Josh Gordon Dolphins defense ready to rock in Week 12
In the spirit of , former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks spotlights players who are poised to have hero-like performances for their respective teams in Week 12:Gordon, who was of the season, is expected to make a significant impact on the ' pa sing game in his 2014 debut. The er led the NFL in receiving yards in 2013 (despite mi sing two games) and has totaled the third-most receiving yards (2,451) by
Dave Poulin Jersey any player in his first two seasons since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, behind only Randy Mo s (2,726) and (2,497).Gordon is an unquestionably rare talent on the perimeter with the potential to take over a game at a moment's notice. The can't muster a consistent pa s rush, lack the kind of big, athletic corners who can hold up in one-on-on coverage and must worry about slowing down a potent running game. Thus, Gordon could post monster numbers on Sunday. Expect Cleveland quarterback to target Gordon early and often, to re-establish a connection with the prolific pa s catcher while forcing Atlanta to respect the aerial game. If the relent and remove a defender from the box to keep a safety shaded toward Gordon's side, the can smash Atlanta with "ground and pound" football in the Georgia Dome. If not, Gordon will go bananas against a secondary that lacks the ability to contain the dynamic playmaker. and , WRs, Green Bay PackersThe best receiving tandem in football has been nearly impo sible to defend this season. Nelson and Cobb have combined for 19 touchdowns and posted nine 100-yard games (Nelson has five, Cobb has four) as the featured playmakers in the ' high-octane offense. certainly deserves a lot of the credit for the succe s of the ' majestic machine,
Vinni Lettieri Jersey but the inability of opposing cornerbacks to contain Nelson and Cobb on the perimeter makes life easier for the MVP of XLV.The ' imposing pa s rush (Minnesota has tallied 30 sacks, tied for ) will limit some of Rodgers' big-play opportunities. But the will attempt to create some one-on-one chances for Nelson and Cobb against , and on a variety of play-action pa ses with maximum protection. If the can give Rodgers enough time to push the ball downfield, Nelson and Cobb should be able to have their way with the ' secondary.After watching the surrender 200-plus rushing yards to in Week 11, the will make it a point to feed McCoy early and often, to see if Tenne see's defense has solved the i sues that led to last week's dismal performance. McCoy's numbers are down from 2013, but he's started to be a big factor in the game plan, notching 20-plus carries in five of the ' past six games. McCoy has found more succe s running
Ian Mitchell Jersey to the left behind and (McCoy averages 4 yards per attempt on rushes to that side, compared with 3.3 up the middle and 3.8 to the right), meaning the must try to adjust their defensive front to account for a left-handed running game. If McCoy enjoys succe s from the get-go on a variety of off-tackle and stretch plays to the left, Tenne see will have a tough time defending the ' potent bootleg pa sing game to the right. Given quarterback 's ability to make pinpoint throws rolling to his right, the ' game plan must revolve around stopping the run, to disrupt the rhythm and flow of the ' offense. Miami Dolphins' defenseIt's uncommon for a defense to enjoy a favorable matchup against , but the ' defense is perfectly suited for playing the . The unit excels at snuffing out the run with its front seven, which allows defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle to use maximum coverage to contain the pa s. As a result, the rarely concede big aerial plays
Bruins Custom Jersey (Miami is holding opponents to an NFL-best 19 percent completion rate on throws that travel 20-plus yards in the air); in fact, they feast off opponents who try to force the ball downfield. has snatched five picks on a variety of overthrows and deflections, including four in the ' past four games. With and wreaking havoc off the edges, Miami has the right ingredients to hara s Manning into another disappointing outing. The veteran has to sed multiple interceptions in three straight games and could be without two of his primary targets ( and ). Without a sufficient running game to balance out their attack, the ' one-dimensional approach could yield few points in this pivotal AFC showdown. ALREADY COMPLETEDThe veteran playmaker is rarely mentioned as someone who could go down as one of the top runners in NFL history, but a quick glance at the numbers suggests Charles is an all-time great at the position. His 5.54 yards-per-carry mark is the highest for a running back in league history, ahead of three rs: Jim Brown (5.22), Gale Sayers (5.0) and Barry Sanders (4.99). This season, his 5.2 average is second among running backs (behind only 's 5.42).Facing a
Jaromir Jagr Jersey beleaguered defense that's been worn down by persistent rushing attacks, Charles could run wild. Look for to make Charles the focal point of a ground-heavy game plan in this AFC West battle, giving him 20-plus carries. If the ' most explosive offensive player notches his second 100-yard game of the season, Kansas City should be able to take care of busine s on the road.Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter .