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Seven for Sunday: An insider look at Week 3's most compelling matchups

Jim Corbett
USA TODAY Sports

It's been a volatile first two weeks as surprise contenders such as the 2-0 Buffalo Bills have emerged while an expected Super Bowl favorite such as the 0-2 New Orleans Saints has fallen flat.

Straight up, it's hard to consider second-year Bills quarterback EJ Manuel, a huge preseason question mark, a better signal caller than Sunday's counterpart, San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers, who is coming off the biggest win of this young season -- an impressive take down of the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.

Denver Broncos wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders (10) and Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman (25) battle for field position in the first quarter of a preseason game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.

As a new 2014 regular-season reality starts to set in, here are the most intriguing Week 3 matchups to watch that will help determine who is for real and who isn't:

Zach Ertz vs. Washington Redskins safeties Ryan Clark and Brandon Meriweather

The skinny: Ever since Philadelphia Eagles coach Chip Kelly surprisingly opted to discard speed receiver DeSean Jackson coming off a career year, everyone wondered who would compensate for Jackson's team-best 82 catches, 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns. Zach Ertz is how. The second-year tight end, who caught 36 passes with four touchdowns as a rookie, is Kelly's next big thing -- a 6-5, 250-pound matchup headache for safeties and linebackers. Ertz is averaging 23.3 yards on seven catches for 163 yards and a touchdown.

Why it matters: This is reigning NFC East champion Philadelphia's best shot to show the Redskins with new starter Kirk Cousins, a former redshirt freshman teammate with Eagles quarterback Nick Foles at Michigan State, that the Eagles are still the team to beat. Foles isn't in sync yet with a receiver group in transition. Jeremy Maclin is still shaking off rust coming off a season lost to knee surgery. Last year's surprise, Riley Cooper, has proven inconsistent, and rookie Jordan Matthews is still a work in progress. Other than do-it-all scatback Darren Sproles, who is coming off a career-high 152 receiving yards in Monday night's comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts, Ertz is the guy Foles has been relying on and finding wide open down field for big plays.

Who has the edge? Ertz. Kelly loves big targets who deliver chunk plays by creating constant mismatches. The Eagles have no bigger mismatch than the sure-handed Ertz, who seems headed for a monster, 1,000-yard receiving season with no sign the Redskins are capable of stopping him. Their biggest defensive question is a safety position in transition. Clark has lost a step and turns 35 in October. And Meriweather is an in-the-box blowup hitter who has issues turning and running down the seam in coverage. All seven of Ertz's receptions have gone for 14 yards or more. He is the definition of Kelly's run-centric offense that leaves wide open targets for Foles to find quickly before the pass rush can get home.

Seahawks secondary vs. Peyton Manning

The skinny: Manning and his weapons have been champing at the bit to atone for their 43-8 Super Bowl humiliation seven months ago. While they have improved pieces from that four-turnover debacle, the Seahawks are a different team playing at CenturyLink Stadium, where they have won 18 of the last 19 games. And it doesn't help Manning and company that Seattle is smarting from last Sunday's road loss to the San Diego Chargers. Expect Manning to target Emmanuel Sanders early against cornerback Richard Sherman. Sanders leads the Broncos in receptions and is tied for fourth in the league with 14 receptions for 185 yards, giving Manning the sleek weapon to open up the field for his other weapons.

Why it matters: This is the biggest chance yet for Manning and the Broncos to show they are much improved from their Super Bowl meltdown. Left tackle Ryan Clady is back after missing all but two games last season due to a Lisfranc injury. The hope is that Manning won't feel as if he's operating inside a phone booth as he did under Super Bowl siege. The Broncos need to stick with the running game and get Montee Ball going since one of Seattle's weaknesses is its front four stopping the run since losing left end Red Bryant to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Who has the edge? Seahawks. This is the right time for the Broncos to be getting Wes Welker back from his suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing policy at a time when the Seahawks are down two nickel cornerbacks. The Broncos got tougher on both sides of the ball this offseason. But this is still not a good matchup for Manning and his weapons. Bobby Wagner is one of the best cover linebackers in the game and can run with tight end Julius Thomas, who leads the Broncos with four touchdowns when safety Kam Chancellor doesn't. Marshawn Lynch, Christine Michael and Robert Turbin can keep Manning off the field with methodical drives. Even with payback driving them, it's hard to see the Broncos going to the league's loudest cauldron and coming away with a win. Earl Thomas is the best free safety in football, and with his range and ball skills allowing the Seahawks to play single high, the Seahawks "Legion of Boom'' secondary in effect shrinks the field, taking away the deep ball and again causing Manning to feel as if he's operating in the red zone most of the game.

Manuel vs. Chargers defense

The skinny: Manuel has been good enough through two games thanks in large part to the emergence of offensive rookie of the year candidate Sammy Watkins, who has eight receptions for 117 yards and a touchdown. But for the Bills to emerge a legitimate threat to unseat the New England Patriots in the AFC East, Manuel will have to step it up and show he can win shootouts such as this one.

Why it matters: The Bills went all in on Manuel last year and traded up to secure Watkins to help their franchise quarterback take a second-year leap forward. This is their chance to show they are legit in the AFC, where only the Broncos look as strong as ever. The revived Rivers has shown the last year that he's as good as any elite quarterback and he's got the chip on his shoulder to prove it. But Rivers and the 1-1 Chargers will be challenged to fly cross country for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff with their body clocks on 10 a.m. Pacific time. Remember, they played on a short week last Sunday after losing to the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 on Monday night.

Who has the edge? Manuel. Bills fans are riding high after Terry Pegula's $1.4 billion purchase agreement of the franchise from the trust of late owner Ralph Wilson, upholding Wilson's vow of keeping the Bills in Western New York. San Diego cornerback Brandon Flowers is questionable. And that gives Manuel a chance to thrive with Watkins, Robert Woods and running backs C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson. Manuel is completing an impressive 66.7% of his passes, 32 for 48 with two touchdowns and an interception. He has been sacked once, getting the ball out quicker by trusting Watkins implicitly. Watkins leads the AFC with seven third-down receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown. Rivers was terrific at getting the ball out quick against the Seahawks. The Bills have to take away Antonio Gates so a defense that notched 57 sacks last season can crank up Mario Williams, Marcel Dareus and Kyle Williams against an offensive line that lost center Nick Hardwick. Look for Manuel to continue avoiding the big mistake.

Brian Hoyer and Cleveland Browns run game vs. Baltimore Ravens defense

The skinny: True to first-year coach Mike Pettine's template, the Browns have emerged a ground-and-pound offense. Albeit, they are doing so with a pair of impressive rookies, former Towson star Terrance West and undrafted rookie Isaiah Crowell after Ben Tate suffered a season-opening knee injury. Offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan runs his zone-blocked offense through one of the league's best offensive lines that improved in the interior with the drafting of powerful rookie guard Joel Bitonio. The Browns currently rank fifth in rushing, setting up play-action for quarterback Brian Hoyer, who continues to justify Pettine's decision to keep rookie Johnny Manziel on the bench by making quick, clutch throws the way he did in delivering Cleveland's first win under Pettine last week against the New Orleans Saints.

Why it matters: Pettine is a sharp, tell-it-like-it-is motivator who has used the Browns' dismal history (one wild-card loss since the Browns' 1999 rebirth) to help these new Browns "break off the rear view mirror.'' Pettine was raised in the NFL by then Baltimore defensive coordinator Rex Ryan and wants to establish the 1-1 Browns as a legitimate contender in the AFC North against the 1-1 Ravens.

Who has the edge? Browns. The smash-mouth Browns are averaging 152.5 rushing yards and 26.5 points a game. Left tackle Joe Thomas is among the most complete left tackles in the game with the ability to run block like a pulling guard. Alex Mack is among the best centers in the game, helping give an offense that ranked 27th last season in rushing a new run-first identity. Baltimore defensive coordinator Dean Pees' unit has allowed one touchdown in two games. But Pettine's defense is likely to make this game a close contest, clamp down on tight ends Dennis Pitta and Owen Daniels with linebackers Karlos Dansby and Chris Kirksey. This will be a defensive struggle. Look for former Raven pass rusher Paul Kruger to continue his flying start – and for the Browns who own the superior run game to improve to 2-1.

Randall Cobb vs. Detroit Lions third-string nickel back

The skinny: Green Bay Packers slot receiver Cobb has caught three Aaron Rodgers touchdowns passes in two games. Cobb has special synergy with Rodgers as a former Kentucky quarterback turned receiver who sees defensive schemes through the same prism as his quarterback. The 5-9, 192-pound Cobb missed 10 games last season due to a broken leg, limiting him to 31 receptions. But he has 13 career touchdown receptions, and Rodgers trusts him to win quick, especially inside an opponent's 20-yard line where his speed make him a tough cover.

Why it matters: This is a big game for NFC North supremacy with the Packers, Lions, Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings all jammed together at 1-1. The Lions showed in their Week 1 blowout of the New York Giants that the Matthew Stafford-to-Calvin Johnson combination is capable of putting up points in a hurry. But they tumbled back to earth last week against the Carolina Panthers.

Who has the edge? Cobb. The Lions are likely to roll coverage to clamp down on Rodgers' go-to guy, Jordy Nelson, coming off a career day against the New York Jets. Nelson is tied with Saints tight end Jimmy Graham for the league lead in receptions. Nelson has 18 receptions with one touchdown. He also leads the league with 292 receiving yards. Lions nickel backs have fallen like dominoes. First, Bill Bentley, was lost to a season-ending torn anterior cruciate ligament against the Giants. Then, backup Nevin Lawson was carted off with a toe injury suffered in a Week 2 loss at Carolina. So that leaves Don Carey and Cassius Vaughn to deal with Cobb.

Dez Bryant vs. St. Louis Rams secondary

The skinny: Bryant has one touchdown reception through two games and is nursing a sore shoulder. What's more, quarterback Tony Romo has struggled to throw the deep ball with any effectiveness coming off his second back surgery in eight months. As good as tailback DeMarco Murray has been in leading the league with 285 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 51 carries, the Cowboys are a passing team who go as Romo goes.

Why it matters: The 1-1 Cowboys need to stay within hailing distance of the 2-0 Eagles. They are facing one of the league's best and deepest front sevens even without injured defensive end Chris Long. So the Rams are capable of stopping Murray, who had a franchise-record 253 rushing yards against St. Louis as a rookie in 2011.

Who has the edge? Bryant. Bothered by tightness in his back, Romo didn't practice Wednesday. But with the Rams expected to stack eight defenders in the box, Romo, who has thrown for 457 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions, has to get going. He has been sacked seven times and is taking too many hits. The best way to back off defensive end Robert Quinn is to have Bryant run through the Rams secondary on a double move and prove Romo can still stretch the field. Talks on a new contract for Bryant have been tabled until after this season. The best way for him to state his case to be paid among the league's two best receivers is to run by Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson and start hitting the home-run missing from the Cowboys playbook.

Panthers running game vs. Pittsburgh Steelers defense

The skinny: The 2-0 Panthers were down to one healthy running back in Sunday's win against the Lions – oft-injured Jonathan Stewart. Coach Ron Rivera said Friday he expects DeAngelo Williams (thigh) and Mike Tolbert (chest) to play Sunday night after they practiced Friday. Carolina's three-headed run game is a must to keep the Steelers fire-zone blitzes from teeing off against quarterback Cam Newton, who said he was extremely sore early this week after playing through cracked ribs underneath his throwing arm.

Why it matters: This is Carolina's first chance to start 3-0 since the 2003 Panthers under then-coach John Fox and quarterback Jake Delhomme reached the Super Bowl. The 1-1 Steelers looked awful on offense and need to score touchdowns following a 26-6 drubbing by the Ravens last Thursday night. Since jumping out 27-3 against the Browns in Week 1, the Steelers have just field goals over the last six quarters.

Who has the edge: Panthers. Offensive coordinator Mike Shula is a run-first, ball-control proponent who will look to exploit a 29th-ranked Steelers rushing defense hemorrhaging 170 rushing yards a game. In their bid to get younger and faster, Pittsburgh's defense counts four new starters, including defensive tackle Cam Thomas, linebackers Ryan Shazier and Jason Worilds and physical, former Panthers safety Mike Mitchell. Rivera said It is imperative on the Panthers to pound the rock since they want to keep pressure off Newton to rely on his legs until his ribs and surgically-repaired ankle heal up.

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