Get Ready for the Ryan Bowl, Panthers to Continue Win Streak?

We’ve already had the Harbaugh Bowl, Battle of the Mannings and now on Sunday, we’ll have the Ryan Bowl as the New Orleans Saints (6-1) will take on the New York Jets (4-4). In other words, Jets head coach Rex Ryan will meet his twin brother Saints defensive coordinator Rob Ryan on the field.

Rex Ryan

Sunday’s meeting will not be their first on the NFL field. Rex has a 4-0 advantage in their meetings: twice as the Jets head coach while Rob was defensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns and two additional times when he was the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens while Rob had the same role with the Oakland Raiders.

Oh yeah, they’ve also met when they were college coaches in the 1990s and in this instance, Rob was the winner at 2-0.

Rob Ryan

Rob has been quiet about the upcoming matchup but his brother isn’t without comment. Rex said via ESPN, “I know my brother well so if there’s any insight or whatever I’ll certainly be there to give it. When you look at the job he’s done and things like that, they’re so multiple. It’s a challenge. There is no doubt. It’s going to be a big challenge. They are always like one of the best red zone teams in the league, that’s a trademark of my brother. He’s doing a great job.”

This comes as Rob has led the Saints defense from 2012’s stat of giving up the greatest yardage in league history to a No. 12 ranking prior to the Monday night game for yards allowed per game; the Saints have given up the fourth-fewest points and sit at No. 6 for sacks and No. 9 against the pass.

Look for Sunday’s game to be a battle of the Jets’ defense trying to stop the Saints’ offense. Under talented quarterback Drew Brees at the helm, the Saints sit at the top of the league statistically for offense. They have an average of 28 points per game (No. 5) and 396 yards a game (No. 6). This has been supported by the unit’s successful passing game that averages 310 yards per week (No. 3).

Brees has an array of weapons to help him and one of his favorite targets this season has been tight end Jimmy Graham. Unfortunately the player is battling a partially torn plantar fascia and his status for Sunday’s game hasn’t been announced. You have to think even if he does play, it won’t be representative of his talent (to-date, 40 catches, 630 yards, 8 touchdowns).

But last week he still caught two touchdown passes in the Saints 35-17 win over the Buffalo Bills (3-5).

As for the Jets, rookie quarterback Geno Smith is improving but against the Saints, Bad Geno could show up. He’ll need his offensive line to protect him as the Saints defense has 24 sacks on the season.

Smith will also need to put last week’s 49-9 spanking by the Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) behind. He went 20 for 30, 159 yards, two pick-6s and three sacks. Not helping Smith is the fact that the Saints defense has been beating up on quarterbacks, limiting opponents to a 76.3 passer rating–the fifth-lowest in NFL.

Look for the trash talk to rise as the week goes on but when Sunday afternoon is over, Rob will have bragging rights (-5.5, 45.5 o/u).

In other NFC South games…

Cam Newton

The Carolina Panthers (4-3) have a nice three-game win streak going and will take on its division foe, the Atlanta Falcons (2-5) on Sunday. Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is finding lots of success and maturity in his third season and will help his team to another win (-9, 44 o/u).

And for the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7), they’ll face the Seattle Seahawks (7-1). Yep, can you say loss No. 8? (-18, 40 o/u).