Around The NFL's Kevin Patra fills you in on the key storylines for each matchup. Here's your guide as you settle into your couch for all the NFL action: shouldn't expect a ton of help from his running game in his second NFL start. The are averaging 60.7 rushing yards in the last three games (worst in the NFL since Week 6). On Sunday, and Co. face rookie linebacker and the No. 6-ranked run defense, allowing just 86.4 yards per game (to better running teams). Mettenberger didn't look ready for his , so it will be interesting to see if he made any strides over the bye. sits just 11 rushing yards shy of pa sing his career-high mark. It's been a remarkable turnaround for the journeyman who currently is fifth in the NFL in rushing yards (609). On Sunday, he'll face a defense that has allowed 300 total yards in seven straight games (the franchise's longest streak since 2010 -- 10 straight) and 28th-ranked run defense, which is giving up a ghastly 134.8 yards per game. Pregame reading material says is known to be a Titans OC Jason Michael is among the league's Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="BUF" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="KC" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="1 PM ET" network="CBS"> has a sack in seven of eight games this season. With 12 sacks, he is on pace for an NFL-record 24.0. This week the dynamo will try to clobber . This could be Clay Matthews Jersey a nip-and-tuck game in Orchard Park, so watch Houston to have an impact late against Orton. The quarterback currently boasts an NFL-best 132.5 fourth-quarter pa ser rating. The will need Houston's disruption to bring that number back down to reality Sunday. The ' biggest advantage will be their demolition defensive line against a offensive line that, while improving, remains porous for stretches. Buffalo's eighth-ranked run defense is allowing just 92.2 yards per game but will have to slow down , who has four rushing touchdowns in his last three games. If the ' front four can make and K.C.'s offense one-dimensional, and can pin their ears back, get after Smith and add to their team sack total of 28 (second in the NFL). **Pregame reading material** is efficiently moving up the The and are part of the is trying to was a Who will win? Three of five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="DET" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="MIA" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="1 PM ET" network="CBS"> The ' defense has been domineering over the team's three-game winning streak. Their 10 takeaways in the last three games lead the NFL. It's not a surprise the unit has played much better since the return of safety , who has been all over the field. and Co. should be able to beat up a offensive line that has struggled this season, which could lead to multiple Detroit turnovers. Turnovers have set up and the ' offense on short fields during their hot streak, which has allowed the unit to get leads and the quarterback to get in an early groove.Getting back on the field is huge for the ' offense. has struggled, especially with the intermediate routes during 's absence. In the past three games Stafford has completed just 37.5 percent on pa ses of 11 to 20 air yards and has a 0:2 touchdown to interception ratio and a 28.6 pa ser rating on such pa ses. While Stafford has protected the ball better this season, he's facing a stingy secondary. If the rush gets to Stafford, the quarterback could give Jones and cornerback opportunities to make plays on the ball once again. Pregame reading material is back and Brooks: Ricky Williams left the Dolphins due to The Lions and Dolphins are among the teams in the Who will win? Four of five Around The NFL writers <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="JAX" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="DAL" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="1 PM ET" network="FOX"> Whether or not plays (it's looking more and more ), this game will be all about carrying the load. Murray's 100-yard streak , but Sunday he'll face a defense giving up 123.4 yards per game on the ground. However, Jacksonville's D has actually been the stiffest in the NFL in the red zone this season, allowing a touchdown on only 40 percent of such drives. So when Murray carries the down to the red zone, he'll need to punch it in. The have leaned on the last three weeks and it's kept them in games. The former college quarterback has 329 yards on 57 carries the past three outings. He'll face a defense that has allowed 100-plus rushing yards in its last three contests (and in six of its last seven). The Jags will also need rookie quarterback to avoid throwing one of those back-breaking interceptions he's unfortunately becoming known for, as the have 14 takeaways this season (ninth most in the NFL). **Pregame reading material** were named in the lineup Romo in London on Friday How the is willing to talk deal after Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="NO" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="SF" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="1 PM ET" network="FOX"> The ' secondary will have its hands full against , who has shot back to life with big plays. The ' defense has allowed just one 300-yard pa ser this season (, 318). It will be interesting to see how San Francisco goes about covering -- especially if , one of the NFL's premier cover linebackers, returns from a toe injury. The ' fifth-ranked run defense must also siphon off a fresh, bulldozing if San Francisco is to avoid its first three-game losing streak under . The hand-wringing over the ' running game (or lack thereof) continues. San Francisco has run the ball on 44 percent of offensive plays this season (still eighth most in John Franklin-Myers Jersey the NFL) after running it on 53 percent of plays last season (the most in the NFL). A struggling offensive line hasn't opened holes on the occasions the Niners did take to the ground. Don't expect a reversal in play-calling this week against the 10th-ranked ' run defense. Rob Ryan's D has been gashed through the air enough this season (268.4 yards per game; 27th-most in the NFL) that Niners offensive coordinator Greg Roman will want to sling it. **Pregame reading material** leads Chris We seling's list of the guarantees a for the Niners this weekend Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="NYJ" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="PIT" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="1 PM ET" network="CBS"> The haple s ' secondary catches at the worst po sible time. has 14 touchdowns and no interceptions in his last three games. The have the fewest interceptions in the NFL (one). Opposing teams have thrown 24 touchdowns against the , the most in the NFL. The most scores New York has allowed to a single quarterback this season is four (, Week 8). Roethlisberger could be in for another monster game if 's pa s rush doesn't get home every play. 's symmetrical 1-1-1 record versus the will be undone Sunday. Vick played fine last week, posting a 105.7 pa ser rating, but he couldn't stretch the field. This season, Vick has completed just 19.2 percent of 10-plus air-yard attempts (lowest in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 20 such attempts). He'll get some reprieve with the mi sing veteran and athletic rookie linebacker . Expect Vick to target again in the short-pa sing game and attack the ' D on the edges, where he holds a huge advantage. **Pregame reading material** Cowher: has Polamalu and Shazier are The part of the An anti-John Idzik banner was Wednesday Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="TB" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="ATL" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="1 PM ET" network="FOX"> Don't expect another shellacking like the 56-14 whooping the put on Tampa in . Atlanta plays much differently on the road than in the Georgia Dome. is averaging 40 fewer pa sing yards, has thrown Robert Quinn Jersey four more interceptions and holds a pa ser rating 39.6 points lower on the road. Still, he has the weapons in and to torture a Bucs defense that has been pasted but has much le s talent. Tampa's biggest hope to thwart the ' pa s attack is if blows up a weak interior offensive line. starts for the Bucs for the first time since the Week 3 lo s to Atlanta. Early in the season, McCown fell victim to a porous offensive line and played poorly. However, he faces a team ranked last in total defense (408.8 yards per game allowed) and 28th in scoring defense (27.6 points per game) that has compiled just seven sacks (fewest in the NFL). could be in for another big day against a pa s defense ranked 30th. **Pregame reading material** as the Bucs' QB of the future McCoy: Bucs aren't </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="OAK" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="DEN" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="4:05 PM ET" network="CBS"> is perfect against teams that are 0-3 or worse. Against such teams he's compiled an 8-0 record, with a 71.4 completion percentage, 17 touchdowns, 6 interceptions and a 102.7 pa ser rating. Coming off a lo s, Manning will unleash his bevy of playmaking wideouts against the ' 10th-ranked pa s defense. I'll be watching Manning match wits with , who is having a sneaky-good year for the winle s . It's always fun when two all-time greats battle it out. shouldn't expect much help from his running game (again). The average 65.5 rushing yards per game, which is the NFL's worst mark since the 1946 (42.5 YPG). Pounding the ball against the ' top-rated run defense would be a fruitle s enterprise. The ' offensive line has given the up-and-down Carr solid protection, but they'll have to be even better Sunday against (who has nine sacks) and (eight). **Pregame reading material** The the No. 1 overall pick thinks Ronnie Hillman admits against Pats Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="ARI" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="STL" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="4:25 PM ET" network="FOX"> Inexplicably, the are frisky against NFC West opponents (2-1) but flame out against the rest of the Malcolm Brown Jersey NFL (1-4). has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in each of his last three starts. However, the are 2-1 in those games. Relying on (averaging 4.5 yards per carry) will be tough sledding this week against ' stout defense, which has not allowed 85-plus rushing yards to any single player and just pile-drove the NFL's leading rusher last week. The key to this game will likely be how well the ' offensive line holds up against a pa s rush that has found its groove (eight sacks last week). has been the best quarterback in the NFC West thus far, and his low interception rate (two for the season) is a big reason why. However, he's known to self-combust when under siege. ' blitzing defense (you can bet the house he's coming all day Sunday) could rattle Palmer. But if the signal-caller is given time, his flock of receiving playmakers in , , and out of the backfield should win one-on-one matchups all day. **Pregame reading material** Cards' has team among league's elite What was Bowles' master plan to ? Daniel Jeremiah thinks Palmer is out of the NFC West QBs Takeaways from the Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="SEA" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="NYG" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="4:25 PM ET" network="FOX"> This is a battle of two offenses that have been up and down this season. has cooled off since the team's Week 5 win, and his season completion percentage is back down to 62.5. However, he hasn't thrown a pick in four games, and his 145 pa ses without an interception is the longest streak of his career. (Yay, Eli!) He's getting little help from receivers -- outside of in spurts -- and a slogging running game isn't going to aid much against the ' fourth-ranked run defense. If Manning can't take advantage of Seattle's non- cornerbacks, the ' offense is in for another long day. Seattle's rushing attack got back on track last week, and we should expect a lot more of that Sunday against a defense giving up 119 yards per game on the ground. It's troubling that hasn't found much chemistry with his receivers this season (oh, where have you gone, ?). However, facing a secondary that has been decimated by injury will give the Seattle signal-caller the chance to right the ship -- that is, if his offensive line can keep and off his back. **Pregame reading material** is in the team's offense laments Carr questions his Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="GB" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="CHI" visitteamscore="at" day="Sunday" time="8:30 PM ET" network="NBC"> Which will we see Sunday night in Lambeau? I'm not sure the , Cutler, the Greek gods or even know the answer. As waywardly as Cutler has played at times, the quarterback is on pace for career highs in completion percentage, touchdown pa ses and pa ser rating (all true facts). However, the forced throws and miscommunications that led to interceptions have killed the . Cutler can't make mistakes against the ' ninth-ranked pa s defense, which has compiled 10 interceptions (tied for fourth). We'd expect to carry the load against a run defense that has been gashed this Michael Brockers Jersey season, but we've expected that before with little to no payoff. Returning from a hamstring tweak that got healthy over the team's bye, should be in full chops-licking mode Sunday night. In the last meeting between the two teams at Soldier Field, Rodgers was unstoppable. The have no one to cover or stick with on option routes. linebacker (ribs) is expected back, which should help against and the ' running game, but it's more important for the to get Rodgers to the ground to thwart the outside pa sing attack. If not, it'll be another rollover win for Green Bay. **Pregame reading material** signs a with McCarthy thinks Rodgers' hamstring cut 2011 first-round pick says Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> <content:weekly-predictions hometeamabbr="PHI" hometeamscore="" visitteamabbr="CAR" visitteamscore="at" day="Monday" time="8:30 PM ET" network="ESPN"> hasn't played well the past several outings. He of the 32nd-ranked 57.4 completion percentage faces an secondary that has allowed 256.2 yards pa sing per game and has gotten burned at times this season. The question is, does Cam have the weapons around him to take advantage? When plays like a rookie (dropping pa ses) the ' offense goes from creaky to stalled out. would like to utilize the running attack to keep 's high-flying offense on the sidelines. However, the are averaging just 94.7 rushing yards per game, 26th in the NFL -- and that includes Newton's scampers. Carolina needs and to be more than occasional sidepieces Sunday. We've finally made it. will begin his road toward redemption. The quarterback couldn't have asked for a cushier situation to be thrown into. He's on a division-leading team in an offense that shelters the quarterback as if he were a . Moreover, he faces a defensive secondary that struggles covering in space. It will be intriguing to see how deploys Sanchez, including whether Kelly utilizes Sanchez's mobility more than he did with Foles. It's just comforting to know that, for better or worse, whether in an extended or abbreviated time period, Sanchise is back in our lives. **Pregame reading material** 's career with postponed trial Newton's struggles are explained in the latest : : for Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers </content:weekly-predictions> The latest Around The NFL Podcast and recaps the ' blowout win over the . Find more Around The NFL content on .</content:weekly-predictions>