Both teams have had the entire off-season to prepare for this ... can we call it a "crucial" so early in the season? Why not? Motivation abounds. The Steelers want revenge. The Patriots are burning because they're the defending Super Bowl champs but nobody's picking them to do much this year.

Bill Belichick's cerebral defense can outscheme Pittsburgh's passing attack, which is why I think the Steelers will try to pound it on the ground -- at least for a while. Brady must prove that last year wasn't a fluke, which I think he'll do. The kid's the real thing.

Logic says go with the Steelers, who'll turn the blitzers loose on Brady. But that same logic never would have had New England winning a Super Bowl last season. Patriots are the pick.

I have only one upset this week, so let's get it out of the way. Carolina to beat Baltimore and its young quarterback, Chris Redman, who might not be ready for an opening-day road start. I see around six turnovers, total, for both teams.

Here's one that looks so easy, it scares me. Dallas will bring the heat against Houston's expansion babies, who are minus both offensive tackles and have a sore-legged rookie QB, David Carr. The spread should be double-digit, but it's not, though all the signs point to a Cowboys blowout.

The most competitive division in the NFL, the AFC East, lifts the curtain with the Jets at Buffalo. New York has an unsettled offensive line, but the D-line is where Buffalo is weakest. Turn it around and you have Bledsoe getting heat from a vastly improved defense. Jets to win.

This is the last hurrah for the Raiders, who'll be crushed by the salary cap next year. They open with Seattle at home in -- it's weird to say it -- an interconference matchup. The Raiders have won the last four against the Seahawks in Oakland, and here comes number 5.

Can the Titans' Steve McNair win a shootout with Philly's Donovan McNabb? Yes, if Eddie George is running on all cylinders. Let's give Eddie about 120 yards against a defense that's minus MLB Jeremiah Trotter, and let's give the Titans a victory.

Is Tim Couch's arm right? Maybe not, but I still like the Browns to beat Kansas City with a defense that will force turnovers and give Trent Green big problems. On the Georgia Dome's artificial turf, I'd give Atlanta and its speed brigade -- Warrick Dunn, Michael Vick, etc. -- a chance against the Packers. But this one's in Lambeau, where the grass is high and lush, so I'll take Green Bay.

I'll go with St. Louis over Denver, but keep an eye on this matchup: Broncos defensive end Trevor Pryce against raw and untested tackle John St. Clair. What's that, you say? It'll be St. Clair and lots of help. If so, that's something St. Louis might have to worry about all year.

The Bears have the first of their 16 road games when they face Minnesota at Champaign. Some people foolishly call this a home game for Chicago, but at the end of the term they will turn in essays on How We Saw Illinois by Bus. The Bears will beat the Vikings, but sooner or later, while Soldier Field is being renovated, this fouled-up arrangement will cost them. Finally, Indy will get past depleted Jacksonville.

Issue date: September 9, 2002

For more Inside the NFL see this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, on newsstands Wednesday, September 4. Click here to subscribe to SI.

 

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