SPORTS WEEKEND : WEEK 1 PRIMER

GAME OF THE WEEK

Miami at Denver. Two of the game’s most intense and successful coaches, Jimmy Johnson and Mike Shanahan, are trying to get the tie-breaking edge in the playoffs from the very first game. Dan Marino versus Bob Griese’s kid, and that ought to make him feel older--that and the halftime ceremonies honoring John Elway. The line: Denver by 6.

UPSET OF THE WEEK

Carolina over New Orleans. Ricky Williams is a one-man show when you have Billy Joe Hobert at quarterback backed up by Billy Joe Tolliver. New Carolina Coach George Seifert has had three months to prepare a defense to stop Williams, who was out for three weeks because of an ankle injury. The line: New Orleans by 3 1/2.

POTENTIAL STAR OF THE WEEK

Washington quarterback Brad Johnson. The Redskins’ season might very well be riding on the opener against the Cowboys, and Dallas’ secondary is all banged up. Johnson, who has thrown for 44 touchdowns, against 29 interceptions, while completing 62% of his passes, may be one of the NFL’s best-kept secrets because he’s always hurt.

POTENTIAL STIFF OF THE WEEK

Giant quarterback Kent Graham. Line him up against no one playing defense and it’s no sure bet he will complete a pass. The Giants have their best receivers in years, and they have Graham and Kerry Collins throwing the ball. They could try running the ball, but that would mean handing it off to Sean Bennett. Either way, the Giants are punting three downs later.

THIS WEEK’S TREND

Tennessee loves playing Cincinnati. Quarterback Steve McNair has thrown for eight touchdowns against the Bengals, without an interception. Running back Eddie George has run for 538 yards in six games against Cincinnati, and wide receiver Yancey Thigpen has 15 catches for 308 yards and two touchdowns in the last three games against Bengals.

NO DOUBT ABOUT IT

Coach Mike Holmgren may have relied heavily on Brett Favre’s arm in Green Bay, but in Seattle he would be wise to let Ricky Watters run. When Watters runs for 100 yards, the team he’s playing for has compiled a 23-2 record--4-0 while with the Seahawks.

AND FINALLY

Wouldn’t you want a wallet-size picture of Georgia Frontiere and Art Modell standing side by side as a constant reminder of just what you might get when teams in trouble elsewhere start making a move toward Los Angeles?

ON TV

* Oakland at Green Bay, 10 a.m., Ch. 2

Raiders start with Green Bay. Then the schedule really gets tough.

The line: Green Bay by 9

* Dallas at Washington, 10 a.m., Ch. 11

Washington’s Brad Johnson gets to remind a national audience how good a quarterback he is.

The line: Washington by 2 1/2

* San Francisco at Jacksonville, 1:15 p.m., Ch. 11

Possible Super Bowl preview?

The line: Jacksonville by 5 1/2

OR

* Minnesota at Atlanta, 1:15 p.m., Ch. 11

This will be the first indication if Vikings can retain last season’s glorious offense.

The line: Minnesota by 4

* Pittsburgh at Cleveland, 5:15 p.m., ESPN

The crowd should be pumped for this one.

The line: Pittsburgh by 6

* Miami at Denver, 6 p.m., Monday, Ch. 7

Marino vs. Griese. But it’s only the first game of the season, so don’t get too excited.

The line: Denver by 6

*

TV game comments from Times staff

THE REST

* Kansas City at Chicago, 10 a.m.

The line: Kansas City by 3

* Buffalo at Indianapolis, 10 a.m.

The line: Buffalo by 2 1/2

* Arizona at Philadelphia, 10 a.m.

The line: Arizona by 3

* Baltimore at St. Louis, 10 a.m.

The line: Pick ‘em

* Cincinnati at Tennessee, 10 a.m.

The line: Tennessee by 9

* New England at N.Y. Jets, 10 a.m.

The line: New York by 7 1/2

* Detroit at Seattle, 1:15 p.m.

The line: Seattle by 9 1/2

* N.Y. Giants at Tampa Bay, 1:15 p.m.

The line: Tampa Bay by 5 1/2