Updated: September 19, 2002, 12:15 PM ET

NFL Mismatches: Week 3

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By by Ryan Early
Each week we preview one matchup per game that is such a mismatch that it should make an impact on the game, either through its exploitation or by changing a team's plans to try to compensate. Week 2 saw some teams' weaknesses exposed for all the world to see. The Vikings' defense has given up 725 passing yards in two weeks, the Texans' offense has collected a paltry 152 passing yards, the Seahawks couldn't stop Forrest Gump from running, and the game plans to beat the Rams and Steelers have been well publicized. So how will teams try to exploit these and other weaknesses in Week 3?

The Saints' "Big Lunch Bunch" vs. Bears DT's Keith Traylor
and Alfonso Boone

Last year the Bears followed the Ravens' Super Bowl blueprint by going out and getting a couple of wide body defensive tackles in Ted Washington and Keith Traylor to stop the run and keep blockers off of budding star Brian Urlacher. The lynchpin of the group is Washington, who is suddenly out with an ankle injury. That will allow Saints center Jerry Fontenot to move up the field and get a hat on Urlacher. He won't stop the Midway Monster, but he'll get in the way to up Deuce McAlister's average run by about half a yard moer than it would have been if Washington and DE Philip Daniels were playing. The Saints followed the same plan this year but now have three wide bodies in the middle of their defensive line, aptly dubbed the "Big Lunch Bunch". Norman Hand is one of the best defensive tackles in the league, combining his enormous girth with surprisingly quick feet. Grady Jackson joined the team as a free agent from the Raiders and Chase Martin may be the backup but he's introduced as a starter with the rest of the defense. By moving to a three-man rotation, the Saints keep all three fresh and will clog the middle of the line. Bears running back Anthony Thomas has averaged less than three yards a carry against two poor defenses this season. He'll find even less room to run on Sunday.

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