1st and 10: Breaking down the openers
by Cris Carter
September 5, 2003
I am 1-0 after picking the Redskins on Thursday night. One down, 255 to go.
UPSET OF THE WEEK: Minnesota over GREEN BAY 1 p.m. ET (FOX) Preview
Opening up with this pick, I know a lot of you will want to call me Yahoo! Sports homer rather than Yahoo! Sports football analyst. But hear me out.
I know from experience that the Vikings play with a lot of confidence against the Packers. They could have won at Lambeau last year, and this year's team has the defense and the speed to win at Green Bay in the summer.
MAIL THIS ONE IN: Denver over CINCINNATI 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Preview
Welcome to the NFL head coaching ranks, Marvin Lewis. This game won't be a reflection of the great job that he will do with the Bengals. Mark my words, Jake Plummer will be a star under Mike Shanahan's great offensive mind.
TENNESSEE over Oakland 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN) Preview
In this rematch of last season's AFC championship, Tennessee has three things: a healthy Steve McNair, a healthy Eddie George, and a fired-up Nashville crowd.
The Raiders will need to shore up their run defense if they want to start this season with a winning streak.
BUFFALO over New England 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Preview
How hot can a rivalry get? Now both Drew Bledsoe and Lawyer Milloy will try to beat their old team, the Patriots.
Plus, I like what Buffalo did in the offseason to improve its defense. If this game is close down the stretch, Bledsoe runs a mean two-minute drill.
KANSAS CITY over San Diego 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Preview
This game is enough to make me want to suit up again. A whole lot of young defensive backs should make for pyrotechnic passing. Plus, how will the Chargers stop a happy Priest Holmes?
Baltimore over PITTSBURGH 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Preview
I know I picked the Steelers to win the AFC North, and I'm sticking with that. But Pittsburgh has endured a difficult offseason and won't have standout linebacker Joey Porter, who was shot last weekend. Jerome Bettis isn't starting. Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala is gone. Things are in flux.
For the Ravens, Ray Lewis is healthy. With the right game plan, rookie quarterback Kyle Boller will be able to do just enough against a shaky secondary.
N.Y. GIANTS over St. Louis 1 p.m. ET (FOX) Preview
Eenie meenie miney moe? Not exactly, but this should be a great, high-scoring game. I think the grass will neutralize the Rams' speed just enough.
Atlanta over DALLAS 4:15 p.m. ET (FOX) Preview
OK, so Michael Vick is out. But Atlanta's defense is underrated, and Doug Johnson might throw a better deep ball than Vick. It adds up to a disappointing Dallas debut for Bill Parcells.
Tampa Bay over PHILADELPHIA M, 9 p.m. ET (ABC) Preview
Intensity. The Bucs are eager to show that the NFC title game was not a fluke. The Eagles are opening Lincoln Financial Field, and the Bucs would like nothing more than to ruin the festivities.
Extra points
Indianapolis over CLEVELAND 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Preview
New Orleans over SEATTLE 4:15 p.m. ET (FOX) Preview
SAN FRANCISCO over Chicago 4:15 p.m. ET (FOX) Preview
DETROIT over Arizona 1 p.m. ET (FOX) Preview
CAROLINA over Jacksonville 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Preview
MIAMI over Houston 1 p.m. ET (CBS) Preview
Cris Carter is Yahoo! Sports' NFL analyst. Send him a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.
