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Posted Sept. 6, 2008

Ready for some football? A look at what's ahead in Week 1

NFL.com

1 p.m. ET, FOX Detroit at Atlanta
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Lions, 23-9.
Streaks: The Lions have won two of the last three meetings, including a 30-14 win in the teams' last matchup (2006).
 All eyes will be on rookie Matt Ryan as he makes his NFL starting debut for the Falcons against a defense that finished last in the NFL last season. Rookie quarterbacks taken in the top three picks of the draft are 2-5 since 1989 when starting in Week 1. But two of the last three were victorious -- David Carr in 2002 and Ryan Leaf in 1998 (Peyton Manning lost his Week 1 start in 1998).
Video: Lions-Falcons preview
Veteran QB Jon Kitna faces rookie QB Matt Ryan -- who is making his first NFL start -- at the Georgia Dome.


1 p.m. ET, CBS Cincinnati at Baltimore
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Ravens, 13-11.
Streaks: The Bengals have beaten the Ravens six out of the last seven times.
 John Harbaugh makes his NFL head coaching debut and he takes the field against the Bengals with the comfort of knowing he'll have ... a rookie quarterback as his starter. The Bengals aim for their fourth consecutive win on Kickoff Weekend. ... Carson Palmer is 6-1 in his last seven starts against the Ravens. ... The defensive-minded Ravens have allowed at least 21 points in nine straight games.
Video: Bengals-Ravens preview
That's not a new player Carson Palmer will be throwing to, it's the former Chad Johnson, who is now to be known as Chad Ocho Cinco. Please adjust your scorecards accordingly.


1 p.m. ET, FOX Seattle at Buffalo
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Bills, 6-4.
Streaks: The Bills have beaten the Seahawks in two out of the last three meetings.
 Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren begins his 17th and final season with a banged-up offense, which faces a Bills defense that finished seventh in the NFL last season. Bills RB Marshawn Lynch has had 70 or more rushing yards in seven of his past eight games. ... Seattle QB Matt Hasselbeck is 30-6 when posting 95-plus rating. ... The Bills won't face an AFC East opponent until Week 8.
Video: Seahawks-Bills preview
A strong defense -- led by linebacker Lofa Tatupu -- hopes to get the Seahawks off to a good start in the final season on the sidelines for coach Mike Holmgren.


Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Chiefs, 16-11-3.
Streaks: The Patriots have beaten the Chiefs four out of the last six times.
 When this game kicks off, the Patriots will have had 217 days to stew about their Super Bowl XLII loss. The rebuilding Chiefs probably would have preferred a different Week 1 opponent. Larry Johnson needs 134 rushing yards to become the second-leading rusher in Chiefs history. ... Bill Belichick is 3-1 vs. Kansas City since taking over as New England's coach in 2000.
Video: Chiefs-Patriots preview
Can the Patriots begin another long run of victories following their loss in Super Bowl XLII? The Chiefs stand in the way of starting this season off with a win.


Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Rams, 19-17-1.
Streaks: The Eagles have defeated the Rams in two out of the last three contests.
 Rams RB Steven Jackson, who missed all of the preseason holding out, will have a tough task -- facing the NFL's seventh-ranked rush defense in 2007. Eagles QB Donovan McNabb has not played all 16 games in a season since 2003. ... The Rams have not had a winning season since going 12-4 in 2003 (however, St. Louis did make the playoffs in 2004, after finishing the season 8-8).
Video: Rams-Eagles preview
Hopes are high in Philadelphia after the Eagles missed the playoffs last season, but can Donovan McNabb stay healthy enough to lead the team on another run?


Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Titans, 14-12.
Streaks: The Titans have defeated the Jaguars two out of the last three times.
 Vince Young struggled throughout the preseason. How will he fare against the revamped Jaguars defense? Jacksonville leads the NFL with a 9-4 record (.692) on Kickoff Weekend. ... The Titans are aiming for their second consecutive win in the series.
Video: Jaguars-Titans preview
What promises to be a very grueling competition for playoff spots in the AFC South gets off to a strong start as two 2007
playoff teams face off in Nashville.


1 p.m. ET, CBS Houston at Pittsburgh
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Tied, 1-1.
Streaks: The 2005 win for the Steelers was only the second time the teams have played.
 Ben Roethlisberger will lead the Steelers' potent air attack against the Texans, who had one of the NFL's worst pass defenses a year ago. The Steelers have won five straight season openers, the longest such streak in the NFL. ... The Texans posted the most wins in franchise history (eight) in 2007.
Video: Texans-Steelers preview
The Texans are hoping to contend out of the AFC South, and a win over the host Steelers would make a huge statement toward attaining that goal.


Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Saints, 19-13.
Streaks: Tampa Bay won both games against New Orleans last season.
 In their first four games of 2007, New Orleans went 0-4 and QB Drew Brees threw nine INTs and just one TD. Tampa Bay is a very tough opening test for 2008. Since 2002, the Buccaneers are 17-0 when not committing a turnover. ... Tampa Bay DE Gaines Adams led all rookies last season with six sacks.
Video: Buccaneers-Saints preview
The Buccaneers swept the Saints last season, but New Orleans figures to be a bigger factor in the NFC playoff chase this season.


1 p.m. ET, CBS N.Y. Jets at Miami
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Jets, 45-38-1.
Streaks: The Jets have beaten the Dolphins seven out of the last eight times.
 Brett Favre's Jet debut. Chad Pennington facing the team that jettisoned him in favor of Favre. You want storylines? This game boasts just a few pretty juicy ones. Four of the last five games played between these teams have been decided by four points or less. ... Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown has a streak of three straight 100-yard rushing games vs. the Jets.
Video: Jets-Dolphins preview
Brett Favre the Jet versus Chad Pennington the Dolphin suddenly makes this game between teams that won a combined five games last season very intriguing.


4:15 p.m. ET, FOX Dallas at Cleveland
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Browns, 15-10.
Streaks: The Cowboys have won four of the past six meetings with the Browns.
 Despite winning 10 games, the Browns just missed the playoffs. The Cowboys have Super Bowl aspirations. Who will get off to a much-needed hot start? Dallas had a franchise-record 13 players selected to the Pro Bowl in 2007. ... The Browns are 5-0 under Romeo Crennel when they score 30 or more points.
Video: Cowboys-Browns preview
An offseason of hype can come to a head if the Browns can manage an upset of the NFC favorites.


4:15 p.m. ET, FOX Arizona at San Francisco
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: 49ers, 19-14.
Streaks: San Francisco swept the season series in 2007.
 New 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz will try to work his magic with another journeyman QB in J.T. O'Sullivan. Martz' former protégé, Kurt Warner, starts for Arizona Warner is 7-1 lifetime against the 49ers. ... Arizona's eight wins in 2007 were the team's highest total since 1998.
Video: Cardinals-49ers preview
Journeyman QB J.T. O'Sullivan takes the reigns against a quarterback who has two MVP awards.


4:15 p.m. ET, FOX Carolina at San Diego
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Panthers, 2-1.
Streaks: The Chargers snapped the Panthers' two-game series win streak in 2004.
 Tommy John surgery is normally reserved for pitchers, but Panthers QB Jake Delhomme will start his comeback from it against one of the NFL's most aggressive pass defenses. The Panthers have only reached the playoffs once since reaching the Super Bowl in 2003. ... Chargers WR Vincent Jackson had 18 catches for 300 yards and 2 TDs in the 2007 playoffs.
Video: Panthers-Chargers preview
The Chargers hope to reach the Super Bowl, while the Panthers would simply like to get back in the discussion of NFC playoff contenders.


8:15 p.m. ET, NBC Chicago at Indianapolis
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Bears, 22-17.
Streaks: Indianapolis has won two straight games -- including the 2006 Super Bowl -- after Chicago had won four in a row.
 In a Super Bowl XLI rematch, Peyton Manning will be facing Tommie Harris, Brian Urlacher and the rest of the Bears defense without his ever-important center, Jeff Saturday, who has an injured knee. The Bears have an NFL-best 49 Kickoff Weekend wins and can become the first team to reach 50. ... The Colts will make their first regular-season appearance in Lucas Oil Stadium.
Video: Bears-Colts preview
A rematch of Super Bowl XLI also features the first official game at Lucas Oil Stadium, host venue for Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.


7 p.m. ET, ESPN (Monday) Minnesota at Green Bay
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Packers, 48-44-1.
Streaks: The Packers have beaten the Vikings four out of the last five times.
 In his first career start following Brett Favre's departure, Aaron Rodgers will be going against 2007 sack leader Jason Allen and one of the best defensive lines in the NFL. The Vikings' rush defense held opponents to a league-best 74.1 yards a game in 2007. ... Under coach Mike McCarthy, the Packers have won 17 of their past 20 games.
Video: Vikings-Packers preview
For the first time since 1991, Brett Favre won't be Green Bay's starting quarterback for a Vikings-Packers showdown. So, welcome Aaron Rodgers to this rivalry, as the first-year starter tries to pick up where Favre left off.


10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN (Monday) Denver at Oakland
Matchup Storyline Did you know?
Series leader: Raiders, 54-39-2.
Streaks: The Broncos have defeated the Raiders eight out of the last 10 times, including five of the last six.
 The next Adrian Peterson? The Raiders can only hope uber-hyped rookie RB Darren McFadden can have the impact for them that Peterson had for the Vikings in 2007. Can Denver keep McFadden and Justin Fargas in check? Since their last playoff appearance, the Raiders have a 19-61 record ... Oakland has had a different leading passer in each of the last three seasons. ... The Broncos have had a different leading rusher in each of the past five seasons.
Video: Broncos-Raiders preview
The Broncos and Raiders renew their rivalry, which dates back to the original American Football League season of 1960.


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