16 Things To Watch In Saturdays Matchups

We have a fantastic lineup of games this weekend, the perfect dress rehearsals. Let's look at our lineup of games this weekend.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Buffalo Bills (4:30 ET)
Tennessee Titans @ Atlanta Falcons (7:00 ET)
Dallas Cowboys @ Miami Dolphins (7:00 ET)
Washington Redskins @ Baltimore Ravens (7:30 ET)
Saint Louis Rams @ Cleveland Browns (8:00 ET)
New Orleans Saints @ Indianapolis Colts (8:00 ET)
Minnesota Vikings @ Kansas City Chiefs (8:00 ET)
Houston Texans @ Denver Broncos (9:00 ET)

So, here we go. 16 things to watch in our Saturday Matchups.

1. Sammy Watkins injured his rib in action against the Steelers last week, and has yet been cleared to play. Assuming that he doesn't play, how will his backup, Marquise Goodwin or Robert Woods, will perform when called into action. And how will the Bill receivers deal with the promising Buccaneers secondary?

2. How will Josh McCown step up today? I expect to see Mike Glennon continue to outplay him, and Glennon continue to make his case about on the starting job. Glennon has a lot of talent, and I believe he is a better QB then McCown. So, watch for a Tampa QB to step up today and shine for Lovie Smith and see if one get's the starting job.

3. The Buccaneers defense is something to watch today. They have built a monster on paper, Michael Johnson from Cincinnati, Gerald McCoy, Adrian Claiborne, LaVonte David, Mason Foster, Alterraun Verner, Mark Barron, Mike Jennings. How will this defense perform tonight against a more then decent receiver group? We will soon see...

4. Jake Matthews has struggled this preseason, can he rebound to play decently this half, or will it be a while?

5. I'm wondering how Ken Whisenhunt will utilize the offense, how it will run, and will it be good? Atlanta is the perfect team to test your team on. Whisenhunt has Jake Locker, Bishop Sankey, and Jason Hunter. Hunter is turning into a very deep threat, and will open the field for Kendall Wright and Nate Washington. So, in otherwords, definitely keep a good eye on the Titans tonight.

6. The Cowboys visit Miami, who has run a decent offense this preseason. Dallas will have a big defensive test trying to manhandle Ryan Tannehill, Knowshon Moreno, and Brian Hartline. Mike Wallace should get some openings, and same goes to Charles Clay. Watch that Dallas defense. If they pass the test, they're going to have a half decent season. If they don't, watch for a long season for Cowboys fans.

7. Miami's secondary is something to keep an eye on. Brent Grimes and now Cortland Finnegan are just a couple starters to watch tonight. If Miami handles Dez Bryant, Miami will be a team you'll have to just simply keep confused.

8. Robert Griffin III is under all sorts of fire, for apparently "alienating" himself from his teammates, for not learning to slide right during the regular season, for the Joe Haden pick he threw last week, for Kirk Cousins overplaying him in training camp and the preseason. This is the game that RG3 has to show that all of that is wrong. He needs to have a strong game tonight, and he knows that. Watch him go out there and just kick-butt.

9. The Ravens have been very strong this preseason, beating Dallas 37-30, and before that manhandling San Francisco 23-3. Watch the young defense that the Ravens have been trying to rebuild since winning the Super Bowl and loosing Ray Lewis, Bernard Pollard and Ed Reed. They now have CJ Mosely, Matt Elam, and Jimmy Smith. Can they hold Washington down tonight?

10. The Rams defensive line. Michael Sam's job hangs on that. Names such as Eugene Sims, and William Hayes are the names that he needs to pass. If those two put up strong numbers, you can call Sam's NFL regular season debut cancelled.

11. Sam Bradford is another Ram to watch. They've put a hell of a receiving core around him, and if he can't utilize it, the Rams are going to start looking for a new QB. Ryan Mallett from New England perhaps?

12. Brian Hoyer must be watched tonight. He's going up against a very strong defense, and now that he's been named the starter, he needs to perform very strong. He has some receivers to work with tonight, and hopefully the running game will work too. Watch the entire offense all night, actually. That would be a good idea.

13. The New Orleans and Indianapolis Super Bowl rematch. Andrew Luck against Drew Brees. Both have some improved receivers, and both should have multiple threat running attacks. It's all on Drew Brees to prove that his missed 2 games is no big deal.

14. Jerick McKinnon is my dark horse Offensive Rookie of the Year player. He's a very good player, and very underrated. He will probably have the VIkings #2 RB job, and that gives us our #14 thing to watch. The entire Viking offense needs to be watched. Who's the better general? Matt Cassel or Teddy Bridgewater. I must say that General Cassel sounds much better then General Teddy.

15. Watch De'Anthony Thomas in action tonight handling special teams, and getting a couple carries, perhaps... Maybe a couple catches too. Keep a good eye on that guy.

16. Jadevion Clowney. JJ Watt. VS Peyton Manning. Anything else I have to say?