Wild in the streets

Times Square musical extravaganza kicks off season

	• Direct Snaps • By The Numbers • Storylines • Fantasyland • Rookie Spotlight • Chatterbox

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

After the smoke clears
When it's down to you and I
When the sun appears
And there's nothing left but goodbyes ....

It's been 17 years since John Francis Bongiovi penned those lyrics, but the opening lines of Silent Night are apropos as the band Bon Jovi prepares to take the stage in Times Square for Thursday's NFL Kickoff Weekend concert.

The league is preparing to begin its 83rd regular season unlike any of the previous -- on a Thursday night at Giants Stadium, mere miles from where the smoldering remains of the Twin Towers darkened the New York City skyline only 359 days earlier.

While a New York-area Super Bowl seems a bit far-fetched to some, kicking off the season somewhere in the swamps of Jersey is a good idea. "This is an opportunity to show that New York City is back," says commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who estimated the media value to the city at $100 million in national TV and radio coverage.

Tagliabue also notes the NFL is covering event costs and donating $500,000 to the city to help pay for Sept. 11 ceremonies next week.

"What the city gets out of that event is a lot of money to help fund the ceremony downtown for 9-11 and a lot of money to help in the redevelopment of downtown. It also showcases New York to the world and helps tourism," says NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bon Jovi says the festivities are to celebrate New Yorkers' resilience after last year's terror attacks. The group's latest album, Bounce, was inspired in part by the events of Sept. 11. Middletown, N.J., 45 miles south of Manhattan where Bon Jovi lives, lost 32 people in the attacks.

For those planning to attend, the free party will run from 4:30 to 8 p.m., before the 49ers and Giants kick off at 8:30. Others scheduled to appear on a stage at 43rd Street and Broadway are Enrique Iglesias, Alicia Keys, hip-hop star Eve and the cast of the Broadway musical Rent.

Police won't let spectators begin gathering before 2 p.m., when Times Square and streets from 43rd to 47th Streets between Sixth and Eighth Avenues will be closed to traffic. Street closings will remain in effect until 11 p.m.

Says Bon Jovi: "I'd like to apologize in advance for the biggest traffic jam ever."

N.Y. Jets @ Buffalo -- 1 p.m. EDT Sunday Teams' past three meetings have been decided by six points or less, and the previous five games have featured five return TDs (4 by Jets; 1 by Bills). Buffalo WR Eric Moulds has 11 receptions, 244 yards and one 1 TD in the past two home games against Jets. St. Louis @ Denver -- 4:15 p.m. EDT Sunday Rams QB Kurt Warner completed 25 of 35 passes for a career-best 441 yards and three TDs on Sept. 4, 2000, in his only career meeting vs. Broncos. Broncos WR Rod Smith led the NFL with 113 receptions last year and became the first Denver player since 1965 (Lionel Taylor) to lead the league in catches. Pittsburgh @ New England -- 9 p.m. EDT Monday Steelers head coach Bill Cowher needs one victory to reach 100 regular-season wins. Patriots' defense led the AFC in red-zone with 38.8 TD percentage (19 allowed in 49 possessions). Steelers had the NFL’s No. 1 total defense (258.6 ypg) last year, as well as the top rushing offense (173.4 ypg).

6	Victories needed by the Bears to become the first team in NFL history with 650 wins. Chicago has a 644-457-42 all-time record.
386	Consecutive games in which the 49ers have not been shut out -- an NFL record -- dating to Oct. 9, 1977, against the Falcons.
31,612	League-high total air miles to be traveled (preseason and regular season) by the Redskins. The Bengals will fly the least, 7,004.

On the run Perhaps the most hallowed record in NFL annals will be broken by Dallas RB Emmitt Smith -- career rushing yards. Chicago great Walter Payton rushed for 16,726 yards from 1975-87. Smith, who started with the Cowboys in 1990, will break the record with 540 more yards. Catch o' the day Oakland WR Jerry Rice, who holds 14 NFL records, 10 Super Bowl marks and is a 12-time Pro Bowl selection, also is hot on the heels of Payton. Rice needs 254 scrimmage yards and 787 all-purpose yards to pass "Sweetness" for first place in both categories. Raising the White flag? With 12 1/2 sacks, Washington DE Bruce Smith will top Reggie White for the career mark. With 10 sacks, Tennessee DE Jevon Kearse will become the third player in league history with 10 or more in each of his first four seasons, joining White and Derrick Thomas.

CNNSI.com's Richard Harris says New Orleans RB Deuce McAllister is among the many second-year players primed for a breakout season. Despite sitting out the exhibition finale as a precaution, he was the Saints’ top preseason rusher with 153 yards on 32 carries. McAllister also caught seven balls for 71 yards and scored a team-best three TDs. Check out this week's Tip Sheet. Surf over to Fantasy Central for more insight and analysis.

Javon Walker, WR, Green Bay The No. 17 overall pick in April's draft, Walker established himself during the preseason as a potential impact player with a team-leading 11 catches and 189 yards. The first Packers WR selected in the first round since Sterling Sharpe (No. 7 overall in 1988), Walker set the Florida State bowl record with 195 yards on four receptions in the Seminoles' 30-17 victory against Virginia Tech in 2002 Gator Bowl. He was selected by Florida in the eighth round of Major League Baseball's 1997 free-agent draft, then spent three years (one full season and two summers) with the organization, getting as high as Class AA, albeit for one day. Walker's baseball rights have since been traded to Anaheim.

This week's topic: Assuming Emmitt Smith breaks Walter Payton's career rushing record, which RB is most likely to challenge Smith's mark? Your name: Your e-mail address: Your hometown: Your take here (in 25 words or less)

 

Related information

Stories

Statitudes: Week 1 Preview, By The Numbers

Multimedia

Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video