Capsules

SAN FRANCISCO AT ATLANTA

* The line: Atlanta by 7.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Jeff Garcia is the first 49er quarterback since Joe Montana or Steve Young to start Week One since Steve DeBerg started the 1980 opener. Atlanta running back Jamal Anderson, who returns from a 1999 season-ending knee injury, led the NFC with 1,846 yards in an NFL-record 410 carries in 1998. The 49ers have lost six consecutive road games.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS SF Atl Points scored 18.4 (22) 17.8 (23) Points allowed 28.3 (30) 23.8 (25) Passing Off. 205.3 (21) 209.1 (17) Rushing Off. 130.9 (1) 74.8 (30) Passing Def. 254.3 (31) 196.9 (9) Rushing Def. 101.2 (15) 129.5 (29) Time of Poss. 30:21 (16) 28:49 (27) Turnover Ratio -12 (29) -17 (31) Red Zone TD% 46.7 (16) 52.4 (11)

*--*

* The pick: Atlanta. The 49ers’ long season starts here.

TENNESSEE AT BUFFALO

* The line: Pick ‘em.

* Key injuries: TEN--Wide receiver Yancey Thigpen (ankle, questionable). BUF--Guard Joe Panos (foot, out), quarterback Doug Flutie (groin, doubtful), running back Jonathan Linton (ribs, questionable).

* Key elements: Titans are 16-2 when quarterback Steve McNair has a rushing TD. Jevon Kearse has at least one sack in eight consecutive games. Bills are 4-0 on Sunday nights at Ralph Wilson Stadium.

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THE MATCHUPS TEN BUF Points scored 24.5 (7) 20.0 (16) Points allowed 20.3 (15) 14.3 (2) Passing Off. 217.8 (13) 205.8 (19) Rushing Off. 113.2 (13) 127.5 (8) Passing Def. 230.9 (25) 167.2 (1) Rushing Def. 96.9 (10) 85.6 (4) Time of Poss. 31:30 (8) 32:39 (1) Turnover Ratio +18 (2) -6 (23) Red Zone TD% 62.0 (3) 46.2 (17)

*--*

* The pick: Tennessee. Bills are bent on revenge for the Music City Miracle, but the Titans are tough, ball-hungry and better offensively with addition of Carl Pickens.

SEATTLE AT MIAMI

* The line: Miami by 2.

* Key injuries: SEA--Tight end Christian Fauria (hamstring, questionable). MIA--None.

* Key elements: The last five meetings (including 1999 wild card) between these teams has been decided by seven points or less. Dolphin Coach Dave Wannstedt is 1-11 vs. Seahawk Coach Mike Holmgren, dating to their days coaching the Bears and Packers. Miami has won an NFL-best eight consecutive openers.

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THE MATCHUPS SEA MIA Points scored 21.1 (12) 20.4 (13) Points allowed 18.6 (8) 21.0 (19) Passing Off. 212.3 (16) 217.8 (13) Rushing Off. 88.0 (24) 90.8 (22) Passing Def. 218.3 (17) 183.0 (5) Rushing Def. 120.9 (25) 92.3 (8) Time of Poss. 27:53 (28) 31:34 (7) Turnover Ratio +3 (12) -6 (23) Red Zone TD% 42.9 (20) 41.2 (23)

*--*

* The pick: Seattle. Update Wannstedt’s record against Holmgren to 1-12.

SAN DIEGO AT OAKLAND

* The line: Oakland by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: SD--Cornerback DeRon Jenkins (foot, questionable). OAK--Linebacker Eric Barton (hamstring, doubtful).

* Key elements: This game pits the Charger rushing defense, ranked third in 1999, against the Raider rushing offense, also ranked third in 1999. The Raiders are 4-0 vs. the Chargers in openers; however, the Raiders have lost four consecutive openers.

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THE MATCHUPS SD OAK Points scored 16.8 (28) 24.4 (8) Points allowed 19.8 (10) 20.6 (16) Passing Off. 208.9 (18) 225.6 (11) Rushing Off. 77.9 (27) 130.3 (3) Passing Def. 224.0 (22) 207.6 (12) Rushing Def. 82.6 (3) 97.4 (12) Time of Poss. 30:09 (17) 32:17 (2) Turnover Ratio -8 (25) +4 (11) Red Zone TD% 39.6 (25) 54.4 (8)

*--*

* The pick: Oakland. Two steps forward, one step back for Charger quarterback Ryan Leaf.

N.Y. JETS AT GREEN BAY

* The line: Green Bay by 2 1/2.

* Key injuries: NYJ--None. GB--Wide receiver Corey Bradford (leg, out), running back Dorsey Levens (knee, out), linebacker Brian Williams (knee, out), running back Ahman Green (knee, questionable), linebacker Bernardo Harris (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: Head coaching debuts for the Packers’ Mike Sherman and the Jets’ Al Groh. In the last five seasons, the Packers are 9-1 at Lambeau Field vs. AFC opponents.

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THE MATCHUPS NYJ GB Points scored 19.3 (19) 22.3 (10) Points allowed 19.3 (9) 21.3 (20) Passing Off. 174.4 (28) 243.8 (7) Rushing Off. 122.6 (11) 94.9 (21) Passing Def. 229.8 (24) 219.1 (18) Rushing Def. 106.4 (17) 112.8 (22) Time of Poss. 30:45 (12) 29:13 (25) Turnover Ratio +13 (3) +5 (9) Red Zone TD% 39.2 (26) 54.7 (7)

*--*

* The pick: Jets. Brett Favre has picked up the pace, but without Levens the Packers are unsettled.

PHILADELPHIA AT DALLAS

* The line: Dallas by 6.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: Eagle running back Duce Staley accounted for an NFL-best 40.9% of his club’s offense in 1999. The Philadelphia defense had a league-best 46 takeaways in 1999. Cowboy running back Emmitt Smith needs only 37 yards to become the third NFL player to rush for 14,000.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS PHI DAL Points scored 17.0 (25) 22.0 (11) Points allowed 22.3 (22) 17.3 (5) Passing Off. 130.3 (31) 195.4 (24) Rushing Off. 109.1 (17) 128.2 (6) Passing Def. 216.3 (15) 212.4 (13) Rushing Def. 125.1 (28) 90.1 (6) Time of Poss. 27:19 (29) 32:00 (4) Turnover Ratio +7 (8) +10 (6) Red Zone TD% 35.5 (28) 52.1 (12)

*--*

* The pick: Dallas. Winless in the exhibition season, the Cowboys will finally manage a victory.

CAROLINA AT WASHINGTON

* The line: Washington by 10 1/2.

* Key injuries: CAR--None. WAS--Center Cory Raymer (knee, out), running back Skip Hicks (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: Carolina bolstered its defense by signing veteran defensive linemen Reggie White, Chuck Smith and Eric Swann in the off-season. The Redskin defense features three former NFL defensive players of the year, Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith and Dana Stubblefield. Redskins are 4-0 all-time vs. the Panthers.

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THE MATCHUPS CAR WAS Points scored 26.3 (4) 27.7 (2) Points allowed 23.8 (26) 23.6 (24) Passing Off. 260.1 (2) 245.4 (6) Rushing Off. 95.3 (20) 127.4 (9) Passing Def. 225.3 (23) 233.3 (26) Rushing Def. 118.6 (24) 123.3 (27) Time of Poss. 29:23 (23) 29:53 (19) Turnover Ratio -5 (19) +12 (4) Red Zone TD% 55.1 (6) 59.6 (5)

*--*

* The pick: Washington. It’s not all hype: Washington by a landslide over the injury-depleted Panthers.

BALTIMORE AT PITTSBURGH

* The line: Baltimore by 3.

* Key injuries: BAL--None. PIT--Center Dermontti Dawson (hamstring, questionable).

* Key elements: Last season the Ravens boasted the AFC’s best run defense and did not allow an opposing rusher to gain 100 yards. The Ravens have lost three consecutive openers. Coach Bill Cowher enters his ninth season with Pittsburgh, tied with the Vikings’ Dennis Green for the longest tenure in the NFL.

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THE MATCHUPS BAL PIT Points scored 20.3 (14) 19.8 (17) Points allowed 17.3 (6) 20.0 (12) Passing Off. 189.0 (25) 180.2 (26) Rushing Off. 109.6 (16) 124.4 (10) Passing Def. 186.9 (6) 182.9 (4) Rushing Def. 76.9 (2) 122.4 (26) Time of Poss. 29:29 (22) 31:28 (9) Turnover Ratio 0 (14) +3 (12) Red Zone TD% 31.4 (30) 54.0 (9)

*--*

* The pick: Baltimore. Kent Graham over Kordell Stewart doesn’t help against the Raven defense.

ARIZONA AT N.Y.GIANTS

* The line: New York Giants by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: AZ--Defensive end Thomas Burke (knee, out), center Mike Gruttadauria (knee, out), defensive end Andre Wadsworth (knee, out), linebacker Johnny Rutledge (knee, questionable). NYG--Tight end Pete Mitchell (knee, out).

* Key elements: The Cardinals swept the Giants in 1999 for first time since 1979. Making his NFL debut for the Giants is 1999 Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne.

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THE MATCHUPS AZ NYG Points scored 15.3 (30) 18.7 (20) Points allowed 23.9 (27) 22.4 (23) Passing Off. 175.2 (27) 232.4 (8) Rushing Off. 75.4 (29) 88.0 (24) Passing Def. 197.3 (10) 213.8 (14) Rushing Def. 141.6 (30) 97.5 (13) Time of Poss. 27:10 (30) 30:39 (14) Turnover Ratio -13 (30) -8 (25) Red Zone TD% 50.0 (14) 48.9 (15)

*--*

* The pick: Giants. Dayne, sharing running back duty with Tiki Barber, could have a nice debut against dismal Cardinals.

DETROIT AT NEW ORLEANS

* The line: New Orleans by 1.

* Key injuries: DET--Wide receiver Herman Moore (shoulder, out), guard Stockar McDougle (knee, out), quarterback Charlie Batch (knee, questionable). NO--Tight end Andrew Glover (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: Quarterback Stoney Case makes his sixth career start (his first with the Lions) in place of the injured Charlie Batch. The Lions are 1-6 at New Orleans. The Saints have won the last three meetings with the Lions.

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THE MATCHUPS DET NO Points scored 20.1 (15) 16.3 (29) Points allowed 20.2 (14) 27.1 (28) Passing Off. 230.4 (9) 205.8 (19) Rushing Off. 77.8 (28) 105.6 (18) Passing Def. 235.0 (27) 221.5 (21) Rushing Def. 95.7 (9) 110.9 (20) Time of Poss. 29:15 (24) 30:54 (11) Turnover Ratio +10 (6) -5 (19) Red Zone TD% 52.8 (10) 40.0 (24)

*--*

* The pick: New Orleans. The Lions have quarterback trouble with Case starting ahead of Batch, still recovering from a knee injury.

TAMPA BAY AT NEW ENGLAND

* The line: Tampa Bay by 3.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: This matchup features former Jet wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson (now with Tampa Bay) going up against former Jet defensive coordinator Bill Belichick (Patriot head coach). Kevin Faulk takes over at running back for the departed Terry Allen. The Patriots are 3-1 all-time vs. the Buccaneers. New England has won its last five home openers.

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THE MATCHUPS TB NE Points scored 16.9 (27) 18.7 (20) Points allowed 14.7 (3) 17.8 (7) Passing Off. 154.9 (30) 227.3 (10) Rushing Off. 111.0 (15) 89.1 (23) Passing Def. 179.6 (2) 188.3 (7) Rushing Def. 87.9 (5) 112.2 (21) Time of Poss. 32:11 (3) 29:13 (25) Turnover Ratio -4 (17) -2 (15) Red Zone TD% 33.3 (31) 37.0 (27)

*--*

* The pick: Tampa Bay. The Patriots’ running game isn’t going to break out against the Buccaneers’ defense.

CHICAGO AT MINNESOTA

* The line: Minnesota by 4 1/2.

* Key injuries: CHI--None. MIN--Guard Corbin Lacina (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: This contest features the NFC’s top two leaders in receiving yardage in 1999, the Vikings’ Randy Moss (1,413), and the Bears’ Marcus Robinson (1,400). Daunte Culpepper makes his regular-season debut as the Vikings’ starting quarterback. Minnesota has won four consecutive openers.

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THE MATCHUPS CHI MIN Points scored 17.0 (25) 24.9 (5) Points allowed 21.3 (20) 20.9 (18) Passing Off. 258.5 (3) 249.3 (5) Rushing Off. 86.7 (26) 112.8 (14) Passing Def. 238.9 (29) 248.8 (30) Rushing Def. 117.6 (23) 101.1 (14) Time of Poss. 29:44 (20) 29:32 (21) Turnover Ratio -4 (17) -10 (27) Red Zone TD% 35.4 (29) 50.8 (13)

*--*

* The pick: Minnesota. Culpepper will throw first regular-season pass and go on to outplay fellow second-year quarterback Cade McNown.

INDIANAPOLIS AT KANSAS CITY

* The line: Indianapolis by 3.

* Key injuries: IND--None. KC--Defensive tackle Chester McGlockton (ribs, questionable).

* Key elements: The 1999 Colts were the first team since AFC-NFC format in 1970 to have the conference leader in passing yards (Peyton Manning), rushing yards (Edgerrin James) and receiving yards (Marvin Harrison). The Chiefs were an NFL-best +21 in turnover differential in 1999, and are a league-best +128 in the 1990s.

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THE MATCHUPS IND KC Points scored 26.4 (3) 24.4 (8) Points allowed 20.8 (17) 20.1 (13) Passing Off. 254.1 (4) 202.4 (22) Rushing Off. 103.8 (19) 130.1 (4) Passing Def. 219.1 (19) 217.6 (16) Rushing Def. 107.2 (18) 97.3 (11) Time of Poss. 30:45 (12) 30:26 (15) Turnover Ratio -5 (19) +21 (1) Red Zone TD% 44.9 (19) 61.0 (4)

*--*

* The pick: Indianapolis. The Chiefs will lose a home opener for the first time since 1989.

JACKSONVILLE AT CLEVELAND

* The line: Jacksonville by 10.

* Key injuries: JAC--Tackle Leon Searcy (leg, out), wide receiver R. Jay Soward (ankle, out), running back Fred Taylor (knee, out), punter Bryan Barker (ankle, questionable). CLE--None.

* Key elements: Jacksonville has won four consecutive openers. The Browns were held to 17 or fewer points in 12 of 16 games in 1999.

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THE MATCHUPS JAC CLE Points scored 24.8 (6) 13.6 (31) Points allowed 13.6 (1) 27.3 (29) Passing Off. 218.4 (12) 163.3 (29) Rushing Off. 130.7 (2) 71.9 (31) Passing Def. 180.6 (3) 206.9 (11) Rushing Def. 90.3 (7) 171.0 (31) Time of Poss. 31:57 (5) 23:38 (31) Turnover Ratio +12 (4) -11 (28) Red Zone Off. 46.0 (18) 71.4 (1)

*--*

* The pick: Jacksonville. Even with a patchwork offensive line and Taylor out because of a knee injury, Jaguars win.

MONDAY: DENVER AT ST. LOUIS

* The line: St. Louis by 6.

* Key injuries: DEN--Linebacker John Mobley (knee, questionable). STL--None.

* Key elements: Bronco running back Terrell Davis (2,008 yards in 1998) returns after sitting out the last 12 games of 1999 because of a knee injury. The Rams’ Mike Martz looks to join Don McCafferty (Colts, Super Bowl V) and George Seifert (49ers, Super Bowl XXIV) as the only coaches to win a Super Bowl title in their first season.

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THE MATCHUPS DEN STL Points scored 19.6 (18) 32.9 (1) Points allowed 19.9 (11) 15.1 (4) Passing Off. 213.7 (15) 272.1 (1) Rushing Off. 116.5 (12) 128.7 (5) Passing Def. 188.5 (8) 219.3 (20) Rushing Def. 108.6 (19) 74.3 (1) Time of Poss. 31:17 (10) 31:50 (6) Turnover Ratio -2 (15) +5 (9) Red Zone TD%. 41.3 (22) 66.1 (2)

*--*

* The pick: St. Louis. Even after winning the Super Bowl, the Rams’ speed, depth aren’t appreciated.