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Posted: Thursday September 06, 2001 11:27 AM
CNNSI.com's Jon A. Dolezar breaks down this week's games.
| Week One |
|---|
 |
Carolina (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Minnesota (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
3-0 -- Dennis Green's career record against the Panthers.
|
Key
Matchup |
Vikings RT Chris Liwienski (one career start in three seasons) against Panthers left DEs Jay Williams (12 sacks in 73 career games) and Jason Peter (7 1/2 sacks in 32 career games).
|
| Player to Watch |
Michael Bennett, RB, Minnesota: Rookie rusher will be asked to replace retired Robert Smith in the Vikings' multifaceted offensive attack.
|
|
 |
Chicago (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Baltimore (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
32-24 -- Elvis Grbac's career record as a starting QB.
|
Key
Matchup |
Bears RB James Allen (1,411 total yards last season) against Ravens LB Ray Lewis (137 total tackles last season).
|
| Player to Watch |
Terry Allen, RB, Baltimore: Jamal Lewis' replacement has a solid pedigree 7,956 career rushing yards and 70 touchdowns, but only 2,399 yards and 16 TDs have come in the past four seasons.
|
 |
Detroit (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Green Bay (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
10 -- Packers' consecutive home victories against the Lions.
|
Key
Matchup |
Lions RB James Stewart (2,115 yards rushing and 23 TDs the past two seasons) against Packers SS Darren Sharper (92 tackles, NFL-leading nine interceptions last season).
|
| Player to Watch |
Charlie Batch, QB, Detroit: Has thrown 28 interceptions in 38 career games, and needs to improve his accuracy in new head coach Marty Mornhinweg's West Coast offense.
|
 |
Indianapolis (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
New York (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
.607 -- Colts' winning percentage (37-24) against the Jets.
|
Key
Matchup |
Colts RB Edgerrin James (4,442 total yards and 35 TDs in first two seasons) against Jets LB Marvin Jones (average of 114.3 tackles per season in seven-year career) and New York's new 4-3 defensive look.
|
| Player to Watch |
Victor Green, SS, New York: One of the most feared hitters in the league, Green has amassed 539 solo tackles and 21 interceptions in past six seasons, but will now see increased responsibility in new head coach Herman Edwards' more aggressive defense.
|
 |
New England (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Cincinnati (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
415.0 -- Bengals' league-leading yards per game in the preseason.
|
Key
Matchup |
Patriots RB J.R. Redmond (406 rushing yards in 12 games last season) against Bengals LB Takeo Spikes (289 solo tackles in three seasons).
|
| Player to Watch |
Jon Kitna, QB, Cincinnati: After throwing 45 interceptions in 39 games with Seattle, Kitna was picked twice in the preseason and threw for only 368 yards on 69 attempts (5.33 yards per attempt), good for only a 60.5 rating.
|
 |
New Orleans (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Buffalo (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
35.5 -- DT La'Roi Glover's sack total during the past three seasons, the third-most in the league.
|
Key
Matchup |
Saints RB Ricky Williams (2,465 total yards and 11 TDs in two seasons) against Bills LB Sam Cowart (326 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks in three seasons).
|
| Player to Watch |
Travis Henry, RB, Buffalo: Rushed 23 times for 126 yards and one TD in the preseason, leaving Bills' fans hopeful he can duplicate the rookie performance of fellow former Tennessee Vols RB Jamal Lewis from last season.
|
 |
Oakland (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Kansas City (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
40-39-2 -- Chiefs' record (.506 winning percentage) in 81 career meetings with the Raiders.
|
Key
Matchup |
Raiders WRs Jerry Rice and Tim Brown (combined 31,319 receiving yards and 265 TDs in 29 seasons) against Chiefs CBs Ray Crockett and Eric Warfield (combined 36 interceptions in 15 seasons).
|
| Player to Watch |
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City: Set a team-record with 93 catches last season, and has caught a TD pass in four of the past five games against Oakland.
|
 |
Pittsburgh (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Jacksonville (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
85.1 -- Career quarterback rating for Jacksonville's Mark Brunell, good for sixth-best all time.
|
Key
Matchup |
Jaguars RB Fred Taylor (3,354 rushing yards and 32 TDs in 38 games) against Steelers LBs Jason Gildon (33 1/2 sacks in past three seasons), Earl Holmes (128 tackles last season), rookie Kendrell Bell and Joey Porter (10 1/2 sacks last season).
|
| Player to Watch |
Jimmy Smith, WR, Jacksonville: Has NFL-high 450 catches for 6,599 yards in the past five seasons, but is still recovering stamina offseason abdominal surgery.
|
 |
Seattle (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Cleveland (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
116.0 -- Matt Hasselbeck's preseason QB rating (36 of 57 for 458 yards and six TDs), continuing the reputation of "Mr. August" he earned during his time as Brett Favre's backup in Green Bay.
|
Key
Matchup |
Browns Gs Tre' Johnson and Brad Bedell against Seahawks DT John Randle (114 sacks in 176 career games).
|
| Player to Watch |
Ricky Watters, RB, Seattle: The model of consistency, Watters has 10,176 total yards and 57 TDs in the past six seasons, though second-year back Shaun Alexander may cut into his playing time slightly this season.
|
 |
Tampa Bay (0-0) |
1 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Dallas (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
7.2 -- Difference in career QB ratings between Bucs starter Brad Johnson (84.7) and backup Shaun King (77.5).
|
Key
Matchup |
Cowboys QB Quincy Carter (46.3 percent completion rate and 66.0 rating in preseason) against Bucs DL Warren Sapp, Simeon Rice, Anthony McFarland and Marcus Jones (138 1/2 combined career sacks).
|
| Player to Watch |
Emmitt Smith, RB, Dallas: Needs only 104 yards to pass Barry Sanders (15,269) for second on the all-time rushing list behind Walter Payton (16,726), but the Bucs surrendered only 103.0 yards per game last season.
|
 |
Atlanta (0-0) |
4:15 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
San Francisco (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
42-25-1 -- 49ers' record against the Falcons (.625 winning percentage), including nine consecutive wins at 3Com Park.
|
Key
Matchup |
49ers QB Jeff Garcia (42 TDs and 89.7 rating the past two seasons) against Falcons CB Ray Buchanan (NFC-leading 22 interceptions the past four seasons).
|
| Player to Watch |
Garrison Hearst, RB, San Francisco: After missing two seasons due to a horrific break to his left leg, Hearst has regained the Niners' starting spot, though his competition for the job was less than stellar.
|
 |
St. Louis (0-0) |
4:15 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Philadelphia (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
7,075 -- Rams' record-setting yardage total from last season.
|
Key
Matchup |
Rams RB Marshall Faulk (8,370 total yards and 56 TDs in past four seasons) against Eagles LB Jeremiah Trotter (120 tackles last season).
|
| Player to Watch |
Kurt Warner, QB, St. Louis: Has thrown for 7,782 yards and 62 TDs in 27 games the past two seasons.
|
 |
Washington (0-0) |
4:15 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
San Diego (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
6-0 -- Redskins' lifetime record against the Chargers, with new Washington head coach Marty Schottenheimer also enjoying a 15-9 career mark against San Diego.
|
Key
Matchup |
Chargers rookie RB LaDainian Tomlinson (4,008 rushing yards and 40 TDs in final two seasons at TCU) against second-year Redskins LB LaVar Arrington (33 tackles and three sacks in last eight games).
|
| Player to Watch |
Al Fontenot, DE, San Diego: Veteran will replace injured Marcellus Wiley (stress fracture in foot), and matchups against Washington LT Chris Samuels and RT Jon Jansen will be a challenge.
|
 |
Miami (0-0) |
8:30 p.m. EDT
Sunday |
 |
Tennessee (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
.836 -- K Olindo Mare's career field-goal percentage, second in history to Green Bay's Ryan Longwell (.847).
|
Key
Matchup |
Titans RB Eddie George (NFL-leading 4,107 yards in past three seasons) against Dolphins LB Zach Thomas (651 tackles in five-year career).
|
| Player to Watch |
Sam Madison, CB, Miami: Dolphins' lockdown cover corner leads NFL with 20 interceptions since 1998.
|
 |
New York (0-0) |
9 p.m. EDT
Monday |
 |
Denver (0-0) |
• Preview
• Stats Matchup
• Injury Report
|
| Key Stat |
6-2 -- Mike Shanahan's career record in season openers.
|
Key
Matchup |
Broncos RT Matt Lepsis (7 1/2 sacks allowed last season) against Giants DE Michael Strahan (44 sacks in past four seasons).
|
| Player to Watch |
Jessie Armstead, LB, New York: After threatening a contract holdout, the Giants' star linebacker decided to prove his worth on the field and will be challenged by the Broncos' stellar run blocking.
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