Niner Noise
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NFL Week 2: Top 5 quarterback battles fans will want to watch

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after the NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome on January 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons defeated the Packers 44-21. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 22: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons speaks to Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers after the NFC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome on January 22, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons defeated the Packers 44-21. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 11: Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings drops back to pass the ball in the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints on September 11, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 11: Sam Bradford #8 of the Minnesota Vikings drops back to pass the ball in the first quarter of the game against the New Orleans Saints on September 11, 2017 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images) /

No. 4: Sam Bradford (MIN) vs. Ben Roethlisberger (PIT)

If offense is your thing, the Minnesota Vikings visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend should be a game to watch.

Both teams enter this bout with a 1-0 record, and there are enough offensive weapons on both teams to get fans excited.

The Steelers managed to squeak by the hapless Cleveland Browns last week, pulling off a 21-18 victory in a game where running back Le’Veon Bell wasn’t quite his dominant self. But wide receiver Antonio Brown was, so that’s all that matters there.

Meanwhile, the Sam Bradford-led Vikings managed a solid victory over the visiting New Orleans Saints during the first installment of Monday Night Football. Taking to the road, and against a tougher Steelers defense, poises a slightly more-difficult challenge for Minnesota, though.

CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 10: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – SEPTEMBER 10: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers warms up before the game against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 10, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

Ben Roethlisberger

Brown is the kind of receiver capable of making any quarterback look good, so Ben Roethlisberger’s life should stay fairly easy throughout this season.

As long as everyone stays healthy, of course.

Roethlisberger went 24-of-36 for 263 yards and two touchdowns against one interception in Cleveland, and all that without Pittsburgh’s running game performing at top level. If Bell gets back on track, Roethlisberger could have an even bigger performance.

You know, because the Steelers offense might be the best in the NFL.

Yet the Vikings limited the Saints’ prolific offense to just 60 yards rushing, making New Orleans’ offense one dimensional. A good Minnesota defense will look to replicate those efforts again.

Sam Bradford

The Vikings received a bit of bad news this week reporting Bradford is dealing with a knee injury, which required an MRI, although head coach Mike Zimmer fully expects Bradford to suit up on Sunday:

Bradford had a near-perfect stat line in Week 1, going 27-of-32 for 346 yards and three touchdowns, en route to a 143.0 passer rating.

And with Minnesota’s offensive line holding, Bradford didn’t need to play the dink-and-dunk game that so defined his efforts last year.

If he and wide receiver Stefon Diggs’ chemistry continues, the Vikings might pull off a bit of a surprise here.