NFL Capsules Week 1

NFL WEEK 1 GAME CAPSULES

Miami (0-0) at Buffalo (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Dolphins -3  Total: 38 
TV/RADIO: None
 Weather: Mid-60s, 20 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Four times last season the Bills were gouged for 200 yards rushing; only the Raiders matched that. A league-high nine running backs had 100-yard days against Buffalo, including Miami’s Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. ... After this game, six of the Dolphins’ next seven foes are coming off playoff years, the exception being 2008 champ Pittsburgh. ... Buffalo’s Chan Gailey, the former Cowboys coach, is one of three new sideline bosses this season. But for the first time in 46 years, there are no rookie coaches in charge. Last season there were seven.
 Analysis: Most preseason publications have panned the Bills for having the worst offensive and defensive lines in the league, which helps explain why the Venetian sports book lists them as co-unfavorites to win the Super Bowl at 400-1. Miami, meanwhile, got good news this week when OT Jake Long, the top overall pick in the 2008 draft, returned from a knee injury.
 Forecast: Dolphins 23, Bills 13

Oakland (0-0) at Tennessee (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Titans -6  Total: 40 
TV/RADIO: None
 Weather: Low 80s, 10 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Oakland was a straight-up winner as a 14-point underdog three times last season. Other NFL teams totaled one such upset. ... Titans RB Chris Johnson rushed for 2,006 yards last year on the strength of 11 consecutive 100-plus outings to close the season, three off Barry Sanders’ league mark. ... Oakland is scheduled to play in a league-high three “jet lag” games, including this week, in which it plays early Sunday in the Eastern time zone. Since 2006, West Coast teams are 12-27 against the line in this spot.
 Analysis: The Raiders have a new QB in Jason Campbell (probable, neck) and a rebuilt front seven on defense. Maybe this team will become formidable later, but considering the travel conditions this week, the unaccustomed heat in the South and the Titans’ speed, a 0-1 start is likely.
 Forecast: Titans 28, Raiders 13

Cincinnati (0-0) at New England (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Patriots -4  Total: 44 
TV/RADIO: CBS (8), KXNT-FM (100.5)
 Weather: Mid-60s, 20 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Defending AFC Central champ Cincinnati had the league’s 24th-rated offense last year, averaging 309.1 yards. No division-winning team was less productive the past three seasons. ... The Patriots were 10-6 last season despite losing four games in which they had double-digit leads. The most anyone else had was two. ... New England is the 7-1 favorite at the Venetian to win the Super Bowl. ... Patriots QB Tom Brady appears to be OK after his auto accident Thursday, and WR Wes Welker (offseason knee surgery) is eager for the opener.
 Analysis: Two of the defensive strengths of the Bengals are their DBs and a pass rush aided by DT Geno Atkins. Plus, Bengals TE Jermaine Gresham is an enormous upgrade to an offense that features a potent running game and, of course, T.O. and No. 85. Cincinnati doesn’t deserve to be this big an underdog.
 Forecast: Bengals 24, Patriots 23

Carolina (0-0) at N.Y. Giants (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Giants -6  Total: 40 
TV: Fox (5)
 Weather: Low 70s, 20 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Carolina scored a league-low two TDs in the preseason — on a defensive fumble return and a kickoff return. However, standout WR Steve Smith and 1,100-yard rusher DeAngelo Williams were held out. ... Panthers QB Matt Moore, who took over for Jake Delhomme at midseason last year, hit less than 50 percent of his throws in exhibitions. Notre Dame rookie Jimmy Clausen is holding the clipboard. ... This game marks the regular-season opening of the New Meadowlands.
 Analysis: Carolina was an 8-point underdog at the old Meadowlands in Week 16 last year and rushed for 247 yards in a 41-9 victory in which Giants QB Eli Manning was sacked four times and threw two INTs. It seems like the loss of sack specialist Julius Peppers hasn’t hurt the Panthers, either, for they had an NFL-high 19 QB traps during the preseason
 Forecast: Panthers 23, Giants 21

Atlanta (0-0) at Pittsburgh (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Falcons -2  Total: 38
TV/RADIO: None
 Weather: Low 70s, 30 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Before Steelers QB Byron Leftwich got hurt last week, the Steelers were a 1-point pick. Now third-teamer Dennis Dixon opens as the starter while No. 1 Ben Roethlisberger waits out his four-game suspension. ... Atlanta QB Matt Ryan, who guided the Falcons to a surprise playoff berth in 2008 as a rookie, dropped nine spots on the passer charts last year to 20th and saw his yards per throw drop significantly — by almost a yard and a half. ... Dixon’s only career start came last year at Baltimore, a 20-17 overtime loss as a 7-point underdog.
 Analysis: The Steelers are feeding off the fact they are home underdogs for the first time in three seasons and are confident the mobile, strong-armed Dixon can help flabbergast an Atlanta defense that didn’t mount much of a pass rush last season.
 Forecast: Steelers 27, Falcons 20

Cleveland (0-0) at Tampa Bay (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Buccaneers -3  Total: 37
TV/RADIO: None
 Weather: High 80s, 30 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Cleveland’s four-game winning streak to end last season was fueled by Jerome Harrison, who averaged 154 yards rushing over the final three. ... Tampa Bay had the league’s worst rush defense last season, allowing 158.2 yards a game. ... QB Jake Delhomme is the Browns’ new leader, but for how long? In 2008, Game 1 starter Charlie Frye was benched at halftime of the opener and traded 48 hours later. Brady Quinn opened as No. 1 last year and was benched at halftime in Week 3. He’s gone, too.
 Analysis: As a rule of thumb, it’s unwise to take a 400-1 Super Bowl long shot to cover as a 3-point favorite, but Cleveland isn’t much better at 250-1. Plus, the Browns are going with a scatter-armed QB and one of the worst crews of receivers for him target. Meanwhile, Bucs QB Josh Freeman insists his previously injured thumb is fine.
 Forecast: Buccaneers 17, Browns 10

Denver (0-0) at Jacksonville (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Jaguars -3  Total: 39 
TV/RADIO: None
 Weather: Low 90s, 30 percent chance of rain
 Facts: The Jaguars were a cumulative 9-23 against the line in 2008 and 2009, the worst two-season mark for any team since 1976. ... In case he’s needed, the good news for Jacksonville is David Garrard’s backup at QB, Luke McCown, was the preseason passing champ with a rating of 99.6. ... The Broncos will be without NFL sack king Elvis Dumervil all season (chest). He had 17 sacks and the Jaguars totaled a league-low 14. They took defensive linemen with their first four draft picks and added ex-Packers QB harasser Aaron Kampman.
 Analysis: Denver’s offense seems to be in turmoil. Standout WR Brandon Marshall left in the offseason and front-line RBs Correll Buckhalter and Knowshon Moreno were hobbled most of the summer. Not to mention the Broncos might be starting three rookies on the offensive line against a team that just fortified its defense.
 Forecast: Jaguars 28, Broncos 14

Indianapolis (0-0) at Houston (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Colts -2  Total: 47 
RADIO: KWWN (1100 AM, 98.9 FM)
 Weather: Low 90s, 40 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Bad news for Indy: the last 10 Super Bowl losers are 0-10 against the line in the ensuing season opener. Houston, however, is 1-15 against the Colts straight up in its eight-year history. ... Second-year Texans RB Arian Foster, who took over first-team duties late last season, averaged 6 yards per carry in exhibitions. ... The Colts were 0-4 in exhibitions. The last time they were winless in the preseason (2005), they went 14-2. ... Houston will be without suspended LB Brian Cushing; DE Mario Williams is questionable (groin).
 Analysis: More than in other years, the Colts’ offensive line is in flux. Center Jeff Saturday (knee, probable) was injured in the preseason and left tackle Tony Ugoh was cut. And it’s not like the Colts have been fast starters, either, scoring only 13 and 14 points in the last two openers, their puniest totals each year for the first 11 weeks.
 Forecast: Texans 24, Colts 21

Detroit (0-0) at Chicago (0-0)
Time: 10 a.m. Line: Bears -6  Total: 44 
TV/RADIO: None
 Weather: Mid-70s, clear
 Facts: Detroit has lost 20 straight on the road, four away from tying its own NFL record set from 2001 to 2003. The club’s last road win was at Chicago in 2007 as a 6-point underdog. ... Chicago passers were sacked a league-high 19 times in the preseason despite attempting the third-fewest passes (111). ... QB Jay Cutler threw 16 INTs in enemy territory last season (all on the road) after having only five such INTs a year earlier with Denver.
 Analysis: Mike Martz, the Bears’ new offensive coordinator, is good at devising an elaborate passing game with waves of receivers, but maybe he should add pass protection to his plan. The Lions will have a decided edge with a defensive line led by head-hunting rookie NT Ndamukong Suh.
 Forecast: Lions 23, Bears 17

San Francisco (0-0) at Seattle (0-0)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: 49ers -3  Total: 37 
RADIO: KXNT-FM (100.5)
 Weather: Mid-60s, 30 percent chance of rain
 Facts: These two teams will do the most traveling this season. Counting exhibitions, the 49ers will log 35,219 air miles, the Seahawks 25,192. ... The 49ers were the only unbeaten team in the preseason. In 2008, only the Lions were 4-0; a lot of good that did them en route to a 0-16 season. ... San Francisco’s new captain, QB Alex Smith, had his most productive game last year at Seattle, throwing for 310 yards and two TDs, with no INTs. But the Seahawks won 20-17.
 Analysis: Seattle’s Pete Carroll, who previously led the Patriots and Jets, is one of three new coaches this season. Last year, when there were nine new guys, they went 3-6 against the spread in Week 1. And not one of them lost his line coach (Alex Gibbs) and starting OLT (Russell Okung) just before the opener.
 Forecast: 49ers 27, Seattle 6

Green Bay (0-0) at Philadelphia (0-0)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Packers -3  Total: 47 
TV: Fox (5)
 Weather: Low 70s, 40 percent chance of rain
 Facts: The Packers scored a league-high 15 touchdowns in four preseason games. ... Last season, Green Bay’s offense started 31 drives inside enemy territory. Philadelphia was next with 30. ... Kevin Kolb takes over at QB for Philadelphia. He’ll have back star center Jamaal Jackson, who was injured for the Eagles’ one-sided losses to Dallas to end last season. ... Eagles WR DeSean Jackson is probable with this peculiar trio of ailments: neck, back, teeth.
 Analysis: It’s apparent Green Bay’s Aaron Rodgers has an edge over his counterpart, who has only two career starts. But the Eagles now have the best special teams coach in the NFL (Bobby April) going against Packers special teams that were crummy in 2009. Plus, Green Bay was worst at protecting the passer last year (51 sacks). The Eagles were third best at trapping QBs with 44 sacks. 
 Forecast: Eagles 28, Packers 26

Arizona (0-0) at St. Louis (0-0)
Time: 1:15 p.m. Line: Cardinals -4  Total: 39 
RADIO: KWWN (1100 AM, 98.9 FM)
 Facts: Rams rookie QB Sam Bradford, who will start, completed 60 percent of his passes in the preseason, with three TD throws and no interceptions. ... How awful in the NFC West? The Cardinals, the two-time defending champs, are 2-1 picks to win it again, but 125-1 to win the Super Bowl. Departed from last year are QB Kurt Warner, WR Anquan Boldin and standout LB Karlos Dansby. ... Teams coming off a 1-15 season (Rams) have gone 6-1 straight up (and 6-1 ATS) in openers the past 20 years, including five straight-up victories as an underdog.
 Analysis: Arizona starting QB Derek Anderson, fresh out of the Browns’ discard bin, isn’t the answer. Last year with Cleveland, he had a passer rating of 42.1. That’s horrible. That mark would have been 39.6 if he had merely thrown every pass into the upper deck.
 Forecast: Rams 20, Cardinals 17

Dallas (0-0) at Washington (0-0)
Time: 5:20 p.m. Line: Cowboys -3  Total: 40 
TV/RADIO: NBC (3), KBAD-AM (920)
 Weather: Low 70s, 50 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Mike Shanahan, Washington’s first-year coach, is 12-4 straight up in season openers. But his ATS record was a cumulative 14-33-11 in his final three seasons with Denver (2006-08). ... Ominous sign for Dallas (and Cincinnati): No team that played in the annual preseason Hall of Fame game, dating to 1962, has won that season’s league title. ... Washington QB Donovan McNabb (ankle, probable) insists he’ll be ready for this game. While with the Eagles, he once threw four TD passes against Arizona with a broken ankle.
 Analysis: The Cowboys’ Achilles’ heel is injuries along the offensive line to RT Marc Colombo (knee) and LG Kyle Kosier (knee), who are out. But Dallas’ overall skill-position speed, primarily WR Miles Austin and RB Felix Jones, should be enough to help QB Tony Romo get separation in this rivalry game.
 Forecast: Cowboys 31, Redskins 17

MONDAY’S GAMES

Baltimore (0-0) at N.Y. Jets (0-0)
Time: 4 p.m. Monday Line: Jets -2  Total: 35 
TV: ESPN (30)
 Weather: Mid-70s, 10 percent chance of rain
 Facts: Jets QB Mark Sanchez, the league’s 28th-rated passer, had four TD throws and 13 INTs against teams ranked among the top 15 in defensive passer rating. Included was a five-INT game at home against Buffalo’s No. 2 unit. Baltimore’s pass defense ranked sixth last season. ... New York’s top-rated defense held enemy passers to less than 3 yards a throw five times. The rest of the league’s defenses combined for 17 such games. ... Recent additions: New York added RB LaDainian Tomlinson to make it a 1-2 punch with Shonn Greene. Baltimore just picked up WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
 Analysis: In a game in which second-year Jets coach Rex Ryan will be matching wits with his old boss with the Ravens, John Harbaugh, New York appears to have a slight edge on the offensive line and in the secondary. But the closest thing to a weak link either team has is Sanchez. He has yet to prove that top-level defenses don’t mystify him.
 Forecast: Ravens 20, Jets 10

San Diego (0-0) at Kansas City (0-0)
Time: 7:15 p.m. Line: Chargers -4  Total: 45 
TV: ESPN (30)
 Weather: Mid-80s, 10 percent chance of rain
 Facts: The Chargers’ average of 3.3 yards per rush last year was the worst by a division champ since the 1986 Patriots (2.9). In the draft, San Diego added Fresno State’s Ryan Mathews, the NCAA rushing leader last season. ... In 2009, San Diego earned 37-7 and 43-14 runaway victories against K.C., both times thanks to a plus-3 turnover edge. ... Chargers WR Vincent Jackson, who had five catches for 142 yards and a TD last year at K.C., has been holding out.
 Analysis: For the first time in six years, the Chiefs get to host a Monday night game. And it’s wonderful that it occurs before their fans have given up hope for a mediocre season. Since 2006, five teams returned to the madhouse “MNF” home stage after a drought of at least four years. They went 5-0 against the line, beating the spread by at least nine points each time.
 Forecast: Chiefs 23, Chargers 14
 

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