There are some good matchups on the docket for Week 4 of the NFL season, with multiple division games scheduled, beginning with the 2-1 Pittsburgh Steelers (without injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger) taking on the 0-3 Baltimore Ravens Thursday night. But the best matchup this week isn’t between two divisional opponents. It isn’t even necessarily between two entire teams. The most intriguing matchup this week is the Atlanta Falcons offense VS the Houston Texans defense. On offense the Falcons have averaged 411.7 yards per game (third in the league) and 29.7 points per game (tied for fifth) so far this season. On defense the Texans have allowed 332.7 yards per game (tied for 12th) and 20.0 points per game (ninth) this season.
Most Intriguing NFL Matchup This Week: Atlanta Falcons Offense vs Houston Texans Defense
Specifically, viewers should be watching to see if Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (the best defensive player in the NFL) can help get enough pressure on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan to keep the former Boston College quarterback from continuing to get the ball to stud wide receiver Julio Jones (provided Jones can go on Sunday, after missing practice on Wed. with an injured toe and hamstring).
Matty Ice has completed 77 passes for 946 yards and thrown five touchdowns through three games this season. Jones has caught 34 of those completions (leads the NFL) for 440 yards (leads the league), and he’s found the end zone four times. That means the former Alabama wide receiver has caught over 44 percent of Ryan’s completions, and he has accounted for over 46 percent of Ryan’s passing yards, while also catching 80 percent of the touchdowns Ryan has thrown this season.
On the other hand, Watt already has three sacks (tied for fifth, Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Jacquies Smith leads the league with four), eight quarterback hits and 19 tackles (eight for losses). He was the runaway defensive player of the year in 2014, and he would have been the league’s MVP if it hadn’t been for the season Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had last year.
Jones and Watt were both drafted in 2011, and their teams played each other that season. Watt hit Ryan three times and Jones had four catches for 68 yards on 11 targets, in a game the Texans won 17-10. They may be on separate sides of the ball, and it remains to be seen if either or both the Falcons and Texans can make the playoffs this season. But Watt and Jones are two of the best at what they do, and, if Jones is recovered enough from his injuries, it will be a lot fun to watch them go head-to-head on Sunday.
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