Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - So, who'll be the most scrutinized rookies
during the opening week of the 2012 NFL season?
Sure, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin will undeniably be closely watched as the
heads of this year's draft class attempt to ace their first major tests in
challenging road assignments against a pair of expected contenders over the
coming weekend, but that's not the answer.
How about Brandon Weeden, the neophyte Cleveland Browns quarterback who's
actually considerably older than a number of vested veterans in starting his
pro career at the advanced age of 28?
Guess again.
Could it be Russell Wilson, the undersized but incredibly poised and gifted
young passer who took advantage of Pete Carroll's open-minded policy and
wrested the Seattle Seahawks' starting signal-caller job away from expected
heir apparent Matt Flynn?
No cigar.
Nope, when fans and observers are all gathering around the water coolers on
Monday morning, it's almost a given that the hot topic of conversation will be
the performance of the replacement officials that will almost assuredly be
working the first wave of games as the NFL continues to be at loggerheads with
the Referees Association over compensation and retirement benefits. And
regardless of whether or not the substitute refs actually handle their
temporary promotions capably, the league has left itself vulnerable to a
Pandora's box of criticism from the media masses due to its stubborn stance on
the matter.
It's unfortunately a no-win situation for the guys (and one gal) who'll be
wearing the zebra suits in place of the regular officials. Even if the fill-in
crews get 99 out of 100 calls right and without incident, you can bet the one
that isn't will be lambasted and overanalyzed to no end by the television
talking heads and radio loudmouths the day after.
And if there's a controversial ruling made, or a lack of one that should have
been called, that impacts the final outcome of one of the Week 1 games? Boy,
will the gloves be coming off.
Of course, there's still a chance a resolution can be reached with the
Referees Association prior to Sunday's session, and the league does have a
history of reaching 11th-hour agreements in labor talks (remember last year's
players lockout?). But with the two sides reportedly as much as $10 million
per year apart in salaries and benefit packages, it's a major long shot.
There's already no chance that the regular refs will be on the field for
Wednesday's gala season opener between the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys,
in essence putting the league in the peculiar position of rooting for a
blowout game in order to delay the inevitable backlash it's about to get over
its decision.
Well, at least the world won't have to be further subjected to tedious debate
over the Cowboys' adventures in babysitting with sophomoric wide receiver Dez
Bryant for a couple of days.
Here's to hoping the standoff doesn't linger on, so the pundits can devote all
their energy to more important matters. Like Tim Tebow. And Dez Bryant.
Enjoy the games.
NFL POWER POLL
The Sports Network's updated NFL Power Poll, which ranks all 32 league teams,
can be found at:
http://64.246.64.33/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=nfl/misc/nfl-
poll.htm
FANTASY FOCUS
Find Fantasy Editor Steve Schwarz's latest analysis at:
http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=
fantasy/index.aspx
SUICIDE SELECTION OF THE WEEK
There appear to be quite a few strong options among the opening-week games,
with Chicago, Houston, New Orleans and Philadelphia all drawing appealing
matchups against rookie quarterbacks and the Eagles the lone member of that
cast to begin on the road. The Texans seem like the safest bet with a home
draw against a Miami team that will likely need considerable time to get an
overhauled offense untracked. However, the pick here is Detroit, which
shouldn't have too many problems at home against a St. Louis outfit that's
practically starting from scratch under Jeff Fisher. Houston may be better off
saving for one of the divisional layups the defending AFC South champions will
have down the road.
THE GAMES (All Times Eastern)
Dallas at N.Y. Giants, Wednesday, 8:30
LINE: Giants by 4
KEY INJURIES: Cowboys -- OUT: NT Jay Ratliff (ankle) DOUBTFUL: TE Jason Witten
(spleen) QUESTIONABLE: CB Mike Jenkins (shoulder) PROBABLE: WR Dez Bryant
(knee), WR Miles Austin (hamstring), OLB DeMarcus Ware (hamstring), C Phil
Costa (back); Giants -- OUT: CB Terrell Thomas (knee, IR), CB Prince Amukamara
(ankle), DT Chris Canty (knee, PUP), DT Shaun Rogers (leg, IR), DT Marvin
Austin (back), TE Travis Beckum (knee, PUP) QUESTIONABLE: WR Hakeem Nicks
(foot), OT Will Beatty (back), LB Michael Boley (hamstring), LB Mathias
Kiwanuka (groin), CB Jayron Hosley (toe) PROBABLE: RB Ahmad Bradshaw (hand)
THE SKINNY: Heated NFC East rivals last squared off in the final game of the
2011 regular season, with reigning world champion Giants earning a 31-14 home
victory to edge Cowboys for division title en route to winning Super Bowl
XLVI...New York quarterback Eli Manning threw for a combined 746 yards and
five touchdowns in last year's two meetings with Cowboys, including a 400-yard
effort to rally Giants to pivotal 37-34 decision in Dallas during
December...Cowboys triggerman Tony Romo put up 321 yards and had four scoring
strikes in that loss...New York has won four of last five meetings in the
series, though Dallas did register 33-20 triumph at MetLife Stadium in
2010...With Witten unlikely to play, Cowboys claimed tight end Colin Cochart
off waivers from Cincinnati on Saturday...Fifth-year special-teamer Michael
Coe to make first career start at quarterback for Giants with Thomas and
Amukamara sidelined, with veteran Sean Locklear to take Beatty's spot at left
tackle...New York tight end Martellus Bennett spent first four seasons with
the Cowboys before signing with Giants in March...New York released backup
running back D.J. Ware during Friday's final cutdown...Giants trying to become
12th straight defending Super Bowl champ to win season opener the following
year, with 1999 Denver Broncos the last such team to lose in Week 1.
PREDICTION: Cowboys certainly have the weapons to give the 2011 champs a
scare, especially with the Giants thin in the secondary. However, New York's
powerful pass rush and Manning's knack for coming through in crunch time may
make the difference. Giants 27, Cowboys 24.
---
Atlanta at Kansas City, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Falcons by 3
KEY INJURIES: Falcons -- OUT: DT Corey Peters (foot, PUP), FB Bradie Ewing
(knee, IR) DOUBTFUL: RB Jason Snelling (leg); Chiefs -- OUT: OLB Tamba Hali
(suspension), NT Anthony Toribio (ankle) DOUBTFUL: FS Kendrick Lewis
(shoulder) QUESTIONABLE: CB Brandon Flowers (heel), QB Brady Quinn (neck)
PROBABLE: ILB Derrick Johnson (ankle)
THE SKINNY: Falcons begin quest for third straight playoff appearance behind
quarterback Matt Ryan, who amassed 549 passing yards and had 75 percent
completion rate in preseason, while second-year wideout Julio Jones racked up
240 yards on 13 catches during warm-up period...Chiefs finished 7-9 in injury-
plagued 2011 campaign, but won two of final three games under then-interim
head coach Romeo Crennel...First regular-season outing for Kansas City signal-
caller Matt Cassel, who missed last seven games of 2011 with broken hand,
since November, while star running back Jamaal Charles back from ACL tear
suffered in Week 2 of last year...Chiefs have won five of seven all-time
meetings with Falcons, who are 0-3 all-time at Arrowhead Stadium...Atlanta
lost three of its last four away tilts last season, including 24-2 setback at
New York Giants in NFC Wild Card Playoffs...Falcons have also dropped two
straight season openers, both of which came on the road...Kansas City finished
31st in scoring (13.3 ppg) and last in red-zone touchdown percentage (33.3) in
2011...Hali, suspended one game for violating NFL's substance abuse policy,
had 12 of Chiefs' 29 sacks last year.
PREDICTION: Chiefs are traditionally tough at home, but their conspicuous
absences on defense make for a challenging afternoon against an Atlanta attack
that looks like it could be explosive. Falcons 20, Chiefs 13.
---
Buffalo at N.Y. Jets, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Jets by 3
KEY INJURIES: Bills -- DOUBTFUL: WR/QB Brad Smith (groin) QUESTIONABLE: CB
Terrence McGee (knee), RT Erik Pears (hernia surgery), DE Mark Anderson
(groin); Jets -- QUESTIONABLE: RB Joe McKnight (hamstring), WR Chaz Schilens
(ankle), S Eric Smith (knee) PROBABLE: TE Dustin Keller (hamstring), WR Jeremy
Kerley (hamstring), ILB David Harris (ankle), NT Sione Pouha (back), RG
Brandon Moore (knee), DT Mike DeVito (calf)
THE SKINNY: Regular season debut for popular Jets backup quarterback and
offseason addition Tim Tebow, expected to be used in Wildcat packages in new
coordinator Tony Sparano's offense, while Bills added prized defensive end
Mario Williams in free agency to bolster defense that ranked 26th overall and
30th in points allowed (27.1 ppg)...New York has won five straight and seven
of eight most recent meetings in series and dealt Bills 28-24 defeat at
MetLife Stadium last November in addition to 27-11 setback in Buffalo during
Week 9...Buffalo's lone win over that span was 16-13 road overtime triumph in
2009...Both teams went 0-4 in preseason, with Jets scoring just one touchdown
and managing NFL-low 31 points and Bills allowing league-high 119 points...New
York quarterback Mark Sanchez did throw for career-best four scores in Week 12
victory over Buffalo in 2011, however...Jets led NFL in red zone touchdown
efficiency (65.5 percent) last season, while Bills yielded touchdowns on 64.4
percent of such possessions, worst mark in league...Buffalo wide receiver
Stevie Johnson had 11 catches totaling 159 yards and one touchdown in two 2011
games against Jets...New York claimed wide receiver Clyde Gates off waivers
from Dolphins on Saturday.
PREDICTION: Jets may not be yet able to cure their offensive ills, but should
be able to count on Rex Ryan's usually sturdy defense stifling a Buffalo squad
that wasn't exactly in top form during the preseason either. Jets 17, Bills
10.
---
Indianapolis at Chicago, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Bears by 9 1/2
KEY INJURIES: Colts -- OUT: ILB Pat Angerer (foot), NT Brandon McKinney (knee,
IR), NT Josh Chapman (knee, PUP) QUESTIONABLE: WR T.Y. Hilton (shoulder), RB
Mewelde Moore (ribs), RB Delone Carter (ribs) PROBABLE: WR Austin Collie
(concussion), DE Cory Redding (knee), CB Jerraud Powers (knee), LG Joe Reitz
(knee), RG Mike McGlynn (ankle); Bears -- OUT: WR Johnny Knox (back, PUP)
DOUBTFUL: P Adam Podlesh (hip) QUESTIONABLE: MLB Brian Urlacher (knee), FS
Chris Conte (shoulder), NT Stephen Paea (ankle)
THE SKINNY: Highly anticipated regular-season debut of Colts rookie
quarterback and 2012 No. 1 overall draft pick Andrew Luck as Indianapolis
officially christens post-Peyton Manning era and attempts to improve on
dreadful 2-14 campaign of year ago with first-year head coach Chuck Pagano now
at helm...First regular-season start for Chicago signal-caller Jay Cutler
since suffering broken right thumb last November, with team going 1-5 in his
absence to fall out of NFC playoff race, while marquee offseason acquisition
Brandon Marshall set for initial outing as a Bear...Chicago also to unveil new
running back tandem of 2011 Pro Bowl selection Matt Forte and free-agent
addition Michael Bush, who be attacking Indianapolis defense ranked 29th
against rush last season...Bears have allowed NFL-high 140 sacks over past
three years and face Colts' accomplished pass-rush duo of Dwight Freeney and
Robert Mathis, now deployed as outside linebackers in Pagano's new 3-4
alignment...Chicago re-signed defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, a member of Bears
in 2011, on Monday while releasing defensive lineman Brian Price.
PREDICTION: Luck won't disappoint in his introduction as the Colts keep it
competitive, though the Bears should be able to run wild on an Indianapolis
defense that's still a considerable work in progress. Bears 24, Colts 16.
---
Jacksonville at Minnesota, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Vikings by 4
KEY INJURIES: Jaguars -- OUT: G Will Rackley (ankle, IR), DE Austen Lane
(ankle), LB Clint Session (concussion, PUP), TE Zach Miller (calf, IR), DE
John Chick (knee, PUP) DOUBTFUL: CB Derek Cox (calf) PROBABLE: RB Maurice-
Jones Drew (held out), OLB Daryl Smith (groin); Vikings -- OUT: WR Jerome
Simpson (suspension), WR Greg Childs (knees, IR) QUESTIONABLE: RB Adrian
Peterson (knee), SS Mistral Raymond (back), TE Rhett Ellison (knee) PROBABLE:
TE John Carlson (knee), CB Chris Cook (concussion), NT Letroy Guion (knee),
CB/PR Marcus Sherels (ankle)
THE SKINNY: Clash of 2011 also-rans housing two of the NFL's premier running
backs, though Peterson to be a game-time call while still recovering from ACL
and MCL tears sustained last December and defending league rushing champion
Jones-Drew to be used sparingly after just ending a 38-day holdout over a
contract dispute on Sunday...Rashad Jennings to start in Jones-Drew's place,
with Toby Gerhart in line to get most of backfield work for Vikings...First
game for new Jacksonville head coach Mike Mularkey, who posted 14-18 mark in
same position for Buffalo from 2004-05...Battle of second-year quarterbacks
seeking to improve off rough rookie campaigns also on tap, with Vikings'
Christian Ponder and Jacksonville's Blaine Gabbert placing 30th and 32nd,
respectively, in passer rating among starters...Jaguars finished last in the
NFL in both total offense (259.3 ypg) and passing yards (136.2 ypg) while
compiling 5-11 record in 2011...Minnesota ranked fourth overall in rushing
offense (144.9 ypg) during last year's forgettable 3-13 season, which matched
franchise record for losses in a single year, while Jags' defense ended ninth
against the run (104.2 ypg) and sixth overall in 2011...Vikings released
veteran quarterback Sage Rosenfels and acquired cornerback A.J. Jefferson from
Arizona during Friday's roster reductions.
PREDICTION: Neither star running back winds up being a factor as the outcome
comes down to which of the two young quarterbacks shows more improvement. The
feeling here is it will be Ponder, who benefits from better offensive
continuity and a superior pass rush from Jared Allen and the rest of his
Minnesota teammates. Vikings 20, Jaguars 13.
---
Miami at Houston, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Texans by 12
KEY INJURIES: Dolphins -- QUESTIONABLE: LT Jake Long (knee), MLB Karlos Dansby
(knee), WR Brian Hartline (calf), DT Tony McDaniel (leg) PROBABLE: OLB Kevin
Burnett (back), RG Artis Hicks (neck); Texans -- OUT: OT Rashad Butler
(triceps, IR), ILB Daryl Sharpton (hip, PUP PROBABLE: DE J.J. Watt (elbow), NT
Shaun Cody (back)
THE SKINNY: First foray as a head coach for new Miami sideline boss Joe
Philbin and initial NFL regular-season start at quarterback for Dolphins' 2012
first-round pick and Texas native Ryan Tannehill...Rookie will face rugged
Houston defense that helped spur reigning AFC South champion Texans' first-
ever playoff berth in 2011 by ranking second in the league in yards allowed
(285.7 ypg), third against the run and fourth versus the pass...Houston coming
off franchise-best 10-6 regular season and advanced to Divisional Round of
conference playoffs despite quarterback Matt Schaub, who'll make first
regular-season appearance since November, missing eight games with foot
injury...Texans own 6-0 lifetime record in series and handed Dolphins 23-13
loss in Miami during Week 2 of last season...Dolphins finished third overall
in run defense (95.6 ypg) a year ago, but allowed 103 yards on the ground to
Houston No. 2 back Ben Tate in last September's encounter...Miami released
veteran quarterback David Garrard on Tuesday while claiming safety Troy Nolan
off waivers from the Texans following final cuts...Dolphins also awarded
ex-Washington wide receiver Anthony Armstrong on waivers...Houston signed
veteran offensive tackle Ryan Harris to fill Butler's roster spot on Saturday.
PREDICTION: A real tough spot for Tannehill, who figures to be handed a hard
first lesson at the hands of Wade Phillips and Houston's exceptional defense.
Texans 23, Dolphins 6.
---
New England at Tennessee, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Patriots by 6
KEY INJURIES: Patriots -- OUT: TE Jake Ballard (knee, PUP), DT Myron Pryor
(pectoral, PUP), FB Spencer Larsen (undisclosed, IR) DOUBTFUL: TE Visanthe
Shiancoe (undisclosed) QUESTIONABLE: SS Patrick Chung (shoulder), FS Steve
Gregory (leg), RB Shane Vereen (foot) PROBABLE: RB Stevan Ridley (knee), RT
Sebastian Vollmer (back); Titans -- OUT: WR Kenny Britt (suspension), C Eugene
Amano (triceps, IR), DE Dave Ball (concussion, IR), KR Marc Mariani (leg, IR),
DE Leger Douzable (shoulder, IR) PROBABLE: DT Jurrell Casey (elbow), DT
Sen'Derrick Marks (knee)
THE SKINNY: 2011 first-round pick Jake Locker set to make first career start
for Titans after winning preseason competition with 15th-year pro Matt
Hasselbeck, and goes up against New England defense that placed last in the
NFL in both total yards (411.1 ypg) and passing yards allowed despite team
reaching Super Bowl XLVI...Patriots triggerman Tom Brady coming off personal-
best 5,235-yard season, the second-highest total in NFL history, and threw for
380 yards and a career high-tying six touchdowns in 59-0 rout of Titans in
teams' last meeting, which took place in Foxborough in 2009...Brady led New
England offense to No. 2 overall ranking in total yards (428.0 ypg) and
passing as club averaged 32.1 points per game en route to 13-3 record and
third straight AFC East title...Pats ended 2011 regular season on eight-game
winning streak...New England released veteran wide receiver Deion Branch,
center Dan Koppen and backup quarterback Brian Hoyer during final cuts while
acquiring second-year wideout Greg Salas from St. Louis on
Saturday...Tennessee finished 31st in NFL in sacks (28) last year, but added
ex-Raiders pass rusher Kamerion Wimbley in free agency...Titans 2012 first-
round choice, wide receiver Kendall Wright, slated to start for Britt, while
rookie high picks Chandler Jones (defensive end) and Donta' Hightower
(linebacker) have earned regular roles on revamped New England defense.
PREDICTION: Patriots may be more methodical than usual after making a few
surprising deletions at wide receiver, but it's still hard to bet against
Brady with a first-time starter at quarterback on the opposing side. Patriots
27, Titans 23.
---
Philadelphia at Cleveland, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Eagles by 8
KEY INJURIES: Eagles -- OUT: LT Jason Peters (Achilles, NFI), DT Mike
Patterson (brain surgery, NFI) DOUBTFUL: WR Riley Cooper (collarbone), S Colt
Anderson (knee) PROBABLE: QB Michael Vick (ribs), DE Jason Babin (calf), FS
Nate Allen (hamstring); Browns -- OUT: OLB Scott Fujita (suspension), OLB
Chris Gocong (Achilles, IR), DT Phil Taylor (triceps, PUP), DE Marcus Benard
(elbow, IR) DOUBTFUL: CB Dimitri Patterson (ankle) QUESTIONABLE: RB Trent
Richardson (knee), OLB James-Michael Johnson (oblique) PROBABLE: TE Ben Watson
(leg)
THE SKINNY: Browns begin second year of rebuilding plan under head coach Pat
Shurmur, an assistant under Eagles head coach Andy Reid for 10 years from
1999-2008, with 28-year-old rookie Brandon Weeden to start at quarterback and
2012 No. 3 overall draft choice Richardson tentatively expected to see time
after sitting out all of preseason recovering from a knee scope...Vick on
track to play despite leaving pair of tuneup games with bruised ribs and an
injured throwing hand...Teams also met in preseason on Aug. 24, with Eagles
posting a 27-10 victory, and Philadelphia is 3-0 against Cleveland in regular-
season play under Reid...Browns haven't beaten Eagles since 1994 and have
dropped seven consecutive Week 1 openers, six of which took place at
home...Fujita to begin serving three-game penalty for role in New Orleans
Saints' bounty scandal during previous tenure with that team...Patterson one
of five former Eagles on Cleveland roster, along with cornerback Sheldon
Brown, defensive end Juqua Parker, tight end Alex Smith and wide receiver
Jordan Norwood...Philadelphia had minus-14 turnover margin during
disappointing 8-8 campaign in 2011, but closed out season with four straight
wins and went 5-3 on road...Cleveland defense was third-best in NFL in red
zone touchdown percentage (40.8), while Eagles were 30th in that category
(59.6 percent)...Browns traded reserve safety David Sims to Philadelphia
during Friday's roster cutdown.
PREDICTION: Familiarity will breed contempt for the hard-luck Browns, who
simply don't have the skill or experience to hang with a far more loaded
Philadelphia team. Eagles 30, Browns 17.
---
St. Louis at Detroit, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Lions by 8 1/2
KEY INJURIES: Rams -- OUT: DT Michael Brockers (ankle), WR Austin Pettis
(suspension), DT Trevor Laws (knee, IR), DT Darell Scott (knee) QUESTIONABLE:
DT Matt Conrath (knee) PROBABLE: C Scott Wells (knee), WR Brandon Gibson
(hamstring), S Darian Stewart (hamstring); Lions -- OUT: RB Jahvid Best
(concussion, PUP), RB Mikel Leshoure (suspension) QUESTIONABLE: FS Louis
Delmas (knee), CB Chris Houston (ankle), CB Dwight Bentley (shoulder)
PROBABLE: RB Kevin Smith (ankle), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (knee), RB/KR Stefan
Logan (ankle)
THE SKINNY: Rams' first regular season game under head coach Jeff Fisher comes
against the former Tennessee commander's onetime assistant Jim Schwartz, who
spent 10 years with the Fisher-led Titans as a defensive aide from 2001-08
before becoming Lions' head coach...Schwartz guided Detroit to 10-6 record and
franchise's first playoff berth since 1999 last season, with quarterback
Matthew Stafford throwing for 5,038 yards and 41 touchdowns and star wideout
Calvin Johnson gaining league-best 1,681 receiving yards to lead NFL's fifth-
ranked offense...Rebuilding Rams to field seven new starters on defense that
finished 31st against the run during last year's 2-14 disaster, including 2012
first-round choice Brockers, second-round cornerback Janoris Jenkins and free-
agent corner Cortland Finnegan...The injured Brockers and Jenkins are two of
17 rookies to make St. Louis' Week 1 roster...Rams allowed league-high 55
sacks in 2011 and face potent Detroit pass rush led by Vanden Bosch, end Cliff
Avril and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh...Smith to start at running back for
Lions with Best sidelined and Leshoure serving two-game ban for offseason drug
arrest...Detroit signed veteran cornerback Drayton Florence on Saturday to
shore up banged-up secondary...St. Louis released projected backup quarterback
Kellen Clemens at final cuts and let go of offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka on
Sunday, while trading wide receiver Greg Salas to New England over weekend.
PREDICTION: A makeshift St. Louis offensive line won't have an answer for the
Lions' persistent pass rush, and Rams don't have the horses to give a Detroit
team that can light it up a serious run anyhow. Lions 31, Rams 13.
---
Washington at New Orleans, Sunday, 1:00
LINE: Saints by 9
KEY INJURIES: Redskins -- OUT: RT Jammal Brown (hip, PUP), NT Chris Neild
(knee, IR) QUESTIONABLE: LG Kory Lichtensteiger (knee) PROBABLE: OLB Brian
Orakpo (shoulder), SS Brandon Meriweather (knee), FB Darrel Young (hamstring)
Saints -- OUT: DE Will Smith (suspension), OLB Chris Chamberlain (knee, IR),
WR Nick Toon (foot, IR), CB Marquis Johnson (knee, IR) QUESTIONABLE: MLB
Curtis Lofton (ankle), OLB David Hawthorne (knee), WR Adrian Arrington (knee)
PROBABLE: RB Darren Sproles (knee), CB Jabari Greer (hernia surgery)
THE SKINNY: Rookie sensation Robert Griffin III to make eagerly awaited first
career start at quarterback for Redskins against defending NFC South champion
Saints squad to be led by Aaron Kromer, filling in for interim head coach Joe
Vitt with both the latter and usual man in charge Sean Payton suspended in the
wake of the NFL's offseason crackdown of the team's bounty program...Payton
and linebacker Jonathan Vilma to sit out all of the 2012 schedule as
punishment, with Smith getting a four-game penalty...New Orleans coming off
13-3 season in 2011 in which quarterback Drew Brees set league single-year
record with 5,476 passing yards along with 46 touchdown throws...Including
playoffs, Saints went 9-0 while averaging 41.6 points per game at home last
season...Washington making first trip to Superdome since posting 16-10 win
there in 2006...Redskins released veteran running back Tim Hightower during
Friday's cuts, with second-year pros Evan Royster and Roy Helu and rookie
Alfred Morris expected to rotate in team's backfield...2011 Heisman Trophy
recipient Griffin produced a 103.3 passer rating and completed 64.5 percent of
his throws in the preseason.
PREDICTION: Griffin's dangerous scrambling skills will pose some problems for
a New Orleans defense with some health issues at linebacker, but outgunning
Brees and the Saints' vast array of playmakers inside the Superdome still
doesn't appear realistic. Saints 31, Redskins 24.
---
Carolina at Tampa Bay, Sunday, 4:25
LINE: Panthers by 2 1/2
KEY INJURIES: Panthers -- OUT: WR David Gettis (hamstring, PUP), CB Brandon
Hogan (knee, IR), DT Andre Neblett (suspension) QUESTIONABLE: RB Jonathan
Stewart (ankle), MLB Jon Beason (hamstring) PROBABLE: WR Steve Smith (foot);
Buccaneers -- OUT: G Davin Joseph (knee, IR), DE Da'Quan Bowers (Achilles,
PUP), CB E.J. Biggers (foot) QUESTIONABLE: WR Arrelious Benn (knee) PROBABLE:
MLB Mason Foster (hamstring)
THE SKINNY: Greg Schiano has his official coronation as an NFL head coach as
the former Rutgers program architect leads an overhauled Buccaneers team that
ended last season on a brutal 10-game losing streak that included a pair of
lopsided losses to the upstart Panthers in December...Carolina cruised to a
38-19 victory at Raymond James Stadium in Week 13 and delivered a 48-16
throttling of the Bucs in Charlotte three weeks later, rushing for a combined
433 yards in the two games...Panthers quarterback and 2011 NFL Offensive
Rookie of the Year Cam Newton accounted for eight touchdowns (4 passing, 4
rushing) in those two triumphs...Carolina has prevailed in seven of its last
nine trips to Tampa...Wide receiver Vincent Jackson and All-Pro left guard
Carl Nicks to make their regular-season debuts as Buccaneers after joining the
club as high-profile free-agent signings during the offseason...2012 first-
round pick Doug Martin expected to open at running back for Tampa Bay as one
of three rookie starters, along with heralded safety Mark Barron and
linebacker Lavonte David...Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, taken two spots
behind Barron at ninth overall in April's draft, also tabbed for a regular
role on his new team...Buccaneers allowed league-worst 494 points during last
year's 4-12 season while finishing last in run defense (156.1 ypg) and 30th in
total defense, while Carolina ranked 28th in total yards allowed.
PREDICTION: Panthers ran all over the Bucs in last year's two meetings, and
should be able to do so again with Tampa's defense still in a state of flux.
Panthers 34, Buccaneers 24.
---
San Francisco at Green Bay, Sunday, 4:25
LINE: Packers by 5
KEY INJURIES: 49ers -- OUT: OLB Parys Haralson (arm, IR) QUESTIONABLE: RB
Brandon Jacobs (knee), WR Ted Ginn Jr. (ankle); Packers -- OUT: ILB Desmond
Bishop (hamstring, IR), TE Andrew Quarless (knee, PUP), OLB Erik Walden
(suspension), OT Derek Sherrod (leg, PUP) QUESTIONABLE: RB James Starks (toe),
CB Davon House (shoulder) PROBABLE: NT B.J. Raji (ankle)
THE SKINNY: High-profile Week 1 matchup between the top two seeds of last
season's NFC Playoffs that features a pair of quarterbacks selected in the
first round of the 2005 draft in the 49ers' Alex Smith (No. 1 overall) and
2011 league MVP Aaron Rodgers (No. 24) on the Packers' side...Green Bay coming
off stellar 15-1 regular season and owns 13-game non-playoff winning streak at
Lambeau Field, where San Francisco hasn't won since 1990...Including playoffs,
49ers have lost eight straight times in Green Bay since that victory and have
dropped nine in a row overall to the Packers in regular-season play, most
recently a 34-16 setback in Lambeau in 2010...Game pits a contrast in styles,
with Green Bay topping the league in scoring (35.0) and ranking third in both
total offense (405.1 ypg) and passing yards (307.8 ypg) last season, while
stout San Francisco defense yielded the second-fewest points (14.3 ppg) and
fourth-fewest total yards to fuel team's run to NFC Championship
Game...Packers also third overall in red zone touchdown percentage (65.2) in
2011, while Niners 30th in that category (40.7 percentage) and received
league-record 44 field goals from clutch kicker David Akers...San Francisco
offseason pickup and seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Randy Moss returns to
NFL after opting to sit out entire 2011 season...49ers signed veteran outside
linebacker Clark Haggans after placing Haralson on IR Monday.
PREDICTION: San Francisco's rugged stop unit is more than capable of slowing
down a Green Bay offense that appeared out of sync for much of the preseason,
but the Niners won't win if they're settling for Akers field goals like they
did much of last season. Packers 20, 49ers 16.
---
Seattle at Arizona, Sunday, 4:25
LINE: Seahawks by 2 1/2
KEY INJURIES: Seahawks -- OUT: CB Walter Thurmond (leg, PUP), G James
Carpenter (knee), LB Matt McCoy (knee, IR) PROBABLE: RB Marshawn Lynch (back),
WR Doug Baldwin (hamstring), DT Jason Jones (knee), QB Matt Flynn (elbow);
Cardinals -- OUT: LT Levi Brown (triceps, IR), OT Jeremy Bridges (thumb, IR)
PROBABLE: RB Beanie Wells (knee), RB Ryan Williams (knee)
THE SKINNY: Clash of NFC West members with surprising starters at quarterback,
with exciting rookie Russell Wilson overtaking free-agent addition Flynn for
the Seahawks' No. 1 job and Cardinals tabbing John Skelton over pre-camp
favorite Kevin Kolb...Both teams put forth strong finishes in 2011, with
Arizona winning five of its final six outings and Seattle going 5-3 over
season's second half...Cardinals have come out on top in five of six bouts
with Seahawks held at University of Phoenix Stadium, including 23-20 overtime
decision in last season's finale...Seattle 3-1 in series over head coach Pete
Carroll's first two seasons, however, and posted 13-10 home victory over
Arizona last September...Seahawks went 4-0 during the preseason and outscored
opponents by a 122-44 margin in those contests...Skelton produced 5-2 record
in seven starts a year ago and was under center for Cardinals' Week 17 triumph
over Seattle...Lynch rushed for career-best 1,204 yards last season and
averaged 104.6 yards and 23.4 carries over final nine weeks...Seahawks
released tight end Kellen Winslow on Saturday while signing ex-Brown Evan
Moore to fill spot...Arizona has won two straight and three of past four
season openers.
PREDICTION: Cardinals seem to find a way to overcome their constant
quarterback problems and pull out close games, and Wilson and the Seahawks may
be primed for a bit of a comedown after soaring through the preseason.
Cardinals 20, Seahawks 17.
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Pittsburgh at Denver, Sunday, 8:25
LINE: Broncos by 1
KEY INJURIES: Steelers -- OUT: RB Rashard Mendenhall (knee), RG David DeCastro
(knee), TE Weslye Saunders (suspension), ILB Sean Spence (knee, IR)
DOUBTFUL: FS Ryan Clark (medical condition) QUESTIONABLE: OLB James Harrison
(knee), OLB Jason Worilds (wrist) PROBABLE: RB Isaac Redman (hip/ankle), DE
Brett Keisel (ankle), NT Casey Hampton (knee); Broncos -- OUT: OLB D.J.
Williams (suspension), RG Chris Kuper (arm), DE Jason Hunter (triceps), TE
Virgil Green (suspension) QUESTIONABLE: OLB Keith Brooking (hamstring)
PROBABLE: RB Lance Ball (ribs), S Quinton Carter (knee)
THE SKINNY: Rematch of January's thrilling AFC Wild Card Playoff encounter
that will offer added intrigue with Peyton Manning's much-billed Broncos'
regular-season debut and first meaningful action since the 2010
postseason...Denver ended Steelers' 2011 campaign with memorable 29-23
overtime playoff upset at Sports Authority Field, with deciding points coming
on 80-yard touchdown pass from since-departed quarterback Tim Tebow to
Demaryius Thomas on first play of extra time...Thomas ended with 204 receiving
yards on just four catches in that win, while Broncos defense sacked
Pittsburgh signal-caller Ben Roethlisberger five times...Redman rushed for
career-high 121 yards on only 17 carries for Steelers in losing
cause...Pittsburgh has also lost in four of its last five non-playoff visits
to Denver, but did record 28-10 victory in most recent trip in 2009...Broncos
went just 3-5 at home during last year's unexpected Tebow-led march to AFC
West title, however...Steelers wide receiver Mike Wallace to play despite
rejoining team in late August after staging prolonged holdout over
dissatisfaction with contract, while Harrison to be used only situationally if
active after missing entire preseason...Manning to face Pittsburgh defense
that surrendered league lows in passing yards (171.9 ypg) and points (227)
during last year's 12-4 campaign...Broncos ranked first in rushing offense
(164.5 ypg) but 31st in passing yards (152.1 ypg) in 2011.
PREDICTION: Manning will make a difference, but the thin Denver air may prove
to be the Broncos' best advantage with the Steelers experiencing some depth
concerns at a number of key spots. Broncos 24, Steelers 19.
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Cincinnati at Baltimore, Monday, 7:00
LINE: Ravens by 6
KEY INJURIES: Bengals -- OUT: C Kyle Cook (ankle), G Travelle Wharton (knee,
IR), DT Pat Sims (hamstring, PUP), CB Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) DOUBTFUL: DE
Carlos Dunlap (knee) QUESTIONABLE: RB Bernard Scott (knee), CB Jason Allen
(leg), CB Adam Jones (calf) PROBABLE: QB Andy Dalton (arm), TE Jermaine
Gresham (knee), MLB Rey Maualuga (knee), DE Robert Geathers (knee); Ravens --
OUT: OLB Terrell Suggs (Achilles, PUP), DT Ryan McBean (ankle, IR), S Emanuel
Cook (leg, IR) DOUBTFUL: OLB Courtney Upshaw (shoulder), S Sean Considine
(concussion) PROBABLE: TE Ed Dickson (shoulder), TE Dennis Pitta (hand), RG
Marshal Yanda (knee)
THE SKINNY: Clash of AFC North inhabitants and 2011 playoff participants with
strong defenses, with Bengals aiming to halt three-game losing skid in
series...Ravens intercepted Dalton three times en route to 31-24 decision at
M&T Bank Stadium last November, and have won 11 straight and 19 of last 20
outings at home including postseason...Baltimore also bested Bengals by 24-16
count in Cincinnati during Week 17 to clinch division title and extend current
winning streak over AFC North foes to eight games...Ravens finished second in
NFL in run defense (92.6 ypg) and allowed third-fewest points (266) and total
yards (288.9 ypg), but will be without reigning league Defensive Player of the
Year Suggs until at least November...Cincinnati ranked seventh in total
defense last season, but surrendered combined 295 rushing yards and four
touchdowns to running back Ray Rice in two meetings with Baltimore...First NFL
game for Ravens rookie kicker Justin Tucker, who won preseason battle with
incumbent Billy Cundiff, best remembered for missing short field goal attempt
that would have forced overtime in 23-20 loss to New England in January's AFC
Championship...Veteran center Jeff Faine, signed by Bengals last week,
expected to fill in for Cook...Ravens signed ex-Patriots safety James Ihedigbo
Saturday with injuries thinning team's depth on back end.
PREDICTION: Ravens won't miss Suggs a whole lot this week, as the Bengals
don't appear to have the firepower to put much of a dent in a Baltimore
defense that's still got plenty of bite. Ravens 24, Bengals 13.
---
San Diego at Oakland, Sunday, 10:15
LINE: Chargers by 1
KEY INJURIES: Chargers -- OUT: LT Jared Gaither (back), WR Vincent Brown
(ankle), OT Brandyn Dombrowski (foot, NFI) DOUBTFUL: RB Ryan Mathews
(collarbone) QUESTIONABLE: RB Jackie Battle (foot) PROBABLE: CB Quentin Jammer
(hamstring), WR Eddie Royal (groin), C Nick Hardwick (concussion), OLB Melvin
Ingram (thigh), TE Dante Rosario (leg), RB Curtis Brinkley (thigh), CB Marcus
Gilchrist (hamstring); Raiders -- OUT: OLB Aaron Curry (knees, PUP)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Denarius Moore (hamstring), WR Jacoby Ford (foot), C Stefen
Wisniewski (calf) PROBABLE: DT Richard Seymour (knee), K Sebastian Janikowski
(groin)
THE SKINNY: Longtime AFC West foes renew rivalry in first game for Raiders
rookie head coach Dennis Allen, team's seventh man in charge in last 10
seasons that includes a two-year stint from current Chargers boss Norv Turner
from 2004-05...Both teams finished 8-8 a year ago but lost out to Denver in
tiebreaker for division crown, with San Diego denying Oakland outright title
with 38-26 victory at Coliseum in season finale...Raiders had won three
straight in series before that defeat, including 24-17 triumph in San Diego
last November, but Chargers had bested Oakland 13 consecutive times prior to
that streak...Veteran Ronnie Brown expected to take Mathews' place and faces
Raiders defense that allowed 136.1 rushing yards per game (27th overall) in
2011, while undrafted rookie Mike Harris to make first career start subbing
for Gaither...San Diego State product and 2012 fourth-round selection Miles
Burris gets nod for Oakland at weakside linebacker with Curry out...Raiders
quarterback Carson Palmer owns 122.5 passer rating and 13-to-3 touchdown-to-
interception ratio in five career starts against San Diego...Oakland signed
experienced cornerback Joselio Hanson on Monday while waiving two 2011 draft
picks at the position, DeMarcus Van Dyke (3rd Round) and Chimdi Chekwa (4th).
PREDICTION: Raiders don't do many things that well, but can put pressure on
the quarterback and are far more difficult to defend with a healthy Darren
McFadden at running back. The Chargers' injury problems could very well lead
to another slow start out of the blocks. Raiders 30, Chargers 24.
2011 record (straight up): 165-102 (.618)
2011 record (vs. spread): 128-130-9 (.496)
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