Nfl Matchups
Arizona at Cincinnati
Line: Bengals by 8.
Last meeting: Arizona won 28-7 at Arizona on Dec. 18, 1994.
Key stats: The Bengals won seven of their last nine games in ‘96.
Worth watching: Bengals running back Ki-Jana Carter has struggled in his first two seasons, but averaged seven yards per carry in the exhibition season. Two Pro Bowl players go head-to-head: Cincinnati receiver Carl Pickens vs. Arizona cornerback Aeneas Williams.
Outlook: The conventional wisdom is that the Bengals are back as a playoff contender. A victory over the Cardinals wouldn’t prove that, but a loss would be telling.
Atlanta at Detroit
Line: Lions by 8.
Last meeting: Lions won 28-24 at Pontiac on Oct. 6, 1996.
Key stats: Lions have won seven of the last eight against Falcons.
Worth watching: As always, Barry Sanders will have plenty to say about the outcome. He’s rushed for at least 100 yards on the last three opening days. Falcons need a big day - and year - from new quarterback Chris Chandler, acquired in a trade with the Oilers.
Outlook: Lions get a break from the schedule-makers in their debut under Bobby Ross. When Sanders isn’t running, quarterback Scott Mitchell can challenge the new Atlanta cornerback combination of Ray Buchanan and Ronnie Bradford.
Dallas at Pittsburgh
Line: Cowboys by 1.
Last meeting: Cowboys won, 26-9, at Pittsburgh on Sept. 4, 1994.
Key stats: Dallas coach Barry Switzer has beaten Pittsburgh’s Bill Cowher in both of their meetings.
Worth watching: After throwing only 37 passes in his first two seasons, Kordell Stewart takes over as Pittsburgh’s starting quarterback. He had an excellent preseason (26 of 41, four TDs, no interceptions). But this is a game that counts.
Outlook: The Cowboys have spent a year trying to clean up their image. We’ll have to see if that makes any difference on the field. Dallas QB Troy Aikman will search for Michael Irvin against a pair of new cornerbacks: ex-Bear Donnell Woolford and rookie Chad Scott. But Stewart’s creativity and the power running of Jerome Bettis will make the difference.
Indianapolis at Miami
Line: Dolphins by 6.
Last meeting: Dolphins won 37-13 at Miami on Nov. 10, 1996.
Key stats: Colts have won four of their last five against the Dolphins.
Worth watching: Two of the AFC’s top quarterbacks, Dolphins’ Dan Marino and Colts’ Jim Harbaugh.
Outlook: Dolphins have had injury problems throughout training camp, but in his second season, Jimmy Johnson should have them in the race for the playoffs. Colts may start two rookies at offensive tackle, no recipe for a road victory.
Jacksonville at Baltimore
Line: Jaguars by 3.
Last meeting: Jaguars won 28-25 at Baltimore on Nov. 24, 1996.
Key stats: The Jaguars are 2-0 vs. the Ravens.
Worth watching: With Mark Brunell out until at least October with a knee injury, Jaguars turned to unproven quarterback Rob Johnson. His job will be to avoid mistakes.
Outlook: The Ravens are one of the early favorites in the race for the first pick in the draft. The Jaguars, a surprise AFC finalist a year ago, may have some troubles without Brunell, but not this week.
Kansas City at Denver
Line: Broncos by 7-1/2.
Last meeting: Broncos won 34-7 in Denver on Oct. 27. 1996.
Key stats: Chiefs have won their last seven openers.
Worth watching: Former Chiefs defensive end Neil Smith lines up against his old team. The Chiefs should know how to block him, but offensive tackle is their weakest position. If desire decides, Broncos will have a fine pass rush.
Outlook: The Broncos will spend this season trying to make up for their upset loss to Jacksonville in last year’s playoffs. John Elway missed some of training camp with a sore biceps, but he’s taking aim at a Chiefs team in decline
Minnesota at Buffalo
Line: Bills by 2-1/2.
Last meeting: Vikings won 21-17 at Buffalo on Dec. 11, 1994.
Key stats: The Bills have the NFL’s best September record in the 1990s (22-5, .815).
Worth watching: Todd Collins takes over for the retired Jim Kelly as Buffalo’s QB. He was 2-1 as a starter last year, but it’s always different when you’re the official starter. The same goes for Minnesota’s Brad Johnson, who wrapped up the job late last season and has the new contract to prove it.
Outlook: Bills may have to rely more on Thurman Thomas in the post-Kelly era. And the Vikings need a big game and year from running back Robert Smith, back from yet another knee injury. Johnson gives Vikings an edge.
New Orleans at St. Louis
Line: Rams by 4.
Last meeting: Rams won 14-13 at St. Louis on Dec. 12, 1996.
Key stats: Rams have won three of the last four from the Saints.
Worth watching: One of Mike Ditka’s first moves after taking over the Saints was to decide on Heath Shuler as his quarterback. How this game, and the Saints’ season, goes may depend on to what degree he can perform for Ditka compared to what Jim McMahon did.
Outlook: It’s Ditka vs. Dick Vermeil in the Return of the Veteran Coaches game. The Saints have Ditka, but the Rams have Tony Banks, Isaac Bruce and Lawrence Phillips. Sorry, Ditka fans.
Oakland at Tennessee
Line: Raiders by 3.
Last meeting: Raiders won 17-14 at Oakland on Oct. 30, 1994.
Key stats: Raiders’ Napoleon Kaufman led NFL with average of 5.8 yards per carry last year.
Worth watching: After two years of development, Steve McNair takes over as the Oilers’ starting quarterback. After almost a decade of missed opportunities, Jeff George does the same for the Raiders.
Outlook: The Oilers make their Tennessee debut in Memphis, where the emotion of a home crowd may actually help. More important, the Oilers can give the ball to Eddie George. All those big-name Raiders don’t make enough big plays.
Philadelphia at N.Y. Giants
Line: Eagles by 3.
Last meeting: Eagles won 24-0 at Philadelphia on Dec. 1, 1996.
Key stats: Eagles have beaten the Giants four straight times.
Worth watching: With Rodney Hampton questionable, Giants continue their endless quest for a tailback by going with rookie Tiki Barber. Eagles going with Ty Detmer at quarterback.
Outlook: Eagles should spoil Jim Fassel’s debut as Giants coach. Philadelphia’s defense, led by pass rusher Mike Mamula, should put plenty of heat on Giants QB Dave Brown.
San Diego at New England
Line: Patriots by 7.
Last meeting: Patriots won 45-7 on Dec. 1, 1996, at San Diego.
Key stats: Patriots running back Curtis Martin has scored at least one TD in last 15 home games.
Worth watching: Eric Metcalf, the Chargers’ key free-agent acquisition, tries to boost the offense in a variety of ways, by catching passes and returning kicks.
Outlook: Patriots try to build on the momentum of their AFC championship. Pete Carroll succeeds Bill Parcells, who couldn’t take Drew Bledsoe with him to the Jets. Bledsoe and the Patriots are still learning their new offense, but this is also the Chargers’ first game under a new coach, Kevin Gilbride.
San Francisco at Tampa Bay
Line: 49ers by 6-1/2.
Last meeting: 49ers won 41-16 at San Francisco on Oct. 23, 1994.
Key stats: 49ers are 12-1 against the Bucs, including the last nine.
Worth watching: Is the Steve Young-to-Jerry Rice passing combination getting old? Can they stay healthy? This game provides the first glimpse.
Outlook: The Bucs’ strong finish in ‘96 (five wins in their last seven games) has many saying they’re finally ready to contend for the playoffs. Fans in Tampa Bay have heard this before. But if rookie running back Warrick Dunn can really make a difference …
Washington at Carolina
Line: Panthers by 4.
Last meeting: Redskins won 20-17 at Washington on Dec. 24, 1995.
Key stats: The Panthers were 8-0 at home in ‘96.
Worth watching: Carolina linebacker Lamar Lathon, who had 13-1/2 sacks a year ago, going after Washington quarterback Gus Frerotte.
Outlook: Carolina’s Kerry Collins is out with a broken jaw, so Steve Beurlein opens the season as the Panthers’ starting quarterback. Look for the Panthers to go conservative.
Chicago at Green Bay (Monday night)
Line: Packers by 15.
Last meeting: Packers won 28-17 at Green Bay on Dec. 1, 1996.
Key stats: Under Dave Wannstedt, the Bears are 1-7 against the Packers.
Worth watching: With Edgar Bennett out for the season, the Packers turn to Dorsey Levens as their featured back. Erik Kramer may have to play well every week to keep Dave Wannstedt from switching to Rick Mirer, who will have to play at some point.
Outlook: The Packers suffered some minor losses in the off-season, but Brett Favre is back and Robert Brooks has recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of the Super Bowl run. The rebuilding (again) Bears have little room for error and have already lost Curtis Conway until mid-October.
xxxx ON TV TODAY 10: Chargers at Patriots (NBC) 1: 49ers at Buccaneers (FOX) 1: Jets at Seahawks (NBC) 5: Redskins at Panthers (TNT)