Thursday, August 31
NFL ready to turn 21

Terrell Davis
Terrell Davis carries Denver's hopes.
The 21st century isn't here yet, but the NFL is already charging into a new era. Gone are old stars like John Elway, Reggie White and Barry Sanders, making way for a new generation. So who will rule the NFL in '99? Most of the power resides in the AFC, where Mark Cannizzaro says several contenders have a chance to dethrone Denver. In the NFC, Tom Oates says many of the old heavyweights have lost some punch.
  • ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings
  • Murphy: How the cookie crumbles
  • Mark Malone's 10 things to watch in '99

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    News & features
    Pressure driving Jaguars
    In Jacksonville, expectations of a Super Bowl run are hitting high gear, says ESPN.com's Mark Cannizzaro.
    Call it a comeback
    From injuries to illness to addiction, the NFL is filled with some amazing comeback stories for 1999.
    Painful reality
    Injuries and surgeries are simply a way of life in the NFL. Examine the pain players feel on a regular basis.
    Focal Point: Can the Vikes bounce back?
    We asked the ESPN experts if Minnesota will recover from its loss in the NFC title game.
    Stats Class: Right on schedule
    ESPN.com's Rob Neyer examines the '99 schedule to find the team with the NFL's most difficult slate.
    The day that rocked the Rockies
    When Mike Shanahan demoted Bubby Brister and turned to Brian Griese, Denver was a mile high in controversy.
    Focal Point: Is Griese good enough?
    Now that he's the Broncos starting QB, we ask if Brian Griese will be able to get Denver back to the Super Bowl.
    Garber: Threepeat quite a feat
    ESPN.com's Greg Garber examines the enormous challenge facing the two-time champion Broncos.
    Focal Point: Who will ruin threepeat?
    The experts at ESPN make the case for four teams with the best chance to unseat the Broncos in 1999.
    A second shot at three in a row
    Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski is the third player in NFL history to get two chances at a threepeat.
    Six have tried, all have failed
    Why has no NFL team ever won three straight Super Bowls? Check out what happened to those that tried.
    Stats Class: Conference call
    What's the real power conference, the AFC or the NFC? ESPN.com's Rob Neyer checks out the numbers.
    These numbers add up to '99
    Check out some of the milestones that could be reached in the final NFL season of the 20th century.
    Well-grounded philosophy
    As usual, Jimmy Johnson has spent most of his summer preaching about the running game in Miami.







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