Three key matchups to watch in NFL Week 5 games

NFL video games are usually not simply matchups of two full groups. They’re additionally a sequence of particular person one-on-one matchups that may finally assist resolve the end result.

Each Friday, we’re going to try three probably vital particular person matchups that will likely be going down in Sunday’s and Monday’s video games.

Listed here are the matchups we’re taking a look at for the Week 5 video games. 

The Steelers and Colts enter Sunday’s recreation with matching 2-2 data, each in want of a win to get their season transferring in a constructive course.

Whereas the Steelers are coping with a depleted secondary because of the commerce of Joey Porter Jr. to the Dallas Cowboys and accidents to Jamel Dean and Brandon Echols, the Colts do not likely have the large receiver personnel to use that, particularly after the damage to Alec Pierce.

That’s going to depart plenty of the Colts offense within the arms of operating again Jonathan Taylor and tight finish Tyler Warren.

The Steelers had been capable of win their 2025 recreation with the Colts thanks largely to their capacity to close down each Taylor and Warren. The participant most answerable for that was Wilson, the group’s most athletic inside linebacker. Wilson had 14 tackles, an interception and two move defenses in that recreation, whereas serving to to restrict Warren to simply 26 yards on 5 catches and Taylor to simply 45 yards on 14 carries.

They’ll want that type of efficiency from Wilson, in addition to fellow inside linebacker Patrick Queen, if they’ll get the same end result on the stat sheet and scoreboard this season. 

There are usually not many larger video games on Sunday that the Seahawks-49ers recreation. Not solely does it function the defending Tremendous Bowl champions and their longtime rivals, however the high spot within the NFC West can be on the road. 

One of many matchups that’s going to dictate the end result of that recreation goes to be Smith-Njigba, the NFL’s reigning Offensive Participant of the Yr, going up in opposition to Lenoir, the 49ers’ high cornerback.

The query, although, is how a lot these two will really see one another.

Whereas Lenoir will get his justifiable share of Smith-Njigba, Seattle tends to maneuver its star large receiver across the formation, and the 49ers don’t appear to be inclined to shadow him. In some ways in which would possibly make the matchup extra of an offensive coordinator vs. defensive coordinator matchup, however the two will nonetheless cross paths. Lots.

In two video games in opposition to the 49ers a 12 months in the past, Smith-Njigba caught 15 passes (on 21 targets) for 208 yards. He didn’t discover the top zone, nonetheless, as the 2 groups break up the season sequence. 

The Raiders offense doesn’t sometimes run by means of its large receivers. Not solely as a result of they do not actually have a real No. 1, however as a result of operating again Ashton Jeanty and tight finish Brock Bowers are essentially the most gifted gamers on the offense. 

But when there have been ever going to be every week for that to vary, and if there have been ever going to be every week for a Raiders large receiver to go off, this may be the one.

The Patriots’ cornerback room is decimated by accidents this week with each starters, Christian Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III, already dominated out. That might create some matchups for Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins to use, particularly because it pertains to Tucker. 

The Patriots are additionally one of many NFL’s greatest groups at defending tight ends, which may depart Bowers neutralized a bit of bit. 

Tucker is the Raiders’ greatest big-play large receiver, coming into Sunday averaging over 15 yards per catch this season. This might be an enormous likelihood for him to construct on that.