NFL Preseason: Top 10 One-on-One Divisional Battles in AFC West

One of the most interesting topics to debate is how your team's players will compete against other teams' talent on a one-on-one basis.

In the AFC West, there are many individual battles within the conference that occur each year, and many of these meetings do not get as much press or attention as they should.

For this feature, I took a look at my version of the top 10 one-on-one battles that will occur this year within the AFC West division.

10. Richard Seymour vs. Nick Hardwick

These two superior linemen have had a history of feuding with one another, as it started when Seymour played for the New England Patriots during the 2007 NFL season. Hardwick called out Seymour as being dirty and cheap after his play against the Chargers in a playoff game that year.

Since then, Big Rich has moved on to the rival Oakland Raiders, and Hardwick has seen himself battling with the five-time Pro Bowler on many occasions. At times, the two were also seen jawing and trash-talking at each other in their teams' respective meetings against one another.

Expect much of the same this year, as there has been no love lost between these two giants, which makes this matchup that much more interesting.

9. Ryan Mathews vs. Rolando McClain

Chargers running back Ryan Matthews running the ball at camp

In one of two one-on-one rookie matchups on this list, the Chargers' 2010 first-round pick, RB Ryan Mathews, goes against the Raiders' 2010 first-round pick, LB Rolando McClain.

Mathews came from Fresno State, where he set numerous records, including a school-record 1,808 rushing yards during the '09 season. McClain is fresh off a national championship Alabama team, where he was a team captain and was the lead guy calling plays for Alabama's stout and nationally-ranked defense of a year ago.

These two rookies are very electrifying players and play at a very fast speed when they are on the field. It will be interesting to see whether these two guys can live up to their hype and how they will match up against each other at the next level.

8. Eric Berry vs. Demaryius Thomas

Eric Berry in action at Chiefs training camp earlier this month

This will be one of the most hyped-up matchups on this list to start the season.

On one hand, you have a two-time unanimous All-American pick in Chiefs safety Eric Berry, and on the other, you have a former Georgia Tech wideout that was statistically one of the best receivers to have ever put on a Tech uniform.

They should get plenty of opportunities to spar against each other this year, as each should be starting on his respective team, starting with Week One.

Berry will look to contain Thomas with plays like he made on teammate Tony Moeaki in the video posted to the left.

7. Brian Dawkins vs. Malcom Floyd

Brian Dawkins will be entering his 15th NFL season this fall at the ripe old age of 36 years old. During his career, he has been selected to eight Pro Bowls and also has built up a reputation as being one of the hardest-hitting and best coverage safeties to ever step foot in the NFL.

On the other side, you have Chargers wideout Malcom Floyd who, at 6'5" and 225 pounds, has become a big target for QB Philip Rivers, especially in the red zone.

With teammate Vincent Jackson set to sit out the first few games of the season, Floyd will be looking to pick up that lost production. However, the safety Dawkins will have other ideas when the two face off this year.

6. Ryan Clady vs. Tamba Hali

Clady and Hali have already had their share of physical battles in the NFL before. This season should be no different, as each player has become more of a cornerstone of his respective team. Not to mention that both of these guys have very high motors—once they get them started on game day, it's hard to slow them down.

Clady is coming off back-to-back Pro Bowl seasons, while his opponent Hali led his team in sacks last year with a career-high 8.5 and also tormented Clady when he was isolated with him in different individual matches.

The most exciting thing about these two young players is that they are still continuing to improve, which means we could see great battles between the two for years to come.

5. Jamaal Charles vs. D.J. Williams

To say that Jamaal Charles ran wild against the Broncos defense last season would be a large understatement. In only two games of action, Charles rushed for 315 yards and three touchdowns, while racking up just 43 carries in the process.

The one man that somewhat slowed him down at times was Broncos all-everything linebacker D.J. Williams. He is known for excelling against the run and also has the speed to chase down running backs (as he did to Charles in the picture in this slide).

Denver will need Williams' run-stuffing ability to be on full display this year in order to stop Charles, but if anyone could make Jamaal alter his game, it would be D.J. Williams.

4. Vincent Jackson vs. Brandon Flowers

Chargers WR Vincent Jackson and Chiefs CB Brandon Flowers both have one thing in common: They are both quickly emerging young stars in the AFC West.

Flowers (similar to what he did in the picture above) hopes to expand his shutdown corner status on a wideout such as Jackson, who was statistically the best wide receiver in the AFC West in '09, catching 68 passes for 1,167 yards and scoring nine touchdowns.

Jackson will miss the first few games of the season due to a suspension, which will cancel their first meeting, but everyone better believe that both Jackson and Flowers will have their A-games on when the Chiefs travel to San Diego later in the season to see these two very talented players square off once again.

3. Antonio Gates vs. Champ Bailey

Bailey is not always the one to cover big Chargers TE Antonio Gates, but when he has, it has proved to be one of the most exciting matchups in not only the AFC West, but all of football.

Gates, a former basketball player in college, is a well put-together tight end that has been to many Pro Bowls and might just land himself in the Hall of Fame one day.

Bailey, on the other hand, has been known throughout his career to be very confident and physical and has also had the label of a shutdown corner ever since he came to Denver in 2004.

Although Bailey will not likely be defending Gates the entire time the Broncs and Chargers face each other this year, look for him to mark up on Antonio from time to time to challenge the big man from Kent State.

2. Nnamdi Asomugha vs. Dwayne Bowe

These two solid players have been competing against each other since Bowe first came into the league in 2007. At times, the Raiders' Pro Bowl cornerback Asomugha has been very dominant, and other times the pride of LSU, Dwayne Bowe, has had the upper hand.

One thing for sure with these two is that there will be no sugarcoating with this matchup. Both Bowe and Asomugha are very physical players, and it has been no different when these two have squared off against each other one-on-one in the past.

Asomugha, after somewhat struggling against Bowe recently, looks to put up another Pro Bowl season while leaving Bowe and the Chiefs in the dust.

1. Philip Rivers vs. Elvis Dumervil

This is without a doubt the No. 1 one-on-one divisional matchup that everyone will be waiting to see this fall. When you have the NFL sack leader from a year ago and the best QB in the division—and one of the best QBs in the league—on the same field, you have fireworks waiting to happen.

Rivers is looking to make yet another Pro Bowl this season and lead his Chargers to the playoffs once again while holding off sack-happy linebackers like Dumervil.

There has been some speculation that Dumervil could miss this entire season, but if and when he gets on the field, he can and will be dominant and will be looking to hit a QB like Rivers, while Rivers will most likely be game-planning around this great player.

Last season, Elvis got the upper hand on Philip Rivers, sacking him several times, but this season is a new beginning and could be redemption time for the Charger signal caller.