Top 10 matchups for Week 17 of the NFL season

In our final regular-season installment of this series, we are going to focus primarily on the games with playoff implications.

No, there will be no talk about Stephen Morris/Josh Freeman taking on Zach Mettenberger. Instead, the goal here is to sift through the biggest games and attempt to find out who has the advantage heading into the final week of the regular year.

Here are your top 10 matchups for Week 17.

1. Larry Fitzgerald vs. Richard Sherman

Sherman has pretty much had his way with Fitzgerald in the past. Of course, that was prior to a 10-reception, 130-yard performance against the Seattle Seahawks back in Week 10. In the three games prior to that, Sherman held the Arizona Cardinals' top receiver to nine catches for 67 yards on 21 targets.

Needless to say, this is going to be one of the biggest determining factors in a game that could send Arizona to a first-round playoff bye.

This season has seen a 32-year-old Fitzgerald turn back the clock a great deal. He's recorded 103 receptions for 1,160 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games. The future Hall of Fame receiver has also caught a ridiculous 75 percent of the passes thrown in his direction.

As it relates to Sherman, he's been nowhere near the shutdown guy we have seen in the past. He's intercepted just two passes while allowing an average of 14.7 yards per reception.

Sherman needs to act the part of a Pro Bowler if Seattle is going to avoid losing a fourth home game of the season.

2. Jah Reid vs. Khalil Mack

It's time for Reid to live up to the extension the Kansas City Chiefs gave him earlier in the season. He's allowed five sacks and 19 quarterback pressures 10 games — stats that won't cut it against a Defensive Player of the Year candidate.

In just his second season with the Oakland Raiders, Mack has been about as dominating as any defensive player in the game. He recorded a five-sack performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 14 and has racked up 16 on the season. More than this, Mack has accumulated a ridiculous 53 quarterback hurries in 15 games.

This one matchup could help dictate whether Kansas City earns the AFC West title and a home playoff game or not. If Mack is able to put consistent pressure on Alex Smith, it will be a long day for the Chiefs quarterback.

3. Buffalo Bills offensive line vs. New York Jets defensive line

Buffalo's offensive line has allowed a total of 40 sacks in 15 games. That ranks the Bills in the bottom 10 of the NFL in this category.

Taking on a dominating Jets defensive line that boasts a physically intimidating trio of Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams, this area has to be of utmost concern for former Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

While Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor is adept at avoiding pressure, he's going to face an onslaught from a Jets team that's looking to clinch a playoff appearance. This will help determine how the AFC playoff race unfolds come Sunday.

4. David Bakhtiari vs. Everson Griffen 

One of the most underrated players in the NFL, Griffen has helped the Minnesota Vikings defense take that next step toward elite status. Here's a unit that has yielded 34 total points in its past two games, both blowout wins.

Now taking on a struggling Green Bay Packers offense that's coming off an eight-point performance, the Vikings seem primed to earn the NFC North championship.

The onus here for Minnesota will be to take advantage of a Packers offensive line that allowed a whopping nine sacks last week against the Arizona Cardinals.

For his part, Griffen has been Minnesota's most consistent pass-rush threat. While he has only eight sacks on the year, the veteran has recorded a career-high 39 quarterback hurries.

If he's able to find Aaron Rodgers throughout the game, the Vikings should come out on top against Green Bay in a winner-take-all game.

5. Sammy Watkins vs. Darrelle Revis

If you honestly believe the Buffalo Bills have nothing to play for here, I have nothing for you. We all know Rex Ryan is going to want to exact revenge against his old team in a game that could send the New York Jets home for the winter.

While that will likely entail the utilization of what has been a run-first offensive attack under Greg Roman, it could also mean throwing the ball down the throat of Ryan's former pupil in New York.

Revis has been decent this season. That's not really in question. He hasn't, however, been the dominating force we have become accustomed to. The future Hall of Fame corner is yielding a low 51.2 quarterback rating when targeted. Though, he is also giving up an average of 15 yards per reception.

Taking on a young receiver in Watkins who is averaging nearly 19 yards per reception on the year, Revis is going to have his hands full. If he's able to shut down the Bills' top receiving threat, it will go a long way in the Jets locking up a playoff spot.

6. Russell Okung vs. Calais Campbell

One of the primary reasons the Seattle Seahawks offensive line has improved from a pass-protecting standpoint has been Okung's ability to remain on the field over the past several weeks.

After missing two games earlier in the year, the former Pro Bowl performer has suited up in each of the past six outings, yielding two sacks and just one more quarterback hit during that span.

The soon-to-be free agent will take on an Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman who seems to have found the fountain of youth. Through 15 games, Campbell has put up 26 quarterback hurries and six sacks.

It's going to be important that Wilson receives the necessary pass protection to find open passing lanes in a game that he might be forced to beat the Cardinals over the top. In this, Okung becomes an important figure.

7. Amari Cooper vs. Marcus Peters

In the second of what will be many inner-division matchups between these two rookie studs, Peters is going to have to hold his own against an Oakland Raiders offense that will likely open it up without anything to lose on Sunday. That's a dangerous combination for a Kansas City Chiefs squad that's still battling for a division title.

Peters, a Pro Bowl performer as a rookie, has recorded a league-leading eight interceptions on the year. He's also yielded the fourth-most touchdown passes and the second-most yards among NFL corners.

A lot of that has to do with the level of competition Peters has gone up against this season. He's continually going up against the opposing team's top receiver, which can lead to some inflated numbers.

Cooper finds himself as the Raiders' first 1,000-yard receiver since Randy Moss. Though, he's been extremely inconsistent recently. The rookie has sandwiched a 100-yard game against the Green Bay Packers between two less-than-stellar performances that saw him tally a total of two receptions for 10 yards.

8. Jameis Winston vs. Cam Newton

Outside of the potential of earning a playoff spot in Week 17, Winston couldn't ask for more than attempting to ruin a division rival's chances of earning home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

That's the only thing really on the line in this game between two quarterbacks who will match wits numerous times over the next several years.

Can Winston lead his surprising Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a big season-ending win against the class of the NFC? This scenario could potentially set into motion a dramatic shakeup within the NFC playoff race, likely leading to the Arizona Cardinals earning home-field advantage.

In this, all eyes will be on Winston and Newton as the Carolina Panthers look to lock up home field in an early afternoon game. It also doesn't hurt the intrigue that these two quarterbacks have combined for 8,200 yards and 73 total touchdowns on the year.

9. Doug Baldwin vs. Patrick Peterson

With 11 touchdowns over the past five games, Baldwin is in the midst of a torrid stretch of action that prior to last week helped the Seattle Seahawks offense take off big time.

Though, Baldwin has not faced a corner nearly as dominating as Peterson during this stretch. The Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowler has yielded just one touchdown and a 55.5 quarterback rating when targeted on the season.

In a game that has a ton of awesome individual matchups within it, this one could be the determining factor. Without a solid running game to rely on, Seattle is going to have to find success through the air. In this, the Wilson-to-Baldwin connection needs to hit big time.

10. Adrian Peterson vs. Green Bay Packers run defense

Peterson broke out of a three-game slump last week against a bad New York Giants defense. He went for 104 yards on 22 attempts in the blowout Vikings' win.

Now taking on a Green Bay Packers defense that ranks in the top 12 of the NFL against the run, it's not going to be easy pickings for Peterson in a game that will decide who comes out on top in the NFC North.

Look for Minnesota to rely on Peterson early to open up the passing game for Teddy Bridgewater. If that's snuffed out, the Vikings may be forced to rely on their second-year quarterback to take home the hardware at Lambeau in January. We have seen how that's worked out in the past.

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