By Jason Bryden
Assistant Sports Info Director
Tennessee-New York Giants
Can Tennessee running back Chris Johnson, who had his 12-game streak of 100 yards or more rushing in a 19-11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers get back on track this week? Or will the Giants defense who gave up 160 yards on the ground in a 38-14 drubbing to the Indianapolis Colts last week extend the streak?
In the loss to the Steelers, Johnson had just 34 yards rushing. Tennessee also committed seven turnovers in the loss. New York was down 24-0 at halftime to Indianapolis and turned it over three times.
The Giants lead the all-time series 5-4, but the Titans have won the last four meetings, all comingsince they left Houston, where they were the Oilers, after the 1996 season.
Dallas-Houston
One team is 2-0, the other is 0-2. If you asked most people before Week 1 who they would be, most would say Dallas is 2-0 and Houston is 0-2. Most people would be wrong.
The Cowboys are in a must-win situation after falling 27-20 to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. The Cowboys, despite gaining 410 yards, lost due to having three turnovers and recording zero themselves. The Texans rallied from a 27-10 deficit to best the Washington Redskins in overtime, 30-27. It was Houston’s first-ever overtime win. Quarterback Matt Schaub threw for 497 yards in the win.
The two teams have split the all-time series, the Texans winning in 2002 and the Cowboys prevailing in 2006.
Atlanta-New Orleans
One of the top NFL rivalries that few know about will take place on Sunday in New Orleans as the Super Bowl Champion Saints host the Falcons.
The Falcons bounced back from a week one loss to rout the Arizona Cardinals, 41-7. Atlanta totaled 444 yards and forced three turnovers in the convincing win. The Saints improved to 2-0 with a 25-22 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night, but lost running back Reggie Bush for a minimum six weeks due to a broken fibula.
New Orleans has won seven of the prior eight, but Atlanta leads the all-time series 45-37, including one playoff victory.
New York Jets-Miami
The 1-1 New York Jets travel to South Florida to take on the 2-0 Miami Dolphins in a key AFC East meeting on Sunday night.
The Jets triumphed over the New England Patriots, 28-14, on Sunday at home. The Jets scored the last 21 points of the game to even their mark, while forcing three turnovers. Miami scored its second road win in as many weeks with a 14-10 win at Minnesota, holding off the Vikings twice in their own territory in the final minutes.
Miami has won the last three overall, including a sweep in 2009. New York leads 46-42-1 overall, with the Dolphins having the lone playoff victory.
Green Bay-Chicago
The oldest rivalry in the NFL heats up again on Monday night at Soldier Field as the 2-0 Packers take on the 2-0 Bears for first place in the NFC North.
Green Bay had little trouble with the Buffalo Bills in a 34-7 romp this past Sunday at Lambeau Field as they held the Bills to 186 yards. The Bears won in Dallas for the first time since 1986 with a 27-20 victory over the Cowboys. Quarterback Jay Cutler threw for 277 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Chicago forced three Dallas turnovers in the win.
Chicago leads the all-time series 91-82-6. The two teams have combined for 21 championships, with the Packers netting 12 and the Bears recording nine, which ranks 1-2 for overall NFL Championships.