Will red-hot Chiefs QB hit his first wall vs. Jags?
After the first month of the season, there's little reason left to question Patrick Mahomes.
As the 23-year-old quarterback has broken multiple records in piloting the Kansas City Chiefs to a 4-0 record, the questions of when his hot start will fade have slowly worn off. Even in a comparatively restrained performance last week in a 27-23 win over the Broncos, Mahomes was the first passer to crack the 300-yard barrier against the team in 38 games.
Yet easily the best litmus test for how far Mahomes can carry the Chiefs will come Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
No team has been able to consistently keep up with Kansas City's deep array of speedy offensive weapons. The unit leads the NFL in scoring at 36.3 points per game, and nine different players have tallied at least one receiving touchdown.
But Jacksonville's defense is dotted with Pro Bowl talent at every level and ranks first in yards (259.3 per game), passing yards (164.3) and scoring (14). And after already dispatching the New England Patriots in Week 2, the Jaguars could use the matchup with the Chiefs as another proving ground against one of the league's most potent groups.
Perhaps the biggest battleground for both sides will be Mahomes' ability to make plays outside of the pocket. Against the Broncos, he threw for 192 yards outside the pocket as he extended plays and evaded the pass rush. Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue will have to not only apply pressure but prevent Mahomes from escaping and giving his downfield targets time to break free.
While Jacksonville's defense has only generated three turnovers, few teams have dared challenge its talented cornerback duo of Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye. The former created a stir this week when he dismissed his potential matchup with Tyreek Hill, suggesting the all-purpose threat wasn't on his level and that he built his fame as a return specialist rather than a receiver.
And while there should be plenty of sparks on the outside between Ramsey and Hill as well as Bouye and Sammy Watkins, the showdown between Travis Kelce and Tashaun Gipson could also be one of the game's determining factors. Gipson, with the help of frequent bracket coverage from linebackers Myles Jack and Telvin Smith, helped limit Rob Gronkowski to two catches for 15 yards. Kelce, however, has 300 yards and three touchdowns in his last three games.
Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Falcons secondary
A banged-up secondary has left Atlanta's defense in dire straits, as the unit now ranks third-worst in scoring (30.5 points per game) and second-worst in third-down conversion rate (50.94 percent). While some might see this as the perfect opportunity for Antonio Brown to iron out his issues with Ben Roethlisberger, it might be Smith-Schuster who continues to do the most damage for the Steelers.
Look no further than last week's loss to the Bengals to see how vulnerable Atlanta is to a No. 2 receiver taking advantage of working with one of the league's best pass catchers. While A.J. Green caught the game-winning score, it was Tyler Boyd who continually flustered the Falcons for 100 receiving yards on 11 catches. Smith-Schuster can be even more lethal, as he leads the team with 31 catches and 416 yards.
The Falcons have had to forge on with safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen out for the season with injuries, but the reshuffling likely will continue to take a toll. Both Robert Alford and Desmond Trufant haven't fared well when forced into the slot, and Smith-Schuster has recorded a league-high 326 receiving yards from the spot, according to ESPN. Pittsburgh can also create a matchup problem on the outside against rookie Isaiah Oliver, who has had trouble with polished route runners.
Eagles offensive line vs. Vikings pass rush
What had been respective strengths for each of last year's NFC Championship Game representatives now look to be significant shortcomings for two contenders off to slow starts in the first quarter of the season.
With Carson Wentz back in the lineup, the Eagles' formerly dominating front has given up nine sacks in two games, the first time since 2010 that the team has given up at least four in consecutive games. And while Minnesota ranks ninth in sacks, Danielle Hunter and Stephen Weatherly are the only two true defensive ends who will be available on Sunday.
The Vikings will likely count on Hunter to lead the charge against the Eagles, though linebacker Anthony Barr should have an increased role as a pass rusher. But Philadelphia's steady use of run-play options could beguile a Minnesota defense that has given up a league-worst 588 yards on play-action passes, according to ESPN. One key could be the play of Isaac Seumalo, who appears likely to step in for Stefen Wisniewski at left guard.
Bengals WR A.J. Green vs. Dolphins CB Xavien Howard
Howard looks to be one of the league's emerging stars at cornerback, but he followed up one of the best games of his three-year career with one of his worst. One week after intercepting two passes and helping erase Raiders receiver Amari Cooper, he allowed two touchdowns against the Patriots, according to Pro Football Focus.
But Howard will also have another opportunity for a different form of redemption after his previous matchup with Green. In the Bengals' 22-7 win in 2016, the receiver logged 10 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown. That effort included a highlight-reel 51-yard grab in which Green jumped and plucked the ball from over Howard's head.
Howard has lobbied to shadow team's top opposing receivers, and Miami might take him up on the offer against Cincinnati. But even if the Dolphins limit the damage done by Green, they still have to account for Tyler Boyd, who leads the team with 26 catches and 349 yards. Cornerback Bobby McCain's absence with a knee injury could complicate that effort, though the expected return of Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones should boost the secondary.
Cowboys OTs La'El Collins and Tyron Smith vs. Texans DE J.J. Watt and LB Jadeveon Clowney
Lost in the disappointment of the Texans' 1-3 start has been the dominance of its two star pass rushers, who are finally healthy at the same time and operating in top form. Watt was named AFC defensive player of the month for September after racking up five sacks and four forced fumbles. Not to be forgotten, Clowney recorded two sacks, four quarterback hits and four tackles for a loss as perhaps the key defensive figure in the Texans' overtime win against the Colts last week.
Dallas, meanwhile, is trying to get by offensively with Dak Prescott having cracked the 200-yard passing mark in just two of his last 12 games. Ezekiel Elliott, however, paces the NFL with 426 rushing yards.
The battle up front will be critical, as Houston seems poised to load the box against Elliott. Even if Collins and Smith can keep the edge pressure at bay, however, Prescott at some point will have to capitalize on some opportunities against a 27th-ranked pass defense that has given up 11 touchdowns and recorded just one interception.