WEEK 1 PRIMER

By T.J. SIMERS

Sept. 4, 1998 12 AM PT

GAME OF THE WEEK

Tampa Bay at Minnesota. Are these teams for real? Some people think the Buccaneers are good enough to challenge the Packers. They ignore that Trent Dilfer plays quarterback for the Buccaneers. Some people think the Vikings’ offense will leap over Green Bay. They ignore that Dennis Green is coaching. He’s worse than Marty Schottenheimer in the playoffs.

UPSET OF THE WEEK

Baltimore over Pittsburgh. The Steelers have won nine of their last 10, but see what happens when you get rid of Vinny Testaverde? You have a chance to win. Jim Harbaugh and Ted Marchibroda were a dropped pass away from beating the Steelers and taking Indianapolis to the Super Bowl three years ago. Living in exile now--Baltimore--they triumph.

POTENTIAL STAR OF THE WEEK

Kansas City quarterback Elvis Grbac. This is known as striking gold in the NFL--playing against the Raiders’ defense right from the start. A chance to take advantage of an eager and aggressive rookie cornerback in Charles Woodson. The ingredients are in place: The Raiders can’t put any pressure on Grbac, and the Chiefs can’t run.

POTENTIAL STIFF OF THE WEEK

New York Giant quarterback Danny Kanell. OK, so he’s a stiff every athletic day of his professional life, but if the Redskins reverse form, somehow stop the run and make Kanell go to the air, don’t be surprised--in a league that includes Trent Dilfer and Billy Joe Hobert--if he’s not tops in interceptions after Week 1.

TREND OF THE WEEK

If the numbers hold up, Seattle Coach Dennis Erickson will run his opening-day record to 0-4 and Denver Coach Mike Shanahan will improve to 6-0, Dallas will improve on its .750 winning percentage in season openers (28-9-1) and Arizona will start the season with a defeat for the seventh consecutive time.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

The Patriots play Monday night in Denver and besides being without running back Curtis Martin--now with the Jets--they don’t have a prayer, having lost 10 consecutive times to the Broncos.

AND FINALLY

The Saints open the season against the Rams in St. Louis. Makes you really long for the days when L.A. had the chance to host the dog of the day.

ON TV

Detroit at Green Bay, 10 a.m., Channel 11

The pressure is on Lion quarterback Scott Mitchell to prove he can be a consistent winner, and an upset of the Packers would go a long way toward that goal.

Line: Green Bay by 9 1/2

Pittsburgh at Baltimore, 10 a.m., Channel 2

With Jim Harbaugh replacing Vinny Testaverde at quarterback, look for a more conservative Raven offense--at least as conservative as Ted Marchibroda can get.

Line: Pittsburgh by 3

New York Jets San Francisco, 1:15 p.m., Ch. 2

Jerry Rice makes another return from a knee injury.

Line: San Francisco by 7 1/2

Oakland at Kansas City, 5:15 p.m., ESPN

Look for quarterback Elvis Grbac to hand the ball to . . . to . . . well, Marcus Allen retired and Greg Hill moved on so the feature back position goes--by default--to Donnell Bennett. Jeff Gruden makes his debut as Raider coach.

Line: Kansas City by 8

THE REST

Washington at New York Giants, 10 a.m.

Line: Giants by 2 1/2

Jacksonville at Chicago, 10 a.m.

Line: No line

Atlanta at Carolina, 10 a.m.

Line: Panthers by 4

Seattle at Philadelphia, 10 a.m.

Line: Seahawks by 4

Tennessee at Cincinnati, 10 a.m.

Line: Bengals by 1 1/2