2008 Scouting Matchups: Week 3

BadCo · Sep 21, 2008

2008 Scouting Matchups: Week 3

By Scouts Inc

Sunday, September 21, 2008

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="4" width="552"><tbody><tr valign="top"><td width="100%"> After watching the film and studying personnel packages, players' strengths and weaknesses, team tendencies and schemes, Scouts Inc. breaks down each and every game each week. Want to know how each team will attack its opponent? The keys to success for each team? The matchups to watch and which team has the advantage at each position? Scouts Inc. provides a complete scouting report on those areas and a prediction for every game.

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Raiders at Bills
1:00 PM ET

To say that Oakland looked terrible in its Monday night opener would be a gross understatement. And even after a division road win over Kansas City last week, the Raiders are a dismal 20-62 since their Super Bowl appearance in 2003. Meanwhile, Buffalo earned a hard-fought victory in Jacksonville last week, showing balance on offense and resilience in the oppressive heat. The Bills are an ascending team and a legitimate contender. The Raiders can't afford to fall behind early on the road, or the game could be over before it really begins.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Buccaneers at Bears
1:00 PM ET

The Buccaneers and Bears are very similar teams, and this game has all the makings of a tough, physical game in the trenches. It all starts up front for both defenses, which incorporate a mixture of the Tampa 2 system on the back end. Look for both offenses to build their game plans around QBs Brian Griese (Tampa Bay) and Kyle Orton (Chicago), but the key will be the ability of both offensive lines to create run spacing. Also keep an eye on whether either team can find a way to make explosive downfield plays in the passing game. Will Bears WR Devin Hester be a factor in this game? He might, because both teams will place a high emphasis on the kicking game as field position will be critical to the outcome.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Panthers at Vikings
1:00 PM ET

This game features two teams that are off to surprising starts. The Panthers have made a statement in their first two games and have many people around the league taking notice. Coach John Fox is back to playing his style of football and will be getting his best offensive player, WR Steve Smith, back this week. That's bad news for a Vikings team that is growing frustrated after dropping their first two games. Minnesota spent big money in the offseason to address its passing game on both sides of the ball, but the Vikings are still having problems. Plus, many questions surround QB Tarvaris Jackson. RB Adrian Peterson has been great, but the big question now is what the offense will look like with QB Gus Frerotte starting in place of the struggling Tarvaris Jackson.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Dolphins at Patriots
1:00 PM ET

At first glance, this appears to be a lopsided matchup. But there still are a few unknowns regarding both clubs. Patriots QB Matt Cassel has been a solid game manager, throwing high-percentage passes and taking care of the ball, in place of injured QB Tom Brady. But New England's offense certainly doesn't appear to be the explosive unit that dominated opponents last season.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Bengals at Giants
1:00 PM ET

Even though they won the Super Bowl last year, doubts surround the Giants. They lost two of their top defensive ends -- one to retirement and one to injury -- plus two linebackers and a safety to free agency. However, they haven't skipped a beat because of the quality depth on this team. How much longer can they continue to win games like this? When will the Bengals straighten things out and get their first win?
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Texans at Titans
1:00 PM ET

The Texans will be chomping at the bit after having to miss Week 2 due to Hurricane Ike. The good news is that it gives them an extra week to get healthy, but the bad news is that it puts them a week behind when it comes to working on their timing at live speed. Tennessee is leading the division with a 2-0 record and wants to maintain its lead. With QB Kerry Collins filling in for injured QB Vince Young, the Titans will be able to incorporate an expanded passing attack because Collins is better at reading coverages and distributing the ball.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Cardinals at Redskins
1:00 PM ET

The Cardinals are off to their first 2-0 start since 1991 due to some big plays on offense and a confusing defense. QB Kurt Warner and WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald pose a tough challenge for any defense they face, and they know it. The Cards are also playing solid defense, and they will give the Redskins multiple looks to put pressure on QB Jason Campbell. The Redskins rebounded last week against New Orleans, showing some offensive firepower of their own against a banged-up Saints secondary. Campbell was effective throwing the ball in a big comeback win, while RB Clinton Portis and the offensive line provided a solid ground attack in the second half. Did Washington build enough confidence last week to turn the page offensively, or was it a one-week wonder?
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Lions at 49ers
4:05 PM ET

After a huge road win over Seattle last week, San Francisco hopes to use its momentum to trample a Lions club that has looked more like lambs in 2008. Detroit entered the season with a leaner, quicker defensive line than last year with the idea of creating more pressure on the pocket and using the additional quickness to penetrate and cause problems in the backfield against the run. But so far, the Lions are giving away tracts of land at a time and allowing more points than any other team in the NFL. Sometimes teams play looser, especially on defense, away from home. Detroit will at least have the advantage of familiarity when facing former offensive coordinator Mike Martz.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Rams at Seahawks
4:05 PM ET

This game features two teams that have started slowly and are looking to start digging themselves out of an early-season hole. The Rams have been put on warning by ownership that changes are coming if the team doesn't improve. Seattle knows this is Mike Holmgren's last season as head coach of the Seahawks. Seattle is coming off an overtime loss to division rival San Francisco and has an extremely limited receiving corps. The Rams have been overwhelmed by the Eagles and Giants in their first two games. This is a crucial early-season game for both teams as they try to stay in the hunt in the NFC West.
• Complete advance scouting report

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BadCo · Sep 21, 2008

<table class="tablehead" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Saints at Broncos
4:05 PM ET

This should be an explosive matchup between two high-powered offenses. Saints QB Drew Brees struggled in Week 2, but make no mistake: Both teams' quarterbacks are capable of big numbers. Saints coach Sean Payton was frustrated by the Redskins last week, but it's unlikely that he'll fail to draw up an effective game plan twice in a row. With the Chargers faltering and no other team capable of challenging them in the division, the Broncos smell blood. Denver is on a roll, but the team was fortunate to slip away with a victory last week and New Orleans won't go quietly. With two innovative coaches butting heads, expect some creative scheming to make this one of Week 3's most intriguing matchups.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Steelers at Eagles
4:15 PM ET

This cross-conference battle between Keystone State franchises should be a great one. Both teams are coming off crucial divisional games and working on a short week of sorts, with Pittsburgh edging Cleveland on Sunday and Philadelphia falling just short of Dallas in a whirlwind of a Monday night matchup. QB Ben Roethlisberger is fighting through a sore right shoulder but, despite taking some big hits in last week's game, threw passes with velocity that cut through the harsh weather conditions.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Jaguars at Colts
4:15 PM ET

This is a battle of AFC South rivals. Even though the Colts own a huge advantage in this series, the Jaguars in recent years have been close to clearing that hurdle. Jacksonville at 0-2 can ill afford to lose this game, fall two back of the Colts and potentially three back of the Titans. Believe it or not, the Jaguars come into this game with the No. 28-ranked run offense, and they will face the Colts No. 28-ranked run defense. Those numbers are a far cry from what these teams are used to, so it will be fun to watch to see which team can impose their will on the other.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Browns at Ravens
4:15 PM ET

Cleveland is coming off a 10-6 loss against hated rival Pittsburgh on Sunday night. Baltimore was scheduled to travel to Houston, but because of Hurricane Ike, that game was postponed. This gives the Ravens a nice advantage due to extra preparation and rest, but the Browns are desperate to avoid going 0-3 with two divisional losses. After losing two games at home, Cleveland has to rebound to keep pace in the division and the AFC in general. Special-teams play will be at its finest, and winning that portion of the game would be a major benefit this week.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Cowboys at Packers
8:15 PM ET

Points should come in bunches when these two offenses take their shots Sunday night at Lambeau Field. Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, his defensive coordinator Brian Stewart and Packers defensive coordinator Bob Sanders will have their hands full finding ways to contain these explosive attacks.
• Complete advance scouting report

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</td></tr><tr class="colhead"><td colspan="3">MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2008</td></tr><tr class="oddrow" valign="top"><td align="center">

</td><td width="100%">Jets at Chargers
8:30 PM ET

Neither of these teams is playing as well as expected, but both still have lofty -- and possibly legitimate -- aspirations. The Jets are struggling to get their offense in synch with the talents of QB Brett Favre, while San Diego simply isn't playing up to its level of talent, dropping two consecutive heartbreakers. Great players seem to perform at their best in big games -- and this is a big game full of great players. Will Favre be pressed into gunslinger mode, and are his new targets ready to help him in that mode? Can the Chargers finally finish a game? For the team that loses this game, most of the early-season hype will fade. This week is huge for both teams -- but a virtual must-win for San Diego.
• Complete advance scouting report

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