We're into and starting to see who some of the contenders and pretenders are. Kevin Patra is here every week to fill you in on the key storylines for each matchup. Consider this your handy guide as you settle into your couch for all the NFL action. Both running backs and have struggled this season. Lacy has not topped 43 yards in any game this season, while Forte averages just 3.2 yards per carry. Watch for both teams to try to get their back going early. Lacy in particular should have a chance to awaken from hibernation Andy Pettitte Jersey against the ' run defense.We need more love for rookie corner (). Fuller leads the NFL in interceptions with three and has parroted the "" of injured teammate , earning two forced fumbles. He confronts a big test in . **Pregame reading material** Current Packer thinks his final play as a Bear The Around The NFL team has a high opinion of . coach wasn't shy when Lacy. Wide receiver wasn't pleased with how the Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers faces off against his former Buffalo team. After two solid weeks, the signal caller reverted to Bad Fitzy in Week 3. Against a feisty defense that can get after the quarterback and has (quietly having a great start to the season) lurking on the back end, Fitzpatrick will have his hands full protecting the football. One critical key to this matchup will be how the are able to run the ball on the ' defensive front. Last week Houston got ran over by . If and are jaunting free in the second level it will allow the to continue to hide . Pregame reading materialFitzpatrick now leads the -- ' great, yet meaningle s catch Pick up this week, Fabiano thinks Hopkins Who will win? Three of five Around The NFL writers Might we be seeing some life from rookie running back ? Last week at Cincinnati, Sankey rushed for 61 yards on 10 carries and looked much better than (10 for 33 yards). With nursing an injured wrist, expect Tenne see go to the ground more against a middling Justin Verlander Jersey D. For Indy it will be interesting to see if coordinator Pep Hamilton sticks with allowing to air it out against one of the NFL's best pa s defenses. Or whether he'll revert to his more conservative approach against a front that has been gashed on the ground. If what's past is prologue, bet on the latter. **Pregame reading material** might not be healthy, which start. : isn't the ' only receiving option, Adam Rank believes it's time for fantasy owners . Fabiano values the ' as Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers Got your ? had Sunday circled on his calendar since signing in Baltimore and declaring there would be "." The ' record holder in receptions, yards and touchdowns is on a warpath this season and could become a nightmare for Carolina's secondary. has not been sacked since Week 1, his first two-game stretch without a sack in his seven-year career. With offensive tackle out, that streak will be tested against a defense licking its wounds after last week's thrashing. Expect and Co. to put Flacco on his backside on the regular. **Pregame reading material** can't wait to face his old team -- but Flacco Baltimore will be without left tackle , practiced, but the Carolina backfield situation : tight end Who will win? Four of five Around The NFL writers The are a completely different team away from their home den. Detroit and quarterback have lost four straight road starts. hasn't scored a rushing touchdown on the road since joining Detroit last season. If the ' front bottles up the run and frustrates Stafford, it could be another defensive struggle. As poorly as the play on the road, the under are that much better at home. The second-year signal caller has never lost back-to-back home games (7-3 record at MetLife). If Gang Green is going to ride the GenoCoaster they desperately need Sunday to be an upward swing. **Pregame reading material** Detroit's defense is coming off an impre sive performance against Green Bay, There's "no doubt" The ' New York has spent the week complaining about the mistake Who will win? Four of five Around The NFL writers The Bucs' offense has been awful (30th ranked total offense at 271.0 yards per game). could provide a spark against a defense that despite last week's convincing win is allowing a 105.3 pa ser rating to quarterbacks (30th) and 5.1 yards per rush (26th). The Bucs need to score points, because you better believe , and will against their defense. You name it and the Bucs' defense has struggled at Francisco Liriano Jersey it: High pa ser rating (117.2; worst), pa sing yards (23rd), sacks (22nd with just four), run stopping (20th), etc. **Pregame reading material** The Bucs woes could be tougher now is out, from Glennon. LaDainian Tomlinson would take Bell Pittsburgh lost linebacker for a while, Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers All eyes will be on , and justifiably so. The quarterback has been as inconsistent as the weather. He averages an NFL-worst 5.03 pa s yards per attempt and the have completed four pa s plays of 20-plus yards, tied for the second fewest. On the plus side: Since 2012 (the beginning of the era), opponents have a pa ser rating of 101.4, highest in the NFL.Most of the focus in Oakland has been on rookie quarterback . But first-round selection is quietly starting to find his footing after a stellar Week 3 performance. Against a front that was swallowed up at home last week, the rookie rusher could earn his first career sack. **Pregame reading material** How will 'Fins react after 's Schein: ' offensive identity Mack is one of We seling's Is Tannehill Who will win? Four of five Around The NFL writers How are you celebrating the start of the era? I'm considering some combination of a Hawaiian shirt, piata games, an hour of , and . Most interesting Sunday will be how Bortles manages the game from behind a leaky offensive line. It might not come into play against a Jacksonville defense allowing 400-plus yards per game, but I want to see how adjusts to life without . Specifically, watch the red zone where Woodhead led the league with 19 receptions last season. **Pregame reading material** Bucky's Best: Bortles cracks Bolts to be without Fabiano: ? Who will win? All five Around The NFL writers Let's just keep it simple and focus on the quarterbacks. has thrown for 300-plus yards in each game this season (most in NFL). He faces a defense that has not allowed a 300-yard pa ser this season. Can -ball overcome a home defense seething at the moment? will be under greater pre sure. The signal caller is putting up solid numbers outside of the turnover-carnival in Week 2. This week the quarterback faces an advantageous defense to change the narrative. Philly is allowing 386 total yards per game and 280.3 pa sing yards a game (30th). We'd still like to see the get back to the ground attack, but this stacks up as a game in which Kap can get Jimmy Wynn Jersey well. **Pregame reading material** : See where ranks Harbaugh met with Kelly -Niners pits wasn't happy Who will win? Three of five Around The NFL writers Stopping the ' offense seems impo sible on paper -- Atlanta is averaging 455 yards a game. The one time they were slightly slowed was by 's former team. The first-year head coach will need to borrow some of that magic Sunday. Zimmer does have some pieces to work with: Rookie linebacker had five tackles, a sack, two quarterback hits and a pa s defensed last week. Safety has been a speeding bullet all over the field. Both will need big games to slow . It's Teddy Time in Minnesota. Bridgewater displays poise and good pocket awarene s. Luckily the rookie also faces a flaccid pa s rush in his first start. Couple that with a rushing attack that has offered nothing the last two weeks and could decide to sling it around the park. Hey, if he did it with , and in Cleveland, why not with a more talented player in Bridgewater? **Pregame reading material** With on IR, : Which rate Elliot Harrison has this one figured Last week, Who will Nolan Ryan Jersey win? All five Around The NFL writers The ' offense has scored on 13 of 28 drives (46.4 percent), best in the NFL, but it's lacked the big plays we're used to seeing. (who is 1-7 in his last eight road games) has completed just seven pa ses of 15-plus air-yards -- four of those came last week. He should be able to air it out more against this Dallas secondary. I'm just going to predict a shootout. The should be able to lean on once again, as the ' defense has allowed an average of more than 101 yards on the ground -- to much le ser talents. If can sling it against a defense that has been picked apart by quarterbacks of similar caliber () and le ser caliber (), the should be in for a good day. **Pregame reading material** : One Preview: can NFL NOW: Brees Schein: ' D Who will win? Four of five Around The NFL writers The ' struggles on the offensive line have short-circuited the entire offense. isn't able to step into throws and often doesn't have time to allow routes to progre s. The po se s the pa s rushers in , and to nuke all the ' plans. In a similar vein, one matchup I want to see is pa s rusher chasing around quarterback . Smith has overcome the shoddiest of shoddy line play thus far by dancing outside the pocket to make plays. He's quietly been one of the most entertaining quarterbacks to watch work this season. But will he be able to worm his way around an athletic freak like Jones? **Pregame reading material** QB Index: Bucky's Best: Best coaching matchup is : Deep-diving, Gronk ready to Who will win? Four of five Around The NFL writers