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Favre's Vikings debut highlights Week 1

NFL.com
Published: Sept. 9, 2009 at 12:00 p.m.
Updated: Sept. 11, 2009 at 07:22 p.m.
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1 p.m. ET, FOXMinnesota at Cleveland

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: The Vikings own a decisive 9-3 overall series lead. Streaks: Minnesota has won three in a row.	No lack of cloak-and-dagger stuff here. Browns coach Eric Mangini won't reveal his starting QB and Vikes coach Brad Childress won't say who will be his No. 2. Tune in for all of this and more!	Brett Favre has thrown at least three touchdown passes in three straight contests against the Browns. ... Vikings DE Jared Allen has 57.5 sacks since 2004 -- the most in the NFL over that time span. ... Browns DT Shaun Rogers leads the league with eight blocked field goals since 2004.

Video: Game preview

1 p.m. ET, CBSMiami at Atlanta

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Dolphins, 7-3. Streaks: The teams have split their last six meetings.	TE Tony Gonzalez is going to provide some matchup issues for those Miami edge players who like to rush (OLBs Joey Porter and Jason Taylor). Very intrigued to see how much Wildcat the Dolphins run this season, and if/when QB Pat White gets some work in the RB Ronnie Brown role.	The Dolphins had the greatest turnaround in NFL history last season, winning 10 more games in 2008 (11) than they did in 2007 (1). ... Falcons RB Michael Turner was second in the NFL last year with 17 touchdowns. ... All four AFC teams that finished first in their divisions in the preseason last year, won their divisions in the regular season. Miami finished atop the AFC East again this preseason at 4-0.

Video: Game preview

1 p.m. ET, CBSKansas City at Baltimore

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Chiefs, 3-1. Streaks: Kansas City is 3-0 in Baltimore, but the Ravens won the last matchup, which was at Arrowhead Stadium.	I expect Matt Cassel to start the game for the Chiefs â¦ not so sure he will finish it against this defense. Ravens expect to have OLB Terrell Suggs back and ready to go. Todd Haley, in his first game as a head coach, has plenty to juggle now that he's calling plays, too.	Since 2001, Kansas City's Mike Vrabel ranks fifth among all linebackers with 48 sacks. ... Baltimore has won five straight home games in September. ... Ravens safety Ed Reed leads the NFL in interceptions since 2002 with 43.

Video: Game preview

1 p.m. ET, FOXPhiladelphia at Carolina

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: The Eagles have won four of the teams' five career meetings, but the Panthers were victorious in the lone playoff contest between the two in the 2003 NFC Championship Game. Streaks: The Eagles have won the last three regular-season meetings.	How many carries does RB Brian Westbrook have in him after missing so much time? Will Andy Reid try to attack a vulnerable run-stopping interior defense, or stick with his pass-heavy ways? I'm not sure defensive coordinator Sean McDermott can deploy the varied blitzes the way Jim Johnson did. Carolina's banged-up backfield could be called on for a heavy workload.	Philadelphia has advanced to the NFC title game in five of Andy Reid's 10 seasons as coach. ... Westbrook is the only player since 2004 with 4,000-plus rushing yards (4,915) and 3,000-plus receiving yards (3,191). ... Julius Peppers is first in Panthers franchise history with 70.5 sacks.

Video: Game preview

1 p.m. ET, CBSDenver at Cincinnati

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: The Broncos own a commanding overall series lead, 16-8. Streaks: Denver has won 10 of the past 12 meetings.	Okay, for a game between two non-playoff teams there are sure to be plenty of eyes on this one. Does WR Brandon Marshall play? Can QB Kyle Orton play (doubtful to me) and if he can't, does Tom Brandstater get the call (wouldn't be stunned). Will WR Chad Ochocinco test the league's new Twitter rules? The Josh McDaniels era also begins in Denver.	Denver has the AFC's best Week 1 record, having posted a 31-17-1 mark all-time in season-openers. ... The Broncos surrendered a league-low 12 sacks last season. ... When Bengals RB Cedric Benson gets 20 or more carries, his teams are 7-0-1.

Video: Game preview

1 p.m. ET, CBSNew York Jets at Houston

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: The Jets have won all three meetings against the Texans. Streaks: See above.	Rookie QB Mark Sanchez gets to face a team that has suffered on D and is coming off a rough preseason, with top CB Dunta Robinson sitting out all four games waiting to sign his franchise tag. I have a feeling this is going to be a big, big season for Jets RB Leon Washington.	Washington had a Jets franchise record 2,337 combined yards in 2008. ... Matt Schaub has won six straight home starts (6-0). ... Texans DE Mario Williams has the most sacks in the AFC over the past two seasons (26).

Video: Game preview

1 p.m. ET, CBSJacksonville at Indianapolis

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: The Colts own a 12-4 overall series lead. Streaks: Indianapolis has won three of the last four meetings.	Peyton Manning is healthy out of the box for the Colts, but given their issues at tackle, how long will that remain the case? Guessing the Colts are going to have to grind things out on the ground a bit more. Jags need to re-establish their physical identity. Could be a long year for them.	Jaguars CB Rashean Mathis has a franchise record 25 interceptions in his career. ... Colts DE Robert Mathis tied a career-high in sacks last year with 11.5. ... Indianapolis TE Dallas Clark has 17 TD catches over the past two seasons -- tied with Antonio Gates for the most in the NFL at that position during that time span.

Video: Game preview

1 p.m. ET, FOXDetroit at New Orleans

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Tied, 9-9-1. Streaks: The Lions have won three of the past four meetings.	Will the Lions losing streak continue? I tend to think so. Rookie QB Matthew Stafford faces a defense that will be much more aggressive under Gregg Williams. And the Saints shouldn't have too much difficulty scoring points on anyone. Lions coach Jim Schwartz makes his debut.	Detroit's Jason Hanson became the only kicker in league history to make six or more field goals from outside of 50 yards without a miss last season. He finished 8-for-8 from that distance. ... Saints S Darren Sharper has 11 interceptions against the Lions -- the most he's had against any team. ... The Saints led the league in total offense last year.

Video: Game preview

1 p.m. ET, FOXDallas at Tampa Bay

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Cowboys, 8-3. Streaks: Dallas has won the past two meetings.	Congrats to RB Cadillac Williams for making it back from another major knee surgery. Not sure he will be enough â or the running back by committee approach âgiven some of the limitations on offense. Dallas will be looking for a quick start from WR Roy Williams with T.O. gone, but I'm watching TE Martellus Bennett, RB Felix Jones, and, as always, TE Jason Witten.	The Cowboys have the league's best record on opening weekend (33-15-1). ... Dallas DT Jay Ratliff was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season. ... When RB Cadillac Williams has 22-plus carries in a game, the Bucs are 10-0.

Video: Game preview

4:15 p.m. ET, FOXSan Francisco at Arizona

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: The 49ers own a 19-16 overall edge in the series. Streaks: The Cardinals have won six of the past eight meetings.	This isn't a joke game anymore. This one could loom large come January. Didn't like a lot of what I saw from the Cards in the preseason and I worry about a Super Bowl hangover from them. Rookie holdout Michael Crabtree will be watching from home as the 49ers play smashmouth football and youngster Josh Morgan gets the starting WR spot that Crabtree should have claimed.	San Francisco WR Isaac Bruce ranks second in career receiving yards (14,934) all-time. ... 49ers TE Vernon Davis has caught a touchdown in three straight games against the Cardinals. ... Cardinals QB Kurt Warner has won nine of his 10 career starts against the Niners.

Video: Game preview

4:15 p.m. ET, FOXWashington at New York Giants

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Giants 88-62-4, including the playoffs. Streaks: The Giants have won seven of the past 10 meetings.	Will anyone besides TE Chris Cooley or WR Santana Moss do anything in the Redskins' passing game this season? Will Washington's tackles be able to withstand New York's studs on the edge? Both teams can play defense, and the Giants are sure hoping that rookie WR Hakeem Nicks continues his production from the preseason. They need some go-to targets to emerge.	Redskins RB Clinton Portis tied for the NFL lead with 86 first downs last year. ... Washington CB DeAngelo Hall has an interception in three straight games against the Giants. ... New York TE Kevin Boss led the team with six touchdown catches last year.

Video: Game preview

4:15 p.m. ET, FOXSt. Louis at Seattle

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Seahawks, 12-9. Streaks: The Seahawks have beaten the Rams eight straight times.	My prediction of a division title for Seattle could go down in flames with a loss here. Okay, so it's still a little early for that. This isn't a bad way for a 'Hawks team nursing some offensive line issues to enter the season, though. I think Steve Spagnuolo gets the Rams playing with more passion and fire, if nothing else.	The Rams are 7-3 when RB Steven Jackson has at least 25 carries. ... Rams DE Leonard Little has 6.5 sacks in his career against the Seahawks. ... Seattle LB Lofa Tatupu has led the team in tackles four straight seasons.

Video: Game preview

8:20 p.m. ET, NBCChicago at Green Bay

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Bears, 91-80-6. Streaks: The Bears have won four of the last six meetings.	Another game that could end up helping deciding a division title. Can the Packers maintain their robust momentum coming out of the preseason? Bears fans are hoping they get the chance to deify QB Jay Cutler, starved for a franchise quarterback for so long. What a great way to end the first Sunday of football.	The two teams will play for the 177th time this Sunday, the most meetings by two teams in NFL history. ... LB Brian Urlacher has an interception in three of the past four games against Green Bay, including one returned 85-yards for a touchdown. ... LB Aaron Kampman has 37 sacks since 2006, which is the third most in the NFL over that span.

Video: Game preview

7 p.m. ET, ESPN (Monday)Buffalo at New England

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Patriots, 56-40-1. Streaks: New England has won 11 consecutive games against Buffalo.	I smell a blowout here. Bills had a tumultuous preseason during which the offense flatlined. Patriots are highly motivated and I like their chances to do big things this season. Might not be much of a game by halftime, but, come on guys, itâs the first Monday night game of the year. Throw in the T.O. factor (will this game be on up against his reality show?) and youâve got to stay tuned, because weâre not done yet with the nightcap coming up ...	The Bills have won five straight games in the month of September. ... In his last game against the Patriots, Buffalo RB Fred Jackson rushed for a career-high 136 yards. ... Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski led the league with 36 made field goals last year.

Video: Game preview

10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN (Monday)San Diego at Oakland

Matchup	Jason La Canfora's key storyline	Did you know?
Series leader: Raiders, 54-42-2. Streaks: The Chargers have taken the last 11 meetings.	Okay, this one could get plenty lopsided, too. The Raiders are a mess. The Chargers, I believe, will run away and hide in the AFC West. But itâs a rivalry game and itâs Tom Cableâs first season-opener and I think QB JaMarcus Russell is going to make some nice strides this season. Just worry about who he has to throw the ball too. Might end up seeing RB Darren McFadden lined up more in the slot.	The Raiders have a 15-6 all-time mark on Monday Night Football at home. ... Chargers LB Shaun Phillips has more sacks against the Raiders than he has against any other team (9.5). ... San Diego has won three straight AFC West titles.