Passing Matchups

Week 20 Rushing Matchups

by Mark Wimer and Joe Bryant, Exclusive to Footballguys.com

[GB] [NE] [NYG] [SD]

PLEASE NOTE: This does NOT replace the Cheatsheet ranking. The Cheatsheet rankings are the final say on where we see a player for that week. The Matchup Breakdowns are simply one more tool in the box when it comes to helping choose your lineup.

Also note, just because a player has a "bad" matchup, it does NOT mean he's not a starter in your league. If Peyton Manning is playing the toughest pass defense in the league, that just means he's got a tough matchup that week. He's also your starter unless you're loaded at QB. In the same way, if the worst QB on your roster has a "great" matchup that week, it doesn't necessarily mean he's your starter. It means we think he'll fare better than normal that week.

Bottom line is that the cheatsheets are the final say.

New England Patriots Rushing Offense vs San Diego Chargers Rushing Defense (Good Matchup)

The last time these teams met, in week 2, Laurence Maroney enjoyed early success (15/77/0 rushing) before exiting the game due to injury. As a team, the Patriots hung 32/144/1 rushing on the Chargers during the game.

Over the closing month of regular season and the first playoff game, Maroney has come on strong, with 26/104/1 rushing during week 15 vs. the Jets; 14/156/1 vs. the Dolphins in the next week; and he finished the year with 19/46/2 on the ground vs. the Giants. After the bye week of rest, Maroney had a lot of pop against the Jaguars in the divisional round, gaining 22/122/1 rushing (a 5.5 yards per carry average) and adding 2/40/0 receiving, with a long catch-and-run of 33 yards to his credit during the game. Maroney is peaking at the right time of year, displaying explosive acceleration that left a lot of Jacksonville defenders in the dust last week.

Starting the playoffs, San Diego surrendered 30/119/0 to LenDale White and company on the ground. Prior to that, 29/122/1 was given up to Dominic Rhodes during week 17 of regular season. However, last week the Colts elected to emphasize the passing game against the Chargers, rushing the ball only 18 times (for 44 yards and 0 scores - a 2.4 yards-per-carry average as a team). San Diego averaged 107 rushing yards allowed per game during regular season(16th in the NFL) with 11 rushing TDs given up over the 16 game slate. Their average over the past 3 games is 95 rushing yards allowed per game, with 1 rushing score given up during that time span. Coming into this contest, the Chargers' rush defense is playing better than usual - but they weren't tested much last week, remember (18 rushes and 48 passes were attempted by the Colts last week) we'll see if they can keep up their stiff-necked ways in arctic Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Maroney comes into this game hot, while the lukewarm Chargers' defensive front hasn't been a shut-down unit for much of the year - advantage, New England.

Weather: The forecast for Gilette Stadium calls for a frigid 24F for a high on Sunday, and 7F for a low, with a 10% chance for precipitation. In weather that cold, the football will be hard and slick, making all phases of the game trickier than usual due to ball handling concerns. Hands and feet will be chilled quickly in such conditions, adding to the difficulties caused by the slick balls and possibly treacherous footing (if there are patches of ice/snow stuck to the turf).

The official NFL injury report with Probable, Questionable, Doubtful and Out designations will be available by Saturday. Please refer to the week 20 injury report for the latest injury news regarding your players.

Green Bay Packers Rushing Offense vs New York Giants Rushing Defense (Neutral Matchup)

The Packers stuck with Ryan Grant even though he fumbled the ball away twice in the opening minutes of the football game last week, and Green Bay was rewarded with an outstanding performance for the remaining 50+ minutes of the game -- Grant ended the day with 27/201/3 rushing and 2/6/0 receiving to his credit, more than making up for the early gaffes. Brandon Jackson chipped in with 8/34/0 rushing and also scored on a pass play, for 1/13/1 receiving during the contest. Grant and Jackson make a fantastic 1-2 punch, as they showed last week in adverse weather conditions and down 14 points to Seattle -- there was no quit in Grant despite his early problem with holding on to the ball.

The Giants ended the regular season ranked 8th vs. opposing rushers, averaging 97.7 yards allowed per game, with 12 rushing TDs given up over 16 games. They held Tampa Bay to 69 yards rushing during the wild card round of the playoffs, while only giving up 14 total points, and followed up by handing over 33/154/1 to the Cowboys' Marion Barber and company (most of the yards were allowed in the first half - the Giants clamped down on Barber and company in a big way during the second half of the game). Over the final 3 weeks of the regular season, the Giants surrendered a low of 44 yards rushing to the Patriots in week 17, with a high of 153 yards given up in week 15 (to Washington). Way back in week 2 (before Ryan Grant was Green Bay's featured back), the Giants allowed 29/83/2 to a combination of Dexter Wynn and Brandon Jackson in the course of a 35-13 loss to the Packers - a lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, though. The Giants have been inconsistent in this phase of the game entering the conference championship round of the playoffs - they were up and down last week too, but were able to right their ship after a porous first half.

Grant and company bring a powerful attack to the NFC championship game, while the Giants have been all over the map in this phase of the game over their last 5 games. Although when they're good, they're really good. We are calling this one a neutral matchup.

Weather: The forecast for Lambeau Field calls for arctic temperatures � 8F for a high on Sunday, and 2F for a low, with a 10% chance for precipitation. In weather that cold, the football will be hard and slick, making all phases of the game trickier than usual due to ball handling concerns. Hands and feet will be chilled quickly in such conditions, adding to the difficulties caused by the slick balls and possibly treacherous footing (if there are patches of ice/snow stuck to the turf). Wind chill could add to the problem, as this game starts in the evening (6:30 PM ET) � when the sun goes down the temperature will plummet quickly, and the wind may kick up. Also, as we saw last week, sleet/snow is always a possibility in this venue.

New York Giants Rushing Offense at Green Bay Packers Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

Brandon Jacobs was sidelined due to injury back in week 2 (when last these teams met), and Derrick Ward, who carried for 15/90/0 during the game, is now on IR - we'll need to /look elsewhere for hints about the Giants' chances this week. Last week, Jacobs gained 14/54/1 rushing and 1/5/0 receiving vs. the Cowboys, supplemented by Ahmad Bradshaw's 6/34/0 rushing and 1/6/0 receiving - the Giants as a team gained 23/90/1 rushing (a 3.9 yards-per-carry average) vs. the Cowboys. Jacobs has scored a rushing TD in each playoff game, with 15 touches on the ball in both contest (13/34/1 rushing and 2/16/0 vs. Tampa Bay), while Bradshaw hasn't scored in the games (he posted 17/66/0 rushing and 1/9/0 receiving vs. the Buccaneers). Taken together, the 2 backs have provided a solid (but not overwhelming) rushing attack during the Giants' playoff run.

The Packers averaged 102.9 rushing yards allowed per game during the regular season (13th in the NFL), but led the league with only 6 rushing TDs given up over 16 games. Detroit could only muster 17/48/0 vs. Green Bay in the season finale, although the Packers had given up 139 rushing yards in week 16 vs. Chicago and 173 rushing yards in week 15 vs. St. Louis. Last week, the defensive front got back to business in same vein as the Detroit game, limiting the Seahawks' backs to 18/28/1 - the TD was a gift from Ryan Grant, who fumbled almost at the goal-line to set up Shaun Alexander's 1 yard TD run. The Seahawks' backs averaged a minuscule 1.6 yards per carry last week - Green Bay's defense was exceptional in this phase of the game last week.

The Giants have a capable tandem to deploy against the Packers, but in Lambeau Field the Packers' 12th man will make things difficult at the line of scrimmage, and the Packers' rush D appears retrenched after last week's domination of Seattle. This is a tough matchup for the visiting Giants.

San Diego Chargers Rushing Offense at New England Patriots Rushing Defense (Tough Matchup)

LaDainian Tomlinson suffered a bruised left knee during the game on Sunday, and after riding the stationary bike for an extended period, briefly tried to return to action - but he had to take a seat on the bench as his joint didn't loosen up enough for him to finish the game. Tomlinson ended the game with 7/28/0 rushing and 1/20/0 receiving. In his relief, Michael Turner (17/71/0 rushing) and Darren Sproles (1/1/0 rushing with 1/56/1 receiving) filled in admirably for Tomlinson - the Chargers won a true "team" victory vs. Indy when the game was said and done (30/99/1 rushing as a unit last week - QB Billy Volek punched in the TD with 3/-1/1 on the ground). Tomlinson was hopeful he'd be able to play this Sunday, stating after the Indianapolis contest "I think I'll be ready to play [vs. New England]. I'll get some treatment and rest it." Stay tuned to the practice reports later in the week and the official Friday injury report to see if Tomlinson is likely to get back in the saddle on Sunday. The first time these teams faced off, back in week 2 of the regular season, Tomlinson was held to 18/43/0 rushing and 4/15/0 receiving (the Chargers posted 20/52/0 as a team that day).

New England stone-walled the Jaguars' duo of Fred Taylor (13/47/0 rushing) and Maurice Jones-Drew (6/19/0 rushing, with 6/49/0 receiving) last week, holding Jacksonville to 22/80/0 collectively on the ground. Prior to the divisional contest, the Patriots' rush D held 2 of their final 4 opponents to under 91 yards rushing, and gave up over 107 yards rushing twice to close regular season. Throughout the year, New England allowed only 7 TDs rushing, and they held the line in that department last week (the Pats were 10th in the NFL averaging 98.3 yards rushing allowed per game). The New England defense rose to the challenge of Taylor and Jones-Drew last week - expect them to be well-prepared for the Chargers' stable of running backs this week.

Tomlinson and company will have their work cut out for them this week at Gillette Stadium - advantage, New England.