mathieu and Bucannon. Rams quarterback Austin Davis was a nice Cinderella story for a while. But he's had a reality check lately, held below 200 yards passing the past three weeks with three interceptions. Cardinals counterpart Carson Palmer, who signed an extension Friday, has a plethora of weapons to force Davis to keep pace on the scoreboard. Arizona also owns the league's third best rushing defense, allowing just 79.6 yards per game. If the Rams can't run, Cooks becomes a more vital chain-moving target. Kendricks leads St. Louis with four touchdown receptions. Expect Mathieu to shadow Cooks. Bucannon figures to draw Kendricks.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger vs. the New York Jets secondary
The skinny: Big Ben has lit up the sky, becoming the first passer in NFL history to throw 12 TD passes over two games. On the flip side, Jets quarterbacks have thrown for an AFC-low eight touchdowns all season while their defense has allowed an NFL-worst 24 TDs through the air.
Why it matters: The Steelers (6-3) have won three straight thanks to Roethlisberger's hot hand and are currently tied with the Browns atop the AFC North. The Jets (1-8) are just looking to salvage some pride.
Who has the edge: Roethlisberger. He will look to shred a no-name secondary starting undrafted rookie cornerback Marcus Williams and free agent Josh Thomas. Good luck with that given Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown (NFL-best 71 catches for 996 yards and eight TDs) has been the league's best receiver this year. And Roethlisberger is effectively spreading the wealth among Brown, rookie Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton and tight end Heath Miller the last two weeks.
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