Larry Johnson rushed for 74 yards on 22 carries in Week 1 against the Patriots. Tom Croke/Icon SMI

Friday, 1:46 p.m.

Earlier in the week, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin answered a reporter's question about the defense by stating he didn't control that phase of the game -- defensive coordinator Rob Ryan and owner Al Davis did. Those comments raised eyebrows, as did Ryan's confirmation, courtesy of SFgate.com:

"There's a chain of command here in Oakland," Ryan said. "I put the game plan in. I run the defense. Put it on me, that's where it belongs. "Understand, my job's to be the defensive coordinator and Lane's the head coach. He's got a million hats, I've only got one. Eventually the whole thing comes down to me being a better coach and doing a better job." Ryan refuted Kiffin's notion that Ryan meets with Davis to map out plans during the season. Ryan said they do their meetings in the offseason, not between games. "I don't meet with him on game plans or come up with all this," Ryan said. "I'll have 4-hour conversations with him in the offseason about everything in this league. "But during the week, I don't have time to talk to my wife, OK?"

Friday, 12:34 p.m.

Carson Palmer's Bengals host the Titans on Sunday. But the USC alum's mind will be on another big game on Saturday. Courtesy of Cincinnati.com:

"Carson Palmer was doing a cell-phone interview with ESPN2 on the way out to practice. Walking through the tunnel leading to the Paul Brown Stadium field, Palmer said, 'Yeah, Mike Vrabel called me last night and had the nerve to ask for points.' It was a reference to comments Palmer, a former Southern Cal Heisman Trophy winner, made Wednesday that he could not get a bet for the Ohio State-USC game Saturday night. Vrabel, a New England linebacker, played at Ohio State. 'I am so confident,' Palmer told ESPN2, 'that I gave him the points.'"

Friday, 10:27 a.m.

First, Felicia Young spoke up for her son Vince, the Titans QB. Now comes Christine Johnson, mother of Larry, the Chiefs RB, courtesy of KansasCity.com:

"He's not mad at the world. People have thought that and I just think he's misunderstood. He's not mad. He's just guarded sometimes and he also has a great passion for football. That passion can be misunderstood. He just has a different personality."

Friday, 1:12 a.m.

What to look for on SI.com today ...

• Adam Duerson has three things you should know about the Cowboys-Eagles game, including a prediction.

• Bills fans were quite fond of Dr. Z's Power Rankings. Others were not so kind. Z sorts it all out in his mailbag.

• Don Banks finds eight teams who need to win in Week 2.

• Michael Lombardi, a former NFL executive, chimes in with his weekly Frankly Football column.

Plus all the news as teams get ready for the second week of action ...

Thursday, 11:58 p.m.

A Nashville resident has organized a prayer for Vince Young.

Earl Jordan, with the group Partners in the Struggle, is organizing a prayer rally for Young Friday night, according to WKRN Nashville. The rally will be held in Metro Center, on the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Mainstream Drive.

Thursday, 9:29 p.m.

The Colts were a mess in their opening loss to the Bears, but they might get some extra help on the offensive line for Sunday's showdown with the 0-1 Vikings. ProFootballTalk.com reports that Jeff Saturday has participated in Colts' practices for two straight days. The center tore a knee ligament in a preseason game on Aug. 24, but opted for rehab instead of surgery.

Saturday remains unsure if he'll be ready to go this week. The three-time pro-bowler's return would certainly help Indy's chances against the Vikings' imposing defensive front.

Thursday, 6:24 p.m.

The Houston Texans game against the Baltimore Ravens has been moved to Monday night at 8:30 p.m. EDT because of Hurricane Ike.

The game was originally scheduled for 4:15 p.m. EDT Sunday.

Hurricane Ike was headed toward the Texas coast as a category 3 storm on Thursday. It was expected to make landfall between Houston and Corpus Christi sometime early Saturday morning.

Thursday, 4:43 p.m.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell continues to monitor Hurricane Ike as it relates to Sunday's Ravens-Texans game in Houston. From NFL.com:

"Goodell said the NFL is prepared to allow the game to be potentially be played as late as Monday. A plan is also in place to postpone the game and make scheduling changes to play it later in the season."

Thursday, 2:13 p.m.

With the Eagles-Cowboys matchup looming Monday night, you knew there'd be more developments in the Terrell Owens-Donovan McNabb saga. From the Dallas Morning News:

• "I honestly can say that Donovan made me a better receiver in Philly," T.O. said, "but I think it would be hard for him to admit that I made him a better quarterback."

• "We obviously could have done some great things together," T.O. said after the TV cameras had left his locker, "but it wasn't me letting my pride get in the way."

• "I think at one point in time I will say that we had a good relationship. I think I got too big for Philly, too big for him. But here, Tony and I have a great relationship."

Thursday, 1:44 p.m.

Sunday's Ravens-Texans game in Houston is in limbo as Hurricane Ike heads for Texas' gulf coast. From the Baltimore Sun:

"The Ravens could know by the end of today whether Sunday's game at the Houston Texans is going to be altered. Hurricane Ike is expected to hit the Houston area on Saturday, which could cause travel problems for the Ravens. Flights at Houston airports are expected to be disrupted Friday and Saturday. If the Ravens were unable to travel there until Sunday, the NFL likely would consider moving the game to Monday night. A Ravens spokesman said today there has been no speculation as to whether the game would be moved to another day or site."

Thursday, 12:30 p.m.

Which coach and quarterback are 'ready to kill each other?' ProFootballTalk.com has the scoop:

"A league source tells us that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are trying to trade quarterback Jeff Garcia. Per the source, the Bucs are willing to take anything they can get for Garcia, who's in the final season of a two-year contract. The problem is the relationship between Garcia and coach Jon Gruden. They're "ready to kill each other," the source said.

Thursday, 10:15 a.m.

What to look for on SI.com today ...

• Who does Peter King like in Week 2? SI.com's expert picks all the games, straight up.

• Do you like your picks with the lines taken into consideration? Then Dr. Z will be your man.

• Don Banks finds out if Matt Cassel is ready to take over in New England.

• Dominic Bonvissuto breaks down the watchability of every Week 2 game.

Plus all the news as teams get ready for the second week of action ...