WEEK 1 CAPSULES

CAROLINA at MINNESOTA

10 a.m.

The line: Minnesota by 10.

Key injuries: Carolina-SS Mike Minter (knee, out); WR Patrick Jeffers (knee) Minnesota-None.

Key elements: Carolina quarterback Chris Weinke grew up a Viking fan in Minnesota, idolizing Fran Tarkenton, Tommy Kramer and Chuck Foreman. Sunday, he will meet some of the team’s new stars up close and personal. The Panthers had the league’s worst sack differential last season, minus-42. That’s 27 of their own and 69 surrendered. Even the Vikings, who finished tied for 23rd in sacks last season, can take advantage of that. The Panthers are having problems at left corner, and Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Jake Reed should feast on that weakness.

The pick: Daunte Culpepper, the quarterback on the cover of Madden 2001, will turn this into his personal video game. Vikings win big.

CHICAGO at BALTIMORE

10 a.m.

The line: Baltimore by 101/2.

Key Injuries: Chicago-WR Marcus Robinson (back, questionable). Ravens-T Leon Searcy (arm, out).

Key elements: The Bears are short on capable backs, and No. 1 receiver Marcus Robinson will not play because of injury. That’s a problem against the Raven defense, last season considered one of the best of all time. The triumvirate of linebacker Ray Lewis and defensive linemen Tony Siragusa and Sam Adams will very difficult to neutralize for the Bears, who have an average line and no great blockers coming out of the backfield. Without injured running back Jamal Lewis, watch for Raven quarterback Elvis Grbac to throw often. Remember, though, it isn’t uncommon for the defending Super Bowl champion to do a belly flop in its debut.

The pick: Baltimore’s defense is too tough, but the game won’t be a blowout.

TAMPA BAY

at DALLAS

10 a.m.

The line: Tampa Bay by 9.

Key injuries: Tampa Bay-C Jeff Christy (knee, questionable). Dallas-None.

Key elements: Quarterback Quincy Carter looked surprisingly good for the Cowboys in an exhibition game against the Raiders. That doesn’t mean he can get the job done in the regular season, however. He has the unenviable task of facing Warren Sapp, Derrick Brooks, John Lynch and the rest of a Tampa Bay defense that ranked fifth in yards-per-play allowed last season. We’ll find out if Buccaneer quarterback Brad Johnson is worth the money; he should have a big day against the Cowboys’ inexperienced corners. Warrick Dunn steps in as the undisputed No. 1 back for the first time. Good timing: The Cowboys were the worst team against the run last season.

The pick: Dunn is the man for Tampa Bay. Done is the word for the Cowboys.

DETROIT

at GREEN BAY

10 a.m.

The line: Green Bay by 5 1/2.

Key injuries: Detroit-S Kurt Schulz (back, out); CB Bryant Westbrook (Achilles, out); Green Bay-DE Jamal Reynolds (knee, doubtful);

Key elements: It takes a while for teams to fine tune a West Coast offense--just ask Philadelphia’s Andy Reid-so Marty Mornhinweg has to be patient with the Lions. Is Charlie Batch the quarterback for the job? We’ll find out. James Stewart is an explosive back, although he doesn’t get much help from the Detroit line. The Packers finished last season by winning four in a row, all against NFC Central opponents. Brett Favre looked good in training camp, yet he doesn’t have a lot of options when it comes to receivers. Antonio Freeman’s still around, but the years (and injuries) have taken their toll.

The pick: Green Bay. The Lions have lost nine consecutive regular-season road games to the Packers.

INDIANAPOLIS

at NEW YORK JETS

10 a.m.

The line: Indianapolis by 2.

Key injuries: Indianapolis-DE Chad Bratzke (chest, questionable); New York Jets-WR Santana Moss (knee, out).

Key elements:This is the battle of the No. 1 picks, Peyton Manning vs. Vinny Testaverde, and should be a good test to see if Manning can improve his record in close games. In three seasons with him at quarterback, the Colts are 11-13 in games decided by seven points or fewer. Good news for the Colts: Edgerrin James, who led the league in rushing the past two seasons, is facing a defense ranked 23rd against the rush last season. That prompted the Jets to change from a 3-4 defense to a 4-3 in the off-season. The Colt defense isn’t anything special either, and will have their hands full with running back Curtis Martin.

The pick: The Jets started 6-1 last season, but the Colts always give them problems and will win on the road.

NEW ENGLAND

at CINCINNATI

10 a.m.

The line: New England by 1.

Key injuries: New England-LB Tedy Bruschi (back, questionable. Cincinnati-none.

Key elements: In the must-miss game of the weekend, New England will begin life without Terry Glenn and Cincinnati will try to wash away the foul taste of a 4-12 season. Jon Kitna will start at quarterback for the Bengals, but , make no mistake, Corey Dillon is the focus of the offense. He’s capable of a huge monstrous day, especially against a Patriot defense ranked 21st against the run last season. In four seasons, he has had three 200-yard rushing games, as many as Eric Dickerson, Terrell Davis and Greg Bell. The Patriots are hoping J.R. Redmond looks half as good. So far, he hasn’t. The Bengals have beefed up their pass rush, and that could cause problems for Drew Bledsoe, a sack magnet.

The pick: New England. Bad as the Patriots are, the one-dimensional Bengals are worse.

NEW ORLEANS

at BUFFALO

10 a.m.

The line: New Orleans by 1.

Key injuries: New Orleans-LB Brian Williams (foot, questionable). Buffalo-C Jerry Ostroski (leg, out).

Key elements: Key elements--The Saints had a league-leading 66 sacks last season, and the Bills were the worst in the AFC with 59 allowed. According to STATS Inc., Buffalo quarterback Rob Johnson has the lowest ratio of pass plays per sack (6.6) of any player since 1969. It’s a wonder he’s ever on his feet. The New Orleans defensive line, led by La’Roi Glover, should have a big day against the Bills’ cobbled-together crew. across the line of scrimmage. When Johnson is upright long enough to find his receivers, he has some talented targets in Eric Moulds, Peerless Price and tight end Jay Riemersma.

The pick: Saint defensive linemen are just too tough, up front, especially against a quarterback who has a difficult time escaping.

OAKLAND

at KANSAS CITY

10 a.m.

The line: Oakland by 3.

Key injuries: Oakland-None. Kansas City-Casey Wiegmann (abdomen, out).

Key elements: The Chiefs are in a rebuilding cycle, although throughout the 1990s they gave the Raiders fits at Arrowhead Stadium. Those Marty Schottenheimer-coached teams seldom made mistakes. They won by sticking around long enough for a silver-and-black implosion. It remains to be seen if they are as disciplined under Dick Vermeil. Rich Gannon is one of the best scramblers in the business. Now, with new targets Jerry Rice, Charlie Garner and Roland Williams, Gannon can keep defenses in suspense. The Raiders have good corners but below-average safeties. That leaves an opening for Chief tight end Tony Gonzalez.

The pick: Gannon has too many options, and the Raiders will win provided they hang onto the ball.

PITTSBURGH

at JACKSONVILLE

10 a.m.

The line: Jacksonville by 3.

Key injuries: Pittsburgh-None. Jacksonville-DE Tony Brackens (knee, out); WR Keenan McCardell (hernia, questionable).

Key elements: The Steelers might have some luck getting their passing game going against Jacksonville’s bend-don’t-break secondary, which has been giving receivers more of a cushion in training camp. The Jaguars still have some top-notch pass rushers in defensive end Tony Brackens and outside linebacker Kevin Hardy. Pittsburgh’s defense, led by linebacker Jason Gildon, allowed just only 18 points during a five-game stretch last season, a staggering feat. Gildon, who made the Pro Bowl after collecting 131/2 sacks last season, will be lining up against Jacksonville right tackle

The pick: When the Jaguars are healthy, they can hang with Pittsburgh. Sunday, running back Fred Taylor is the difference in a Jacksonville victory.

SEATTLE

at CLEVELAND

10 a.m.

The line: Seattle by 4.

Key injuries: Seattle CB Ike Charlton (knee, out); CB Shawn Springs (hamstring, out); CB Willie Williams (forearm, out). Cleveland-DE Courtney Brown (knee, out); WR Dennis Northcutt (clavicle, doubtful).

Key elements: Because of his years in Green Bay, Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck understands the West Coast offense better than all of his teammates and some of his coaches. That was a problem early in camp-he was thinking Options 3 and 4, while his teammates were thinking Options 1 and 2-but he has since gotten back to basics. That will help the Seahawks, who should win handily. Cleveland averaged 11 first downs a game last season, the fewest of any team in the last half-century.

The pick: Hasselbeck and the Seahawks get a gimme before heading home to face Kansas City next week.

ATLANTA

at SAN FRANCISCO

1:15 p.m.

The line: San Francisco by 3 1/2.

Key injuries: None.

Key elements: In last year’s season opener against the 49ers, Chris Chandler threw for 264 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. But San Francisco’s corners got a lot better as the season wore on, and Atlanta’s top three receivers--Tony Martin (35), Terance Mathis (34) and Shawn Jefferson (32)--are smallish and older than most. Tony Martin, 35; Terance Mathis, 34; and Shawn Jefferson, 32. Chandler is not very mobile, and will have a tough time escaping 49er rookie defensive end Andre Carter, who has evoked comparisons to Jevon Kearse. Niner quarterback Jeff Garcia is almost too mobile, and is quick to evacuate the pocket.

The pick: Carter gets his first sack and second-year corner Ahmed Plummer gets his first interception in a 49er victory.

ST. LOUIS

at PHILADELPHIA

1:15 p.m.

The line: St. Louis by 3.

Key injuries: St. Louis-DE Grant Wistrom (knee, out); Philadelphia-DE Ndukwe Kalu (ankle, doubtful).

Key elements: Kurt Warner vs. Donovan McNabb. Marshall Faulk vs. Philadelphia’s run-smothering defense. Mike Martz vs. Andy Reid. Forget all that, we don’t even know if the Veterans Stadium turf will hold up. Assuming it does, this should be a spectacular game pitting two potential Super Bowl teams. The average Ram game produced 63.1 total points last season, three touchdowns more than the league average. St. Louis spent the off-season assembling a legitimate defense, so those numbers probably will come down. Philadelphia’s McNabb is one of the most exciting players in the game, a running back in a quarterback’s body.

The pick: The turf holds up and so do the Eagles, who begin their Super Bowl season the right way.

WASHINGTON

at SAN DIEGO

1:15 p.m.

The line: San Diego by 2 1/2.

Key injuries: Washington-LB Robert Jones (knee, questionable. San Diego-None.

Key elements: Once again, Jeff George is a misfit. He’s a rifle-armed quarterback in a Washington offense that will feature lots of short to mid-range receiving routes. The Redskins have some offensive standouts in Michael Westbrook and Stephen Davis. But it’s awfully hard to travel across the country for an opener, and this team has a fragile psyche in the first place. The Chargers should be improved-it’s difficult to be worse after a 1-15 season-and Doug Flutie is a major reason why. All eyes will be on rookie running back LaDainian Tomlinson, the No. 5 pick, who rushed for 2,158 yards at Texas Christian last fall.

The pick: Washington wins with a Brett Conway field goal down the stretch.

MIAMI

at TENNESSEE

5:30 p.m.

The line: Tennessee by 6 1/2.

Key injuries: Miami WR Dedric Ward (foot, out). Tennessee-CB Andre Dyson (toe, out).

Key elements: Given his druthers, new Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler might not choose to open against a Tennessee defense that features crunching ends Kevin Carter and Jevon Kearse, perhaps the most potent 1-2 punch in football. But Fielder doesn’t have a choice, and that might mean mobile backup Ray Lucas takes some snaps too. Provided he can get the ball off, Fiedler will try to take advantage of young defensive backs DeRon Jenkins and Bobby Myers. The focus of Tennessee’s offense is running back Eddie George, who only had light duty in the summer while he recovered from toe surgery.

The pick: The Dolphins were 6-2 in road games last season, but no team feels more comfortable at home than the Titans, who will win.

NEW YORK GIANTS

at DENVER

Monday, 6 p.m.

The line: Denver by 6 1/2.

Key injuries: New York-WR Ike Hilliard (foot, questionable). Denver-None.

Key elements: Denver unveils its new stadium, and, Bronco fans hope, its new-attitude defense against the defending NFC champions. The Broncos ranked 29th against the rush last season and were last in passing yards allowed. They added a handful of free agents, notably defensive tackle Chester McGlockton and cornerback Denard Walker, to put an end to the problem. They will have a stiff challenge in New York backs Ron Dayne and Tiki Barber, who combined for 1,776 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Denver quarterback Brian Griese appears recovered from off-season shoulder surgery.

The pick: The Giants are still trying to prove last season wasn’t a fluke. The Broncos don’t help in that regard, winning their Invesco Field debut.

Compiled by SAM FARMER and ROY JURGENS