theScore's Michael McClymont breaks down five of the most important in-game matchups ahead of Week 4.
Michael Crabtree vs. Aqib Talib
There is no guarantee that Crabtree will play, as he did not practice Friday after suffering a chest injury Monday night. If he does, though, it will be his first meeting with Talib since the Broncos corner snatched his gold chain off his neck on Jan. 1.
Talib won that bout of mental warfare, the Broncos held the Raiders receiver to five catches and 47 yards, and Denver came away with the W.
No doubt Crabtree has been waiting for an opportunity for some payback since Talib punked him.
Taylor Lewan vs. J.J. Watt
How about this for a matchup of best on best? Watt, the Texans' star defensive end, will go head to head with Lewan of the Titans, considered one of the top left tackles in the game.
Lewan allowed just one sack in 16 games last season and has a spotless record after three games this year. Watt, a three-time Defensive Player of the Year, has yet to record a quarterback sack in 2017, but expressed little concern about that statistic earlier this week.
And if Watt does beat Lewan on his way to quarterback Marcus Mariota, he'll do so with a broken finger on his left hand.
The matchup between these two giants could go a long way in deciding a game between AFC South rivals with playoff aspirations.
DeShone Kizer vs. Vontaze Burfict
Burfict's back and he's got his sights set on a rookie QB.
The Bengals linebacker will be on the field Sunday after serving a three-game suspension for an illegal hit in the preseason. On the other side of the ball will be Kizer. Though he's already experienced what the AFC North has to offer after games against the Steelers and Browns, he'll now have to contend with one of the fiercest players in the league.
Both the Browns and Bengals are 0-3 and desperate for a win. A victory may hinge on whether Kizer can avoid Burfict, and whether the oft-suspended defender will be in top form after three weeks away.
Travis Frederick/Zack Martin vs. Aaron Donald
Considered the best linemen in football, center Travis Frederick and right guard Zack Martin will face what might be the best interior defender in the league Sunday in Rams star Aaron Donald.
Donald is often used up and down the line, so both Martin and Frederick should have their share of individual battles with the 280-pound dynamo. The success of the Cowboys' running game, and the protection of quarterback Dak Prescott, hinges on their ability to shut down the tackle.
Since ending his holdout after one week of regular-season play, Donald hasn't racked up the stats, but he always makes his presence felt.
Running back Ezekiel Elliott has yet to have a standout game this season, and with Donald taking up space in the middle of the line, the going may be even tougher for him Sunday.
Kirk Cousins vs. Marcus Peters
Cousins looked like the quarterback who's thrown for back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons last week, but that was against an unimpressive Raiders secondary. Cousins and the Redskins face a stiffer test this week from the undefeated Chiefs and a defensive backfield that features a ballhawk in Peters.
Peters shared the league lead in picks in 2015 and ranked second in that category in 2016. He already has an interception after three games of action this year.
Without Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson at his disposal, Cousins has been careful with the ball this season as he continues to develop his rapport with pass-catchers Terrelle Pryor, Josh Doctson, and Jamison Crowder.
The Redskins are coming off a resounding win over the Raiders and are aiming to prove they should be considered among the league's best. They'll get that opportunity against the team with the best record.
(Photos courtesy: Getty Images)
