NFL Preview: The Best Matchups of Week 1

Football is on the horizon!

Preseason starts next week but even a lockout doesn't make most fans interested in that. I will be watching the preseason frantically but the matchups in those games won't be that important.

Where they will be important however is in roughly four weeks when the NFL season opens with some mouthwatering matchups.

Serial tweeting about NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, Soccer and Rugby      @Cianaf

I also write for Irish Central and Fantasy Football Life.

James Jones-Malcolm Jenkins

Jabari Greer, Tracey Porter, Fabian Washington, Patrick Robinson.

Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Donald Driver, James Jones, Randall Cobb.

Anyone see a problem here?

The Saints have possibly the deepest secondary in the league but their talent at cornerback is overmatched by the Packers in the season curtain raiser.

Fortunately for the Saints they have another corner on their roster. Malcolm Jenkins was originally drafted as a cornerback despite being the team's starting free safety.

Jenkins is likely a better cornerback than Patrick Robinson at this stage in their respective careers. The Packers likely won't go five deep on the field at receiver very often because of Jermichael Finley and the fact that this will be Randall Cobb's first ever game.

This puts the spotlight on Jenkins ability to matchup with James Jones. The thing about the Packers offense is, while Driver and Jennings are always going to get theirs against you, it is pivotal to prevent both Nelson and Jones from overwhelming your defense.

Jones is the bigger playmaking threat over Nelson and Jenkins is better suited to cover him than Fabian Washington.

Haloti Ngata-Maurkice Pouncey

The first renewal of the best rivalry in the NFL occurs right out of the gate.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will travel to Baltimore looking to repeat their victory from last season and keep Ben Roethlisberger's dominance of Joe Flacco intact.

The Flacco-Roethlisberger matchup isn't the most mouthwatering in this game however as two mountainous figures will collide on the offensive line.

The Ravens released Kelly Gregg which will move Terrence Cody to the starting lineup but Haloti Ngata will still see time at tackle. Ngata is an All-Pro player whose battle with the Steelers' All-Pro center Haloti Ngata will be riveting.

No other matchup from this game exemplifies the physicality, intensity and sheer violence of this game than these two players. Both players are rare athletes with immeasurable talent.

A center and defensive tackle the most exciting matchup? Only with the Steelers and Ravens...

AJ Green-Joe Haden

Joe Haden was in contention to be a rookie of the year last year, and his matchup this week will likely be looking to follow in his footsteps.

Haden forced seven turnovers and had a sack in his first season.  Look for him to excel as the Browns improve around him on defense.

Matching up with AJ Green doesn't look like a mouthwatering prospect for any corner.  Green's sheer size will give him an advantage over Haden as he is 6'3" while Haden is 5'11".  Nonetheless Haden's aggression, ability and awareness locating the football gives him a chance.

In what could become a Nnamdi Asomugha and Vincent Jackson type of inter-divisional battle for years to come, Haden and Green could also decide the outcome of this football game.

Mario Williams-Anthony Castonzo

The Colts offensive line was so bad last season that I fully expect Anthony Castonzo to instantly become the team's starter. There is a chance that this matchup may not even occur because Charlie Johnson was so bad last year Castonzo could become the team's starting left tackle.

The lack of an offseason tells me the Colts won't be willing to start two rookies at tackle however—which is what they would be doing in that case with Ben Ijalana.

Williams is also an interesting case because he will no longer be playing with his hand on the ground. It is going to be an intriguing thing to watch as this impressive talent looks to adjust out of his comfort zone.

Maurice Jones-Drew-Barrett Ruud

Barrett Ruud doesn't do much but tackle runners. Maurice Jones-Drew doesn't do much but overrun potential tacklers.

Should be interesting!

The Jaguars will have the advantage here because of their severely underrated offensive line. The Titans are not a great group of run stuffers but will hope that Ruud can reinvigorate the defensive front seven as a group despite the loss of Jason Babin.

LeRon McClain-Marcell Dareus

The first week of the season every rookie is going to be under scrutiny. Very few will face a baptism of fire quite like Marcell Dareus will in Kansas City.

The Chiefs are one of the best running teams in the league and Dareus is being looked to to stiffen that Buffalo defense. With the addition of LeRon McClain in Kansas City expect him to get a lot of opportunities to grind down the defensive line as well as seal gaps for others.

Dareus will not only have to fight through his opposing linemen, McClain and he colliding will be a collision to remember.

Julius Peppers-Sam Baker

Sam Baker is definitely one of the better tackles in the NFL and while all eyes will be on Julio Jones during his debut, not much will happen there if Baker cannot contain Peppers.

Peppers is obviously one of the best—if not the best—pass rushers in the whole league. He is so disruptive that it is unlikely that the Falcons will leave him one on one with Baker.

Nonetheless it is still worth watching this unfold as Peppers has the capabilities to overcome double teams and pour some pessimism over the Falcons' optimism early on.

Aqib Talib-Calvin Johnson

No matter how much better the Detroit Lions offense becomes, Calvin Johnson is always going to catch the eye of onlookers first.

Johnson will get a firm test against Aqib Talib. Talib may have his off the field issues but he is an outstanding corner that possesses the physical style of play to challenge Johnson on every play.

With a renewed pass rush in Tampa and Matthew Stafford back in the Lions backfield, each player will be given every possible chance to succeed.

Stephen Jackson-Mike Patterson

I was very tempted to put Josh McDaniels in here somehow as he is the offensive genius that would look to pick apart that secondary.

However the Eagles look set to dominate against the pass but not so much against the run. Jackson is one of the best runners in the league and could destroy the interior of that defensive line. His violent style could easily keep the Eagles inventive offense on the sidelines for lengthy periods.

Patterson recently collapsed on the field and his status remains up in the air. Some believe he will be back in a few days while others remain unsure because of the nature of the problem. The Eagles will likely need him to clog up Jackson's lanes.

Trent Williams-Justin Tuck

There are very few people that believe John Beck will make many plays in the coming NFL season. Some—such as me—believe that Kellen Clemons should take that opportunity away from him all together.

Justin Tuck will be looking to take away that opportunity from him also but Trent Williams will likely be in his way. Williams showed a lot of talent in his rookie season but much more seasoned veterans have struggled to contain Tuck who is one of the best pass rushers in the league.

Chris Wells-Ron Edwards

The Panthers really struggled to stop the run last year as they ranked 23rd in the league overall. Charles Johnson was re-signed for specializing in sacks but Ron Edwards was added to try to strengthen the interior of the offensive line.

The Cardinals have a pair of backs that they will be looking to use to make Kevin Kolb's life easier and Chris Wells figures to get more of the carries than rookie Ryan Williams.

Wells is a big bodied runner who should be sent between the tackles on a regular basis. The Cardinals will probably look to ease Kolb into his first start in Arizona so Wells and Edwards can expect to see plenty of each other in week one.

Aldon Smith-Russell Okung

Another rookie that will be looking to step right in and make some plays will be Aldon Smith.

Smith is very talented but so is his counterpart in week one. Russell Okung was a highly touted rookie who didn't disappoint last season but will be looking to take his game to the next level in his second year.

With a new starter in Seattle—Charlie Whitehurst or Tarvaris Jackson—Smith will be hoping to land his first hits in the NFL early and often to give the 49ers a winning start to the season. Pass protection will be important as Sidney Rice could have a field day against the 49ers secondary despite the addition of Donte Whitner.

Antoine Cason-Percy Harvin

Donovan McNabb doesn't have that many options in Minnesota. Obviously he has more than he had last season with the Redskins but the receiving corp looks light without Sidney Rice.

Percy Harvin is the team's biggest threat and realistically he and Adrian Peterson are the only real home run hitters in the offense. You probably won't shut down Peterson—very few teams ever do—but Antoine Cason has the chance to make the Vikings offense somewhat one dimensional.

If Cason can keep Harvin in check, the Chargers offense could blowout the Vikings poor secondary and lead to a horrible start to Lesley Frazier's career as head coach.

Darelle Revis-Dez Bryant

Call me crazy, but I think Dez Bryant can get the better of this matchup. I'm a huge Darelle Revis fan and I think he is by far and away the best cornerback in the league.

While there is no true flaw in his game the one thing receivers can use against him is upper body strength. Bryant has plenty of this. His physical bulk will allow him to gain position on Revis should the Cowboys consider attacking him.

Bryant also has an incredible amount of speed and this could be an unbelievable start to what could be a huge sophomore season.

Cameron Wake-Matt Light

The Patriots had to re-sign Matt Light. Unlike some others I really don't think Sebastien Vollmer is ready to be a blindside protector for Tom Brady.

Nate Solder should eventually become the starting left tackle but for now Wake is Light's problem. At times last year Light was unbelievable, but at other times he was horrific. Depending on which Light shows up this matchup could decide the game.

Wake is a disruptive and relentless football player that lives for the backfield and hitting quarterbacks. Given any sort of chance he will find Tom Brady's numbers and could create some problems for one of the best offenses in the league that relies on such good timing.

Brandon Lloyd-Stanford Routt

This matchup is interesting for two reasons. Whether Brandon Lloyd is the real deal or if he just peaked last year will have to be determined this season while it will be interesting to see the Raiders without Nnamdi Asomugha.

Stanford Routt should have no problem taking over against opposing team's best receivers as he is very talented but the defense as a whole will likely suffer. Shutting down Lloyd will be important regardless of whether Tim Tebow or Kyle Orton is throwing the ball.

Serial tweeting about NFL, NBA, NHL, NCAA, Soccer and Rugby       @Cianaf

I also write for Irish Central and Fantasy Football Life.