Saturday 1 October 2016 23:34, UK
Washington Redskins' trip to New York to face the Giants headlines Sunday's live NFL Week Three action from 5.30pm on Sky Sports 2 HD.
As well as Redzone on Sky Sports Mix, there are three high quality match-ups back-to-back on Sunday and the action gets underway with the Redskins visit to MetLife and the small matter of Josh Norman v Odell Beckham Jnr renewing their rivalry.
Giants are one of seven teams yet to taste defeat this season and among the rest of the 6pm games Minnesota, Denver, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh put their 100% records on the line after the New England Patriots preserved their perfect start with a win over the previously unbeaten Houston Texans on Thursday.
That is followed by two perfect records clashing in Philadelphia where the Eagles host the Pittsburgh Steelers, that's underway from 9pm with Carson Wentz looking to consolidate his record-breaking start against Steelers veteran QB Ben Roethlisberger.
And we finish with Chicago travelling to Dallas from 1.30am where the Bears are chasing a first win of the season and the Cowboys, inspired by impressive rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, will look to improve their 1-1 record.
Josh Norman returns to take on Odell Beckham Jnr in their first NFC East clash since Norman joined the division. The last time the pair faced off, it was the cornerback who came out on top, the Carolina Panthers winning 38-35 and going on to make the Super Bowl, ultimately coming up short against the Denver Broncos.
This time around Norman, who signed with the Redskins in free agency, is 0-2 with a team struggling to find any consistency. Beckham has also been slow out of the blocks and, although the Giants are 2-0 after wins over the Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints, Beckham is yet to score a touchdown and dropped a simple catch against the Saints which would have put the game beyond doubt.
Instead Giants quarterback Eli Manning has relied on Beckham's surrounding talent, including the resurgent Victor Cruz who missed almost two years with injury. Rookie wide receiver Sterling Shepard has also impressed, currently third in rookie receiving yards with 160 through the first two games.
The Redskins will be hoping to kick start their season, with franchise-tagged quarterback Kirk Cousins struggling to find receivers in the end zone. Cousins has thrown for almost 700 yards but, with only one touchdown so far this season, has been unable to finish drives and will need to improve if Washington are to return to the playoffs.
Key match ups
Giants offensive line v Redskins pass-rush
Manning has a 74% pass completion rate so far this season, throwing three touchdown passes and just one interception. The Redskins defense, led by Trent Murphy and Ryan Kerrigan, will have to put the two-time Super Bowl winner under a lot of pressure to ensure Manning doesn't have the time to pick out Beckham and co.
Josh Norman v Odell Beckham
The rivalry has been hyped up through the offseason but in reality, both player needs a win as much as the other. Norman was restricted in his role against Antonio Brown and the Pittsburgh Steelers in week one, but it can be certain that he will be man marking Beckham this weekend. As for OBJ, there would be nothing sweeter than to get his first TD of 2016 against Norman.
Whilst the Pittsburgh Steelers would have expected to be 2-0 going into this game, their week three opponents are way ahead of anyone's predictions. With a first time NFL head coach, a rookie quarterback who missed most of the preseason with injury, and a free agency that was more about undoing the damage of the previous regime than acquiring new talent, most Eagles fans had written off the 2016 season.
However victories over the Cleveland Browns and the Chicago Bears, and composed performances from QB Carson Wentz have given Philadelphia reason to be hopeful.
This week provides a much bigger test than any Wentz has faced so far. The Steelers have looked dominant, brushing aside the Bears before grinding out a divisional win against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Ben Roethlisberger has thrown for 559 yards and six touchdowns, and the Steelers' run game has been unstopppable, DeAngelo Williams leading the league in rushing (237 yards), in place of the suspended Le'veon Bell.
Key match ups
Pittsburgh wide receivers v Philadelphia secondary
The Eagles are missing top CB Leodis McKelvin and will only have three available to face up against a wide receiver core packed full of talent, including Antonio Brown, Marcus Wheaton, Sammi Coates and Eli Rogers. If Roethlisberger is allowed time in the pocket, it could be a tough night for the Philadelphia cornerbacks.
Carson Wentz v James Harrison
In his 14th season for the Steelers, Harrison is just three sacks away from becoming the all time leader in Pittsburgh. The linebacker has made four tackles and one interception this year, but will look to take advantage of Wentz's inexperience.
The winless Bears travel to Arlington, Texas to take on rookie Dak Prescott and the Cowboys who are on the up after their first win of the season last weekend.
It has been a tough start to the 2016 season for Chicago. Having lost to the Houston Texans, before a home loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Bears have also suffered important injuries early in the season. As well as quarterback Jay Cutler, who injured his throwing hand against Philadelphia, Chicago will be without Lamarr Houston, Danny Trevathan, Eddie Goldman and Bryce Callaghan.
In contrast, the Cowboys have begun the season as well as possible. Following the back injury to starting quarterback Tony Romo in preseason, Head coach Jason Garrett has turned to fourth round rookie Prescott, and Dallas are 1-1 after two close games.
Although Prescott is yet to throw a touchdown, he rushed for one against the Giants and has thrown 75 pass attempts without interception, a rookie record.
Both defenses are level on sacks for the season (four), with the Bears up on total tackles. But without key playmakers on defense such as Houston and Trevathan, the question remains whether Chicago will be able to break down one of the best offensive lines in the NFL.
Key match ups
Alshon Jeffery v Brandon Carr
Bears Backup quarterback Brian Hoyer will use Jeffery as a primary target and it will be up to Carr to moot this relationship. The eight year veteran cornerback has never missed a game, and already has one interception this season.
Jeremy Langford v Dallas defense front seven
Although the running back has scored two touchdowns this season, his running average is just over three yards a carry and was at fault for a costly fumble against the Eagles which turned the momentum in Philadelphia's favour. The Bears have another option in Jordan Howard, and should look to utilise their running game against a Dallas defensive line full of backups.
You can follow all the action on Sunday with our live blog and you can see all three matches as they unfold on Sky Sports 2 HD from 5.30pm and every touchdown on Redzone from 6pm on Sky Sports Mix.
