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NFL Gameday: Previews of some of today’s matchups
By JASON BROWN
jabrown@star-telegram.com
The big game
Jets at Dolphins (Noon, KTVT/Ch. 11, The line: New York by 3) A couple months ago this matchup would have looked like just a meeting of a couple also-rans in the Patriots-dominated AFC East. And then Brett Favre happened. With the soon-to-be 39-year-old Packers legend the biggest piece of a retooled roster, the Jets begin their quest to go from a 4-12 team to a [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]playoff[/FONT][/FONT] contender. Of course, the beginning of the Favre Era in New York coincides with the beginning of the Bill Parcells/Tony Sparano/Chad Pennington Era in Miami. The Dolphins are coming off a 1-15 season, but Pennington, above, will no doubt be eager to do battle with the QB who took his job with the Jets. This might not necessarily turn into a shootout, but it’s a compelling matchup to kick off the season.
The best of the rest
Jaguars at Titans (Noon, DirecTV 708, The line: Jacksonville by 3) The Jags are somewhat overlooked in the loaded AFC, but they’re a powerful team with very high expectations. But you have to wonder how focused they’ll be with the recent shooting of Richard Collier and the arrest of Fred Taylor. The Titans are somewhat of a mirror image of the Jags (tough D, power running) without the distractions or — sorry, Vince Young — solid QB play.
Bears at Colts (7:15 p.m., KXAS/5, The line: Indianapolis by 9 1/2 ) The Colts are big favorites, but there are points of interest: Indy makes its regular-season debut at the new Lucas Oil Stadium, albeit with several stars (Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Dwight [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Freeney[/FONT][/FONT], Bob Sanders) nursing injuries. The Bears have switched up their offense, going with Kyle Orton at QB, rookie Matt Forte at RB and return man extraordinaire Devin Hester at WR.
Rams at Eagles (Noon, KDFW/Ch. 4, The line: Philadelphia by 8 1/2 ) Three days after seeing the Commanders and Giants make a lackluster debut, Cowboys fans get a glimpse of the other NFC East competition in the Eagles. But Philly is hurting, with its top two WRs Reggie Brown and [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Kevin[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Curtis[/FONT][/FONT] unlikely to play. The Rams, meanwhile, are coming off a disastrous season but still have some firepower, including a healthy, happy Steven Jackson.
Bucs at Saints (Noon, DirecTV 711, The line: New Orleans by 3) The Bucs won the NFC South last season, but the Saints are widely considered the class of the division heading into 2008. Making their debut for New Orleans are TE [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Jeremy[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] Shockey[/FONT][/FONT] LB Jonathan Vilma and DT Sedrick Ellis, a first-round pick from USC. Keep an eye on Bucs WR [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Joey [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Galloway[/FONT][/FONT]. He torched the Saints last season for 294 yards on 11 catches with two TDs.
Worth a look
Texans at Steelers (Noon, DirecTV 707, The line: Pittsburgh by 6 1/2 ) Houston has playoff aspirations, and a test at Heinz Field should give an indication of whether such hopes are realistic. The Steelers’ porous offensive line should have its hands full with Mario Williams.
Bengals at Ravens (Noon, DirecTV 704, The line: Cincinnati by 1 1/2 ) Cincinnati’s weak pass defense (26th in 2007) should be an encouraging sign for rookie Baltimore QB Joe Flacco in his debut. Speaking of debuts, the Bengals introduce WR Chad Ocho Cinco.
Panthers at Chargers (3:15 p.m., DirecTV 714, The line: San Diego by 9) Will the Chargers make a strong debut, unlike last season? Will Shawne Merriman’s knee hold up? Will the Panthers have a chance without the suspended Steve Smith? We’ll see.
Seahawks at Bills (Noon, DirecTV 710, The line: Buffalo by 1) Seattle’s receiving corps is decimated with injuries (no [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Deion [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Branch[/FONT][/FONT], no Bobby Engram), putting a lot of pressure on Matt Hasselbeck and the running game. Maurice Morris starts at RB.
Viewer discretion advised
Lions at Falcons (Noon, DirecTV 709, The line: Detroit by 3) Rookie QB Matt Ryan makes his debut for Atlanta in a matchup of perennially bad teams.
Cardinals at 49ers (3:15 p.m., DirecTV 715, The line: Arizona by 2 1/2 ) San Francisco swept the Cards last season, which means Arizona must have a chip on its shoulder. Frightening.
Chiefs at Patriots (Noon, DirecTV 706, The line: New England by 16) The line pretty much says it all. Looks like Kansas City’s in for a long day.
By JASON BROWN
jabrown@star-telegram.com
The big game
Jets at Dolphins (Noon, KTVT/Ch. 11, The line: New York by 3) A couple months ago this matchup would have looked like just a meeting of a couple also-rans in the Patriots-dominated AFC East. And then Brett Favre happened. With the soon-to-be 39-year-old Packers legend the biggest piece of a retooled roster, the Jets begin their quest to go from a 4-12 team to a [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]playoff[/FONT][/FONT] contender. Of course, the beginning of the Favre Era in New York coincides with the beginning of the Bill Parcells/Tony Sparano/Chad Pennington Era in Miami. The Dolphins are coming off a 1-15 season, but Pennington, above, will no doubt be eager to do battle with the QB who took his job with the Jets. This might not necessarily turn into a shootout, but it’s a compelling matchup to kick off the season.
The best of the rest
Jaguars at Titans (Noon, DirecTV 708, The line: Jacksonville by 3) The Jags are somewhat overlooked in the loaded AFC, but they’re a powerful team with very high expectations. But you have to wonder how focused they’ll be with the recent shooting of Richard Collier and the arrest of Fred Taylor. The Titans are somewhat of a mirror image of the Jags (tough D, power running) without the distractions or — sorry, Vince Young — solid QB play.
Bears at Colts (7:15 p.m., KXAS/5, The line: Indianapolis by 9 1/2 ) The Colts are big favorites, but there are points of interest: Indy makes its regular-season debut at the new Lucas Oil Stadium, albeit with several stars (Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Dwight [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Freeney[/FONT][/FONT], Bob Sanders) nursing injuries. The Bears have switched up their offense, going with Kyle Orton at QB, rookie Matt Forte at RB and return man extraordinaire Devin Hester at WR.
Rams at Eagles (Noon, KDFW/Ch. 4, The line: Philadelphia by 8 1/2 ) Three days after seeing the Commanders and Giants make a lackluster debut, Cowboys fans get a glimpse of the other NFC East competition in the Eagles. But Philly is hurting, with its top two WRs Reggie Brown and [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Kevin[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Curtis[/FONT][/FONT] unlikely to play. The Rams, meanwhile, are coming off a disastrous season but still have some firepower, including a healthy, happy Steven Jackson.
Bucs at Saints (Noon, DirecTV 711, The line: New Orleans by 3) The Bucs won the NFC South last season, but the Saints are widely considered the class of the division heading into 2008. Making their debut for New Orleans are TE [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Jeremy[/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif] Shockey[/FONT][/FONT] LB Jonathan Vilma and DT Sedrick Ellis, a first-round pick from USC. Keep an eye on Bucs WR [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Joey [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Galloway[/FONT][/FONT]. He torched the Saints last season for 294 yards on 11 catches with two TDs.
Worth a look
Texans at Steelers (Noon, DirecTV 707, The line: Pittsburgh by 6 1/2 ) Houston has playoff aspirations, and a test at Heinz Field should give an indication of whether such hopes are realistic. The Steelers’ porous offensive line should have its hands full with Mario Williams.
Bengals at Ravens (Noon, DirecTV 704, The line: Cincinnati by 1 1/2 ) Cincinnati’s weak pass defense (26th in 2007) should be an encouraging sign for rookie Baltimore QB Joe Flacco in his debut. Speaking of debuts, the Bengals introduce WR Chad Ocho Cinco.
Panthers at Chargers (3:15 p.m., DirecTV 714, The line: San Diego by 9) Will the Chargers make a strong debut, unlike last season? Will Shawne Merriman’s knee hold up? Will the Panthers have a chance without the suspended Steve Smith? We’ll see.
Seahawks at Bills (Noon, DirecTV 710, The line: Buffalo by 1) Seattle’s receiving corps is decimated with injuries (no [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Deion [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Branch[/FONT][/FONT], no Bobby Engram), putting a lot of pressure on Matt Hasselbeck and the running game. Maurice Morris starts at RB.
Viewer discretion advised
Lions at Falcons (Noon, DirecTV 709, The line: Detroit by 3) Rookie QB Matt Ryan makes his debut for Atlanta in a matchup of perennially bad teams.
Cardinals at 49ers (3:15 p.m., DirecTV 715, The line: Arizona by 2 1/2 ) San Francisco swept the Cards last season, which means Arizona must have a chip on its shoulder. Frightening.
Chiefs at Patriots (Noon, DirecTV 706, The line: New England by 16) The line pretty much says it all. Looks like Kansas City’s in for a long day.