Atlanta at Carolina
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Panthers by 4 1/2
Vs. spread (1997): Falcons 7-5; Panthers 6-8.
Worth watching: After a disastrous 1997 season that featured 21 interceptions and only 11 touchdown passes, Carolina QB Kerry Collins tries to rebuild his career.
Outlook: Both of these teams figure to spend the season looking up at San Francisco in the NFC West. Will last year's trends continue? In 1997, the Falcons were out of contention when they won five of their last six.
Notable: The Falcons went 7-3 in games QB Chris Chandler started and finished, 0-6 in games he didn't. The Panthers had a turnover differential of minus-17 after a plus-13 in 1996.
Injuries:
FALCONS: Questionable: DE John Burrough (foot); S Devin Bush (knee); CB Randy Fuller (ankle). Probable: S Chris Bayne (shoulder); LB Henri Crockett (thigh).
PANTHERS: Out: C Frank Garcia (knee); CB Michael Swift (leg). Doubtful: WR Donald Hayes (shoulder); NT Les Miller (knee); S Damien Richardson (ankle). Questionable: TE Kris Mangum (concussion). Probable: CB Eric Davis (abdomen); DT Sean Gilbert (thumb); QB Shane Matthews (shoulder); S Mike Minter (knee).
New Orleans at St. Louis
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Rams by 4
Vs. spread (1997): Saints 6-9; Rams 6-9.
Worth watching: Wide receiver Isaac Bruce is one of the few bright spots for the Rams. In his last four games against the Saints, he has 28 catches for 488 yards and five touchdowns.
Outlook: Mike Ditka's offense turned the ball over a stunning, league-leading 55 times a year ago. Billy Joe Hobert takes over at QB for injured Heath Shuler. The Saints have too many deep questions to answer, and the Rams know how to beat them.
Notable: Former Seahawk Lamar Smith will start at running back for the Saints, who haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher since Dalton Hilliard in 1989. Rams QB Tony Banks threw for 488 yards and five TDs vs. Saints last year.
Injuries:
SAINTS: Out: QB Heath Shuler (toe). Questionable: WR Sean Dawkins (elbow); LB Mark Fields (eye); OL Keno Hills (knee). Probable: DT Julian Pittman (back); CB Fred Weary (abdomen).
RAMS: Out: WR Az-Zahir Hakim (hand); LB Roman Phifer (hamstring). Doubtful: C Mike Gruttadauria (knee); Questionable: S Toby Wright (knee).
Tennesse at Cincinnati
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Bengals by 1
Vs. spread (1997): Oilers 10-6; Bengals 7-9.
Worth watching: Former Jet Neil O'Donnell, who beat out incumbent Jeff Blake, makes his debut as the Bengals' starting quarterback. The Oilers' Eddie George (1,399 yards last year) is one of the game's best young running backs.
Outlook: Bengals hope they have a star in second-year running back Corey Dillon, who shredded the Oilers for NFL rookie-record 246 yards rushing last December.
Notable: Oilers QB Steve McNair threw for five TDs in two games vs. Bengals last season. Oilers G Bruce Matthews is making his 166th consecutive start, the NFL's longest active streak. O'Donnell has won five of his past seven starts vs. Oilers. The Bengals have won their past five games in which Dillon scored.
Injuries:
OILERS: Questionable: S Blaine Bishop (ankle); CB Steve Jackson (groin-finger); CB Darryll Lewis (knee); CB Samari Rolle (neck); C Mark Stepnoski (knee).
BENGALS: Out: WR James Hundon (ankle); RB Brian Milne (back); LB Brian Simmons (knee).
Miami at Indianapolis
Time: 4: 15 p.m.
Line: Dolphins by 3 1/2
Vs. spread (1997): Dolphins 7-7; Colts 7-8.
Worth watching: The quarterbacks are the stories here. Future Hall of Famer Dan Marino begins his 16th season as No. 1 overall draft pick Peyton Manning begins his first for the Colts.
Outlook: In addition to a new quarterback, the Colts have a new coach, former Saint Jim Mora, and 21 new players after the 3-13 debacle of '97. In Jimmy Johnson's third season as coach, the Dolphins are still trying to get the running game down pat.
Notable: The Dolphins' 3.1 yards per carry last season was the worst in franchise history. The Colts offensive line surrendered an AFC-high 62 sacks.
Injuries:
DOLPHINS: Doubtful: DE Lorenzo Bromell (knee). Questionable: LB Anthony Harris (knee); RB Jim Kitts (groin); DE Jason Taylor (calf). Probable: QB Craig Erickson (elbow); WR Charles Jordan (groin).
COLTS: Out: WR E.G. Green (elbow). Doubtful: DT Steve Martin (ankle); RB Lamont Warren (ankle). Questionable: RB Keith Elias (shoulder); DE Kendell Shello (ankle). Probable: DT Tony McCoy (knee); DT Bernard Whittington (knee); G Tom Myslinski (back); WR Jerome Pathon (hamstring).
Detroit at Green Bay
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Packers by 9 1/2
Vs. spread (1997): Lions 8-7; Packers 6-11.
Worth watching: Barry Sanders goes for his 15th consecutive 100-yard rushing game as he closes in on Walter Payton's all-time record. He has 13,778 and could catch Payton (16,726) next season.
Outlook: For a team that has gone to two straight Super Bowls, this opener has a lot of import for the Packers, who were forced to make more changes than they would like on defense. Defensive end Vonnie Holliday and safety Darren Sharper are new to the lineup, and Vince Newsome returns after missing a year with a knee injury.
Notable: Sanders has 100 or more yards rushing in six of his past seven games against Green Bay. The Packers have won 23 consecutive regular-season home games.
Injuries:
LIONS: Out: DT Travis Kirschke (abdomen). Doubtful: LB Scott Kowalkowski (thigh). Questionable: WR Herman Moore (groin).
PACKERS: Out: CB Chris Darkins (knee). Questionable: DL Vaughn Booker (ankle). Probable: RB Travis Jervey (toe).
Seattle at Philadelphia
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Seahawks by 4
Vs. spread (1997): Seahawks 8-8; Eagles 6-8.
Worth watching: Ricky Watters makes his Seahawks debut against his most recent employer. Eagles WR Irving Fryar, 35, is still a Pro Bowl player.
Outlook: This is one of those bad-blood matchups. The Eagles figure to miss Watters on the field but not in the locker room, where his me-first attitude was an issue.
Notable: Seattle, Denver, Green Bay and Pittsburgh were in the top 10 in offense and defense, but only the Seahawks missed the playoffs. The Eagles offensive line gave up 64 sacks, third most in team history.
Injuries:
SEAHAWKS: Out: CB Reggie Rusk (foot); LB Anthony Simmons (knee). Questionable: TE Carlester Crumpler (groin). Probable: DT Cortez Kennedy (ankle); WR James McKnight (knee); LB Darrin Smith (rib); LB Dean Wells (calf).
EAGLES: Out: TE Jason Dunn (knee); C Steve Everitt (foot); S Matt Stevens (knee); CB Bobby Taylor (shoulder). Questionable: RB Charlie Garner (ankle). Probable: S Brian Dawkins (knee); DE Jon Harris (knee); TE Jimmie Johnson (groin); C Bubba Miller (elbow); CB Troy Vincent (quadriceps); DE-TE Al Wallace (hip).
Arizona at Dallas
Time: 4: 05 p.m., Ch. 45
Line: Cowboys by 5 1/2
Vs. spread (1997): Cardinals 8-7; Cowboys 3-11.
Worth watching: Arizona's second-year quarterback Jake Plummer is the NFL's newest star in waiting. He'll get help from RB Adrian Murrell, who is coming off consecutive 1,000-yard seasons with the Jets. Can the Cowboys' Emmitt Smith begin to reverse his decline? Will QB Troy Aikman find success lining up in the shotgun for the first time in his career?
Outlook: The Cardinals appear set to make a run at the playoffs, but off-season optimism has been tempered by the failure to sign rookie defensive end Andre Wadsworth, the third pick in the draft.
Notable: Arizona's offensive line allowed a team-record 78 sacks last year. The Cowboys' 28-9-1 opening game record is the NFL's best.
Injuries:
CARDINALS: Questionable: G Jerome Daniels (knee). Probable: S Tommy Bennett (groin); WR Fred Brock (ankle); T Anthony Clement (back).
COWBOYS: Out: RB Chris Warren (groin); S Charlie Williams (thumb). Questionable: DT Leon Lett (knee); S George Teague (hamstring). Probable: LB Nate Hemsley (elbow); DE Kavike Pittman (ankle).
New York Jets at San Francisco
Time: 4: 15 p.m., Ch. 9
Line: 49ers by 7 1/2
Vs. spread (1997): Jets 9-7; 49ers 11-6.
Worth watching: Jets expect big things from free-agent RB Curtis Martin. San Francisco has one of the best pass-catch combinations of all time in Steve Young, who led the NFL with a passing rating of 104.7 last year, and Jerry Rice, back from a knee injury.
Outlook: Bill Parcells turned the Jets around in one year, and the league rewarded him with an opener against one of the Super Bowl favorites. Glenn Foley, who took the job away from Neil O'Donnell last year, is going against the NFL's No. 1 defense of a year ago, which lost Dana Stubblefield but still has Bryant Young.
Notable: Jets' eight-win turnaround (1-15 in 1996) tied for third-best in NFL history. The 49ers have won nine straight at home and five straight home openers.
Injuries:
JETS: No injuries reported.
49ERS: Out: DT Shane Bonham (bicep). Doubtful: TE Greg Clark (foot). Questionable: CB Marquez Pope (back); T Chris Ruhman (ankle). Probable: LB Anthony Peterson (groin).
Jacksonville at Chicago
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Jaguars by 10
Vs. spread (1997): Jaguars 9-7; Bears 7-9.
Worth watching: Mark Brunell's running and throwing figure to give the Bears a whopping headache. Bears' No. 1 draft choice Curtis Enis should debut in the first half.
Outlook: Unless the Bears suddenly find a pass rush, the secondary will have a tough day with Brunell throwing to Jimmy Smith and Keenan McCardell. If Erik Kramer's toe heals, he'll get the ball to Curtis Conway enough to get the Bears on the scoreboard. But not enough.
Notable: The Jaguars scored an NFL-high 300 points on a league-high 63 trips into the red zone. The Bears defense gave up 300 or more points for fifth straight season. The Bears have won 12 of their past 14 openers.
Injuries:
JAGUARS: Out: DE Tony Brackens (ankle); LB James Hamilton (ankle). Doubtful: G Rich Tylski (knee). Probable: LB Brant Boyer (ankle); G Todd Fordham (ankle); S Chris Hudson (thumb); S Mike Logan (hip); G Jeff Novak (leg).
BEARS: Questionable: QB Erik Kramer (toe); DE Shawn Lee (hand). Probable: S Marty Carter (knee).
Tampa Bay at Minnesota
Time: 1: 01 p.m.
Line: Vikings by 3
Vs. spread (1997): Bucs 10-7; Vikings 10-7.
Worth watching: Tampa Bay is trying to improve its woeful passing game with free-agent WR Bert Emanuel. They have one of the league's top running games, with Warrick Dunn, the NFL's rookie of year, and FB Mike Alstott. Both went to the Pro Bowl last season. Emanuel (65 receptions), Jaquez Green and Reidel Anthony (35 receptions) give QB Trent Dilfer plenty of targets. For the Vikings, rookie WR Randy Moss makes his debut.
Outlook: The two biggest threats to Green Bay's reign in the NFC Central meet in one of the day's best games.
Notable: Dilfer has started 48 straight games, second to Brett Favre's 93. Minnesota has won 10 of is past 11 home openers.
Injuries:
BUCCANEERS: Questionable: WR Jacquez Green (toe). Probable: WR Brice Hunter (knee).
VIKINGS: Out: RB Harold Morrow (hamstring). Questionable: DE Stalin Colinet (neck).
Buffalo at San Diego
Time: 4: 15 p.m.
Line: Chargers by 1 1/2
Vs. spread (1997): Bills 7-9; Chargers 6-10.
Worth watching: Both teams have new starting quarterbacks. Buffalo gave its No. 1 pick to Jacksonville for Rob Johnson, and the Chargers drafted Ryan Leaf with the No. 2 pick overall.
Outlook: The quarterbacks are young, but Johnson has some legitimate experience, having filled in well for the injured Mark Brunell in Jacksonville last year.
Notable: Bills WR Andre Reed needs 71 yards to pass Don Maynard for seventh in career receiving. The Bills have an NFL-best 24-7 mark in September this decade. Chargers LB Junior Seau has at least one sack in six of his last nine games in August-September. The Chargers' 10 return TDs tied Broncos for most in the NFL.
Injuries:
BILLS: Questionable: G Joe Panos (knee); RB Thurman Thomas (leg). Probable: CB Marlon Kerner (knee); DE Bruce Smith (knee); WR-KR Kevin Williams (toe).
CHARGERS: Out: CB Paul Bradford (knee). Questionable: S Greg Jackson (leg).
Oakland at Kansas City
Time: 8: 20 p.m., ESPN
Line: Chiefs by 7 1/2
Vs. spread (1997): Raiders 5-11; Chiefs 11-3.
Worth watching: Raiders quarterback Jeff George led the NFL with 3,917 yards passing a year ago, and his passer rating of 91.2 was second in the AFC.
Outlook: New Raiders coach Jon Gruden prefers the shorter passing game of the West Coast offense, which is not George's style. The Chiefs will try to get to George with ex-Raiders defensive tackle Chester McGlockton, a Pro Bowl performer who was been slowed by back problems during training camp.
Notable: Raiders WR Tim Brown has 34 catches for 490 yards in his past five games against the Chiefs. The Chiefs are 7-1 in their past eight openers.
Injuries:
RAIDERS: Questionable: LB Aaron Wallace (knee). Probable: DT Grady Jackson (ribs); S Anthony Newman (groin); RB Jon Ritchie (back).
CHIEFS: Doubtful: DE Chester McGlockton (back); TE Ted Popson (neck). Questionable: WR Derrick Alexander (ribs); DE John Browning (ankle); S Melvin Johnson (toe-ankle). Probable: CB James Hasty (shoulder); WR Andre Rison (hamstring); T Glenn Parker (abdomen); G Will Shields (foot).
Pub Date: 9/06/98