In his weekly "Bucky's Best" series, former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks highlights the can't-mi s matchups you need to watch.Most favorable offensive matchup/ vs. ' linebackersThe ' fast-paced offense revolves around . 's spread attack puts the ball in the hands of his electric running backs in a variety of ways, including via inside/outside zone runs, screens, swings and option routes. McCoy and Sproles are dangerous space players capable of taking it the distance from anywhere on the field. Their dynamic skills force opposing defenses to alter their tactics, leading to big-play opportunities for teammates in the pa sing game.The ' defense has slipped considerably this season, largely due to the notable absences of and . Without the er linebackers on the field, San Francisco's D ranks . While remains the gold standard at inside linebacker, he is playing alongside a cast of newcomers without the experience or athleticism to contain explosive players in space. The are intent on creating mismatches in the open field; thus, the Niners' ability to corral McCoy and Sproles is the key to this intriguing NFC showdown.Most favorable defensive matchup' defense vs. San Diego defensive coordinator John Pagano must be licking his chops, with the poised to take on a rookie quarterback making his first NFL start. The wily defensive play-caller has quietly transformed the Bolts' D into a ferocious unit on the strength of a creative scheme that smothers receivers on the perimeter and hara ses quarterbacks in the pocket. Given the ' inexperience at wide Eric Thames Jersey receiver and questionable talent along the offensive line, Pagano could throw everything at the rookie QB, to see if he can function amid chaos.For the , the move to start Bortles is an attempt to energize an offense that struggled to move the ball with at the helm. The veteran quarterback was sacked 16 times in 10 quarters and directed an offense that was outscored by 78 points prior to his benching at halftime of Week 3. Although Bortles will suffer through his fair share of growing pains as a first-time starter, he'll also add a bit of explosivene s to the offense with his athleticism and playmaking ability. It might not translate into significant production against the ' stingy defense, but it could help the get back on track as the season progre ses.Best WR-CB matchup vs. Nelson is with 351 receiving yards on 23 receptions. The seventh-year pro accounts for 50.4 percent of the ' receiving yards (the highest mark of any pa s catcher in football) and is unquestionably ' primary target in critical moments. With the pre sure mounting on the 1-2 to deliver a win in a tough NFC North tilt, could make the Rodgers-Nelson connection the focal point of the game plan.Fuller is a rookie still learning the ropes on the perimeter, but he is already emerging as the ' No. 1 cover corner. The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder has snagged three interceptions and forced a pair of fumbles while displaying exceptional ball skills, awarene s and anticipation in the back end. Although the ' zone-heavy approach limits Fuller's exposure to one-on-one matchups, he will have plenty of opportunities to knock around Nelson in the team's Cover 2 scheme. If Fuller is able to disrupt Nelson's releases and shadow him throughout his zone, he could force Rodgers to move off Nelson and rely on the ' le s-heralded pa s catchers.Most intriguing matchup vs. ' secondaryThe energetic veteran has always played with a chip on his shoulder, but the edgine s will be at an all-time high when he takes on the team that released him. Smith will want to show bra s that he remains a dominant player despite his advanced age (35), and he will get plenty of opportunities to do so, with the increasingly leaning on him to carry the pa sing game in injured tight end 's absence. With a pair of 100-yard games and six catches of 20-plus yards already on his rsum for 2014, Smith could be the focal point of the ' offense on Sunday.The ' patchwork secondary has held up well, despite questions surrounding their ability to contain receivers on the outside. and have consistently kept receivers from getting behind the defense, which is why Carolina has allowed just six receptions of 20-plus yards in 113 pa s attempts. If the can keep Smith from snagging deep balls, forcing the veteran to settle for short and intermediate connections, Carolina could walk out of M&T Bank Stadium with a huge road win.Best coaching matchup vs. Rob RyanCredit Linehan with built around a dominant line and an electric running back with home-run potential. The philosophical shift has allowed the to control the clock (Dallas ranks fifth in time of po se sion), protect ailing quarterback and limit the exposure of their defense. Additionally, it has helped emerge as (385 yards) and post three straight 100-yard games. Considering the ' 13-1 record when Murray gets 20-plus carries, this run-first strategy could make "America's Team" a tough out down the stretch. Harrison: Power Rankings, Week 4After three weeks, three teams stand alone at 3-0 -- but only one can take the top spot in Elliot Harrison's Power Rankings. For all of the criticism to sed in Ryan's direction these days, the numbers suggest New Orleans' defense is nowhere near as bad as people seem to think it is. The are tied for (101.3 yards per game) and have yet to yield a run of 20-plus yards. Although the ' pa s defense has been leaky at times, the ability to force opponents into a one-dimensional game plan eventually leads to negative plays when Ryan dials up blitzes in long-yardage situations. Given the ' sudden preference to grind it out with Murray, Ryan must come up with a plan to slow down the er and put the game on Romo's shoulders.Bucky's Beast, RB, The second-year pro is quickly emerging as one of the premier playmakers in football. Bell leads the league in total yards from scrimmage, exhibiting explosive skills as an all-purpose weapon in the backfield. Against a Tampa defense that was completely undre sed , Bell could have a monster performance -- especially if Bucs DT is limited by his fractured hand.ALREADY COMPLETED:Best Thursday night matchup: vs. ' pa s defenseCousins is making a strong case to be the permanent starting quarterback in Washington with his spectacular play from the pocket. The third-year pro is connecting on 64.2 percent of his pa ses while boasting a 5:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and a 105.8 pa ser rating. Most importantly, he has led the to 75 points in 25 drives, compared to the six points (in 13 drives) scored under the direction of . With the ' offense running like a well-oiled machine behind Cousins, the must find a way to disrupt the quarterback's rhythm and timing in the pocket.For New York, the game plan could mimic that of last December, when the forced Cousins into a (19 for 49, 169 pa sing yards, two interceptions, 31.8 pa ser rating). Sure, the ' offensive scheme and coaching staff have changed, but the certainly understand how to rattle Cousins with their pa s rush and coverage. Thus, I would expect defensive coordinator to attack Cousins with a host of four- and five-man rushes -- speeding up the clock in his head -- while dropping a variety of defenders into coverage to clog pa sing lanes. If and can crowd and on the perimeter, the could temper some of the enthusiasm brewing in Washington over this sensational backup quarterback.Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter . Mike Moustakas Jersey