Vaughn McClure, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Patrick Peterson: 'I've won majority of battles' with Julio Jones

Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson faced Falcons receiver Julio Jones in college when Peterson was at LSU and Jones at Alabama, so they have had their share of showdowns in the past.

"Me and Julio, he won a couple of battles; I won a couple of battles,’’ Peterson said during a conference call on Wednesday. "But for the most part, I believe I won the majority of those battles.’’

Peterson chuckled for a moment then continued by giving Jones his due respect.

"An incredible athlete,’’ Peterson said. "Love to battle and love the competition between us.’’

Tthe two square off again on Sunday when their respective teams meet at the Georgia Dome. Jones was on injured reserve with a foot fracture when Peterson and the Cardinals defeated the Falcons 27-13 last season in Arizona. In 2012, Jones had three catches for 33 yards while being targeted seven times and Peterson finished with four tackles in a 23-19 win by the Falcons.

Peterson was asked if he looks forward to a one-on-one matchup with Jones come Sunday.

"Of course,’’ he said."By me feeling that I am the best corner in the league, I want the team’s No. 1 receiver, period. That’s the way you get the opportunity to gain the respect from your peers and be recognized as one of the best and one the greatest after you’re done with the game. That’s the type of pressure that I love to have on myself.

"And for my team, as a defensive coordinator [Todd Bowles], that’s what he expects out of me as well -- going out there shutting down a team’s No. 1 receiver.’’

Jones is scheduled to address the media on Thanksgiving. On Wednesday, quarterback Matt Ryan talked about the possibility of Jones matching up against Peterson a week after Jones went head to head with Browns cornerback Joe Haden.

"We know going into it Patrick Peterson is about as good of a corner as there is in the league,’’ Ryan said. "He’s going to play at a high level and he’s going to make some plays. We also know that Julio Jones is as good as it gets at the wide receiver position in this league.

"It will be a good matchup, if they’re matched up one on one. We’ll see what they do in terms of how they match us defensively. We always like our matchup. We always feel like if we get one on one with any of our guys, we have confidence that they’re going to make plays.’’

Jones enters the game 20 yards shy of 1,000 receiving yards for the season. Peterson has two interceptions, including one returned 30 yards for a touchdown.

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