Each week games in the NFL are decided by matchups. Position battles can be the difference between wins and losses. Here are some of the most intriguing position battles in Week 15 of the NFL season.
Quarterback Drew Brees vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers Secondary
Brees has passed for 695 yards over the past two games and is matched up against a Tampa Bay secondary that is giving up the most passing yards in the NFL. The Saints are ranked second in the league in passing and are playing at home, a bonus for the quarterback. Brees has thrown for 1,753 yards and 18 touchdowns with just seven interceptions at home this season, compared to 11 interceptions on the road.
Tampa Bay cornerbacks Eric Wright and Ronde Barber will be matched up against Saints wide receivers Marques Colston and Lance Moore, but Brees has numerous targets, including tight end Jimmy Graham and running back Darren Sproles. Brees is completing over 60 percent of his passes this season and has thrown for 4,028 yards and 32 touchdowns.
Brees has thrown seven interceptions in the past two games and is likely to have a rebound against the Buccaneers. The Falcons ended Brees' NFL-record streak of having at least one passing touchdown, but he got started up again against the Giants last week, throwing one in the 52-27 loss.
Quarterback Tom Brady vs. San Francisco 49ers Secondary
Brady has been one of the best players in football this season and has passed for 3,833 yards and 29 touchdowns with just four interceptions. He faces a tough test this week against the 49ers, who have the second-ranked passing defense in the NFL, allowing 184 yards per game.
Last week San Francisco held Miami to just 133 passing yards, while Brady threw for 296 yards and four touchdowns against a tough Houston Texans defense. Safety Dashon Goldson leads the team with three interceptions, while Carlos Rogers has made 44 tackles
Brady has a wide range of options in the passing game, including wide receivers Wes Welker and Bandon Lloyd, as well as tight end Aaron Hernandez. Over the past three weeks Welker has made 22 catches and two touchdowns and has been targeted 27 times by Brady.
Tight end Rob Gronkowski may return for the game, but he is listed as questionable. Before getting hurt, the record-setting tight end had 53 catches for 748 yards and 10 touchdowns. New England is ranked fifth in the league in passing yards and has won seven straight games since losing 24-23 to the Seattle Seahawks.
Running Back Chris Johnson vs. New York Jets Front Eight
Johnson has had a disappointing season for the Titans, but has been much better over the second half of the season, rushing for over 100-yards in two of the past five games. The Jets are giving up the third-most rushing yards in the league this season and average 136 yards per game.
The Titans are ranked only 23rd in the rushing yards, but Johnson has gained 1,037 yards and four touchdowns to go along with 33 receptions for 210 yards. The Jets are coming off of two straight wins against Arizona and Jacksonville, but they barely won both those games against two of the worst teams in the NFL.
Johnson hasn't scored for three straight games, but he is poised for a breakout game against the Jets. The Titans have lost three games in a row since beating Miami 37-3. Johnson had 126 yards and one touchdown in that game and should have a similar contest against another AFC East foe.
Quarterback Carson Palmer vs. the Kansas City Chiefs Secondary
Palmer is ranked seventh in the league in passing this season and has thrown for 3,805 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Kansas City defense is ranked in the bottom half of the league and is giving up over 200 yards per game.
The Chiefs are coming off of a 30-7 loss to the Cleveland Browns and gave up just 198 yards last week. Palmer has completed 63 percent of her passes over the past two weeks and has thrown for four touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Palmer has thrown for over 300-yards six times this season and had his best game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 4, throwing for 414 yards and four touchdowns. The Raiders have lost three straight games, including last week's 26-13 loss to the Denver Broncos. Palmer passed for 273 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.
Other Position Battles:
-New York Giants QB Eli Manning vs. Atlanta Falcons Secondary
-Washington Redskins RB Alfred Morris vs. Cleveland Browns
-Indianapolis Colts QB Andrew Luck vs. Houston Texans Defense
