A football lying untouched on the turf can make an NFL game feel like a schoolyard contest for a moment. Then a player scoops it up, the crowd reacts, and an ordinary Sunday can suddenly take an unexpected turn.
This week, three players have opportunities to make a difference in different ways. Amon-Ra St. Brown could turn quick passes into substantial gains against New England. Christian McCaffrey has a chance to contribute both on the ground and as a receiver against Dallas. And Myles Garrett could create a game-changing defensive play against Arizona by getting pressure on the quarterback and forcing a fumble.
## Amon-Ra St. Brown could reach 13 catches and 150 receiving yards against the Patriots
Detroit can use quick throws to St. Brown to counter New England’s pass rush. On third-and-8 in Miami, the Lions threw him a screen that gained 17 yards. Similar screens and quick in-breaking routes could allow Jared Goff to get the ball out quickly, limiting the time New England’s pass rush has to reach him.
The Patriots have recorded 25 sacks. Detroit can make that pressure less effective by targeting St. Brown underneath, while Jameson Williams stretches the defense and draws coverage downfield. If defenders take poor angles or miss tackles, St. Brown could turn short catches into longer gains.
St. Brown was limited in practice last week by a rib injury, but he still caught eight of his 10 targets in a game in which Goff attempted only 25 passes. His recent performance shows that he can remain involved even when Detroit is not throwing frequently.
New England has also allowed big receiving performances. In the same game, Matthew Golden caught 10 passes for 164 yards, while Christian Watson recorded 171 yards. If the Patriots’ offense keeps the game competitive into the fourth quarter, Detroit may need to continue throwing. That could give Goff more opportunities to target St. Brown.
St. Brown caught 13 passes for 164 yards against the Rams last December. Detroit could use a similar short-passing approach to keep the offense moving while getting the ball out of Goff’s hands quickly.
## Christian McCaffrey could score twice on the ground and add a touchdown catch against Dallas
Dallas has allowed opposing running backs to average 4.77 yards per carry through nine games, giving San Francisco reason to lean on its ground game. McCaffrey is especially important near the goal line: he has taken 67% of the 49ers’ carries from inside the 5-yard line, compared with 44% of their carries overall.
McCaffrey has already rushed for two touchdowns in games against both Miami and Washington. Quarterback Brock Purdy can also keep the ball himself, as he did on a 1-yard run against the Raiders, but McCaffrey is the player most likely to get the first chance in close.
A receiving touchdown is another possibility. Last week, McCaffrey scored on a 1-yard run and caught a 12-yard touchdown pass from Purdy. Dallas has allowed the eighth-fewest receiving yards per game to running backs, so San Francisco may need to choose its opportunities carefully.
One option would be to show a backfield look that resembles a run, encouraging a linebacker to step toward the line of scrimmage. McCaffrey could then release into the flat as Purdy looks for him as a receiver. The same threat that makes McCaffrey valuable on short-yardage carries could help create space for a pass.
## Myles Garrett could force a fumble and return it for a touchdown against Arizona
Arizona allowed three sacks in Seattle, and Gardner Minshew II took a hit to his throwing arm as he tried to release the ball. The Cardinals are also without left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. for the season, leaving them with decisions about how to protect the quarterback.
Arizona can use Trey McBride as a quick outlet or give its tackles help with chips. At the same time, Aaron Donald can draw extra attention inside, potentially leaving Garrett in a one-on-one matchup on the edge. A longer dropback, especially with Arizona pinned deep, could give Garrett an opportunity to reach the quarterback and force a fumble.
Garrett showed how quickly he can change a game in his return from knee surgery. He needed only 37 defensive snaps to sack Jayden Daniels three times and force a fumble. He has also recovered a strip-sack and scored himself: against Baltimore in 2021, Garrett knocked the ball away from Tyler Huntley, picked it up, and returned it 15 yards for a touchdown.
Arizona put the ball on the ground twice in Seattle but recovered both fumbles. If Garrett creates another loose ball, a recovery could turn a defensive stop into a scoring opportunity.
