WEEK 1 MATCHUPS

SUNDAY: ATLANTA AT CAROLINA

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Steve Smith’s hamstring problems would be worse had Carolina not signed Keyshawn Johnson in the off-season. John Abraham and Lawyer Milloy boost a Falcons defense that was 26th in the league against the run.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Carolina. The Panthers defense is well-equipped to contain Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn.

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SUNDAY: NEW ORLEANS AT CLEVELAND

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Rookie Reggie Bush and free agent Drew Brees should help Saints fans forget the hurricane-impaired 3-13 last season. The Browns are hoping Kellen Winslow helps revive an offense that ranked 26th in the league.

PETER YOON’S PICK: New Orleans. The Saints are vastly improved over last year, Cleveland is pretty much the same

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SUNDAY: SEATTLE AT DETROIT

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Seattle running back Shawn Alexander has 62 million reasons to prove the Seahawks’ Super Bowl run was no fluke. Detroit is armed with a new coach (Rod Marinelli) and a new quarterback (Jon Kitna), but unfortunately, the defense remains intact.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Seattle. Detroit’s defense will be caught with its pants down trying to stop Alexander.

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SUNDAY: PHILADELPHIA AT HOUSTON

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Donovan McNabb gets a new No. 1 receiver in Donte Stallworth, acquired from New Orleans, to help fill Terrell Owens’ shoes. New Coach Gary Kubiak hopes Houston quarterback David Carr finally realizes his potential.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Philadelphia. McNabb is healthy and the Eagles are rejuvenated. Houston has no running game.

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SUNDAY: CINCINNATI AT KANSAS CITY

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Kansas City running back Larry Johnson gets the starting gig for a full season, hoping to prove worthy of the top pick in fantasy leagues. A solid preseason has Carson Palmer looking recovered from knee reconstruction surgery.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Kansas City. Johnson and the Chiefs offense are too much for the Bengals defense to handle.

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SUNDAY: BUFFALO AT NEW ENGLAND

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: With his top two receivers from 2005 and kicker Adam Vinatieri gone, we’ll see how good Tom Brady really is. Marv Levy returns to the Bills as general manager hoping for a breakout year from third-year quarterback J.P. Losman.

PETER YOON’S PICK: New England. The Patriots aren’t as good as in the past, but they’re still better than the Bills.

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SUNDAY: DENVER AT ST. LOUIS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Jake Plummer, coming off a career year, gets a new target in Javon Walker and a nice complement to Rod Smith. Running back Steven Jackson will carry a bigger load for the Rams in new Coach Scott Linehan’s system.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Denver. The Broncos are a team on the rise and the Rams are in a rebuilding stage.

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SUNDAY: BALTIMORE AT TAMPA BAY

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Steve McNair takes over at quarterback in Baltimore, which should ease some pressure on the Ravens defense. After a terrific rookie season, Cadillac Williams is poised to emerge as one of the league’s top running backs.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Tampa Bay. Williams and Chris Simms are enough offense to balance a solid defense.

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SUNDAY: N.Y. JETS AT TENNESSEE

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Curtis Martin is out at least five weeks, so Jets’ fate rests on QB Chad Pennington’s surgically repaired shoulder. Titans Coach Jeff Fisher hasn’t announced a starting quarterback and could use three signal callers, including rookie Vince Young.

PETER YOON’S PICK: New York. Both teams have questions on offense, but the Jets can rely on a solid defense.

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SUNDAY: SAN FRANCISCO AT ARIZONA

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Edgerrin James debuts for the Cardinals, joining Kurt Warner and the league’s top passing offense from 2005. San Francisco is 6-26 over the last two years and hasn’t improved its defense enough to avoid another long year.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Arizona. James will face little challenge against the NFL’s worst defense from 2005.

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SUNDAY: CHICAGO AT GREEN BAY

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Brett Favre is back, but the question is for how long after a career-high 29 interceptions and career-low 20 TDs last year. Brian Urlacher and the Bears defense, which gave up a league-best 12.2 points last year, won’t make it easy.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Chicago. QB Rex Grossman was shaky in preseason, but the Bears defense will dominate.

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SUNDAY: DALLAS AT JACKSONVILLE

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Terrell Owens finally got off the exercise bike and has been working on routes with QB Drew Bledsoe this week. Byron Leftwich and Fred Taylor are both healthy -- a rarity for the Jaguars, who were 12-4 last year without full seasons from their leaders.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Jacksonville. But only if the Jaguars find a receiver to fill the shoes of retired Jimmy Smith.

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SUNDAY: INDIANAPOLIS AT N.Y. GIANTS

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: The headlines are all about the Manning brothers, but Peyton no longer has Edgerrin James and Eli is hoping a Giants defense that ranked 27th against the pass last year can somehow slow his big brother.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Indianapolis. The Colts won’t need a running back against this porous pass defense.

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MONDAY: MINNESOTA AT WASHINGTON

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: Clinton Portis is doubtful with a separated shoulder, putting extra pressure on Mark Brunell, Santana Moss and the Redskins passing attack. Brad Johnson leads a low-risk Vikings offense brought in by new Coach Brad Childress.

PETER YOON’S PICK: Washington. Brunell might be 36, but he’s coming off of one of his best seasons.

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MONDAY: SAN DIEGO AT OAKLAND

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: LaDainian Tomlinson, who feasts on the Raiders (1,215 yards and 9 TDs in 10 games), makes it easier on new Chargers starting QB Philip Rivers. Art Shell returns as coach, hoping Aaron Brooks and Randy Moss can revitalize Raiders offense.

PETER YOON’S PICK: San Diego. Tomlinson will run wild against a Raiders defense that’s rebuilding.