NFL Games Sunday Sept. 13 Team, Stats, Injuries, Etc.

Last meeting
Atlanta went on the road in Week 9 of 2005 and dominated Miami, 17-10. The win gave the Falcons a 6-2 mark at the season's midpoint, but they wound up faltering down the stretch and missing the playoffs with an 8-8 record.

Streaks
The teams have split their last six meetings, but the Dolphins hold an edge in the overall series, 7-3.

Keep your eye on ...
Matt Ryan's encore season-opener: As a rookie, Ryan wasted no time showing he was ready for the NFL, throwing a 62-yard touchdown to Michael Jenkins on his first pass. He never looked back after that, winning Rookie of the Year honors. Against Miami, Ryan will look to get off to a similar start.

The second year of the Wildcat formation: The Dolphins went back in time with great effectiveness last season. They confounded opponents with their version of the old single-wing offense, which they termed the Wildcat, and it caught on around the league. After drafting rookie dual-threat QB Pat White in the second round, Miami showed it has no plans to abandon the formation.

Atlanta's young secondary: Three of the Falcons starters in the defensive backfield (cornerbacks Brent Grimes and Chris Houston along with safety Thomas DeCoud) have three years of experience or less. They will face a stiff test against Dolphins veteran QB Chad Pennington, a master of picking apart defenses with precision passing and guile.

Did you know?
The Dolphins had the greatest turnaround in NFL history last season, winning 10 more games in 2008 (11) than they did in 2007 (1). ... Falcons RB Michael Turner was second in the NFL last year with 17 touchdowns. ... All four AFC teams that finished first in their divisions in the preseason last year, won their divisions in the regular season. Miami finished atop the AFC East again this preseason at 4-0.

Last meeting
The late Steve McNair had one of his best performances as a Raven, throwing for 283 yards and a touchdown as Baltimore dropped the host Chiefs, 20-10, in Week 14 of the 2006 season.

Streaks
The Chiefs had won all three meetings against the Ravens until the aforementioned loss in 2006. Kansas City is 3-0 in Baltimore.

Keep your eye on ...
Larry Johnson's attempted resurgence: Beset by injuries and off-the-field issues the last two seasons, Johnson was a non-factor as the Chiefs spiraled down the standings. Now healthy and focused, Johnson hopes to return to his prior form, but it won't be easy against a Ravens defense that hasn't allowed a 100-yard rusher in 35 games. Johnson was the last back to do so, however, running for 120 yards in 2006.

Ravens defensive coordinator Greg Mattison's debut: Under former coordinator Rex Ryan (now the Jets head coach), Baltimore consistently had one of the best defenses in the league. Mattison pledges not to change much from the previous system and his first chance to show he is up to the challenge of replacing Ryan comes this Sunday.

Matt Cassel's availability: Kansas City traded for the former Patriots quarterback in the offseason and handed him a $60 million contract. He suffered a knee injury in the third game of the preseason and has been hobbled since. His status for the season-opener at Baltimore is uncertain.

Did you know?
Todd Haley will be making his head-coaching debut for the Chiefs. ... Since 2001, Kansas City's Mike Vrabel ranks fifth among all linebackers with 48 sacks. ... Baltimore has won five straight home games in September. ... Ravens safety Ed Reed leads the NFL in interceptions since 2002 with 43.

Last meeting
In Week 13 of the 2006 season, the Eagles got a sensational performance from Jeff Garcia (312 yards and 3 TDs) and held off the visiting Panthers, 27-24.

Streaks
The Eagles have won four of the teams' five career meetings, but the Panthers were victorious in the lone playoff contest between the two in the 2003 NFC Championship Game.

Keep your eye on ...
Brian Westbrook's explosiveness: The two-time Pro Bowl running back missed the entire preseason after offseason ankle surgery. If he doesn't look ready against Carolina, impressive rookie LeSean McCoy could be called upon to pick up the slack.

Sean McDermott's debut: Over the past decade, Philadelphia has fielded some of the best defenses in the league. The constant over that time frame was defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, who died of cancer in the offseason. Johnson's protégé, McDermott, has taken over, but the team's lackluster preseason defensively has done nothing to quiet concerns about his readiness.

Jake Delhomme's psyche: The last time we saw the Panthers quarterback in a game that mattered was in the divisional round of last year's playoffs when he suffered through a terrible postseason performance. Despite that poor outing, his steady regular-season play earned him a contract extension in the offseason, but will there be a lingering effect from his playoff disappointment?

Did you know?
Philadelphia has advanced to the NFC title game in five of Andy Reid's 10 seasons as coach. ... Westbrook is the only player since 2004 with 4,000-plus rushing yards (4,915) and 3,000-plus receiving yards (3,191). ... Julius Peppers is first in Panthers franchise history with 70.5 sacks.

Last meeting
A bad snap on an extra point with less than a minute to play doomed the visiting Bengals as they lost to the Broncos, 24-23, in Week 16 of the 2006 season.

Streaks
The Broncos own a commanding overall series lead, 16-8, and have won 10 of the past 12 meetings.

Keep your eye on ...
Kyle Orton's finger injury: Denver's starting quarterback dislocated the knuckle under his right index finger in the team's third preseason game and his status for the season-opener is uncertain. He returned to practice Tuesday and threw accurate short passes, according to The Associated Press. If he plays, he will be in the spotlight after he was acquired from Chicago as part of a trade involving Jay Cutler in the offseason.

Carson Palmer's protection: After missing the final 11 games last year with an elbow injury and sitting out most of the preseason with an ankle ailment, the Bengals star QB has not had much playing time over the past year. In order for Palmer to avoid more injuries and return to his Pro Bowl form, Cincinnati's rebuilt offensive line must do a great job of protecting him against a Broncos pass rush that was impressive in the preseason.

Josh McDaniels roaming the sideline: The Broncos' new coach made waves in the offseason by trading Cutler, jettisoning several veterans and signing a bevy of free agents. His first chance to show he made the right moves comes Sunday against Cincinnati.

Did you know?
Denver has the AFC's best Week 1 record, having posted a 31-17-1 mark all-time in season-openers. ... The Broncos surrendered a league-low 12 sacks last season. ... When Bengals RB Cedric Benson gets 20 or more carries, his teams are 7-0-1

Last meeting
Minnesota WR Marcus Robinson had three touchdowns as the Vikings defeated the Browns3, 24-12, on Nov. 27, 2005.

Streaks
The Vikings have won three in a row and own a decisive 9-3 overall series lead.

Keep your eye on ...
Brett Favre's throwing shoulder: By opting to forgo retirement for another season, Favre made the risky decision to come back despite a partial tear in his rotator cuff. While RB Adrian Peterson will remain the focal point of Minnesota's offense, Favre will be counted on to make key throws throughout the season, starting with Cleveland.

Who starts for the Browns at quarterback: Coach Eric Mangini says he has determined which signal-caller will start for the Browns, but he won't reveal that to the public. His hope is that keeping the announcement a secret will hinder the Vikings' defensive gameplan. We'll find out Sunday.

Cleveland's remade defense: When Mangini became the Browns' coach in the offseason, he began cleaning house on the defensive side of the ball, bringing in four new starters with him from the Jets. The unit performed well at times during the preseason, but gets a stiff test against the Vikings' talented offense.

Did you know?
Favre has thrown at least three touchdown passes in three straight contests against the Browns. ... Vikings DE Jared Allen has 57.5 sacks since 2004 -- the most in the NFL over that time span. ... Browns DT Shaun Rogers leads the league with eight blocked field goals since 2004.

Last meeting
On Nov. 11, 2006, the Jets played a near flawless game, with just one penalty and not a single turnover, as they defeated the visiting Texans, 26-11.

Streaks
The Jets have won all three meetings against the Texans.

Keep your eye on ...
Rex Ryan's rebuilt Jets defense: Part of the reason for New York's collapse at the end of last season was its defense. The Jets gave up over 24 points a game in losing four of their last five contests. Enter new coach Rex Ryan. He brings in a proven attacking system from Baltimore, but it will be challenged against the Texans' explosive offense.

Matt Schaub's comfort level: Houston's quarterback has had some exceptional moments throughout his career, but he has been unable to stay healthy. He begins the season banged up with an ankle injury and coach Gary Kubiak has stopped short of saying he's going to start. If Schaub is unable to go, Rex Grossman would get the start.

Mark Sanchez's pro debut: The No. 5 overall pick in this past April's draft won the starting quarterback job over Kellen Clemens in the preseason. He has a chance to get off to a solid start as he faces a defense that was among the league's worst (29th overall) in the preseason.

Did you know?
Leon Washington had a Jets franchise record 2,337 combined yards in 2008. ... Schaub has won six straight home starts (6-0). ... Texans DE Mario Williams has the most sacks in the AFC over the past two seasons (26).

Last meeting
Peyton Manning completed 29 of 34 passes for 364 yards and three touchdowns as the Colts scored 17 unanswered fourth-quarter points in a 31-24 win over the Jaguars in Week 16 of the 2008 season.

Streaks
The Colts have won three of the last four meetings and own a commanding 12-4 overall series lead.

Keep your eye on ...
The Jaguars' offensive line: Part of the reason for Jacksonville's demise last season was that the starting offensive line was decimated by injuries. With the unit healthy headed into this season, QB David Garrard's production should be better. He's coming off a disappointing year, largely because he was constantly under duress.

Jim Caldwell's first game as Colts head coach: With Tony Dungy in charge, Indianapolis became one of the most successful teams this decade. Dungy handpicked his successor, Caldwell, who takes over for the retired coach. He is getting thrown into the fire immediately against the division rival Jaguars.

Peyton Manning's confidence in Anthony Gonzalez: For the first time in his career, Manning enters a season without Marvin Harrison to throw to in key moments. Gonzalez is stepping in for Harrison and his chemistry has grown with Manning over the past two years. Whether that chemistry ever gets to the level Manning had with Harrison remains to be seen.

Did you know?
Jaguars CB Rashean Mathis has a franchise record 25 interceptions in his career. ... Colts DE Robert Mathis tied a career-high in sacks last year with 11.5. ... Indianapolis TE Dallas Clark has 17 TD catches over the past two seasons -- tied with Antonio Gates for the most in the NFL at that position during that time span.

Last meeting
Drew Brees threw for 351 yards and two touchdowns as the Saints clobbered the host Lions, 42-7, in Week 16 of last season. The loss made Detroit the first 0-15 team in NFL history.

Streaks
The Lions have won three of the past four meetings. The overall series is tied 9-9-1.

Keep your eye on ...
Matthew Stafford's indoctrination: The first overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft won the starting quarterback job over Daunte Culpepper in the preseason. That's not to say Stafford was flawless. He threw only one touchdown and four interceptions, but coach Jim Schwartz liked his chemistry with star WR Calvin Johnson.

The Saints' new defensive scheme: By hiring defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in the offseason, the Saints made clear they wanted a far more aggressive defense with a lot more blitzing (Williams has a reputation for attacking relentlessly). Facing a rookie quarterback in Stafford, expect to see a steady diet of exotic blitzes from the Saints.

Reggie Bush's knees: The Saints running back has been hindered by knee injuries the past two seasons and played sparingly in the preseason as a precaution. When healthy, Bush is one of the most explosive players on the field, but he has to show he can go through the opener unscathed before the Saints can rely on him to be a major part of the offense.

Did you know?
Detroit's Jason Hanson became the only kicker in league history to make six or more field goals from outside of 50 yards without a miss last season. He finished 8-for-8 from that distance. ... Saints S Darren Sharper has 11 interceptions against the Lions -- the most he's had against any team. ... The Saints led the league in total offense last year.

Last meeting
In Week 8 of last season, the Cowboys got a strong defensive effort and shut down the visiting Buccaneers in a 13-9 victory.

Streaks
Dallas has won the past two meetings to extend its overall series lead to 8-3.

Keep your eye on ...
Tony Romo's leadership: With Terrell Owens no longer in the mix, the Cowboys are clearly Romo's team. The star quarterback has put up some gaudy stats over the past three years, but his leadership has been questioned at times. His first chance to show he is maturing as the team leader and can succeed without Owens comes this Sunday.

Jason Garrett's play-calling: When Dallas went 13-3 in 2007, Garrett was the hot coordinator. After a disappointing offensive finish last season, his reputation was somewhat diminished. Look for him to lean on the ground attack a lot more, starting with the season-opener against the Bucs.

Byron Leftwich's playing time: New Bucs coach Raheem Morris has already demonstrated he has little patience when he fired offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski at the end of the preseason. If Leftwich struggles early, it will be interesting to see if Morris turns to rookie Josh Freeman or second-year QB Josh Johnson.

Did you know?
The Cowboys have the league's best record on opening weekend (33-15-1). ... Dallas DT Jay Ratliff was selected to his first Pro Bowl last season. ... When RB Cadillac Williams has 22-plus carries in a game, the Bucs are 10-0.

Last meeting
Arizona QB Kurt Warner threw for 328 yards and three touchdowns and the Cardinals got a goal-line stand as time expired to defeat the visiting 49ers, 29-24, in Week 10 of last season.

Streaks
The Cardinals have won six of the past eight meetings, but the 49ers still own a 19-16 overall edge in the series.

Keep your eye on ...
The next chapter in Larry Fitzgerald's career: Fitzgerald is coming off perhaps the greatest postseason by a wide receiver in NFL history. He had 30 catches for 546 yards and seven touchdowns in four playoff games, and even caught a TD in the Pro Bowl. Is it possible for him to maintain that production throughout a full season? He begins that quest Sunday.

Arizona's coaching staff: The Cardinals lost their offensive coordinator, Todd Haley, to the Chiefs in the offseason and fired defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast. Given those changes at coordinator, it could take a while for the team to jell and that was evident as the Cardinals went 0-4 in the preseason.

Niners QB Shaun Hill's adjustment to being a full-time starter: For the first time in his seven-year career, Hill enters the season as a starter. If he wants to hold onto that job, he needs to produce. His first chance to do so comes against the Cardinals in Week 1.

Did you know?
San Francisco WR Isaac Bruce ranks second in career receiving yards (14,934) all-time. ... 49ers TE Vernon Davis has caught a touchdown in three straight games against the Cardinals. ... Cardinals QB Kurt Warner has won nine of his 10 career starts against the Niners.

Last meeting
Eli Manning threw for 305 yards and a touchdown as the Giants trounced the host Redskins, 23-7, in Week 13 of last season.

Streaks
The Giants have won seven of the past 10 meetings and own a commanding 87-61-4 overall series lead. The teams have split their two playoff contests.

Keep your eye on ...
New York's receiving corps: With long-time starters Plaxico Burress and Amani Toomer no longer in the mix, it is up to the Giants young wideouts to step up. Steve Smith and Domenik Hixon will be the starters, but look for rookie Hakeem Nicks to play a big role too. He was outstanding in the preseason.

Albert Haynesworth's impact: The Redskins already had a formidable defensive unit (fourth overall last season), but they lacked the playmakers to cause a lot of turnovers. Enter Haynesworth. Washington lavished the richest contract ever given to a defensive player on him in the offseason and he is expected to help the defense record more sacks and get more takeaways.

Jason Campbell's decision making: Campbell nearly lost his job in the offseason as the team flirted with trading for Jay Cutler and drafting Mark Sanchez. Though he wound up keeping his spot, the pressure is clearly on him to show he has a better understanding of the offense and can help the team produce more points.

Did you know?
Redskins RB Clinton Portis tied for the NFL lead with 86 first downs last year. ... Washington CB DeAngelo Hall has an interception in three straight games against the Giants. ... New York TE Kevin Boss led the team in six touchdown catches last year.

Last meeting
Olindo Mare connected on a 27-yard field goal as time expired to lift the Seahawks over the Rams, 23-20, in Week 15 last season.

Streaks
The Seahawks have beaten the Rams eight straight times to take a 12-9 overall series lead.

Keep your eye on ...
Marc Bulger's ability to stay upright: The Rams QB was hobbled during the preseason and has taken a ton of hits behind a shaky offensive line in recent seasons. St. Louis' line does not appear to have improved significantly, so Bulger must do a better job of eluding pressure.

Chris Long's development: Taken second overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, Long had high expectations in his rookie season. He finished with only four sacks, however, and struggled to adjust to the size of NFL offensive tackles. With a year under his belt and a new defensive mastermind as his head coach (Steve Spagnuolo), there are no more excuses for Long not to produce.

Matt Hasselbeck's return: The veteran quarterback missed nine games last year with a back injury, but he is healthy and ready to go for the start of the season. Hasselbeck's ability to stay healthy will be the key factor for the Seahawks, not only against the Rams, but all season.

Did you know?
The Rams are 7-3 when RB Steven Jackson has at least 25 carries. ... Rams DE Leonard Little has 6.5 sacks in his career against the Seahawks. ... Seattle LB Lofa Tatupu has led the team in tackles four straight seasons.

Last meeting
Robbie Gould's 38-yard overtime field goal gave the Bears a 20-17 win over the Packers on Dec. 21, 2008.

Streaks
The Bears have won four of the last six meetings and lead the overall series, 91-80-6.

Keep your eye on ...
Jay Cutler leading the way: The Bears gave up a lot to get a franchise quarterback and expect to start seeing a return on their investment immediately. Cutler was sharp in the preseason, but will have to make his Bears debut in a hostile environment. How he handles the situation will be key against the Packers and could have bigger ramifications on the season.

The 3-4 in Green Bay: The Packers made their transition to the defensive scheme under veteran coordinator Dom Capers look smooth in the preseason. Green Bay is the only team in the NFC North to use the system, which the Packers hope gives them an edge over divisional foes. However, players like Aaron Kampman will have to show a position switch from defensive end to linebacker can be handled at a high level.

A No. 1 target to emerge for the Bears: Devin Hester is supposed to be Cutler's deep threat, but is still working on refining his route running skills. He caught seven balls for 60 yards in three preseason games, but also looked rough at times. TE Greg Olson could become Cutler's top target, but someone from the young receiving corps has to step up for the passing game to really succeed.

Did you know?
The two teams will play for the 177th time this Sunday, the most meetings by two teams in NFL history. ... LB Brian Urlacher has an interception in three of the past four games against Green Bay, including one returned 85-yards for a touchdown. ... Kampman has 37 sacks since 2006, which is the third most in the NFL over that span

Last meeting
Sammy Morris rushed for 85 yards to help the Patriots beat the host Bills, 13-0, in a wind-filled game during Week 17 of last year.

Streaks
New England has won 11 consecutive games against Buffalo and owns a 56-40-1 overall series lead.

Keep your eye on ...
Tom Brady's mobility in the pocket: After missing virtually all of last season with a knee injury, Brady finally makes his comeback this Monday night. The Bills will no doubt look to test his ability to move around by bringing plenty of pressure.

Alex Van Pelt's debut at offensive coordinator: Bills coach Dick Jauron made the unorthodox decision to fire offensive coordinator Turk Schonert a week before the regular season. The duties now belong to Van Pelt, who will be expected to provide immediate results in his first game calling plays.

Terrell Owens' relationship with Trent Edwards: T.O. only played in one preseason game due to a toe injury and has had limited time to build chemistry with Buffalo's starting quarterback. It will be telling to see how Owens reacts once Edwards goes a series or two without throwing his way.

Did you know?
The Bills have won five straight games in the month of September. ... In his last game against the Patriots, Buffalo RB Fred Jackson rushed for a career-high 136 yards. ... Patriots K Stephen Gostkowski led the league with 36 made field goals last year.

San Diego QB Philip Rivers threw three touchdowns to lead the Chargers to a 34-7 trouncing of the Raiders on Dec. 4, 2008.

Streaks
The Chargers have taken the last 11 meetings, but still trail the overall series, 54-42-2.

Keep your eye on ...
LaDainian Tomlinson's cutting ability: Though he still had a solid season, Tomlinson's 2008 campaign was a slight disappointment by his lofty standards. He struggled to make quick cuts and change direction as he dealt with a toe injury, but with that fully healed, his explosion should return.

Darren McFadden and JaMarcus Russell's emergence: Oakland's fortunes this year fall on the backfield duo of the RB McFadden and the QB Russell. A good indication on if each is ready for the extra responsibility will come quickly as they face a tough Chargers defense.

Shawne Merriman's focus: Instead of preparing for his first regular season game in nearly a year, the Chargers linebacker has had to deal with allegations that he chocked reality television star Tila Tequila last weekend. San Diego will need him at his best to fulfill its defensive potential.

Did you know?
The Raiders have a 15-6 all-time mark on Monday Night Football at home. ... Chargers LB Shaun Phillips has more sacks against the Raiders than he has against any other team (9.5). ... San Diego has won three straight AFC West titles.