| Game of the week | Sunday night | Monday night | Rest of the week
Stock the fridge
Broncos (0-1) at Chiefs (0-1)
4:15 p.m. ET, CBS, No line
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To see how the Broncos respond to their season-opening loss Monday night, and if the champs can bounce back against one of their biggest rivals in a very difficult setting. To find out if the Chiefs are really as bad as they looked in their loss at Chicago. To determine if this AFC West rivalry still packs some punch. |
Broncos QB Brian Griese had good numbers (24-for-40, 270 yds., 3 TDs), but was hit often in his first NFL start. Broncos RB Terrell Davis likely will get back on track after a subpar opener. Chiefs WRs Derrick Alexander and Andre Rison will see a lot of ex-teammate Dale Carter. Some RB must step up for K.C. -- is it Kimble Anders? |
12: Consecutive wins for the Broncos vs. AFC West opponents -- their last loss was a 24-22 defeat at Arrowhead in 1997.
7-10: The Chiefs' record since they were upset by the Broncos in the AFC divisional playoffs in January 1998. Kansas City entered the game with an NFL-best 13-3 record.
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Cardinals (1-0) at Dolphins (1-0)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Dolphins by 9
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To decide if the Dolphins are really as good as they looked in their season-opening victory at Denver. To see if Cardinals QB Jake Plummer can work his magic against one of the NFL's fastest and most aggressive defenses. To determine if Arizona can make another playoff run. |
Cardinals RB Adrian Murrell was held to 53 yards in Philly. The lack of ground game puts pressure on Plummer and WRs Rob Moore, Frank Sanders and David Boston. Watch that trio attack Dolphins CBs Sam Madison, Terrell Buckley and Patrick Surtain -- the NFL's best secondary. |
0: Victories for the Cardinals in their seven all-time meetings with Miami.
14: Number of games in which Plummer has thrown at least two interceptions. That's not a good sign against the Dolphins' ball-hawking cornerbacks.
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Keep the clicker handy
Packers (1-0) at Lions (1-0)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Packers by 6
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To see if the Lions can follow up their upset in Seattle with a huge home victory over the Packers, and to decide if Detroit might be a surprise team this season. To watch Brett Favre, who is clearly the league's most exciting player, especially since No. 20 is no longer toting the rock in Motown. Favre's probable despite his bad thumb. |
Packers RB Dorsey Levens faces a Lions defense that allowed only 31 rushing yards last week. Packers RT Earl Dotson must keep Robert Porcher away from Favre. Lions WR Germane Crowell lit up Seattle last week. Packers WR Antonio Freeman averaged 110 yards and two TDs in two '98 meetings with the Lions. |
6: Number of seasons since the Lions got off to a 2-0 start.
4: Consecutive wins for the home team in this series.
12-26: Green Bay's record on artificial turf since 1992. Five of those losses were in Detroit.
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Raiders (0-1) at Vikings (1-0)
1 p.m. ET, CBS, Vikings by 11
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To see if the Raiders' good, young defense is up to the challenge of the NFL's most potent offense. To find out if the Vikings can get their scoring machine cranked up after sputtering a little last week in Atlanta. To find out how Oakland responds after blowing a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter at Green Bay. |
Raiders CB Charles Woodson and Vikings WR Randy Moss square off in a battle of the reigning Rookies of the Year. Raiders DT Darrell Russell will challenge Minnesota's outstanding offensive line. Vikings RB Robert Smith hasn't scored a TD since Week 10 last season. Raiders QB Rich Cannon must get the ball downfield more. |
1-6: The Raiders' record in their last seven games under second-year coach Jon Gruden.
3: Catches for Moss last week in a very quiet opener at Atlanta.
4: Consecutive games in which Vikings WR Cris Carter has scored a touchdown.
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Redskins (0-1) at Giants (1-0)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Giants by 2
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To watch two NFC East teams that are studies in contrast. The Redskins moved the ball at will in their opener, but blew a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter and lost to Dallas because they couldn't do anything right defensively. The Giants mustered only 107 total yards in their opener, but they won at Tampa Bay because their defense scored two TDs. |
Redskins WRs Michael Westbook and Albert Connell had big openers, and the Giants might again be without CBs Jason Sehorn and Conrad Hamilton. 'Skins RB Stephen Davis ran for 109 yards and two TDs against Dallas. Giants QB Kent Graham must get the offense going, but he needs a ground threat from RB Sean Bennett or FB Charles Way. |
541: Yards allowed by Washington in its 41-35 loss to Dallas.
4: First downs by the Giants last week in their win at Tampa Bay.
5: Consecutive wins for the Giants.
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Saints (1-0) at 49ers (0-1)
4:05 p.m. ET, Fox, 49ers by 10½
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To see if the Niners can bounce back from their worst loss in 13 years, a 41-3 thumping in Jacksonville. Was that a sign of a team getting old or just a bad game -- like San Francisco's season-opening loss to the Bucs was in 1997? To find out if Saints RB Ricky Williams will be able to overcome that left ankle injury and start running. |
Niners QB Steve Young comes off his worst game since replacing Joe Montana (9-for-26 with two INTs). Niners WR Jerry Rice was held to two catches last week, so he and Young have plenty to prove. Saints CBs Ashley Ambrose and Tyronne Drakeford, an ex-Niner, will be tested. Saints QB Billy Joe Hobert must avoid turnovers. |
118-27: San Francisco's margin of victory in the last four meetings with New Orleans.
19: Lowest one-game point total in 1998 for the Niners, who had only a field goal last week.
5: Times that a Mike Ditka-coached team has been shut out by the 49ers.
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Mow the lawn
Seahawks (0-1) at Bears (1-0)
1 p.m. ET, CBS, Seahawks by 3½
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To find out if the Seahawks can bounce back after laying a giant egg in Mike Holmgren's debut as coach, a lackluster 28-20 home loss to Detroit. To see if the Bears can build on the momentum of their victory over the Chiefs and defeat an AFC West opponent at home for the second straight week. |
Seahawks RB Ricky Watters never got going in the opener (21 yards on 13 carries). He must help out an offense that really misses WR Joey Galloway. Seahawks WR Sean Dawkins is the only real threat for QB Jon Kitna. Bears QBs Shane Matthews and Cade McNown will split time again. Bears RB Curtis Enis faces a suspect run defense. |
12-2: Holmgren's career record against the Bears.
205: Total yards gained by Seattle last week, including just 31 yards rushing.
322: Combined passing yards last week for the Matthews-McNown duo.
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Browns (0-1) at Titans (1-0)
4:15 p.m. ET, CBS, Titans by 16
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To catch the first career start of top pick Tim Couch. To see if things can possibly get any worse for the expansion Browns, who gained only 40 yards in their opener and looked completely overmatched in a 43-0 loss to the Steelers. To see if the Titans can put away the Browns any better than they did the hapless Bengals last week. |
Browns RB Terry Kirby might find some room to run against a Titans defense that allowed 202 rushing yards last week. Browns WR Kevin Johnson might become Couch's favorite target. Titans WR Kevin Dyson had as many TD catches last week (two) as in his entire rookie year. Titans RB Eddie George should get back on track. |
2: First downs by the Browns offense in that embarrassing loss to the Steelers.
42: Rushing yards last week for George, who got only 12 carries. That should change against a Browns defense that allowed the Steelers 5.2 yards per rush last week.
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Steelers (1-0) at Ravens (0-1)
1 p.m. ET, CBS, Steelers by 2½
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To find out if the Steelers can follow their rout of the new Browns with a victory over the old Browns. To determine if the Ravens' Scott Mitchell has any redeeming qualities as a quarterback. To sort out the contenders from the pretenders in the AFC Central, a division the Jaguars should rule again. To see if Ravens coach Brian Billick can earn his first career win. |
Steelers RB Jerome Bettis still isn't 100 percent, but he did run for 89 yards in the opener. Ravens LB Ray Lewis, a tackle machine who had 14 stops in the opener, will be key to slowing the Bus. Speedy Ravens WRs Patrick Johnson and Jermaine Lewis will test the Steelers' revamped secondary. If Mitchell falters again, the Ravens might try Tony Banks. |
5: Offensive TDs for Pittsburgh in its 43-0 rout at Cleveland. The Steelers scored only five offensive TDs in the final seven games of 1998.
19: Total points managed by the Ravens in their last three meetings with the Steelers. Baltimore has lost four in a row in the series.
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Jaguars (1-0) at Panthers (0-1)
1 p.m. ET, CBS, Jaguars by 9½
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To judge whether the Jaguars are the NFL's best team -- they certainly looked like it in last week's demolition of the Niners. To see if George Seifert can possibly find a way to keep this mismatch close. To find out if the Jags can keep their focus against a lesser opponent on the road -- something that was a problem at times in 1998. |
Jaguars RB Fred Taylor is questionable with a sprained foot. If he can't go, backup RB James Stewart will carry the load. Panthers DT Sean Gilbert leads a front four that has had trouble stopping the run. Jaguars WRs Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell could have big days against Panthers CBs Eric Davis and Doug Evans. Jags defensive coordinator Dom Capers faces his ex-team. |
36-29: Jacksonville's all-time record since joining the NFL in 1995. The Jags have made the playoffs three times.
30-35: Carolina's all-time record since joining the NFL in 1995. The Panthers have made the playoffs only once.
28-10: The Jags' record in their last 38 games.
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Chargers (0-0) at Bengals (0-1)
1 p.m. ET, CBS, Bengals by 1½
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To see if the Chargers can maintain sole possession of first place in the AFC West by winning their season opener -- yes, the other four teams all lost in Week 1. To find out if the Bengals offense will be as explosive as it was last week at Tennessee and if Cincy will be able to finish the job this week. |
Jim Harbaugh makes his first start as the Chargers QB. He might find WRs Mikhael Ricks and Jeff Graham open against the Bengals' shaky secondary. Bengals QB Jeff Blake had a big opener, and he'll be looking for WRs Darnay Scott and Carl Pickens against a tough San Diego defense. Chargers RB Natrone Means should find room to run. |
5-19: The Chargers' record in their last 24 games. San Diego closed the '98 season with a five-game losing streak.
11-54: The Bengals' first-half record over the last nine years. Cincinnati has lost five consecutive home games.
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Bucs (0-1) at Eagles (0-1)
1 p.m. ET, Fox, Bucs by 6½
Preview | Baxter Bits
| Why to watch |
Who to watch |
Numbers game |
| To see if Bucs QB Trent Dilfer can hold onto his starting job or if Tony Dungy will replace him with backup Eric Zeier. To find out if the Bucs, who might have the NFL's best defense, can get their offense on track and quit making stupid turnovers. To see if the Eagles, who blew a 21-0 lead against the Cards, can pull a surprise and get coach Andy Reid his first win. |
Eagles RB Duce Staley ran for 103 yards and two TDs in the opener, but he'll find the going much tougher against Tampa Bay. Bucs DT Warren Sapp was awesome in the opener, and he'll be matched against rookie RT John Welbourn. The Eagles' defensive strength is in their secondary, so the Bucs will need to get RBs Warrick Dunn and Mike Alstott going on the ground. |
75: Passing yards for the Eagles last week in the loss to Arizona. QB Doug Pederson might find life even tougher this week.
24: Points last week for Philadelphia, a team that scored only 161 points in the entire 1998 season.
3: Interceptions last week by Dilfer, including two inexcusable throws.
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ALSO SEE
Week 2 injury report
Week 2 picks
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