3 key matchups to watch in NFL Week 10 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's and Monday's games.

Here are the matchups we are looking at for the Week 10 games. 

Zach Frazier (C, Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Dexter Lawrence (DT, Cincinnati Bengals)

The game of the week in the AFC is a first-place showdown in the AFC North between the Steelers and Bengals. The Steelers won the first meeting of the season in Week 3, and now they go for the sweep and a chance to take full control of the division.

If they are going to do that, a ball-control approach on offense that keeps Cincinnati's offense off the field would be a good way to go about it.

It would also play into the Steelers' offensive strength of running the football and leaning on running backs Jaylen Warren and Rico Dowdle. 

For that to work, they are going to need to neutralize Lawrence, who has been a game-changer and attitude-changer for the Bengals this season. A lot of that is going to fall on Frazier, who is having one of the best seasons of any center in the NFL this season and could be playing his way toward first-team All-Pro honors. 

The Bengals wide receivers will be a big matchup for the Steelers secondary, but the Frazier-Lawrence matchup is one that features two players who are among the best at their positions going head-to-head in a matchup that might sneak under the radar but could ultimately determine the game. 

Christian Gonzalez (CB, New England Patriots) vs. Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams (WRs, Detroit Lions)

Gonzalez is one of the best (and highest-paid) cornerbacks in the NFL, but he is coming off one of the worst games of his career in a blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 9. He and the Patriots defense had no answer for anything the Packers were doing, and Gonzalez was at the center of a lot of it.

He gets to go against another NFC North team on Sunday when the Patriots play the Lions in the NFL's Germany game in Munich.

At 5-4, the Patriots are not quite where they want to be, and they really need a win to keep pace in the AFC playoff race.

Given how the Lions move St. Brown around the formation, putting him outside and in the slot, Gonzalez figures to see a lot of him and Williams. After the Packers took advantage of Gonzalez a week ago, it should be expected that the Lions will take a similar approach and test him downfield this week as well. 

Nico Collins (WR, Houston Texans) vs. Denzel Ward (CB, Cleveland Browns)

It might not be the most attractive game based on records, but the Browns-Texans could end up being a massive game in the AFC wild-card race.

The Browns are 5-4 looking to avoid a three-game losing streak that could completely derail a strong start.

The Texans are trying to erase an awful 0-4 start and win their fourth game in a row.

It's a long shot at this point, but it could end up being a big game for a tiebreaker situation later in the season. 

Houston's offense has been the surprising strength of its team this season, and quarterback C.J. Stroud is playing some of the best football of his career. Collins has missed some time due to injury, but when healthy, he has been an impact player in the Texans passing game. He and Stroud will get a big challenge this week against Ward, who remains one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL.