Nfl Matchups

Cardinals at Colts

Line: Colts by 8-1/2.

Last meeting: Colts won 16-13 at Indianapolis on Dec. 20, 1992.

Key stats: Cardinals have won four of the last five from the Colts.

Worth watching: Exhibition statistics mean little, but Colts can only be heartened that QB Jim Harbaugh led the NFL in passing in August. Cardinals have new QB in Boomer Esiason and pass-rusher in Illinois product Simeon Rice, who had two sacks in last exhibition.

Outlook: Harbaugh is working behind three new starters (Doug Widell and ex-Bears Jay Leeuwenburg, Troy Auzenne), but even if they need time to come together as a line, it shouldn’t matter against the Cardinals. The big question is for whom will the relatives of Colts GM Bill Tobin and his brother Vince, the Cardinals’ rookie coach, root.

Steelers at Jaguars

Line: Steelers by 4-1/2.

Last meeting: Steelers won 24-7 at Pittsburgh on Oct. 29, 1995.

Key stats:The Steelers had the NFL’s No. 3 defense a year ago, and could be better.

Worth watching: For a team that almost won the Super Bowl, Pittsburgh has made some big changes. The Steelers let Neil O’Donnell move to the Jets, and are going with third-year man Jim Miller at quarterback and Jerome Bettis at running back. With WR Andre Rison in town, Jacksonville QB Mark Brunell has an inviting target.

Outlook: The last time these teams played, the Steelers recorded seven QB sacks. It won’t be that dominating this time, but Pittsburgh’s defense will be the difference.

Falcons at Panthers

Line: Falcons by 3.

Last meeting: Panthers won 21-17 at Carolina on Dec. 17, 1995.

Key stats: It’s weakness vs. weakness: Carolina’s No. 26 offense vs. Atlanta’s No. 29 defense.

Worth watching: Atlanta QB Jeff George is one of the NFL’s most prolific passers, throwing for 4,143 yards and 24 TDs. He has inviting targets in Terance Mathis and Eric Metcalf. Carolina unveils rookie RB Tshimanga Biakabutuka.

Outlook: The Panthers figure to be tough at home, the brand-new Ericsson Stadium. Falcons have some soft spots in their run defense, but expect some big plays from OLB Cornelius Bennett, who was signed away from the Buffalo Bills. However, the Panthers have an old defense, especially for an expansion team.

Chiefs at Oilers

Line: Chiefs by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Chiefs won 20-13 at Kansas City on Nov. 19, 1995.

Key stats: Chiefs have lost last five in the Astrodome.

Worth watching: Kansas City running backs Marcus Allen and Greg Hill are the league’s top duo. Oilers rookie Eddie George can be a big difference-maker in a one-back attack.

Outlook: DE Neil Smith and LB Derrick Thomas lead a Chiefs defense that was No. 2 in the NFL a year ago and will carry the load for a team that was 13-3 a year ago and flopped in the playoffs. Oilers are on their way up, but their offense won’t kick in until QB Steve McNair gets a chance to lead the way. But will fan apathy - the Oilers plan to move to Nashville - hurt the Oilers?

Raiders at Ravens

Line: Even.

Last meeting: Ravens (formerly Cleveland Browns) won, 19-16, in Los Angeles on Sept. 19, 1993.

Key stats: Ravens’ pass defense was 24th in the league a year ago.

Worth watching: The Ravens’ snazzy new uniforms, and all those ex-Cowboys in those Raiders uniforms. Ravens are technically a new franchise, but they’re the same old Browns who collapsed at the end of last season after the move to Baltimore was announced.

Outlook: The emotion of the first NFL game in Baltimore since 1983 still won’t be enough to carry a bad team to victory. The Raiders are regrouping and have added ex-Cowboys DT Russell Maryland and CB Larry Brown, MVP of last season’s Super Bowl.

Eagles at Redskins

Line: Redskins by 1-1/2.

Last meeting: Eagles won 14-7 at Washington on Nov. 26, 1995.

Key stats: Eagles have beaten Redskins seven straight.

Worth watching: Washington figures to have an improved defense with the addition of tackle Sean Gilbert in trade with Rams. The Washington QB campaign was won by Gil Frerotte. Eagles going with Rodney Peete at QB despite a sore knee.

Outlook: Eagles’ defense was No. 4 in the NFL a year ago and should be strong as long as knee injury doesn’t slow DT Andy Harmon, who had 11 sacks. Eagles will gladly take another 13-sack season from William Fuller.

Packers at Bucs

Line: Packers by 6.

Last meeting: Buccaneers won 13-10 in OT at Tampa on Dec. 10, 1995.

Key stats: Until December’s loss, Packers had won six straight vs. Bucs.

Worth watching: Green Bay QB Brett Favre, who was treated for addiction to pain-killers in the off-season, starts defense of his MVP award. With RB Edgar Bennett and WR Robert Brooks, the Packers have too many weapons.

Outlook: After more than a decade as a head-coaching candidate, Tony Dungy finally has his own NFL team, even if it is Tampa Bay. But tailback Errict Rhett missed camp as a holdout, so for now, don’t expect much.

Patriots at Dolphins

Line: Dolphins by 3.

Last meeting: Patriots won 34-17 on Nov. 12, 1995.

Key stats: New England coach Bill Parcells is 4-0 against Miami coach Jimmy Johnson.

Worth watching: New England QB Drew Bledsoe needs to show early he can bounce back from an off year. And the Patriots hope RB Curtis Martin can exploit a weak Miami run defense.

Outlook: Jimmy Johnson debuts as Miami’s new coach against an AFC East team that, like the Dolphins, has problems. Johnson has QB Dan Marino and salary cap problems, the Patriots have Bledsoe and a coach, Bill Parcells, who may not be into it any more.

Saints at Niners

Line: 49ers by 12.

Last meeting: Saints won 11-7 at San Francisco on Oct. 29, 1995.

Key stats: San Francisco coach George Seifert is 6-1 in season openers.

Worth watching: The usual suspects. QB Steve Young and WR Jerry Rice will be the stars of this show. But Rice’s understudy, second-year man J.J. Stokes, may be ready to make life miserable for the Saints.

Outlook: New Orleans won six of its last nine a year ago, and this opener must be their reward. The 49ers, still smarting from their playoff loss to Green Bay, have a healthier Steve Young (no shoulder problem) and new running back Terry Kirby, obtained from Miami in a training camp trade.

Jets at Broncos

Line: Broncos by 8.

Last meeting: Jets won 25-22 in OT in New York on Sept. 11, 1994.

Key stats: The Jets had the NFL’s worst offense in ‘95.

Worth watching: All those new Jets. They went out and bought QB Neil O’Donnell for $25 million over seven years and spent the first pick in the draft on WR Keyshawn Johnson. Will they make any difference? And will they be overshadowed by the Broncos’ superb rookie linebacker, John Mobley? Outlook: Denver QB John Elway has a balanced offense to keep the ball away from the Jets. He can throw to Anthony Miller or give the ball to Terrell Davis. He’ll do both.

Bills at Giants

Line: Bills by 3-1/2.

Last meeting: Bills won 17-14 at Buffalo on Oct. 3, 1993.

Key stats: Bills have won last four games with Giants.

Worth watching: It’s a rerun, but Jim Kelly’s passing and leadership can still be appreciated. Back for another run at the Super Bowl, Kelly still has Thurman Thomas to give the ball to and Andre Reed to catch it. Free-agent acquisition Quinn Early gives him another weapon.

Outlook: The Buffalo defense should smother the Giants’ offense, led by still-trying-to-make-a-mark QB Dave Brown. The Bills’ addition of LB Chris Spielman via free agency could make a huge difference.

Bengals at Rams

Line: Rams by 3.

Last meeting: Bengals won 15-3 in Cincinnati, Dec. 19, 1993.

Key stats: Cincinnati defense has plenty of room to improve - it was last in the AFC a year ago.

Worth watching: Cincinnati RB Ki-Jana Carter, the first pick in the ‘95 draft, finally makes his NFL debut after missing his rookie season with a knee injury. For the Rams, first-round draft choice Lawrence Phillips gets the chance to make headlines for something he actually does on the field for the first time since the Fiesta Bowl.

Outlook: The Rams’ pass rush, led by free-agent acquisition Leslie O’Neal, could overwhelm the Bengals’ line. New Rams QB Steve Walsh doesn’t have the strongest arm, but he was 8-3 as a Bears starter in ‘94 and is trying to develop rapport with WR Isaac Bruce.

Lions at Vikings

Line: Vikings by 2.

Last meeting: Lions won, 44-38, in Detroit on Nov. 23, 1995.

Key stats: Detroit’s offense will be happy to repeat last year’s ranking of No. 1 in the NFC.

Worth watching: Quite simply, the Detroit offense, led by Scott Mitchell, who tossed 32 TDs a year ago. He’ll look for Brett Perriman and Herman Moore, and will probably find them. The Vikings need a big game for QB Warren Moon and for RB Robert Smith to stay healthy.

Outlook: Detroit’s passing offense should have a big day against one of the NFL’s weakest secondaries. But the Vikings are playing at home and will go against a defense severely weakened by LB Chris Spielman’s move to Buffalo.