Three key matchups to watch in NFL Week 3 games

NFL games are not just matchups of two complete teams. They are also a series of individual one-on-one matchups that can ultimately help decide the outcome.

Every Friday, we are going to take a look at three potentially significant individual matchups that will be taking place in Sunday and Monday's games.

Here are the matchups we are looking at for the Week 3 games. 

Jaylen Waddle (WR, Denver Broncos) vs. Trent McDuffie (CB, Los Angeles Rams)

There are actually a couple of great wide receiver-cornerback matchups in this game, as the Broncos will also be sending Patrick Surtain II up against Davante Adams. 

What stands out about this particular matchup is Waddle and McDuffie were both massive offseason acquisitions by their teams in the hopes they could be missing pieces to their Super Bowl puzzle.

After a quiet opening week (just one catch for two yards), Waddle had a breakout performance in Week 2 with eight catches for 138 yards.

He figures to see a lot of McDuffie on Sunday night, and the Rams cornerback has been downright dominant through his first two games of the season.

According to Pro-Football-Reference, quarterbacks are just 5-of-12 passing with only 28 yards throwing in McDuffie's direction, while he has six pass defenses and an interception.  

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerbacks (Jamel Dean, Asante Samuel Jr. vs. Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers (Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins)

In theory, this could also involve Joey Porter Jr., but that situation seems to be reaching a boiling point and it is very unlikely that he is going to get on the field this week.

If he does? That would be an intriguing development for the Steelers (and the matchup).

If he doesn't? It's going to be Dean and Samuel trying to slow down one of the league's best wide receiver duos in Chase and Higgins.

The Bengals stars have yet to put up big numbers this season, but it is only a matter of time for them. Chase didn't have his biggest statistical game in Week 2, but he made some truly stunning catches that demonstrated what an impact player he is. 

Given the struggles of Pittsburgh's offense, as well as the improvement of Cincinnati's defense, the Steelers are going to need a big-time performance from their defense if they are going to get an important early season divisional win. 

Chicago Bears interior offensive line (Joe Thuney, Garrett Bradbury and Jonah Jackson) vs. Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackles (Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis)

The Bears will likely have to start third-string quarterback Case Keenum on Monday night.

Do you know what you have to do as a team when you are starting third-string quarterback Case Keenum?

You need to lean on your running game.

To lean on your running game, you need your offensive line to control the line of scrimmage and control the game. 

For the Bears, that is going to mean Thuney, Bradbury and Jackson are going to have to handle Carter and Davis and move them off the ball. It will not be easy, but it might be the one thing that could give the Bears their best chance without starting quarterback Caleb Williams.