By: Matt
3. San Francisco 49ers vs. Seattle Seahawks
These two division rivals both shocked the NFL with week one victories. The 49ers came away with a narrow victory over the Arizona Cardinals, 2008’s surprise Super Bowl contender and decisive NFC West winner. The Cardinals were a team expected to have one of the NFL’s most unstoppable offenses, but instead it was the 49ers defense that dominated the field. Under Head Coach Mike Singletary the Niners are above .500 and have played very solid football. While many people consider the 49ers a dark horse playoff candidate, the Seattle Seahawks were once the dominant force in 2007. Over the last five years no team has been more dominant within their division than the Seatle Seahawks, a team led by elite runner Shaun Alexander and young quarterback Matt Hasslebeck. The Seahawks of today are not quite the tema they used to be: Mike Holmgren, the man who assembled the 2005 NFC Champions, is no longer the head coach and Shaun Alexander has quickly fallen from grace and retired from football. Despite their losses, the Seahawks were considered the best team in their division in 2008. Injuries quickly derailed the team but this year they are healthy and dominated the Saint Louis Rams in week one. This week’s matchup again features a powerful defense and a great offense. One can expect both some big offensive plays from Seattle and even bigger hits from San Francisco’s stingy defense. Whichever team wins this game may come down to a battle between the 49ers offense and Seahawks defense, two of the weaker groups in the league this year. The results of this game could prove decisive in ultimately deciding the winner in one of the NFL’s tightest and now most unpredictable divisions.
2. San Diego Chargers vs. Baltimore Ravens
This week 2 matchup features two AFC playoff teams from 2008 that struggled in victories in week 1. San Diego came back in the fourth quarter to defeat division rival Oakland in a Monday Night showdown. The Chargers offense flourished, but former MVP LaDainian Tomlinson sat on the bench while Darren Sproles scored the game-winning touchdown for the Bolts. Tomlinson may not be washed up yet, but it is hard to imagine that he will have much success against a Ravens defense that is one of the best in the league. San Diego quarterback Phillip Rivers will need to play his best against the Ravens if his team hopes to win. Against Oakland the Chargers run defense seemed notably porous, something that was particularly chilling to fans of a team that featured the league’s second worst pass defense in 2008. Baltimore, much like San Diego, struggled in week 1, but came away with a victory over the lowly Kansas City Chiefs. Baltimore will likely look to exploit the poor run defense that Oakland exposed on Monday night with the three-headed running monster of Ray Rice, LeRon McClain, and Willis McGahee. While both of these teams made the playoffs last year, week one showed that the NFL may better understand these two one-sided clubs this year. This game could prove important in AFC playoff berths and will also feature some of the league’s biggest playmakers both on offense and defense.
1. Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants
The top matchup of week one is a prime-time matchup between two bitter division rivals. In week one the Dallas Cowboys dominated the Buccaneers in Tampa and quarterback Tony Romo reminded the world that in the spring he is still one of the league’s elite signal callers. This week the Cowboys will show the world their $1 Billion Stadium and 60 yard video monitor that has become the source of much pre-season controversy. Dallas would like to open up their new stadium with a key win over the Giants, but New York’s defense dominated the Redskins in week one and the Giants proved that they could win games without Plaxico Burress. These two teams are two of the NFL’s most talented and either one, along with the Philadelphia Eagles, could easily win this division. IF both of these teams play in week 2 the quality of football they showed in week 1, this Sunday Night Special will easily prove to be the highlight of week 2. Come December this game could be critical in deciding the NFC Playoff Race, for now it is simply a showdown between two of the league’s most hated enemies.
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