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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS AT NEW YORK GIANTS
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GAME MARKS NFL�s first-ever nationally-televised prime-time season kickoff on Thursday night��49ERS: Have 50-24 (.676) all-time prime-time record (2-0 Thursday nights). Team plays first Thursday-night game since 9/8/83 (48-17 win at Min)��QB JEFF GARCIA became first quarterback in team history to throw for 30-or-more TDs in consecutive seasons (32 in 2001, 31 in 2000). Named to People En Espanol�s �25 Most Beautiful People� list in offseason��WR TERRELL OWENS had 5 receptions for 140 yards, including 79-yard touchdown catch, in last meeting (11/30/98)��RB GARRISON HEARST has averaged 124.3 yards rushing in past 3 vs. NYG��T SCOTT GRAGG has started 96 consecutive games, including 64 in Giants career (1995-99). G RON STONE joins 49ers after 6 seasons as starter with Giants��GIANTS: Boast NFC�s second-best record in opening games at 39-26-4, .600 (Dallas, 30-11-1, .732)��DE MICHAEL STRAHAN set NFL record with 22.5 sacks last season and was named A.P. NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Had 2.0 sacks vs. 49ers in last meeting��QB KERRY COLLINS set club records with 568 attempts and 327 completions in 2001. Has thrown every pass for Giants in past two seasons. Has 2 career 300-yard passing games vs. 49ers (327, 12/8/96 with Carolina; 328, 11/22/98 with New Orleans)��RB TIKI BARBER posted career-best 5.2 yards-per-carry in 2001 (865 yards) and career-high 72 receptions, tying for team lead (AMANI TOOMER)��WR IKE HILLIARD had 6 receptions for 141 yards in last meeting. 2001 first-round draft pick (No. 14 overall) TE JEREMY SHOCKEY starts. SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8TH NEW YORK JETS AT BUFFALO BILLS
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PAST 3 MEETINGS decided by 6 points-or-less. Past 5 meetings have featured 5 return TDs (4 by Jets; 1 by Bills)�� JETS: AFC�s only undefeated team in preseason (4-0). Open on road for 31st time in 43-year history. Had AFC-best 7-1 road record in 2001��Head coach HERMAN EDWARDS became 10th rookie head coach since 1990 to lead team to playoffs��RB CURTIS MARTIN converted 10 of 12 times on third-&-1 last season. Jets 6-1 in 2001 when Martin rushed for 100 yards ��In past 3 meetings at Buffalo, QB VINNY TESTAVERDE has completed 57 of 86 passes (66.3 pct.) for 650 yards & 6 TDs vs. 2 INTs. Has 4-2 (.667) record as Jet vs. Bills��Club is 10-3 all-time when DE JOHN ABRAHAM has at least 1.0 sack��CB DONNIE ABRAHAM makes Jets debut after 6 years in Tampa Bay (1996-2001). Bucs' all-time leader in INTs (31) and has NFL-best 20 INTs over past 3 seasons��Led league with +18 turnover ratio��BILLS: Team debuts new uniforms��QB DREW BLEDSOE has thrown for 3,437 career yards vs. Jets, his third-most vs. any team��RB TRAVIS HENRY had first career 100-yard game vs. Jets on 10/7/01 (19 for 113). Last year, became first Bill since THURMAN THOMAS (1988) with two 100-yard games in rookie season��RB LARRY CENTERS led club with 80 receptions & has topped his team in catches 8 of past 10 seasons. Ranks third among active players (JERRY RICE & TIM BROWN) in career receptions with 765��WR ERIC MOULDS has 11 receptions for 244 yards & 1 TD in past 2 home games vs. Jets. Joined ANDRE REED as only Bills with 50 receptions in four consecutive seasons�� LB LONDON FLETCHER makes debut with Bills as free agent from St. Louis. Led Rams in tackles each of past 3 seasons. BALTIMORE RAVENS AT
CAROLINA PANTHERS
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RAVENS: RB JAMAL LEWIS plays first NFL game since Super Bowl XXXV (knee). In 2000, became second rookie (TONY DORSETT, Dallas, 1977) with 1,000 rushing yards (1,364) for Super Bowl champions��Third-year QB CHRIS REDMAN makes first NFL start. At Louisville, earned Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, given to college football�s best senior QB��TE TODD HEAP started 6 games as rookie in 2001, catching 16 passes for 206 yards & 1 TD as SHANNON SHARPE�s understudy��Club has not allowed first-quarter TD in past 10 regular-season games��Five-time Pro Bowl LB RAY LEWIS started all 16 games for Ravens last season and led NFL in tackles (196)��Two-time Pro Bowl LB PETER BOULWARE led AFC with 15.0 sacks in 2001�� PANTHERS: Owner JERRY RICHARDSON was member of 1959 NFL Champion Baltimore Colts, catching TD pass in Baltimore�s 31-16 win vs. NY Giants��JOHN FOX makes NFL head coaching debut. Faced Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV as NY Giants defensive coordinator��QB RODNEY PEETE makes first start with Panthers after joining club during offseason. Last start with Philadelphia (11/2/98 vs. Dallas)��QB CHRIS WEINKE started 15 games during rookie campaign in 2001, finishing second all-time among rookie passers in yards (2,931), attempts (540) and completions (293)��RB LAMAR SMITH joins club after averaging 1,054 rushing yards for Miami in past two seasons��Rookie DE JULIUS PEPPERS makes first career start. Peppers was selected No. 2 overall in April�s NFL Draft following record-setting career at North Carolina. High school star at Southern Nash HS in Bailey, NC��P TODD SAUERBRUN elected to first Pro Bowl in 2001 after leading NFL in average (47.5) and net average (38.9). MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT
CHICAGO BEARS
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TEAMS MEET for first time as members of NFC North��VIKINGS: MIKE TICE begins first season as head coach. Played TE for Vikings (1992-93, �95) and has been member of coaching staff since 1996��WR RANDY MOSS became first player in NFL history with 1,000 yards receiving in each of first 4 seasons (1,233 in �01). Posted career-high 12 receptions and 204 yards vs. Bears (11/14/99)��QB DAUNTE CULPEPPER has single-game career-high 3 rush TDs vs. Bears (9/3/00) and most career rushing yards (173) vs. Chicago��TE BYRON CHAMBERLAIN set career-highs in receptions (57), receiving yards (666) and TDs (3) last year. WR DERRICK ALEXANDER joins club after 4 years in Kansas City. Had career-long 86-yard TD vs. Chicago (9/12/99)��T LEWIS KELLY expected to start after anchoring offensive line for NFL Europe League�s Frankfurt Galaxy this spring��BEARS: Club plays 2002 home games at University of Illinois� Memorial Stadium in Champaign, IL��In 3 career starts vs. Vikes, QB JIM MILLER has completed 62 of 98 passes (63.2 pct.) for 723 yards with 5 TDs vs. 2 INTs for 94.0 passer rating. Passed for career-high 422 yards vs. Vikes (11/14/99)��QB CHRIS CHANDLER joins club after 5 years in Atlanta. Passed for 340 yards and 3 TDs vs. Vikes in 1998 NFC Championship Game��RB ANTHONY THOMAS rushed for Bears� rookie-record 1,183 yards in 2001 and was named A.P. Offensive Rookie of the Year. Ran for 228 yards and 2 TDs while at Michigan in only career game at Memorial Stadium (10/19/00)��WR MARTY BOOKER totaled team-record and career-high 100 receptions last season�� LB BRIAN URLACHER played in his second consecutive Pro Bowl following 2001 season��ROSEVELT COLVIN had career-high 10.5 sacks in 2001 and became first Bears linebacker since �85 (OTIS WILSON) to record double-digit sack total��DE PHILLIP DANIELS has 3.0 sacks in past 2 vs. Vikes. Tied career-high with 9.0 sacks in 2001. SAN DIEGO CHARGERS AT
CINCINNATI BENGALS
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CHARGERS: San Diego debut for head coach MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER. Has recorded .500-or-better seasons in 14 of 15 full NFL campaigns��Have won 5 of past 6 meetings vs. Cincinnati, dating back to 1992��QB DREW BREES makes first NFL start. At Purdue, set Big Ten all-time records in passing yards (11,792), TD passes (90), total offensive yards (12,693), comp. pct. (.611), completions (1,026) & attempts (1,678)��RB LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON named runner-up to Chicago RB ANTHONY THOMAS for A.P. Offensive Rookie of the Year. Set club record for total yards from scrimmage with 1,603 (1,236 rushing, 367 receiving)��DE MARCELLUS WILEY tied for second in AFC in sacks (13.0) in �01��RONNEY JENKINS led NFL with 26.6 KR avg. AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for Oct. 2001��BENGALS: RB COREY DILLON, with 6,209 career rushing yards, is 239 yards from overtaking JAMES BROOKS for franchise�s all-time rushing leader. Last season, Dillion became sixth player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in first five seasons��Defense ranked No. 9 overall in NFL for 2001, best since �89 (No. 7). Club set single-season franchise record for sacks last season with 48, led by DE REINARD WILSON (9.0)��In only game vs. Chargers (11/19/00 with Broncos), QB GUS FREROTTE set career single-game highs in completions (36), attempts (58), yards passing (462) and TDs (5). Denver won, 38-37��Three tackles on roster are former first-round selections, including rookie LEVI JONES (No. 10 overall in 2002). Also WILL ANDERSON and RICHMOND WEBB��LBs TAKEO SPIKES and BRIAN SIMMONS, both drafted by club in �98, have been top two tacklers on team in three of four seasons. KANSAS CITY CHIEFS AT
CLEVELAND BROWNS
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CHIEFS: First game against Cleveland since Browns� NFL return in 1999��RB PRIEST HOLMES led NFL in rushing in �01 with team-record 1,555 yards. First Chief to win league rushing title since CHRISTIAN OKOYE in 1989. Holmes was first K.C. 1,000-yard rusher since �91 (Okoye)��QB TRENT GREEN threw for 3,783 yards in �01, third-best in AFC, third-highest season total in team history��TONY GONZALEZ tied for NFL lead for most catches by TE last season with 73 (SHANNON SHARPE)��12-year NFL veteran LB MARVCUS PATTON has played in 192 consecutive games�� Defense recorded 74 negative rushing plays, tied for second in NFL with Pittsburgh (Tenn. 75)��Since 1995, club is 15-3 on road when leading at halftime�� Head coach DICK VERMEIL last faced Cleveland in �99 with St. Louis. Rams won, 34-3��BROWNS: Undefeated in past 7 games vs. Chiefs in Cleveland (6-0-1)��Club set team record and led NFL in INTs (33) in 2001��QB TIM COUCH posted team�s ninth-highest passing yard season total (3,040) in �01��First-round selection (No. 16 overall) RB WILLIAM GREEN makes NFL debut��WR KEVIN JOHNSON�s 3-year receiving totals of 207 catches for 2,752 yards and 17 TDs best first three-year totals of every player on NFL�s top 10 all-time reception list�...CB ANTHONY HENRY tied for NFL lead with 10 INTs in �01 (RONDE BARBER) & tied team record set by THOM DARDEN (1978). First rookie to lead NFL in INTs since �95 (ORLANDO THOMAS, Minn.)��LB EARL HOLMES makes Cleveland debut after spending first 6 years with Pittsburgh (1996-2001). Led Steelers in tackles past 3 seasons & was club�s defensive signal-caller��P CHRIS GARDOCKI currently holds NFL record for consecutive punts without block (825)��Cleveland hosts on Kickoff Weekend for fourth consecutive season. ATLANTA FALCONS AT GREEN
BAY PACKERS
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FALCONS: Club plays first game as member of new NFC South division��Head coach DAN REEVES has 188 career wins and needs 6 to pass CHUCK KNOX for sixth all-time��Game marks Atlanta debut of new defensive coordinator WADE PHILLIPS��QB MICHAEL VICK begins first season as starter after seeing action in 8 games, with 2 starts, as rookie in 2001��RB WARRICK DUNN joins Falcons after 5 years with Tampa Bay. Rookie first-round draft pick RB T.J. DUCKETT makes debut after standout career at Michigan State��WR BRIAN FINNERAN enters season as starter. Helped NFL Europe League�s F.C. Barcelona Dragons to berth in 1999 World Bowl��CB RAY BUCHANAN leads NFL with 27 INTs in past 5 seasons. CB ASHLEY AMBROSE had 2 INTs in last meeting��K JAY FEELY connected on all 3 FG attempts in last meeting (26, 39, 32)��PACKERS: QB BRETT FAVRE was Falcons� second-round draft choice in 1991. Traded to Pack in �92. Has passed for 1,058 yards with 8 TDs vs. 5 INTs for 91.4 passer rating in 4 career games vs. Falcons, including �95 playoff. Has thrown 117 consecutive passes without INT and needs 10 more for career best (126 from 11/5/95 to 12/3/95)��WR TERRY GLENN joins club after 6 seasons in New England��RB AHMAN GREEN rushed for career-high 1,387 yards in 2001 and earned first Pro Bowl selection. Pack are 10-0 all-time when he rushes for 100 yards��TE BUBBA FRANKS set career-high and led all NFL TEs with 9 TDs in 2001��DE JOE JOHNSON debuts after 8 years in New Orleans. Has 4.0 sacks in past 3 games vs. Falcons�� Five-time Pro Bowl LB HARDY NICKERSON joins Pack and expected to start. INDIANAPOLIS COLTS AT
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
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TEAMS MEET for first time as division rivals in new AFC South��Game features AFC�s top two receivers in yards in 2001: Indy�s MARVIN HARRISON (1,524) and Jax�s JIMMY SMITH��.COLTS: Head coach TONY DUNGY makes Indy debut. Posted 6-year record of 54-42 (.563) at Tampa Bay, most coaching wins in team history��RB EDGERRIN JAMES has rushed for more than 100 yards in three career Kickoff Weekend games. Colts are 20-4 in games James rushes for 100 yards��In lone career meeting vs. Jax. (9/25/00), QB PEYTON MANNING completed 23 of 36 passes (63.8 pct.) for team-record 440 yards & 4 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 143.3 passer rating. In 2001, Manning led AFC with 4,131 passing yards & became third player in NFL history (DAN FOUTS, 1979-81 & DAN MARINO, 1984-86) to pass for 4,000 yards in 3 consecutive seasons��Harrison led AFC with 15 receiving TDs & 1,524 receiving yards��First-round draft pick (No. 11 overall) DE DWIGHT FREENEY led nation with 17.5 sacks for Syracuse last year. JAGUARS: Have won six consecutive openers for NFL-best 6-1 (.857) opening-game record��Club is 37-19 (.661) all-time at ALLTEL Stadium��QB MARK BRUNELL had AFC-best 92.5 third-down passer rating in 2001. In 2 starts vs. Colts, has career 89.8 passer rating. Has thrown at least 1 TD pass in past 12 games entering 2002 ��RB FRED TAYLOR limited to 2 games in 2001 (groin). Has rushed for 1,380 yards & 11 TDs in past 12 games (115.0 yards per game), including 9 100-yard performances��Offense penalized for fourth-fewest yards in AFC last season (44.4)��In 2001, defense tied for second in AFC in yards-per-carry (3.4) and tied for fourth in AFC in sacks (43) ��LB WALI RAINER makes Jacksonville debut, acquired in draft day trade from Cleveland. Averaged 145 tackles per year (1999-01) for Browns. DETROIT LIONS AT MIAMI
DOLPHINS
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LIONS: Debut new pair of starting WRs BILL SCHROEDER and AZ-ZAHIR HAKIM. Schroeder averaged 64 receptions and 989 yards receiving past 3 seasons as starter in Green Bay. Hakim joins club after 4 seasons in St. Louis�� QB MIKE MC MAHON played in 8 games in rookie season, starting 3, including club�s first win of 2001 (vs. Minnesota, 12/16/01). QB JOEY HARRINGTON was selected by team No. 3 overall in 2002 NFL Draft after record-setting career at Oregon��RB JAMES STEWART averaged career-high 4.8 yards per carry in 2001��G RAY BROWN joins club after starting 95 games for 49ers since 1996��DE ROBERT PORCHER is club�s all-time leader with 85.5 sacks. Earned third Pro Bowl bid in 2001��PR-KR DESMOND HOWARD has 8 career PR-TDs and needs 2 to tie ERIC METCALF for most all-time��DOLPHINS: RB RICKY WILLIAMS makes Miami debut. NFL�s eighth leading rusher last season (New Orleans) with 1,245 yards & 6 TDs. First Heisman Trophy winner to play for Dolphins��Have won 10 consecutive Kickoff Weekend games, longest active streak in NFL, second-longest all-time (Dallas, 17, 1965-81). Since 1970, boast NFL-best 28-4 (.875) record in home openers, including 7 wins in a row��In 2001, JAY FIEDLER became second QB in team history to pass for more than 3,000 yards (DAN MARINO). After 32 starts, only Rams QB KURT WARNER (26-6, .813) owns better winning percentage than Fiedler (22-10, .688) among active QBs��Offensive line surrendered second-fewest sacks (27) in AFC last season, tied with Oak. and S.D. (NY Jets, 19)��CB SAM MADISON tied with Atlanta�s RAY BUCHANAN for most INTs over past four seasons (22)��Club had NFL�s No. 1 pass defense (176.8) in 2001. First Miami team to top league in full season since 1973. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES AT
TENNESSEE TITANS
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EAGLES: QB DONOVAN MC NABB enters third full season as club�s starter, earning Pro Bowl honors past two years. Passed for career-high 25 TDs in 2001��WR JAMES THRASH enters second season with Eagles after setting career highs in receptions (63), receiving yards (833) and TDs (8) in 2001��T JON RUNYAN has started 32 consecutive games for Eagles after spending 1996-99 with Houston/Tennessee��Four-time Pro Bowl S BLAINE BISHOP makes Eagles� debut after spending 9 years with Houston/Tennessee ��KR-PR BRIAN MITCHELL has 12 career KR TDs and needs 1 for sole possession of all-time lead (ERIC METCALF)��All-Star TE CHAD LEWIS spent 11 days in Thailand, Singapore and Taiwan in May to promote American Football��TITANS: First game as member of new AFC South division. Club has won 10 of past 11 vs. NFC��Head coach JEFF FISHER has franchise-record 68 wins & is fourth-youngest coach (43) to reach 60 (DON SHULA 38; JOHN MADDEN 39; BILL COWHER 40)��QB STEVE MCNAIR was second in AFC passer rating (90.2) last season; rushed for 414 yards & 5 TDs. Selected as Pro Bowl alternate and named AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice in �01��WR-KR-PR DERRICK MASON became first player in team history and ninth in NFL history to amass consecutive 2,000-plus yard seasons (2,004 in �01 and NFL-record 2,690 in �00)��RB EDDIE GEORGE leads NFL in rushing yards since 1996 (7,813). In one career game vs. Eagles (12/3/00), rushed for 101 yards on 32 carries��Titans debut for S LANCE SCHULTERS, acquired from 49ers as UFA. Started all 16 games for SF last season��Defense has allowed only 4 RBs to gain 100 yards in past 53 games. Since �99 season, defense is fourth in NFL in sacks with 141, trailing only Saints (163), Rams (155) and Jaguars (143). ARIZONA CARDINALS AT
WASHINGTON REDSKINS
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CARDINALS: QB JAKE PLUMMER enters fifth full season as club�s starter, passing for career-high 18 TDs in 2001. Had career-best 4 TD passes (since tied) vs. Washington (12/7/97)��WR DAVID BOSTON set club record with 1,598 yards receiving last season, finishing with career-high 98 receptions and earning first Pro Bowl selection��G LEONARD DAVIS started all 16 games in 2001 rookie year, as club surrendered 29 sacks, its second-best ever in 16-game schedule (22, 1978)��TE FREDDIE JONES joins Cardinals after spending first 5 NFL seasons with San Diego. Totaled 260 receptions, ninth in team history, with Chargers. Three-year starter at McKinley High School (Washington, DC)��CB DUANE STARKS makes Cardinals� debut after 4 seasons with Baltimore, earning Super Bowl ring with Ravens� 34-7 win vs. NY Giants in Super Bowl XXXV��REDSKINS: Head coach STEVE SPURRIER begins his first season with club. In 12 years at Florida, Spurrier compiled 122-27-1 record and won 1996 national championship��Former Baltimore defensive coordinator MARVIN LEWIS joins Washington as assistant head coach/defensive coordinator after 3 seasons with Ravens��QB SHANE MATTHEWS opens season as starter after winning job in preseason. Started 3 games for Bears in �01��CB DARRELL GREEN moves into first place tie (JACKIE SLATER, L.A./StL Rams) for most seasons (20) with one club. Needs one INT to increase NFL record of consecutive seasons with INT to 20��LB LA VAR ARRINGTON enters third season after earning starting spot in Pro Bowl in 2001. ST. LOUIS RAMS AT DENVER
BRONCOS
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RAMS: QB KURT WARNER completed 25 of 35 passes (71.4 pct.) for career-best 441 yards & 3 TDs vs. 3 INTs for 106.5 passer rating in only career meeting vs. Broncos. Captured second A.P. NFL MVP award in 2001, passing for career-high 4,830 yards��RB MARSHALL FAULK had 100 yards receiving (4 catches, 1 TD) in last meeting. Led NFL with 128 points and 21 TDs in 2001. Became only player in NFL history to gain 2,000 total scrimmage yards (2,147) four consecutive seasons in 2001��WR TORRY HOLT had 6 receptions for 103 yards in last meeting��CB AENEAS WILLIAMS has 8 career INT-TDs and needs 2 to pass KEN HOUSTON (9) and tie ROD WOODSON (10) for all-time NFL lead��DE LEONARD LITTLE finished third in NFL with career-high 14.5 sacks last season��LB JAMIE DUNCAN expected to start after spending first 4 NFL seasons with Tampa Bay��BRONCOS: Are 25-6-1 (.797) in home openers since 1970 & have won 10 of past 13 overall openers. Head coach MIKE SHANAHAN is 7-2 (.777) in Kickoff Weekend games��In only career meeting vs. Rams, QB BRIAN GRIESE completed 19 of 29 passes (65.5 pct.) for 307 yards & 2 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 123.8 passer rating��WR ROD SMITH led NFL with 113 receptions & became first Bronco since 1965 (LIONEL TAYLOR) to lead NFL in catches. In 2 career meetings vs. St. Louis, Smith has 7 receptions for 214 yards (30.6 avg.) & 3 TDs. Has 44 career TD catches & needs 1 to break club-record tie (ED MC CAFFREY, HAVEN MOSES, SHANNON SHARPE, Taylor)��Club ranked third in AFC with 31:23 avg. time of possession��Team finished second in AFC with +10 turnover ratio��CB DELTHA O�NEAL was second in AFC with 9 INTs. In 2000 meeting, LB AL WILSON posted first 2 INTs of career, both inside Denver�s 10-yard line. SEATTLE SEAHAWKS AT OAKLAND
RAIDERS
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NOTES FORMER DIVISION RIVALS meet for first time in realigned NFL. Teams have combined for 699 points in past 14 meetings (49.9 per game)��SEAHAWKS: Play first game as member of NFC since inaugural season (1976)��Head coach MIKE HOLMGREN needs 1 win to reach 100 career victories��RB SHAUN ALEXANDER rushed for 266 yards in last meeting, club record and fourth best single-game total in NFL history. Led NFL with 14 rushing TDs in 2001. Aims for fourth consecutive game vs. Raiders with TD run��WR DARRELL JACKSON had career-high 7 receptions in last meeting. Had first career 100-yard receiving game, and career-high 125 yards vs. Oakland (9/30/01)��DT JOHN RANDLE ranks second among active players with 125.0 career sacks. Named to Pro Bowl following first season with club in 2001��Former Washington State QB and Spokane, WA resident MARK RYPIEN joins club after spending 2001 season with Colts��RAIDERS: Are 25-6-1 (.797) in home openers since 1970. At home vs. Seattle, have won 4 in a row & 9 of past 12��Head coach BILL CALLAHAN makes NFL coaching debut��In 2 meetings vs. Seahawks last year, QB RICH GANNON was 43 of 66 (65.2 pct.) for 474 yards & 5 TDs vs. 0 INTs for 111.6 passer rating. Became first player in NFL history to win consecutive Pro Bowl Player of Game Awards��WR TIM BROWN has 6 TDs in past 6 vs. Seattle & has personal-best-tying 13 career receiving TDs vs. Seahawks (Denver)��In 5 career games vs. Seattle, WR JERRY RICE has 25 catches for 448 yards & 6 TDs��RB TYRONE WHEATLEY averaging 111.0 rushing yards per game in past 3 vs. Seattle��Defense recorded 7 sacks in last meeting in Oakland�..DE REGAN UPSHAW has sack in 3 of past 4 contests vs. Seahawks��Both teams were coached by current Raiders radio color analyst TOM FLORES. NEW ORLEANS SAINTS AT TAMPA
BAY BUCCANEERS
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CLUBS MEET for first time as new NFC South rivals��SAINTS: QB AARON BROOKS begins second full season as starter. Threw for career-high 26 TDs and 3,832 yards in 2001. College teammate of Buccaneers CB RONDE BARBER at Virginia��WR JOE HORN led club with 83 receptions and 1,265 yards last season. Had 2 TDs in last meeting. WR JEROME PATHON joins Saints (UFA-Ind). Had 24 receptions for 330 yards in 4 games with Colts last year (foot)��RB-KR DEUCE MC ALLISTER begins season as starter. Averaged 24.2 yards on KR in 2001, 5th in NFC��LB CHARLIE CLEMONS emerged as dominant force in 2001, finishing tied for third in NFC with 13.5 sacks (KABEER GBAJA-BIAMILA). Saints led NFC in sacks for second consecutive year (53, 2001; 66, 2000)�.. BUCCANEERS: Head coach JON GRUDEN begins first season with TB. Led Raiders to 38-26 record and two playoff appearances (1998-01)��Team expected to feature 5 new starters on offense (TE KEN DILGER, G KERRY JENKINS, WR KEENAN MC CARDELL, T ROMAN OBEN and RB MICHAEL PITTMAN)��QB BRAD JOHNSON totaled 523 yards and 4 TDS in past 2 meetings��WR KEYSHAWN JOHNSON set career highs with 106 receptions and 1,266 yards in 2001��FB MIKE ALSTOTT was named to fifth consecutive Pro Bowl last season. Had career-high 91 yards receiving vs. Saints (11/24/96)��Barber had 3 INTs, including 36-yard INT-TD in last meeting��.K MARTIN GRAMATICA had career-high 16 points and tied career best with 4 FGs in last game vs. Saints. SUNDAY NIGHT DALLAS COWBOYS AT HOUSTON TEXANS
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GAME FEATURES Texans� first regular season game and first NFL regular season game in Houston since Dec. 15, 1996�� COWBOYS: Club plays first game in Houston since Nov. 10, 1991 (26-23 OT loss to Oilers)��RB EMMITT SMITH has 16,187 career rushing yards and enters season second on NFL all-time rushing list. Needs 540 yards to surpass Pro Football HOFer WALTER PAYTON (16,726) as all-time leading rusher��QB QUINCY CARTER begins second season as starter. Passed for 1,072 yards in eight starts in 2001��First-round draft pick S ROY WILLIAMS and second-round pick C ANDRE GURODE expected to make first career starts��Starting DTs LA�ROI GLOVER (1997) and BRANDON NOBLE (1998-99) both played for NFL Europe League�s F.C. Barcelona Dragons. Glover joins Cowboys after totaling 50.0 sacks in 5 seasons with Saints��LB KEVIN HARDY joins club after 6 seasons with Jaguars��TEXANS: NFL awarded Houston league�s 32nd franchise on Oct. 6, 1999. Team founder, chairman and CEO ROBERT �BOB� MC NAIR announced franchise�s name, �Texans,� on Sept. 6, 2000��2002 NFL Draft No. 1 overall selection QB DAVID CARR of Fresno State makes first NFL start. Carr is 12th QB selected No. 1 since 1970. Completed 309 of 477 (64.8 pct.) passes for 4,308 yards, 42 TDs and 7 INTs in 2001 for Bulldogs��Rookie RB JONATHAN WELLS of Ohio State (4th Rd.) makes first NFL start�� WR-KR-PR JERMAINE LEWIS ranked second in AFC in �01 with 24.7 KR avg. & third in AFC with 12.4 PR avg. Only active player to lead NFL in PR avg. twice (1997, 2000)��Two-time Pro Bowl CB AARON GLENN has played in 121 games out of possible 128 during eight-year career��Head coach DOM CAPERS guided Carolina Panthers to 7 wins in 1995 � most ever by NFL expansion team in inaugural year. MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9 PITTSBURGH STEELERS AT NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
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GAME FEATURES rematch of 2001 AFC Championship Game (New England, 24-17) and first NFL regular-season game at Gillette Stadium��STEELERS: Have won 6 of past 7 vs. Patriots��.Head coach BILL COWHER needs one win to reach 100 in regular season��QB KORDELL STEWART top AFC vote-getter in A.P. MVP voting. Has won 18 of past 23 starts��RB JEROME BETTIS led team with 1,072 rushing yards last year. Has 8 career 1,000-yard seasons, tied for fourth all-time (TONY DORSETT, FRANCO HARRIS & THURMAN THOMAS)�..Ground game (173.4) topped NFL in 2001��Club�s 21 turnovers tied for fewest in AFC (Jets, Seahawks)��Last year, Steelers had first-ever season with two 1,000-yard receivers (PLAXICO BURRESS; 1,008 & HINES WARD; 1,003) & were one of 3 AFC clubs with two 1,000-yard receivers (Jax., Oak.). Ward had club-record 94 catches��Steelers had NFL�s No. 1 total defense (258.6) ��LB KENDRELL BELL named A.P. Defensive Rookie of the Year with NFL rookie-high 9.0 sacks�� PATRIOTS: Have won 5 of past 7 home openers��Had +9 win differential, third-largest increase in wins for Super Bowl champion from previous season. Became second team in NFL history (St. Louis Rams, 1999) to win Super Bowl following last-place finish��QB TOM BRADY is 14-3 (.824) as starter. Was youngest QB to win Super Bowl MVP honors (24 years, 184 days). Set team record with 63.9 comp. pct. Became fifth QB since 1970 to be selected to Pro Bowl in year of first NFL start�..WR-PR TROY BROWN had club-record 101 catches & first career 1,000-yard season (1,199 yards). Led NFL with 14.2 PR avg��Defense led AFC in red-zone with 38.8 TD pct. (19 TDs allowed in 49 possessions). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||