Capsules

Picks by STEVE SPRINGER; Research by Roy Jurgens

GREEN BAY at BUFFALO, 10 a.m.

* The line: Buffalo by 6.

* Key injuries: GB--Wide receiver Corey Bradford (leg, out), running back Dorsey Levens (knee, out), cornerback Mike McKenzie (knee, out), linebacker Brian Williams (knee, out), tackle Earl Dotson (back, questionable). BUF--Quarterback Doug Flutie (groin, questionable), fullback Jonathan Linton (ribs, questionable), guard Joe Panos (foot, questionable), linebacker Sam Rogers (shoulder, questionable).

* Key elements: Bills have never lost to Packers in Buffalo (3-0).

*--*

THE MATCHUPS GB BUF Points scored 16 (T16) 16 (T16) Points allowed 20 (T20) 13 (7) Passing Off. 152 (24) 174 (19) Rushing Off. 62 (27) 129 (10) Passing Def. 261 (23) 152 (6) Rushing Def. 118 (18) 53 (3) Time of Poss. 22:08 (28) 32:58 (8) Turnover Ratio -1 (T19) +1 (T5) Red Zone TD% 33.3 (T19) 33.3 (T19)

*--*

** The pick: Buffalo. How bad is Brett Favre’s aching elbow? Bad enough to prevent him from winning today.

*

KANSAS CITY at TENNESSEE 10 a.m.

* The line: Tennessee by 8.

* Key injuries: KC--Guard Dave Szott (arm, out), fullback Donnell Bennett (foot, doubtful). TEN--Linebacker Randall Godfrey (shoulder, questionable), center Kevin Long (ankle, questionable), wide receiver Yancey Thigpen (thigh, questionable).

* Key elements: Including playoffs, the Titans are 17-2 vs. AFC Central rivals, but only 5-11 vs. the rest of the NFL dating to 1998. Titan run defense has held opponents without TD in 11 of 17 games.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS KC TEN Points scored 14 (T21) 13 (24) Points allowed 27 (T22) 16 (T11) Passing Off. 212 (12) 152 (24) Rushing Off. 74 (23) 53 (28) Passing Def. 273 (25) 174 (12) Rushing Def. 119 (19) 129 (21) Time of Poss. 26:47 (24) 27:02 (23) Turnover Ratio +1 (T5) -1 (T19) Red Zone TD% 50.0 (T11) 33.3 (T19)

*--*

* The pick: Tennessee. Somebody was going to have to pay for the Titans’ opening-day loss. It might as well be the Chiefs, who are accustomed to losing.

*

MIAMI at MINNESOTA 10 a.m.

* The line: Minnesota by 3.

* Key injuries: None.

* Key elements: The big matchup will be Miami cornerbacks Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain against Minnesota wide receivers Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Lamar Smith rushed for 145 yards against Seahawks last Sunday, the most by a Dolphin in 49 games. The Vikings have won their last six games at the Metrodome.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS MIA MIN Points scored 23 (10) 30 (5) Points allowed 0 (T1) 27 (T22) Passing Off. 134 (27) 190 (16) Rushing Off. 181 (4) 186 (3) Passing Def. 84 (1) 290 (26) Rushing Def. 71 (7) 153 (25) Time of Poss. 38:20 (2) 27:26 (22) Turnover Ratio +5 (1) 0 (T13) Red Zone TD% 50.0 (T11) 75.0 (5)

*--*

* The pick: Minnesota. Can Daunte Culpepper keep it going for another week? Can Jay Fiedler? The answer for today will be yes for Culpepper and no for Fiedler.

*

CHICAGO at TAMPA BAY 10 a.m.

* The line: Tampa Bay by 7.

* Key injuries: CHI--Tight end John Allred (shoulder, doubtful). TB--None.

* Key elements: Bear wide receiver Marcus Robinson has 31 catches for 433 yards and four TDs in his past four games. The Buccaneers have held Bears below 20 points in each of last eight games (for 6-2 record). The Buccaneer defense has not allowed a Chicago offensive TD in 10 quarters.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS CHI TB Points scored 27 (T7) 21 (T11) Points allowed 30 (26) 16 (T11) Passing Off. 290 (5) 167 (22) Rushing Off. 153 (6) 140 (8) Passing Def. 190 (15) 216 (20) Rushing Def. 186 (28) 88 (11) Time of Poss. 32:34 (9) 31:35 (12) Turnover Ratio 0 (T13) 0 (T13) Red Zone TD% 66.7 (T6) 100.0 (T1)

*--*

* The pick: Tampa Bay. The education of Cade McNown will continue at Tampa Bay, where he’ll learn a few lessons from a great defense. Sometime in the near future, he might actually win a game.

*

CLEVELAND at CINCINNATI 10 a.m.

* The line: Cincinnati by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: CLE--Wide receiver Darrin Chiaverini (head, out). CIN--None.

* Key elements: The Bengals open at Paul Brown Stadium against the Browns in a battle of second-year quarterbacks, Tim Couch and Akili Smith. Despite being swept by the Bengals last season, Cleveland owns a one-game lead (27-26) in the battle of Ohio. Cleveland has lost seven in a row.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS CLE CIN Points scored 7 (27) DNP Points allowed 27 (T22) DNP Passing Off. 160 (23) DNP Rushing Off. 96 (17) DNP Passing Def. 301 (27) DNP Rushing Def. 119 (19) DNP Time of Poss. 22:50 (27) DNP Turnover Ratio -1 (T19) DNP Red Zone TD% 100.0 (T1) DNP

*--*

* The pick: Cincinnati. With an open date, the Bengals got an extra week to prepare for season opener. However, they would have preferred the added preparation for a team they actually had a chance to beat.

*

OAKLAND at INDIANAPOLIS 10 a.m.

* The line: Indianapolis by 6 1/2.

* Key injuries: OAK--None. IND--Wide receiver Marvin Harrison (shoulder, questionable).

* Key elements: First game between these teams in Indianapolis. Raider wide receiver Tim Brown (10,983) needs 17 yards to become the 12th player in NFL history with 11,000 career receiving yards.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS OAK IND Points scored 9 (26) 27 (T7) Points allowed 6 (3) 14 (T8) Passing Off. 176 (18) 273 (6) Rushing Off. 67 (25) 119 (T11) Passing Def. 197 (16) 212 (19) Rushing Def. 76 (9) 74 (8) Time of Poss. 31:30 (13) 33:13 (7) Turnover Ratio +4 (2) -1 (T19) Red Zone TD% 100.0 (T1) 33.3 (T19)

*--*

* The pick: Indianapolis. Ryan Leaf and Peyton Manning were considered equal heading into the 1998 draft. After having beaten Leaf last week and lost to Manning this week, the Raiders will know the difference all too well.

*

NEW YORK GIANTS at PHILADELPHIA 10 a.m.

* The line: Philadelphia by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: NYG--Tight end Pete Mitchell (knee, out), safety Sam Garnes (head, questionable). PHI--Wide receiver Na Brown (hand, doubtful).

* Key elements: Duce Staley’s 201 rushing yards last week are the fifth-highest total in NFL opening-day history, and the second most in Philadelphia franchise history. Brian Mitchell needs two yards for 17,000 combined yards in his career (sixth all-time).

*--*

THE MATCHUPS NYG PHI Points scored 21 (T11) 41 (T1) Points allowed 16 (T11) 14 (T8) Passing Off. 172 (20) 130 (28) Rushing Off. 223 (2) 306 (1) Passing Def. 318 (29) 135 (5) Rushing Def. 43 (2) 67 (5) Time of Poss. 31:30 (13) 39:30 (1) Turnover Ratio +2 (4) -1 (T19) Red Zone TD% 66.7 (T6) 57.1 (10)

*--*

* The pick: Philadelphia. Duce Staley should keep it going. Tiki Barber shouldn’t.

*

JACKSONVILLE at BALTIMORE 10 a.m.

* The line: Baltimore by 3.

* Key injuries: JAC--Tackle Leon Searcy (leg, out), running back Stacey Mack (ankle, questionable), running back Fred Taylor (knee, questionable). BAL--Center Jeff Mitchell (knee, questionable).

* Key elements: The Jaguars have dominated the AFC Central of late, winning 16 of their last 20 division games. Mark Brunell is 26-9 (.743) as a starter vs. the AFC Central, the best division mark among active quarterbacks with a minimum of 25 starts.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS JAC BAL Points scored 27 (7) 16 (T16) Points allowed 7 (4) 0 (T1) Passing Off. 301 (4) 199 (13) Rushing Off. 119 (T11) 140 (8) Passing Def. 160 (8) 199 (T17) Rushing Def. 96 (14) 30 (1) Time of Poss. 37:10 (4) 35:07 (5) Turnover Ratio +1 (T5) +1 (T5) Red Zone TD% 60.0 (T8) 0.0 (T27)

*--*

* The pick: Jacksonville. It’s the Raven defense against the Jaguar offense. Offense wins.

*

ATLANTA at DENVER 1:15 p.m.

* The line: Denver by 5 1/2.

* Key injuries: ATL--None. DEN--Running back Olandis Gary (knee, out), running back Terrell Davis (ankle, questionable), linebacker Al Wilson (shoulder, questionable), wide receiver Ed McCaffrey (groin, questionable).

* Key elements: A game between Super Bowl XXXIII participants. The Bronco running game could be in peril as Olandis Gary is out for the season with a knee injury. The Falcons have scored 30 or more points in last three games; however, they’ve lost five in a row on the road.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS ATL DEN Points scored 36 (T3) 36 (T3) Points allowed 28 (25) 41 (29) Passing Off. 264 (7) 307 (3) Rushing Off. 95 (18) 150 (7) Passing Def. 253 (22) 441 (30) Rushing Def. 92 (12) 80 (10) Time of Poss. 31:39 (11) 32:13 (10) Turnover Ratio 0 (T13) +3 (3) Red Zone TD% 0.0 (T23) 40.0 (T17)

*--*

* The pick: Denver. Brian Griese has come of age.

*

WASHINGTON at DETROIT 1:15 p.m.

* The line: Washington by 6.

* Key injuries: WAS--Center Corey Raymer (knee, out). DET--Wide receiver Herman Moore (shoulder, doubtful).

* Key elements: A game between 1999 NFC wild-card participants, won 27-13 by the Redskins. Lion quarterback Charlie Batch will make his first start of the season after missing the entire exhibition season and the regular-season opener with a fracture beneath his right knee.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS WAS DET Points scored 20 (T13) 14 (T21) Points allowed 17 (16) 10 (6) Passing Off. 234 (10) 100 (29) Rushing Off. 162 (5) 98 (16) Passing Def. 183 (14) 169 (10) Rushing Def. 112 (17) 106 (16) Time of Poss. 33:14 (6) 30:49 (15) Turnover Ratio +1 (T5) +1 (T5) Red Zone TD% 40.0 (T17) 0.0 (T27)

*--*

* The pick: Washington. The Lions used Desmond Howard to beat the New Orleans Saints. Against the Redskins, they might as well use Desmond Tutu for all the good it will do.

*

NEW ORLEANS at SAN DIEGO 1:15 p.m.

* The line: San Diego by 5 1/2.

* Key injuries: NO--Linebacker Charlie Clemons (calf, out), cornerback Alex Molden (groin, questionable), running back Ricky Williams (foot, questionable). SD--Defensive end Al Fontenot (calf, doubtful).

* Key elements: Last week the Saint defense held the Lions to less than 200 total yards. The Chargers have held foes to 16 points or less in five of last six games.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS NO SD Points scored 10 (25) 6 (28) Points allowed 14 (21) 9 (5) Passing Off. 169 (21) 197 (15) Rushing Off. 106 (15) 76 (22) Passing Def. 100 (2) 176 (13) Rushing Def. 98 (15) 67 (6) Time of Poss. 29:11 (16) 28:30 (17) Turnover Ratio -1 (T19) -4 (29) Red Zone TD% DNQ 50.0 (T11)

*--*

* The pick: San Diego. The Chargers are favored to beat the Saints, but are not favored to outscore the Padres.

*

CAROLINA at SAN FRANCISCO 1:15 p.m.

* The line: Carolina by 3 1/2.

* Key injuries: CAR--None. SF--Safety Lance Schulters (ankle, doubtful)

* Key elements: Prepare for a lot of scoring as these teams combined for 1,565 yards of offense and 15 touchdowns in the two games won by the Panthers last season. The 49ers have won seven consecutive home openers and have not been shut out in an NFL-record 355 consecutive games.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS CAR SF Points scored 17 (15) 28 (6) Points allowed 20 (17) 36 (27) Passing Off. 183 (17) 253 (9) Rushing Off. 112 (14) 92 (19) Passing Def. 234 (21) 264 (24) Rushing Def. 162 (26) 95 (13) Time of Poss. 26:26 (25) 28:21 (20) Turnover Ratio -1 (T19) 0 (T13) Red Zone TD% 0.0 (26) 80.0 (4)

*--*

* The pick: Carolina. Playing at home won’t be what it used to be for the 49ers. But then nothing is as it used to be for San Francisco, which will remain winless and hopeless.

*

ST. LOUIS at SEATTLE 1:15 p.m.

* The line: St. Louis by 8 1/2.

* Key injuries: STL--Defensive tackle D’Marco Farr (knee, out), cornerback Todd Lyght (toe, questionable). SEA--None.

* Key elements: The big matchup to watch will be Seahawk cornerback Shawn Springs vs. Ram wide receiver Isaac Bruce. The Rams have scored 30 or more points in each of their last seven regular-season games. Seattle has committed 24 turnovers in its last eight games (1-7). Running back Ricky Watters’ teams have never lost to Rams (7-0).

*--*

THE MATCHUPS STL SEA Points scored 41 (T1) 0 (T29) Points allowed 36 (T27) 23 (21) Passing Off. 441 (1) 84 (30) Rushing Off. 80 (21) 71 (24) Passing Def. 307 (28) 134 (4) Rushing Def. 150 (24) 181 (27) Time of Poss. 27:47 (21) 21:40 (29) Turnover Ratio -3 (28) -6 (30) Red Zone TD% 60.0 (T8) DNQ

*--*

* The pick: St. Louis. Kurt Warner vs. Jon Kitna. If this was boxing, most commissions wouldn’t permit such a mismatch.

*

DALLAS at ARIZONA 5:15 p.m.

* The line: Arizona by 3.

* Key injuries: DAL--Quarterback Troy Aikman (concussion, out), wide receiver Joey Galloway (knee, out). AZ--Center Mike Gruttadauria (knee, out), defensive end Andre Wadsworth (knee, out).

* Key elements: Emmitt Smith needs eight rushing yards to become only the third player in NFL history with 14,000 , joining Walter Payton and Barry Sanders.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS DAL AZ Points scored 14 (T21) 16 (T13) Points allowed 41 (T29) 21 (T19) Passing Off. 135 (26) 318 (2) Rushing Off. 67 (T25) 43 (29) Passing Def. 130 (3) 172 (11) Rushing Def. 306 (30) 223 (29) Time of Poss. 20:30 (30) 28:30 (17) Turnover Ratio +1 (T5) -2 (27) Red Zone TD% 50.0 (T11) 50.0 (T11)

*--*

* The pick: Dallas. This used to be regarded as a breather for the Cowboys, but, ravaged by injuries and disheartened by poor play, they’ll have to breathe hard to win this one.

*

NEW ENGLAND at NEW YORK JETS 6 p.m., MONDAY NIGHT

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

* Key injuries: NE--Guard Max Lane (hand, questionable), safety Tebucky Jones (leg, probable). NYJ--Running back Curtis Martin (knee, probable).

* Key elements: This will be Bill Belichick’s first visit to the Meadowlands since leaving the Jets at the head coaching altar. Kevin Faulk tied a Patriot running back record with an NFL-high 11 catches last week.

*--*

THE MATCHUPS NE NYJ Points scored 16 (T16) 20 (T13) Points allowed 21 (T19) 16 (T11) Passing Off. 216 (11) 261 (8) Rushing Off. 88 (20) 118 (13) Passing Def. 167 (9) 152 (6) Rushing Def. 140 (T22) 62 (4) Time of Poss. 28:25 (19) 37:52 (3) Turnover Ratio 0 (T13) +1 (T5) Red Zone TD% 0.0 (T26) 50.0 (T11)

*--*

* The pick: New York. At least quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Belichick won’t have to suffer defeat at hands of Bill Parcells.