Now that the NFL’s opening weekend is in the books, it’s time to get down to business. As in division games between traditional rivals.
Several divisional matchups are on the schedule, giving some teams a chance to jump ahead of the pack. Atlanta and Philadelphia, for instance. With a win today, each would vault two games past division opponents expected to be serious playoff contenders.
The Falcons, coming off an impressive 20-6 victory over NFC South rival Carolina, jump back into the fray today at home against Tampa Bay, which suffered an embarrassing 27-0 loss to Baltimore.
Like the Falcons, the Eagles are trying to rebound from a season in which they didn’t make the playoffs. After toying with Houston in their opener, the Iggles will set their sights on the Giants, who lost to the Colts 26-21.
Elsewhere in the NFC East, the Cowboys and Redskins will hook up in Dallas, with the loser guaranteed at least a share of last place in the division. And in the AFC East, the Dolphins-Bills loser also will be oh-fer-2006.
Couch potato heaven
N.Y. Giants at Philadelphia
11 a.m., Eagles by 3
Last meeting: Giants won 26-23 (OT) at Philadelphia on Dec. 17, 2005.
G-Man TB Tiki Barber in search of sixth straight 100-yard vs. Iggles. … Just as we suspected, Donovan McNabb helpless without T.O. Uh-huh. Dude completed 24-of-35 for 314 and three TDs in opener. … A dubya today and Eagles are off ‘n’ runnin’. … Their next two are at San Fran and at home vs. Sadsack Pack. … Giants’ Michael Strahan has sacked McNabb 11.5 times, more than any other QB on his hit list.
Prediction: Giants 20, Eagles 19
Tampa Bay at Atlanta
11 a.m., Falcons by 5 1/2
Last meeting: Bucs won 27-24 (OT) at Tampa on Dec. 24, 2005.
Bucs couldn’t score a point in opener, but at least they can spell. “That’s zero points – Z-E-R-O,” coach Jon Gruden says. … Bucs won last year’s meeting in Hotlanta, 30-27, meaning both games came down to a FG. … Chris Simms’ passer rating in Bucs’ opener? Think Bluto’s grade point. OK, so it was 30.5. … Dirty Birds TB Warrick Dunn leadin’ the loop in runnin’ yards with a buck-32. … Hmmm. Falcons 6-1 in September under Jim Mora.
Prediction: Falcons 27, Bucs 17
Worth the electricity
Cleveland at Cincinnati
11 a.m., Bengals by 10
Last meeting: Bengals won 23-20 at Cincinnati on Dec. 11, 2005.
Bengals, who led league in 2005 with plus-24 turnover margin, up to larcenous ways again. They were plus-2 in opener vs. Chiefs. … Cincy DE Justin Smith ran a track meet at Arrowhead, racking up league-leading three sacks. … Bengals WR Chad Johnson all the rage at home, having caught 5-plus passes in 12 of past 15 in the Queen City. … Self-described soldier Kellen Winslow back on the map for Brownies, having hauled in eight passes and a TD in opener.
Prediction: Bengals 24, Browns 20
Houston at Indianapolis
11 a.m., Colts by 13 1/2
Last meeting: Colts won 31-17 at Indianapolis on Nov. 13, 2005.
Texans’ Gary Kubiak was one of two Not For Long rookie head coaches not to win opener. Makes sense if you’ve seen that roster. … To paraphrase Casey Stengel, can anybody here run the ball? Rookie TB Wali Lundy ran for 32 yards in Texans debut. Dominic Rhodes, meanwhile, chalked up a whopping 29 after taking over for Edgerrin James. … Colts all-time vs. Hugheston: 8-0. Any more questions, Professor Einstein?
Prediction: Colts 33, Texans 17
Carolina at Minnesota
11 a.m., Panthers by 1 1/2
Last meeting: Panthers won 38-13 at Carolina on Oct. 30, 2005.
Jake Plummer not the only Jake who didn’t show up on opening day. Panthers, led by Jake Delhomme, scored six points vs. Falcons – at home, no less. … Road sweet road: Carolina has won six of past seven with pillow mints. … Delhomme wicked good vs. Vikes in lone career start: 21-for-30, 341 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INTs in ’05. … Brad Johnson 8-2 as Vikings’ starter since taking over for injured Daunte Culpepper. … Minnie wideouts need to pick it up. TE Jermaine Wiggins led club with 5 catches, 29 yards in opener.
Prediction: Panthers 27, Vikings 16
Washington at Dallas
6 p.m., Cowboys by 6
Last meeting: Redskins won 35-7 at Washington on Dec. 18, 2005.
Joe Gibbs just another coach (14-14) vs. Cowboys. … Mark Brunell tossed four TD passes in last meeting with Big D. … Cahboas coach Bill Parcells says he’s “getting (Tony) Romo ready to play,” but will stick with Drew Bledsoe this week. Well, at least until halftime. … Remember last year’s game at Dallas? ‘Skins wideout Santana Moss caught two TD passes (39, 70 yards) in final 4 minutes to snatch V from jaws of D.
Prediction: Redskins 24, Cowboys 23
Buffalo at Miami
11 a.m., Dolphins by 6 1/2
Last meeting: Dolphins won 24-23 at Miami on Dec. 4, 2005.
Dawins’ Oh coordinator Mike Mularkey was Bills’ head coach in 2004-05. … Fish are 9-8 under Nick Saban. In previous 17, they were 5-12. … Miami WR Chris Chambers one of Not For Long’s more underrated performers. Dude in teams’ last meeting caught 15 passes for 238 and game-winning TD in closing seconds. … In same game, Buff WR Lee Evans caught three TD passes. … Bills first-rounder Donte Whitner notched INT in first career start last week.
Prediction: Bills 23, Dolphins 18
Get a life, Bubba
Oakland at Baltimore
11 a.m., Ravens by 12
Last meeting: Raiders won 20-12 at Oakland on Dec. 14, 2003.
Just wondering: If inactive wideout Jerry Porter was laughing at Silver and Bleak, what are the rest of us supposed to do? … Art Shell, a man of class and dignity, deserves better than this. … Talk about a bunch of zeroes. Raiduhs had no sacks, no INTs, no points and no chance vs. Chargers. … Tale of two teams: Ravens won opener 27-0 and Raiders lost opener 27-0. … Jamal Lewis, who struggled to get rushin’ avg. up to 3.0 last season, average 4.3 vs. Bucs.
Prediction: Ravens 26, Raiders 9
St. Louis at San Francisco
2:05 p.m., Rams by 3
Last meeting: Niners won 24-20 at St. Louis on Dec. 24, 2005.
Rams suffered embarrassing season sweep at hands of Niners in 2005. … QB Alex Smith in ’05: 1 TD pass, 11 INTs. And this year? One TD pass, no picks in opener. … Rams pinning hopes on improved D under new coordinator Jim Haslett. Last year’s unit allowed 6.1 yards per to Niners TB Frank Gore. … St. Looie WR Torry Holt in search of fourth straight 10-catch, 100-yard performance vs. San Francisco.
Prediction: Niners 17, Rams 13
New Orleans at Green Bay
11 a.m., Saints by 2
Last meeting: Packers won 52-3 at Oct. 9, 2005.
If any team could use a 52-3 W, as Pack pulled off last year, it’s the Boys of Brett. But at this point, Slackers would take a 2-0 shutout. … Saints QB Drew Brees likes life on the road. He was 11-6 in past 17 roadies with Chargers. … LB Nick Barnett has led Pack in tackles in each of three No Foul Language seasons. … Saints have nice 1-2 punch with Deuce McAllister (90 yards vs. Browns) and Reggie Bush (119 yards from scrimmage). … Not to question Pack’s decision to hire Mike McCarthy, but did you know he was the Oh coordinator of league’s 32nd-ranked offense in ’05?
Prediction: Saints 31, Packers 20
Best washing the car
Tennessee at San Diego
2:15 p.m., Chargers by 11 1/2
Last meeting: Chargers won 38-17 at Tennessee on Oct. 3, 2004.
Chargers looking to jump out to 2-0 after last year’s 0-2 start. … Good news is Jeff Fisher has settled on a starting QB. Bad news is his name is Kerry Collins. … Bolts leadin’ the whole entire league in D at 129 yards per. Not that stats compiled vs. the Raiders should count, mind you. … Do not attempt this at home. Titans lost to J-E-T-S Dogs in opener at Nashv’lle. … First home start for Chahguhs QB Philip Rivers. But then you knew that.
Prediction: Chargers 30, Titans 10
New England at N.J. Jets
2:15 p.m., Patriots by 6
Last meeting: Patriots won 31-21 at the Meadowlands on Dec. 26, 2005.
Jets not worried about Chad Pennington’s shoulder any more after solid season debut – 24-for-33, 319 yards vs. Titans. … Pats have won five straight in the swamps of Joisey. … Game marks matchup of Bill Belichick and his former pupil Eric Mangini, No Fun League’s youngest head coach. Mangini was on Boring Bill’s staff for all three Super Bowl W’s. … Jets WR Laveranues Coles off to red-hot start: 8 catches, 153 yards vs. Tin Men.
Prediction: Patriots 24, Jets 17
Arizona at Seattle
2:05 p.m., Seahawks by 7
Last meeting: Seahawks won 33-19 at Arizona on Nov. 6, 2005.
Seahawks fans, coaches expected to quit whining about Super Bowl officiating just on time for kickoff. … Kurt Warner top-ranked QB in NFC at 114.8 passer mark. But then, he was throwing vs. hapless Niners. … Go figure. Stud TBs in this one – Cards’ Edgerrin James, Seahawks’ Shaun Alexander – both under 3 yards a crack in openers. James had 26 carries for 73, Alexander 19 for 51. … Why did Seahawks trade for Deion Branch? Their leading receiver in opener was FB Mack Strong.
Prediction: Seahawks 26, Cardinals 17
Detroit at Chicago
11 a.m., Bears by 8 1/2
Last meeting: Bears won 19-13 (OT) at Detroit on Oct. 30, 2005.
Bears won last year’s tilt in the Chi 38-6. … Did you know? Bears QB Rex Grossman’s grandpa, Rex, was a LB for the ’50 Lions. … Difference in this one could be at TB, where Lions probably can’t keep up in battle of Joneses. Bears’ Thomas Jones was target of Broncos during Ashley Lelie trade talks. Detroit’s Kevin Jones coming off lousy ’05 and looked shaky (14 carries, 35 yards) in opener. … Just wondering: What’s over/under in this one after teams combined to allow 9 points in openers?
Prediction: Bears 29, Lions 17
