McNabb draws Cowboys first
It will be odd to see Donovan McNabb opening the NFL season as quarterback of the Washington Redskins. But his opponent will be strangely familiar.
McNabb -- barring injury -- will make his regular-season debut for the Redskins when they host the Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 12. The story line is so thick with intrigue, it's the prime-time game on Sunday night.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 1999 draft, McNabb spent 11 seasons in Philadelphia. But his run with the Eagles hit a dead end last season. He played poorly in a Week 17 loss to Dallas and he also flopped in a wild-card playoff loss to the Cowboys.
McNabb was traded to the Redskins on April 4, setting the stage for his third consecutive game against the NFC East rival Cowboys. It also will be Mike Shanahan's first game as Washington's coach.
The Las Vegas Hilton on Saturday opened lines and totals for all 16 Week 1 matchups. The Cowboys are 4-point favorites over the Redskins, and the total is 44.
The Cowboys are one of five road favorites in Week 1, with the others being Arizona, Indianapolis, Miami and San Diego.
Peyton Manning and the Colts, the Super Bowl losers, are 3-point favorites at Houston.
The Chargers are 5½-point favorites at Kansas City in one of two games on Monday, Sept. 13. In the early Monday matchup, the New York Jets are 3-point home favorites over Baltimore.
In the Sept. 9 opener, the Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints are 4-point favorites over the Minnesota Vikings. The mystery to the NFC Championship Game rematch is whether the Vikings will have Brett Favre at quarterback.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, without suspended quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, are 1½-point favorites over Atlanta.
Philadelphia, which has Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick as its top two QBs, is a 1½-point favorite over Green Bay.
Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.
