NFL | Three duels to follow

Throughout the NFL season, The Press will suggest three duels to follow each week. The match sealed in advance, where a team’s victory is almost assured. The most surprising duel, where a team could beat a seemingly more powerful rival. Then the part not to be missed, where popcorn and cold drink will be necessary to accompany the action.

Certainty

Carolina Panthers vs. Detroit Lions (Sunday, 1 p.m.)

Jared Goff is fine. Amon-Ra St. Brown is doing well. David Montgomery is fine. The defense is doing well. In short, everything is going well for the Lions. They seem to be taking their lead and we’ve been saying it for two seasons: head coach Dan Campbell is building something special in Detroit. The Lions enjoy one of the easiest schedules in the NFL, but they still respond. After 10 days off, the Lions will defeat the Panthers, a club still in development and looking for a first victory.

Prediction: 27-10 Lions

The surprise

Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams (Sunday, 4:05 p.m.)

Remember who ended the Philadelphia Eagles’ perfect streak last season? The poor Washington Commanders, in the ninth game of the season. The Eagles will suffer their first defeat again this year at the hands of a team that no one saw coming: the Rams. This clash comes at the right time, because the Eagles showed a certain fragility last week against Washington and the Rams continue to surprise us by gaining ground. Matthew Stafford is rising from the ashes and players like Kyren Williams and Puka Nacua are making names for themselves.

Prediction: 29-27 Rams

The unmissable

Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers (Sunday, 8:20 p.m.)

This duel will pit two of the most spectacular defenses on the circuit against each other. The Cowboys have allowed an average of 10.3 points per game to their rivals this season, while the 49ers have given up 14.5. Nick Bosa and Micah Parsons will impress. There will be everything in this game: sacks, interceptions, turnovers in the trenches and defensive touchdowns. Simply because the 49ers have shown no signs of weakness this season, unlike the Cowboys, and they have been playing well for two games at home, especially Christian McCaffrey, San Francisco will remain undefeated.

Prediction: 31-28 49ers