10 matchups to watch during NFL Week 9

Week 9 of the NFL season doesn't necessarily present us with the same elite-level matchups we saw last weekend. There are no undefeated teams going up against one another, and there's unlikely to be a 52-49 game with a combined 13 touchdown passes.

However, there are still some solid matchups to look at as the NFL season enters its second half.

From one of the best running backs of all-time taking on potentially the best running back this season to a dynamic young receiver in Jacksonville lining up against an elite-level corner in New York, here are your top-10 matchups of Week 9.

1. Randall Cobb vs Josh Norman

This one is going to be stellar. It could also help decide who has home-field advantage in the NFC heading into the playoffs. Norman, the top cover guy in the NFL thus far this season, has allowed a dreadfully low 25.5 quarterback rating when targeted headed into Week 9. In reality, he's one of the reason the Carolina Panthers remain undefeated on the season.

Meanwhile, Cobb has had somewhat of a down season by his standards. Coming off a 1,287-yard, 12-touchdown performance in 2014, the Green Bay Packers pass catcher is on pace to put up less than 900 yards this year.

While a shoulder injury held him back earlier in the year, the Pro Bowl receiver appears to be fully healthy. He needs a big game to help get the Packers passing offense back on track after a horrendous performance against the Denver Broncos last week.

2. Adrian Peterson vs Todd Gurley

The old guard going up against the new guard. That's the way this game has to be billed as two teams with real playoff aspirations take on one another in Minnesota.

Despite only seeing regular action over the past four games, Gurley ranks sixth in the NFL in rushing at 575 yards. The rookie also leads the league in rushing average at 6.1 yards per carry and yards per game at a cool 115. Going up against a Minnesota Vikings defense that ranks in the bottom eight in the NFL against the run, the top-10 pick should have another solid outing.

Meanwhile, Peterson is right back where he belongs among the league's top running backs. He's third in the NFL in rushing at 633 yards and has put up 100-plus yards in three of the Vikings' past six games. Taking on a St. Louis Rams defense that ranks in the top third of the NFL against the run, Peterson will have his hands full on Sunday.

3. Jason Peters vs Greg Hardy

It sure looks like Peters will be back on the field after suffering back spasms in the Philadelphia Eagles last game. That's going to be huge for the second-place team as it looks to get back on track following a Week 8 bye.

Taking on a defensive end in Hardy who has put up three sacks and seven quarterback hits in just three games this season, Peters is going to have to perform up to the level we have become accustomed to. Here's a guy that's allowed 14 sacks since the start of the 2010 campaign.

If he can provide Sam Bradford time to pass the ball, it's going to come in handy for the struggling signal caller in an extremely important NFC East game between two squads currently under .500.

4. Mitchell Schwartz vs Carlos Dunlap

If the Cleveland Browns want any chance of pulling off an upset win against the undefeated Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday night, whoever is under center is going to have to receive tremendous pass protection against a defensive line that's recorded 21 sacks in eight games.

That onus will fall primarily on a right tackle in Schwartz that has seen his game improve a great deal this season. According to Pro Football Focus metrics, the former second-round pick has been the best pass protecting right tackle in the NFL this year.

For his part, Dunlap is on pace to put up a career-high 16 sacks on the season. If it is Johnny Manziel under center for the Browns, he could very well force the young signal caller into multiple mistakes throughout the evening.

5. Jameis Winston vs New York Giants pass defense

This has a chance to be one of the most-intriguing matchups on the Week 9 schedule. After yielding 505 passing yards to the New Orleans Saints last week, New York's defense ranks dead last in the NFL against the pass at 315.4 yards per outing. Though, this unit is also tied with the Arizona Cardinals for the most interceptions (13) in the NFL.

For his part, Winston has his Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 3-4 on the season after they won a grand total of two outings last year. Since throwing four interceptions in a Week 4 loss to the Carolina Panthers, Winston has tallied four touchdowns and zero interceptions with a 110.5 quarterback rating in the past three games.

If Winston is able to continue that stellar play against the Giants, there's a decent possibility that he could lead the Buccaneers to a 4-4 record heading into Week 10. That was unimaginable prior to the season.

6. Peyton Manning vs Andrew Luck

One of these top-end quarterbacks overcame early struggles to help his team remain undefeated last week. The other turned the ball over three times in yet another disheartening loss. If you follow the NFL, you can figure out who is who here.

With his Indianapolis Colts at 3-5 on the season, Luck desperately needs to find a way to get back on track in this one. It's going to have to come under a new offensive coordinator after Pep Hamilton was fired (scapegoated) on Tuesday. It's also going to have to come with Luck entering Week 9 leading the NFL in turnovers (13). Oh, and he will have to do it against an undefeated Denver Broncos squad that's riding high following a one-sided victory over the Green Bay Packers.

For Denver, it's all about keeping pace with the New England Patriots in the AFC. While Manning failed to throw a touchdown for the third time this season, he played his best game of the year last week. The future Hall of Famer completed 21-of-29 passes for 340 yards in the 19-point Broncos win.

If the Broncos are able to pull off the win here, it will force the Colts into a couple difficult decisions heading into their bye, including the potential ousting of head coach Chuck Pagano. That's where we are as it relates to the most-disappointing team in the NFL this year.

7. Marcus Mariota vs New Orleans Saints pass defense

Mariota will return to action this week after missing the past two games with a sprained MCL. He will do so against a Saints defense that ranks 29th against the pass and is yielding a 108.7 opposing quarterback rating. Coming off a Week 8 performance that saw this unit give up six touchdown passes to Eli Manning, the struggles seem to be real in the Bayou.

Interestingly, this hasn't stopped the Saints from winning four of their past five games and finding themselves right in the mix for a playoff spot heading into the second half of the campaign.

For the Titans, there's a whole heck of a lot to look at here. The team fired head coach Ken Whisenhunt on Tuesday and will be led by Mike Mularkey for the remainder of the season. In his introductory press conference, the interim head coach vowed to change the Titans offense from a schematic standpoint moving forward:

“I just told him we’re going to do a couple things different with him." Mularkey said, via the Titans official site. "Try to make sure he stays upright and it was really just, not real in-depth. But we’re on the same page.”

Despite a nice amount of success under center this season, Mariota has been under a constant barrage from opposing defenses. The reigning Heisman winner has been sacked 19 times in five games and has seen himself under pressure 33 percent of the time he's dropped back to pass.

At 1-6 on the season, Tennessee has to be thinking more about the 2016 NFL draft and getting Mariota more help. However, the situation in the AFC South has this team still in contention for the division title. That's helped by the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts being tied atop the division with just three wins.

An inspired performance in Mularkey's first game could very well help this team move forward with a level of confidence we just didn't see under Whisenhunt. That includes the rookie quarterback.

8. Allen Robinson vs Darrelle Revis

Don't look now, but Robinson is proving himself to be among the most productive receivers in the NFL in just his second professional season. The former second-round pick has tallied 34 receptions for 586 yard and six touchdowns in seven games. He's also put up a minimum of 68 yards in each of the Jacksonville Jaguars past six outings.

Now taking on one of the best corners in the NFL in what amounts to a must-win game for the New York Jets, Robinson is going to have his hands full. Revis has not yielded more than four receptions in a game since T.Y. Hilton went for five back in Week 2. Overall, he's allowing a 50 percent completion rate and 41.8 quarterback rating when targeted on the season.

With the Jets losing two consecutive games heading into Sunday's action, it becomes a necessity for them to stop the bleeding if they are going to contend for a playoff spot moving forward. Surprisingly, the Jaguars also have something to play for here. While they boast just a 2-5 record, the Jaguars are tied with the Texans and Colts in the loss column in the AFC South.

9. DeAngelo Williams vs Oakland Raiders run defense

With Le'Veon Bell lost for the season it becomes of paramount importance for the Pittsburgh Steelers that Williams performs up to the level that we saw when Bell was suspended for the first two games of the season. In those two outings, the 32-year-old running back put up 224 total yards and three scores.

It's not going to be an easy task this week. Oakland's defense ranks second in the NFL against the run at 82.9 yards per game.

Pittsburgh finds itself at 4-4 on the season and reeling after losing Bell for the season. It needs to find a way to rebound against a surprising Raiders squad that is actually ahead of it in the AFC Playoff standings. Meanwhile, Oakland will be looking to continue the momentum that has it looking like a legit postseason contender at 4-3 on the year. This one matchup could go a long way in determining the outcome of the game.

10. Dez Bryant vs Byron Maxwell

The Philadelphia Eagles signed Maxwell to a huge contract back in March for one reason. They wanted him to act like the shutdown guy the team hasn't had in ages.

Through the first three games, it sure looked like he was going to be a bust in Philly. The former Legion of Boom member in Seattle yielded an 84.1 completion percentage and 145.2 quarterback rating when targeted in the first three games. Since then, he's allowed quarterbacks to complete just 60 percent of the passes thrown in his direction for a 50.7 rating.

Maxwell will be tasked with taking on a receiver in Bryant that's one week removed from returning to action after missing the previous five games with a broken foot. If the Eagles corner is able to shut down his Pro Bowl counterpart, there's a decent chance his team will send the Cowboys to a sixth consecutive loss.

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