The Bum's Sept. NFL Pods-Stats-News !

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NFL

Thursday, September 5

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Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos: Tale of the tape
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The Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos kickoff the 2013 NFL schedule Thursday night. We break down each side and let you know which team has the edge with our Tale of Tape for Thursday Night Football.

Offense

Peyton Manning is the biggest offensive weapon on the field Thursday and has added a new WR to his arsenal in former Patriots slotman Wes Welker. He joins downfield threats Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker on an offense that averaged 30.4 points per game.

Denver’s rushing attack is a bit of an unknown heading into Week 1. The Broncos selected Wisconsin TD machine Montee Ball in the draft. He’ll share duties with RB Ronnie Hillman. Without a proven ground game, Baltimore could tee off on Manning with the pass rush.

Baltimore is hoping its heavy investment in QB Joe Flacco pays off. During their improbable run to the Super Bowl, Flacco was at the wheel of an explosive attack that averaged 31 points on 275.5 passing yards a game. Anquan Bolden is no longer in the mix and TE Dennis Pitta is out for the year, but WR Torrey Smith always seems to play well in primetime.

Ray Rice remains the backbone of the Baltimore ground game. The shifty RB rushed for 1,143 yards and is just as dangerous catching the ball. He was a beast versus Denver in the AFC Divisional Round, running up 131 yards and a touchdown.

Edge: Denver


Defense

Linebacker Elvis Dumervil traded hats this offseason, signing with Baltimore after a fax fiasco in Denver. That pickup shifts the defensive edge in this Week 1 matchup drastically, even more so now that Broncos LB Von Miller is suspended for six games.

The Ravens still have a nasty front seven, anchored by LB Terrell Suggs, who was a one-man wrecking crew with two sacks, a forced fumble and 10 tackles versus Denver in the playoffs. Baltimore’s secondary took a step back this offseason due to the loss of veteran S Ed Reed. Even with him, the Ravens surrendered some big numbers during last year’s postseason but were able to outscore their opponents.

The Broncos’ daunting pass rush has been subdued. Denver doesn’t have Dumervil or Miller pressuring the passer, which should allow Flacco plenty of time to pick apart a secondary that has seen better days. Champ Bailey is still an elite CB and gets some help from the addition of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, however, those two haven’t been at 100 percent all summer.

Edge: Baltimore


Special teams

Nothing gives those long field goals extra pop like the thin Mile-High air. Denver kicker Matt Prater is a threat for three points as soon as the ball crosses the 50-yard line. Broncos kick return specialist Trindon Holliday went for scores on punt and kickoff returns last season but has plagued his squad with costly fumbles. On the other side of the kickoff, Denver budged for a respectable average of 22.1 yards on kickoffs and just 6.2 on punts – lowest in the AFC.

The word is out on speedster Jacoby Jones, who highlighted Super Bowl XLVII with a 108-yard kickoff-return TD. Baltimore ranked tops in the NFL with an average of 27.3 yards per kickoff and added 9.4 yards per punt return. We'll see what the new kickoff rule does to those stats this season. The Ravens were sound on return coverage, giving up 23.2 yards per kickoff and 7.8 yards per punt in 2012.

Kicker Justin Tucker was surefooted in the Super Bowl, making two key FGs in the fourth quarter. He finished sixth in FG conversions, with his three misses coming from between 40-49 yards away. There won’t be any jitters in his boots for the season opener.

Edge: Baltimore


Notable quotable

"The no-huddle offense is a great tool, a great strategy. You obviously have to be in great shape as a football team and your opponent has to be in great shape to keep up with you. But you have to execute quicker, you have to think quicker. You have to be able to operate in that kind of environment, but you force your opponent to do the same. It fits our philosophy." – Ravens head coach John Harbaugh on defending Broncos’ no-huddle in thin Denver air.

“When we're on the field on offense -- I love our fans' excitement -- but if we can just find that controlled noise level. I believe we are going to go for it on some fourth downs this year and maybe not cheering when we're going for it on fourth down – wait and see and if we get it, cheer then. To me, it's a hard thing. These fans have so much enthusiasm, but for a receivers' standpoint, you'd love to have that homefield advantage where you wouldn't have to signal at home.” – Peyton Manning on crowd noise distracting the offense at Sports Authority Field.

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Thursday, September 5

Game Score Status Pick Amount

Baltimore - 8:30 PM ET Denver -7.5 500 POD # 1

Denver - Over 48 500 POD # 2

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Where the action is: NFL mid-week line moves

The weekend is almost here, which means the first NFL Sunday of the season is drawing closer. We talk to sportsbooks about the betting action on Week 1’s slate of games and where those odds could end up come kickoff.

Miami Dolphins at Cleveland Browns – Open: Pick: Move: -1

Both these teams are expected to improve on their 2012 marks, however, there can only be one winner in this Week 1 test. This spread has teetered on the pick’em since opening this spring but recent money has made Cleveland a slight home favorite.

“On Sunday, we got wiseguy play on Cleveland at pick’em, so moved to the current number of Browns 1,” Mike Perry of Sportsbook.com tells Covers. “Sixty-eighth percent of the money is back Cleveland.”

New England Patriots at Buffalo Bills – Open: +7.5, Move: +9.5, Move: +10.5

Ever since the Bills QBs started dropping like flies, money on the Patriots has pushed this spread up as many as three points at some books. Buffalo will march out rookie passer E.J. Manuel in Week 1 and that’s enough to convince the majority of bettors to like New England.

“The New England Patriots were seeing 82 percent of the action as 9.5-point favorites on the road against the Buffalo Bills (18 percent),” SportsInteraction.com’s Frank Doyle says.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys – Open: -3, Move: -3.5

Books opened this NFC East grudge match at a field goal but wiseguy money on the home side has forced them to tack on the half-point hook for this Sunday Night Football showdown. According to Sportsbook.com, 65 percent of the action was on the Cowboys at -3. Now, since the adjustment, that lean has been trimmed to 60 percent.

“I didn’t think we would move off three on this game, but on Monday we got sharp action on Dallas, so moved them to -3.5,” says Perry.

Houston Texans at San Diego Chargers – Open: +3, Move: +4, Move: +5.5

The final Monday Night Football game of Week 1 will undoubtedly draw a ton of money from bettors either looking to build on their earlier winnings or chasing their losses from Sunday. Some books have taken one-sided money on the Texans and have this spread as big as Houston -5.5.

“This will be the biggest decision for NFL Week 1 for the book,” says Perry. “On Monday, we moved this from Houston -4 to -5 based on heavy action, not sharp action. Wednesday we moved the game again in Houston’s favor, once again because of heavy action, and that’s where it stands now.”

Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers – Open: 50.5, Move: 48.5

Maybe it’s Week 1 rust or bettors buying into the Packers’ new dedication to defense, but this total has been trimmed as many as two points at some markets. However, the Packers and Niners topped the total in both meetings last season.

“You could see this coming,” says Doyle. “In a game that means a ton to both teams and features San Francisco’s defense, this total has dropped from 50 at the open to 48.5 now.”

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NFL
Short Sheet

Week 1

Sunday, September 8, 2013

New England at Buffalo, 1:00 ET
New England: 31-16 ATS away with a total of 45.5+ points
Buffalo: 11-3 Over in the first half of the season

Tennesse at Pittsburgh, 1:00 ET
Tennesse: 4-0 Over vs. AFC North opponents
Pittsburgh: 46-23 ATS as a home favorite of 3.5 to 7 points

Atlanta at New Orleans, 1:00 ET
Atlanta: 7-3 Over away with a total of 49.5+ points
New Orleans: 8-1 ATS as a home favorite of 7 points or less

Tampa Bay at NY Jets, 1:00 ET
Tampa Bay: 7-1 Over vs. non-conference opponents
New York Jets: 2-6 ATS vs. non-conference opponents

Kansas City at Jacksonville, 1:00 ET
Kansas City: 27-13 Under in the first two weeks of the season
Jacksonville: 5-11 ATS as a home underdog of 3.5 to 7 points

Cincinnati at Chicago, 1:00 ET
Cincinnati: 5-0 ATS as a road underdog of 3 points or less
Chicago: 15-10 Over playing on a grass field

Miami at Cleveland, 1:00 ET
Miami: 7-3 ATS as a road underdog of 7 points or less
Cleveland: 24-8 Under as a home favorite of 3 points or less

Seattle at Carolina, 1:00 ET
Seattle: 19-7 ATS vs. conference opponents
Carolina: 9-1 Over as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points

Minnesota at Detroit, 1:00 ET
Minnesota: 12-6 ATS with a total of 42.5 to 49 points
Detroit: 21-41 ATS as a favorite of 3.5 to 9.5 points

Oakland at Indianapolis, 1:00 ET
Oakland: 25-11 Under away with a total of 45.5+ points
Indianapolis: 8-1 ATS playing in dome stadiums

Arizona at St. Louis, 4:25 ET
Arizona: 5-1 Under as a road underdog of 7 points or less
St Louis: 6-0 ATS vs. division opponents

Green Bay at San Francisco, 4:25 ET
Green Bay: 17-9 Over playing on grass fields
San Francisco: 11-3 ATS in the first half of the season

NY Giants at Dallas, 8:30 ET NBC
NY Giants: 25-9 Under away with a total of 45.5+ points
Dallas: 0-6 ATS as a home favorite


Monday, September 9, 2013

(TC) Philadelphia at Washington, 7:10 ET ESPN
Philadelphia: 0-7 ATS with a line of +3 to -3
Washington: 6-0 ATS vs. division opponents

(TC) Houston at San Diego, 10:20 ET ESPN
Houston: 19-8 ATS vs. conference opponents
San Diego: 5-11 ATS in home games


(TC) = Time Change

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NFL's biggest betting mismatches: Week 1

Each week, we break down some of the underlying mismatches in the NFL, hoping to give you an inside edge when handicapping the schedule. Here are three of the biggest betting mismatches from Week 1:

Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints (-3, 54)

Falcons RB Steven Jackson vs. Saints dinged-up defense

Atlanta will waste no time getting their new offensive weapon in the mix, handing off and tossing short to RB Steven Jackson Sunday. Jackson’s smashmouth style will take full advantage of a hobbled Saints defense that is missing key cogs in the linebacker corps.

New Orleans, which is also making a switch to the 3-4 defense under new coordinator Rob Ryan, is without linebackers Jonathan Vilma, Victor Butler and Will Smith, and their backups have been hindered by injuries all offseason. The Saints were dead last in the NFL in rushing defense in 2012, laying down for 147.6 yards per game.

Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins (-3.5, 51.5)

Eagles diminutive WRs vs. Redskins strong secondary

The Eagles are coming up short in the wide receiver department in more than one way. Philadelphia, which lost taller WRs Jeremy Maclin and Arrelious Benn this summer, has a serious height disadvantage. The Eagles are left with 5-foot-9 DeSean Jackson, 5-foot-8 Damaris Johnson, and 6-foot Jason Avant as real receiving weapons. Six-foot-3 WR Riley Cooper is better served as a blocker because of his lack of speed.

Washington has tinkered with its secondary after being gashed by the pass last season. The Redskins are hoping FS Brandon Meriweather will be able to go, but even if he can’t Washington should lean on its size advantage in the secondary. Only two Redskins CBs are under six feet – standouts DeAngelo Hall and Josh Wilson.

New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys (-3.5, 48.5)

Giants’ lack of LB coverage vs. Cowboys TE Jason Witten

The Giants know Dallas TE Jason Witten all too well. The future Hall of Famer has long been a thorn in New York’s side and totaled 167 yards on 18 catches the last time he faced the G-Men. That familiarity with Witten won’t help the Giants linebackers, who were exploited in coverage this preseason, watching the Jets and Patriots pick apart their LBs with passes underneath.

On top of that, New York will assign S Ryan Munday to Witten Sunday night, his first Week 1 start and just his fifth overall career start. Fellow S Antrel Rolle told the media Witten won’t catch 18 passes again. Sure, but you can at least pencil him in for seven or eight. That’s more than enough touches to do damage.

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Preview: Patriots (0-0) at Bills (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Following a tumultuous offseason that resulted in the loss of several offensive weapons, Tom Brady provides the New England Patriots with some stability heading into the season opener.

The Buffalo Bills hope they've found their mainstay at quarterback in top draft pick EJ Manuel.

Brady and the Patriots look to begin a march to their 10th AFC East title in 11 years Sunday when they visit first-year coach Doug Marrone and the Bills, who are aiming to end the NFL's longest playoff drought.

After finishing 12-4 and falling 28-13 to Baltimore in the 2012 AFC championship game, New England could be without its top five pass-catchers from that squad.

Wes Welker and Brandon Lloyd, who combined for 192 catches last year, and Danny Woodhead are gone, while Aaron Hernandez was released following his stunning June arrest on a murder charge.

Rob Gronkowski has been practicing with the team after forearm and back surgeries, but the tight end didn't play in the preseason and isn't likely to play Sunday.

"I'm preparing every single day to the max of my ability, preparing every day to (do) the best I can," Gronkowski said. "And when my number's called, that's when I'll play. I can't tell you when that will be."

Free agent acquisition Danny Amendola has been battling a groin injury but is expected to be ready for the opener. Amendola had a career-high 85 catches while with St. Louis in his last full season in 2010 and is one of the veterans the Patriots are counting on, along with Julian Edelman.

Three rookies - free agent Kenbrell Thompkins and draft choices Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce - may also help fill the void at wideout, while free agent rookie Zach Sudfeld and veterans Michael Hoomanawanui and Matthew Mulligan could step in at tight end.

A lack of reliable options, however, could make it difficult for Brady to put up another big year. The two-time NFL MVP completed 401 of 637 passes for 4,827 yards with 34 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2012, finishing just shy of back-to-back 5,000-yard seasons.

Brady has certainly had his share of success against the Bills, winning 20 of 22 starts while completing 65.0 percent of his passes and throwing 51 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

Brady passed for 340 yards and three touchdowns and Stevan Ridley ran for 106 yards and two scores as the Patriots put up 45 second-half points en route to a 52-28 victory in their last trip to Buffalo on Sept. 30. Ridley finished with 98 yards and a touchdown in a 37-31 home win Nov. 11.

Ridley, who rushed for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, will attempt to build on that breakout effort against a Buffalo defense that ranked 31st against the run in 2012 with 145.8 yards allowed per game.

The Bills, however, hope to be much improved after implementing a hybrid 3-4 scheme under former Jets defensive coordinator Mike Pettine. They'll attempt to slow down the Patriots without starting cornerback Stephon Gilmore (broken wrist) and most likely two-time Pro Bowl safety Jairus Byrd (foot).

Marrone, who along with offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett helped build Syracuse into a formidable offense before joining the Bills, will go with Manuel to lead the team in his debut.

The No. 16 overall pick's status had been in question after undergoing what the team called a "minor procedure" on his left knee Aug. 18. He was injured two days earlier while scrambling in a 20-16 preseason win over Minnesota.

"I'd be lying if I'm sitting here saying, 'I don't expect him to do great things,'" said Marrone, who looks to guide the Bills to their first postseason appearance since 1999. "We expect not just EJ, but all of our players that are out there to perform at a very, very high level."

That includes running back C.J. Spiller, one of the team's bright spots during last year's 6-10 season. Spiller rushed for a career-high 1,244 yards and averaged 6.0 yards per carry, matching MVP Adrian Peterson for tops in the NFL among running backs.

Leading receiver Stevie Johnson finished with 79 catches during his third straight 1,000-yard season. The Bills have second-year player T.J. Graham, and they added rookies Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin to their receiving corps.

They'll try to stretch a New England defense that allowed 37 passing plays of 25 yards or more last season - tied for the fourth-most in the NFL.

The Patriots, though, improved in that area when they acquired cornerback Aqib Talib from Tampa Bay in November, allowing Devin McCourty to move to safety on a more permanent basis.

"McCourty, he's been a Pro Bowl player," Johnson said. "But I still think we can take advantage of their defense."

The Patriots have won 23 of 25 against the Bills.

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Preview: Raiders (0-0) at Colts (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


While the Indianapolis Colts are banking on second-year quarterback Andrew Luck to help lead them back to the playoffs, the Oakland Raiders still won't say who they'll have under center to start the season.

Luck and the Colts look to open the season with a seventh consecutive home victory Sunday when they host a Raiders team desperately trying to record their first winning record in 11 years.

Coming off a 2-14 season and saddled with trying to replace Peyton Manning, Indianapolis handed the ball to No. 1 overall pick Luck - who promptly led the team to a historic turnaround in 2012.

Though he completed 54.1 percent of his passes and threw 18 interceptions compared to 23 touchdowns, Luck set NFL rookie records for yards passing (4,374), attempts (627), 300-yard games (six) and fourth-quarter comebacks (seven). More importantly for the Colts, they won nine more games and reached the playoffs.

That .563 single-season improvement in winning percentage is tied for third-best since 1980, and they hope the rise continues this season.

"There's nobody in there that's relaxing,' said coach Chuck Pagano, who missed most of last year while receiving treatment for leukemia. "I think everybody, because of the acquisitions, because of the free agents, because of the draft, those types of things, our roster is in a much better place than it was at any time last year.'

Luck was sacked 41 times in 2012, so Indianapolis added linemen Gosder Cherilus and Donald Thomas through free agency and drafted Hugh Thornton and Khaled Holmes.

With Bruce Arians now in Arizona, Luck's college offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton took over and installed a power running game featuring Vick Ballard, former Giant Ahmad Bradshaw and more two tight-end sets.

The Colts have not produced a 1,000-yard rusher since Joseph Addai in 2007.

Veteran Reggie Wayne, who caught 106 passes for 1,355 yards in 2012, and second-year speedster T.Y. Hilton lead a receiving corps that hopes to get more out of underachieving former Raider Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Luck feels more relaxed despite playing for his second offensive coordinator in as many seasons.

"A little bit, just by virtue of having played in an NFL game before,' he said. "Knowing what pregame is like, knowing who runs out of the tunnel and where, things of that nature. Again, it's still very exciting.'

Pagano knows he's fortunate not to have to worry about the quarterback position heading into this season.

"We're in an ideal situation. I know some aren't,' he said.

Pagano need only look across the field Sunday at Raiders coach Dennis Allen, who has yet to announce whether career backup Matt Flynn or little-used Terrelle Pryor will start. Reports, though, indicate that Pryor will get the nod after Oakland's offense scored 32 points on 14 drives with him at the helm and 10 on 13 with Flynn this preseason. Pryor did face mostly reserves.

Flynn appears healthy after missing a week with a sore elbow, but Pryor may give the Raiders a better chance to succeed because of his mobility. That could come in handy within an offense in which oft-injured running back Darren McFadden is the only proven playmaker.

Oakland averaged 13.0 points over a six-game stretch last season before Pryor started a 24-21 season-ending loss at San Diego.

"That's my goal, to be a starting quarterback and to lead a team to wins,' said Pryor, who threw for 150 yards with two touchdowns and an interception while running for one score in his first career start that concluded Oakland's 4-12 season.

"I won't stop until it happens. Until it happens and keeps on happening, I'll keep on pushing.'

He's among 14 quarterbacks to start for the Raiders since the beginning of the 2004 season - tied with Cleveland and Miami for the most during that span.

Flynn could experience a case of deja vu after he lost a starting job that appeared to be his during preseason last year in Seattle, when he was beaten out by Russell Wilson.

The Raiders also need more from McFadden, who's missed 13 games the last two seasons while running for 1,321 yards in that span. He rushed for 1,157 in 2010.

He was held to 45 yards on 11 carries the only time he faced the Colts, a 31-26 home loss in the most recent meeting Dec. 26, 2010.

The Raiders face an Indianapolis defense that added veterans Erik Walden, Greg Toler and LeRon Landry after ranking 26th overall with 374.2 yards per game and 29th against the run at 137.5.

Oakland brought back veteran defensive back Charles Woodson, along with former Saint Tracy Porter and ex-Chicago linebacker Nick Roach after allowing an average of 32.0 points during its last eight losses.

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Preview: Buccaneers (0-0) at Jets (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


The season hasn't started yet, and things already seem bleak for coach Rex Ryan and the New York Jets.

A familiar face is looking to make sure of it.

With rookie Geno Smith starting at quarterback, Ryan and the Jets attempt to put their tumultuous preseason behind them when they welcome their former star cornerback Darrelle Revis and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

Missing the playoffs for the second year in a row in 2012 triggered changes for the Jets, including the hiring of general manager John Idzik and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

Still, Ryan returns for a fifth season after leading New York to a 6-10 record last year, missing the playoffs again as the luster from reaching back-to-back AFC championship games in 2009 and '10 continues to fade.

Ryan didn't do himself - or the Jets - any favors, overseeing a quarterback competition that produced an injured Mark Sanchez and no clear winner. A dubious decision to insert Sanchez into the fourth quarter of a preseason meeting with the New York Giants on Aug. 24 resulted in the quarterback hurting his shoulder, leaving Smith as the starter.

Ryan defended his decision in a bizarre, combative press conference, a major departure from his media-friendly persona.

With Sanchez potentially out for up to three weeks, things may get even uglier for Ryan if Smith struggles. That's exactly what he did during preseason, completing 22 of 37 passes for 246 yards with one touchdown, three interceptions and a 54.6 passer rating.

"We realize that a rookie quarterback and all that, that's certainly a challenge," Ryan said. "I think our guys are ready to rally behind Geno, and the big thing we've told Geno is, 'You just have to be part of the solution.'"

Revis is looking to do that for the Buccaneers, who acquired him from the Jets for two draft picks and made him the richest defensive player in NFL history by signing him to a six-year, $96 million contract.

Revis' tenure in New York was cut short due to a torn left ACL, and the cornerback known for putting top wide receivers on "Revis Island" says he's aiming to regain his status among the elite defensive players in the league.

"When I go out to practice, I just try to make plays like I have in the past. That's how I've got to approach it. I can't sit here and get down on myself if I don't, if I'm a step late on a play," the four-time Pro Bowl selection said.

"I've just got to keep on improving and keep on building on me getting in shape and getting back to where I used to be playing at an elite level."

Facing the Jets - and a rookie QB - should help Revis and the rest of the Buccaneers get off to a strong start after the team went 7-9 in coach Greg Schiano's debut season.

"I know these guys. I played against them every day in practice. So I've got a bunch of tips on those guys," Revis said. "And the good thing about it, I've been sharing them in our secondary. ... We will come into this game real comfortable. We really will, just from the experience I had there and knowing these guys."

Tampa Bay's revamped secondary also includes former San Francisco safety Dashon Goldson. The Bucs ranked last against the pass in 2012, giving up an average of 297.4 yards, undermining their league-leading run defense that held opponents to 82.5.

Offensively, Josh Freeman begins his fourth full season as the starter under center while running back Doug Martin is back for his second.

Freeman completed 54.8 percent of his passes last year, setting career highs of 4,065 yards and 27 touchdowns while tossing 17 interceptions - nine in the final three games.

Martin was a breakout star in 2012, coming 90 yards short of the franchise record with 1,454 yards and an average of 4.6 per carry while rushing for 11 TDs. He also caught 49 passes for 472 yards and another score, giving Freeman an option outside of top receivers Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams, who combined for 135 receptions and 17 TDs.

They'll face a Jets defense that was eighth in the league last year, thanks in large part to having the second-best pass defense despite Revis' injury. The unit allowed an average of 189.8 yards through the air, and New York selected cornerback Dee Milliner from Alabama with the ninth overall pick in April's draft.

New York also added Sheldon Richardson, drafted 13th overall, to the defensive line in an effort to improve a run defense that ranked 26th by giving up 133.6 yards per game. The Jets are hoping the former Missouri tackle can help collapse the pocket since the Jets' 30 sacks were only better than five other teams.

Despite the rookie additions on defense, Smith will be in the spotlight and that may be especially true after he was expected to be selected early in the first round of the draft before plummeting to the Jets in the second.

He was spectacular at West Virginia last year with a 71.2 completion percentage, 4,222 yards, 42 touchdowns and six interceptions.

"They'll try to rattle my cage," Smith said. "I expect those guys to come out fired up and they want to make a statement. They've got a rookie quarterback and they'll want to hit me and get me off my game, but I expect those things. And I look forward to it."

The Jets are 9-1 all-time against the Buccaneers, suffering the defeat in 1984. They've won seven straight since, with the latest coming on the road Dec. 12, 2009.

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Preview: Titans (0-0) at Steelers (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Following their 8-8 finish last season, Ben Roethlisberger figures to have his work cut out for him as he attempts to lead the Pittsburgh Steelers back to the playoffs.

Without a go-to workhorse in the backfield and possibly two of his top receivers from 2012, Roethlisberger will try to help the Steelers win their 11th straight home opener Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

While Pittsburgh started last season with a promising 6-3 record, things began to fall apart when Roethlisberger went down with a sprained shoulder and rib injury in Week 10. The Steelers couldn't recover, dropping five of seven down the stretch to miss the postseason for the first time since 2009.

Roethlisberger completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 2,287 yards and 17 touchdowns with only four interceptions before suffering the injury. One of those contests came in Tennessee on Oct. 11, when he went 24 of 40 for 363 yards with one TD and one pick in a 26-23 loss.

Roethlisberger, however, wasn't quite as effective after sitting out three games, completing 56.4 percent for 978 yards and nine scores with four INTs over the last four contests.

Pittsburgh's all-time leading passer now will try to stay healthy and help the franchise avoid missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since a three-year drought from 1998-2000.

"I like our preparation," coach Mike Tomlin told the team's official website. "We are focused on what is going to be required for us to do to win this weekend. We're going to take a business-like approach to it like we did in the preseason."

Roethlisberger will have less to work with, though, following the departure of deep threat Mike Wallace to Miami and a knee injury to leading receiver Heath Miller that has him questionable for the opener.

Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown, who combined for 110 catches, 1,413 yards and six touchdowns last season, will be Roethlisberger's top targets until Miller's return, while rookie Markus Wheaton also figures to see time.

They'll face a Tennessee defense that hopes to be much improved after bringing in former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. After serving a suspension last season for his part in the Saints' bounty scandal, Williams has been assigned to fix a unit that allowed a league-worst 29.4 points per game in 2012.

The Titans, who look to end a four-year playoff drought after going 6-10 last season, also made improvements to the offensive line by adding guard Andy Levitre, center Rob Turner and first-round draft pick Chance Warmack in an effort to help Jake Locker put together a breakout third season.

Locker, who missed five games - including the win over Pittsburgh - because of a separated left shoulder, completed 56.4 percent of his passes for 2,176 yards with 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He struggled late in the season, averaging 147.0 passing yards while posting a QB rating of 65.6 over his last three games.

The Titans, however, should have a deeper receiver corps for Locker to work with after bringing in Kevin Walter from Houston and drafting Justin Hunter in the second round. Kendall Wright led the team with 64 catches as a rookie in 2012 and deep threat Kenny Britt is expected to make more of an impact as he recovers from knee surgery.

"We want to take it to the next level,' Britt said. "We don't want to be one of them mediocre teams out there not making the playoffs every year."

A big season from running back Chris Johnson, whose 312 touches in 2012 were his fewest since his rookie season, would certainly help the offense find its rhythm. Johnson ran for 1,243 yards and six touchdowns in 2012, but averaged 60.2 yards while scoring twice over his final five games.

He seeks his first 100-yard rushing game in six tries against Pittsburgh, though he rushed for 91 yards on 19 carries in last year's victory.

Linebacker LaMarr Woodley returns to the Pittsburgh defense and safety Troy Polamalu appears to be recovered from the calf injury that cost him nine games in 2012, though James Harrison has moved on to Cincinnati.

The Steelers led the NFL with 275.8 yards allowed per game last season but forced just 20 turnovers - the eighth fewest in the league.

Tomlin named Isaac Redman the starter in their banged-up backfield despite Redman missing the final two preseason games while recovering from a neck injury. The team also cut last season's leading rusher Jonathan Dwyer, while second-round pick Le'Veon Bell is working his way back from a sprained right foot.

"We know what Isaac is capable of,' said Tomlin, whose squad hasn't lost a home opener since 2002. "He's answered the bell for us in the past and we expect him to do it in a big way moving forward starting this weekend.'

Redman ran for 410 yards and two scores last year and played well in the loss to Tennessee, catching four passes for 105 yards.

The Steelers have won three straight at home over the Titans.

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Preview: Bengals (0-0) at Bears (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


While the Cincinnati Bengals believe they have the club capable of winning their first playoff game in 23 seasons, the Chicago Bears hope going north of the border to find their new coach will lead them back to the postseason.

The quest for both begins Sunday when the visiting Bengals try to keep the Bears from a fourth straight season-opening victory.

Heading into his 11th season, Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis is the NFL's second-longest tenured coach behind New England's Bill Belichick. The Bengals have been to the playoffs two straight seasons and three of four, but are 0-4 in the postseason under Lewis.

Though the immediate goal is to become the first Cincinnati team to make three straight playoff trips, the organization won't truly be happy until recording its first playoff victory since the 1990 season.

"One of the hardest things to overcome is expectations," cornerback Terence Newman said. "I think it's easy when you're the underdog because you have to work, people are discrediting you.

"Once you get so much expectation and people pat you on the back, some people start to believe it. It's just the worst thing possible."

After spending more than $180 million to keep last season's 10-6 team intact, the Bengals brought in ex-Pittsburgh linebacker James Harrison to join a unit that ranked among the top seven in total defense each of the last two seasons. Cincinnati allowed 20 or fewer points in the final nine games of 2012, including a 19-13 playoff loss at Houston.

The Bengals drafted Notre Dame tight end Tyler Eifert and versatile North Carolina speedster Giovani Bernard with hopes both will immediately contribute to an offense led by quarterback Andy Dalton and receiver A.J. Green.

"As far as the talent on this team, it's unparalleled," Newman said. "You can look at different teams and say, 'Well they've got this, they've got this.' We have just as good as anybody else."

However, there's room for improvement, especially for an offense that ranked 22nd at 332.7 yards per game.

Dalton is the first quarterback to lead the Bengals to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons, but he had four touchdown passes and seven turnovers in five December games last year while getting sacked 20 times. He's thrown four interceptions and no TDs while posting a 48.6 passer rating in two playoff losses to the Texans.

"You have to win big games - which he's won - but you have to win playoff games and then, obviously, win a Super Bowl to be looked at as an elite quarterback in the NFL," Lewis said.

Green has caught 162 passes for 2,407 yards and 18 TDs in his first two seasons, but had only one score over the final six regular-season games of 2012.

The Bengals have lost four of five season openers, but they've won two straight and four of five in Chicago. Though the teams haven't played since 2009, Cincinnati has won the last two overall meetings by a combined 69-17.

The Bears, also coming off a 10-6 season, have won three straight openers - all at home - but enters this one with a new look on the sideline.

Longtime coach Lovie Smith was fired after the team failed to reach the playoffs despite starting 7-3 in 2011 and 7-1 in 2012.

Enter Marc Trestman, who makes his NFL head coaching debut after leading Montreal of the CFL to consecutive championships during a five-year run in Canada.

"I think the best thing about him is he's feeling it out himself and looking for changes that he can make that makes him a better coach," tight end Martellus Bennett said. "He's always trying to do the things he can do to become better."

Trestman had success as an NFL offensive coordinator with Cleveland, San Francisco and Oakland, helping elevate the play of quarterbacks like Bernie Kosar, Steve Young and Rich Gannon.

He'll try to do the same with Jay Cutler, whose 81.3 passer rating last season was 20th in the league and the second-worst of his seven-year career. He's completed just 58.4 percent of his passes over the past two seasons, but in his defense, Cutler was sacked 61 times in 25 games during that span.

Chicago made strides to upgrade his protection by signing veteran tackle Jermon Bushrod and guard Matt Slauson. It also drafted Kyle Long and Jordan Mills, both of whom will start on the right side.

Cutler still has his favorite target in Brandon Marshall, who set club records with 118 catches for 1,508 yards and caught a career-high 11 TDs. However, no player besides Marshall and running back Matt Forte topped 30 receptions in 2012, and the Bears want Cutler to use others in Trestman's West Coast offense - like Bennett and second-year wideout Alshon Jeffery.

"We're going to spread it around," Cutler said. "We can't just throw to Brandon and give the ball to Matt. We've got to figure out ways to get other guys involved."

Devin Hester failed as a receiver, but the owner of an NFL-record 18 touchdown returns on special teams will be used solely as a returner once again.

Defensively, the Bears forced a league-leading 44 turnovers and returned eight interceptions for touchdowns in 2012. However, longtime franchise face Brian Urlacher was let go and later retired. Mel Tucker comes over from Jacksonville to coordinate a defense led by aging stars Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman.

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Preview: Vikings (0-0) at Lions (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Adrian Peterson busted through defenses on his way to one of the best seasons in NFL history for a running back while guiding the Minnesota Vikings to a surprising playoff appearance in 2012.

Calvin Johnson's record-setting performance didn't have the same effect on the Detroit Lions, who finished below .500 for the 11th time in 12 years.

Their teams will look for each superstar to take some pressure off their much-maligned quarterbacks as Minnesota visits Detroit in Sunday's season opener.

Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards - nine shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season record - as Minnesota won its last four games to finish 10-6. His only 100-yard performance through the first six was a 102-yard effort in a 20-13 win at Detroit on Sept. 30, and he ran for 171 and a touchdown against the Lions in a 34-24 victory Nov. 11.

Johnson caught 12 passes for 207 yards and a touchdown in the last meeting, then broke Jerry Rice's single-season record by finishing with 1,964 yards on a career-best 122 receptions.

That defeat, though, began an eight-game losing streak to end a 4-12 season for Johnson and the Lions. While Peterson had the most team success last season, Vikings coach Leslie Frazier believes they are two of the most dynamic players in the NFL.

"He's one of those guys, much like with Adrian, you have to have a plan for Calvin Johnson," Frazier. "Even though you may know he's going to get the football, you can't always stop what he does.

"They're two great players, and they make it hard for any defense."

Peterson rushed for 99 yards in a 24-10 wild-card loss to Green Bay, but the story was a contusion to Christian Ponder's throwing arm that kept him from playing in that contest.

It marked another disappointment in an already lackluster career for Ponder, who has only two 300-yard games and has completed just 59.3 percent of his passes in 26 starts.

Minnesota brought in plenty of receiving help, signing Greg Jennings from the Packers and drafting Cordarrelle Patterson in the first round to help make up for the loss of Percy Harvin, who was traded to Seattle.

"I'm just fully confident in what I'm doing," Ponder said. "With the pieces that we brought in around me this year, it's going to make my job easier. ... I just expect to be overall a better quarterback."

Not to mention he still has Peterson behind him as the Vikings center the majority of their offense around their star back. Minnesota matched a franchise record with 2,634 rushing yards last season, while Ponder finished 21st in the league in pass attempts.

"We were vanilla in some respects. But the way we're set up, we're not going to be very exotic in the passing game," Frazier said. "We put a heavy emphasis on what we do in the run game."

That's not the case in Detroit, especially with a weapon like Johnson. However, a disappointing season has led to questions about quarterback Matthew Stafford after dipping from 10-6 and a playoff appearance in 2011.

Stafford threw for 4,967 yards and 20 touchdowns, less than half of his career-best 41 two years ago. He's just 1-22 against teams that end the season .500 or better.

"This is a team sport, but at the same time, in this league especially, if your quarterback plays well, you've got a chance to win the game. I'm no stranger to that," said Stafford, who in July received a $53 million, three-year extension through 2017.

"I've been through a 10-6 season, been through a 4-12 season. I'm determined to be on the winning end of it."

Detroit signed Reggie Bush to add some stability to a running game that finished 23rd in the NFL with 100.8 yards per game. The offense as a whole ranked third, averaging 408.8 yards.

Bush also is expected to be a target for Stafford out of the backfield, but he's certainly aware that Johnson will be the main focus of the offense.

"I didn't understand what a freak of nature he is until I got here and saw some of the stuff that he does," Bush said. "That's why they call him Megatron. It's going to be fun to play with him this year. For a running back like me, it's a dream come true. I love having a guy like that on the outside. I definitely feel like we're going to complement each other."

Peterson has averaged 105.9 yards rushing and scored nine TDs in 11 games against the Lions, with Minnesota winning eight.

Detroit might have an easier time putting pressure on Ponder and slowing Peterson if defensive end Ziggy Ansah can play. The No. 5 overall pick in the draft suffered a concussion in practice late in the preseason, but he practiced Friday and is probable.

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Preview: Chiefs (0-0) at Jaguars (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Andy Reid and Alex Smith each proved that previous success means little in the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately NFL, but the Kansas City Chiefs are banking on them to help usher in a bright future for a franchise that has missed the playoffs five of the last six seasons.

The excitement is tempered for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are more focused on basic improvement after undergoing an overhaul of their own.

Reid and Smith make their regular-season debuts for Kansas City, which visits a Jacksonville team unsure if quarterback Blaine Gabbert will be healthy enough to start the opener Sunday.

After nine postseason berths, five NFC championship games and one Super Bowl appearance in his previous 13 years, Reid was let go by Philadelphia after a disappointing 4-12 campaign in 2012.

He wasn't out of work long, though, as Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt hired Reid in early January.

"I sincerely mean this - he's having more fun," said new general manager John Dorsey, hired about a week after Reid to replace Scott Pioli. "I see a more vibrant person. I see Andy, the coach I used to know."

Two months later, Dorsey, who served with Reid on Green Bay's coaching staff in the 1990s, traded a second-round pick and a 2014 conditional draft choice to San Francisco to bring in Smith as the team's new quarterback. After nine starts last season, Smith led the NFL with a 70.0 completion percentage and ranked third with a 104.1 passer rating before suffering a concussion, paving the way for Colin Kaepernick to take over.

Kaepernick led the 49ers to the Super Bowl, and suddenly Smith became expendable.

"Listen, I thought (coach) Jim (Harbaugh) did a nice job with (Smith) out in San Francisco," Reid said. "But here, everybody's on board. I'm asking him to do a ton of things and he's handling it."

That's good news for a team coming off a 2-14 season that tied the 2008 squad for the worst in franchise history. Kansas City selected Central Michigan tackle Eric Fisher with the No. 1 overall pick to help protect Smith as it looks to improve on its league-worst 13.2 points per game from 2012.

"I think every team in the NFL has positive expectations right now, every single one," Smith said. "It's a fresh start. It's a new beginning for everybody. It's what team is going to put in the work and take the steps necessary to get better?"

Not every rebuilding team, though, has six returning Pro Bowlers like the Chiefs - 1,500-yard rusher Jamaal Charles, linebackers Tamba Hali, Justin Houston and Derrick Johnson, safety Eric Berry and punter Dustin Colquitt.

They also return star receiver Dwayne Bowe, who signed a five-year, $56 million deal to be Smith's top target.

"Even though the win column last year we didn't do very good, our confidence level is up," Johnson said. "It starts from the coach down. The coach is a big representation of having that confidence, believing in his players, and Andy Reid sets a good example for us."

Former Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley hopes to be as strong of an influence in Jacksonville as he takes over for the fired Mike Mularkey following a franchise-worst 2-14 season.

Bradley isn't focusing on a quick turnaround after new general manager David Caldwell hired him in January, but rather making sure the team simply gets better.

Jacksonville selected offensive lineman Luke Joeckel out of the Texas A&M with the No. 2 overall pick in the draft as its first key to the rebuilding process.

"I think when you look ahead, you forget about enjoying the process," Bradley said. "We want to compete, have our guys go hard, get better at fundamentals and techniques, but also enjoy it. And when you look ahead, sometimes you miss those things.

"If we can get a guy to get to his highest level, then we win. That's how we define winning, that's how we talk about winning."

The Jaguars may not experience much of it this season, though, especially with Gabbert coming off shoulder surgery and now dealing with a hairline fracture of his right thumb that could keep him from playing Sunday.

Bradley named him the starter ahead of Chad Henne, who would be under center if Gabbert is unable to play. Gabbert was listed as questionable Friday despite practicing for the fourth straight day, and Bradley says he'll be a game-day decision.

Gabbert says he's "getting more and more comfortable throwing the ball and we're just seeing how it feels. It's kind of finicky deal."

Though second-year wide receiver Justin Blackmon will be suspended for the first four games for violating the league's substance abuse policy, running back Maurice Jones-Drew appears to be healthy after missing the final 10 games last season due to a foot injury.

Jones-Drew, who led the NFL with 1,606 yards rushing in 2011, will be looked upon to help improve an offense that ranked 29th at 299.3 yards per game last season.

With Blackmon out, Cecil Shorts steps in as the top target in a receiving corps that had an NFL-worst 11.1-percent drop rate of catchable balls in 2012.

Bowe caught a pair of TD passes to help the Chiefs overcome Jones Drew's 121 total yards in a 42-20 win in the last meeting Oct. 24, 2010.

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Preview: Seahawks (0-0) at Panthers (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


The Seattle Seahawks are eager to build on last season's success, but some immediate concerns still surround a team filled with high expectations.

A good start seems to be imperative for the Carolina Panthers' attempt to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The Seahawks look to win their first road opener since 2006 on Sunday against a Panthers team hoping to carry over its late-season success to 2013.

After going 11-5 and winning a road playoff game in 2012, Seattle can't wait to get this season underway.

"We're ready to go," said coach Pete Carroll, whose team rallied from a 20-point first-half deficit before Matt Bryant's field goal with eight seconds left dealt it a 30-28 divisional playoff loss at Atlanta. "It's great that the regular season is here.

"We wanted to put together a good offseason and a solid preseason, and I thought we did."

The Seahawks have the talent to again seriously contend in the NFC behind running back Marshawn Lynch, versatile quarterback Russell Wilson and a secondary that paced the NFL's top scoring defense (15.3 points per game) in 2012.

Lynch rushed for a career-high 1,590 yards and had 11 touchdowns, while Wilson beat out free-agent signee Matt Flynn for the starting job as a rookie, then threw for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns while also running for 489 yards.

The Seahawks also appeared to take a giant step forward when they traded for versatile receiver Percy Harvin to help add balance after their 536 rushing attempts accounted for an NFL-high 55.0 percent of their offensive plays. Harvin, though, was placed on the reserve physically unable to perform list with a hip injury that will keep him out until Week 7 at the earliest.

"It's going to take a good month before we will be able to figure out if he is even going to have a chance to come roaring back out of it,' Carroll said.

The secondary of Richard Sherman, Brandon Browner, Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor is perhaps the most talented in the league after helping Seattle's defense rank sixth against the pass (203.1 yards per game) in 2012.

"We have an elite group of DBs back there,' Sherman said.

The Seahawks, however, have concerns in front of that group, which will now be coordinated by Dan Quinn after Gus Bradley left to become Jacksonville's head coach.

Prospective starting defensive tackles Brandon Mebane and Tony McDaniel were slowed by injuries during training camp, key free-agent acquisition Cliff Avril is dealing with a hamstring issue and pass-rushing linebacker Bruce Irvin is suspended the first four weeks for using banned substances.

It's also uncertain when defensive Chris Clemons will return from a knee injury suffered in last season's 24-14 wild-card victory at Washington.

For those healthy on either side of the ball, Carroll hopes for better self-discipline after Seattle was flagged 42 times for 419 yards during a 4-0 preseason. The Seahawks' 110 penalties were the sixth-most in the NFL last season, 13 of which came in a Week 1 loss at Arizona - their sixth straight defeat in a road opener.

"I love the attitude about it in a sense, but we have to get smarter and we can't do anything but continue to emphasize the heck out of it," Carroll said.

Seattle was flagged seven times for 65 yards but pulled out a 16-12 win at Carolina on Oct. 7. Wilson had one of his two interceptions returned for a touchdown, but he connected with Golden Tate on a 13-yard pass play for the game's only offensive touchdown.

The Seahawks held Carolina to a season-low 190 total yards, 156 of which came on two possessions. The Panthers averaged 3.8 yards on their other nine.

That defeat contributed to Carolina's second straight 2-8 start. Nine of the Panthers' 13 wins the last two seasons came after Thanksgiving, including four straight to end 2012.

That's apparently been enough to secure third-year coach Ron Rivera's job at least for this season.

"We can't put ourselves in that hole and think a late six-game push is going to put us over the top when you start the season 2-8,' tight end Greg Olsen said. "We need those late-season pushes, but that is to put you into the playoffs not to just salvage a season.

"We need to make those games in November and December real and the only way to do that is to put ourselves in playoff contention early.'

Star quarterback Cam Newton has combined for 62 touchdowns and thrown for 7,920 yards in his first two NFL seasons, but is 13-19 as a starter. He was 12 of 29 for a career-low 141 yards and sacked four times against the Seahawks.

New offensive coordinator Mike Shula wants the Panthers to return to a "more traditional" rushing offense, but Jonathan Stewart will miss at least six weeks with an ankle injury and DeAngelo Williams has carried the ball at least 20 times in a game just twice in two seasons.

Veteran receiver Steve Smith is coming off his seventh 1,000-yard season but had only four touchdowns in 2012.

Defensive rookie of the year Luke Kuechly led the league with 164 tackles, while ends Charles Johnson and Greg Hardy combined for 23 1/2 sacks as the Panthers' defense ranked 10th in the NFL (331.1 ypg) in 2012.

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Preview: Falcons (0-0) at Saints (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Sean Payton is looking to take the focus off of him as he returns to the sideline for the New Orleans Saints.

The defending NFC South champion Atlanta Falcons know all too well how dangerous the combination of Payton and Drew Brees have been.

Payton will be in the spotlight when these division rivals open the 2013 season Sunday at the Superdome in a matchup that has been dominated in recent years by the Saints.

The Saints coach was forced to sit out the 2012 season as punishment for his role in New Orleans' bounty scandal. New Orleans slumped to a 7-9 record as its run of three straight playoff appearances ended.

Payton is trying not to treat his first game since a postseason loss in San Francisco following the 2011 season any differently.

"We play in a lot of games with a lot of hoopla around it, whether it's Sunday nights, Monday nights, or postseason games, it's still about protecting the football," he said. "It's still about blocking and tackling. It's about all the things that we have control over, but those other things, we will try to eliminate as best as we can."

The Saints are 10-2 against the Falcons with Payton and Brees together, with the quarterback throwing for 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Now Brees has his trusted play caller back.

"Sean is a very good football coach," Atlanta coach Mike Smith said. "His record speaks for itself. He is one of the best play callers in the league right now. He is an important part. When you have your play caller back, we anticipate we are going to see some things different than what we've seen last year, when he wasn't there."

Atlanta may now be considered the team to beat in the division after going 13-3 last season to earn the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs for the second time in three years.

Smith and Matt Ryan finally earned their first postseason victory after three defeats by beating Seattle. Atlanta fell one game short of the Super Bowl by blowing a 17-point lead in a 28-24 loss to the 49ers in the conference title game.

The Falcons know that the Saints remain their biggest challenger in the South. New Orleans ended Atlanta's 8-0 start with a 31-27 home victory last Nov. 11 before the Falcons won 23-13 at home 18 days later.

"Obviously it is a place we are very familiar with, (and) a team we are very familiar with," said Ryan, who is 1-4 at the Superdome. "We know it's going to be a tough challenge for us down there, (it) always is."

Brees has unpleasant memories of the last meeting as he threw five interceptions for the first time in his career and saw his NFL-record streak of 54 games with a touchdown pass end.

"It was crummy," he told the Saints' official website. "It's funny because I watched the film and it's like, I could have very easily thrown five touchdowns, instead of five picks. But coulda, shoulda, woulda."

Offense wasn't a problem last year for a Saints' unit ranked first in the NFC with 422.8 yards per game, but a defense that allowed a league-record 7,042 total yards certainly was. That resulted in the dismissal of defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, who was replaced by former Dallas coordinator Rob Ryan.

Ryan's unit will start the year without Jonathan Vilma, who has been placed on short-term injured reserve. Fellow linebacker Will Smith is out for the year with a torn ACL.

The Falcons faced Rob Ryan with the Cowboys last season, and feel they will be ready for his 3-4 scheme.

"It's not like the 3-4 is something that has just been invented," Smith said. "Rob does an outstanding job with his defenses everywhere he's been. He will create some issues for offenses."

The Falcons are unsure whether Roddy White will be available, although the wide receiver returned to practice Wednesday after being out with an ankle injury. White led Atlanta with 1,351 yards receiving in 2012, with Julio Jones adding 1,198 as the duo combined for 17 TD receptions.

Matt Ryan finished with career highs of 32 touchdowns and 4,719 yards while Brees led the league with 43 TD passes and 5,177 yards.

The biggest offensive addition for either team is Steven Jackson, signed by Atlanta to a three-year deal this offseason. The former Rams running back has topped 1,000 yards for eight straight years.

"Steven has been great for our football team," Ryan said. "He is a great leader. Obviously, he has been an incredible player for his tenure in the league. He is a huge addition for us."

Both teams feature terrific tight ends. The Saints' Jimmy Graham was second among all tight ends with 982 yards a season ago with an NFC-high nine TD catches, while Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez had 930 yards and eight TDs as he returns for a 17th season after initially saying 2012 would be his final campaign.

Atlanta has tried to bolster a pass rush that produced 29 sacks - with 10 coming from since-released John Abraham - for the league's fifth-worst total a year ago by signing veteran defensive end Osi Umenyiora from the New York Giants. First-round pick Desmond Trufant, a cornerback out of Washington, says that he will be targeted by Brees - who expects a tight game in Week 1.

"Seven of our 10 games with the Falcons, since Mike Smith's been the head coach, have been decided by the last possession," Brees said. "Seven out of 10. It just goes to show you the type of battle this always is with these guys."

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Preview: Dolphins (0-0) at Browns (0-0)

Date: September 08, 2013 1:00 PM EDT


Following a busy offseason that included the addition of a game-breaking receiver, the Miami Dolphins are looking to end their playoff drought with a breakout year from Ryan Tannehill.

The Cleveland Browns are hoping to do the same behind their own second-year standout.

Tannehill and the revamped Dolphins will try to deal Trent Richardson and the Browns their ninth straight season-opening loss Sunday when Rob Chudzinski makes his debut as Cleveland's coach.

After going 7-9 last season for their fourth straight losing year - the franchise's longest such skid since the 1960s - the Dolphins have their sights set on reaching the playoffs for the second time in 12 years. They certainly had their chances in 2012, dropping five games by a touchdown or less.

That's a trend they'd like to end as Tannehill tries to build on a debut season in which he completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 3,294 yards - more than fellow rookies Robert Griffin III or Russell Wilson - and had a 121.3 passer rating in the red zone over his last seven games.

Tannehill threw 13 interceptions and totaled just 12 scoring strikes - including only three to wideouts - but showed improvement with five touchdowns while getting picked off once over his final four games.

"I see things much quicker than I did," Tannehill said. "It's my second year and I can't have the same growing pains than I did in the first year. You have to be able to make the plays when they're there."

Miami sought to improve the NFL's 27th-ranked offense by adding deep threat Mike Wallace, who finished with 64 catches for 836 yards and eight touchdowns for Pittsburgh last season. The Dolphins were tied for 25th in the NFL with seven touchdowns of 20-plus yards in 2012, while Wallace has 21 over his four-year career.

The Dolphins also added receiver Brandon Gibson from St. Louis and tight end Dustin Keller from the Jets, though Keller has been lost for the season after dislocating his right knee in the third preseason game.

"I like what I see,' Tannehill said. "I think we have a lot of talent on the field, a lot of guys who can get open, catch the ball and do something with it when they get the ball in their hands. I'm excited we have playmakers. Now it's just a matter of putting the puzzle together and doing a good job myself of giving them the ball.'

Protection, however, could be a concern after left tackle Jake Long departed for St. Louis. The offensive line also will try to create some holes for Lamar Miller, who is expected to replace the departed Reggie Bush as the starting running back.

Miami hopes to expose a Cleveland defense that allowed 363.8 yards per game last season to rank 23rd in the NFL.

The Browns, though, have transitioned from a 4-3 defense into a 3-4 scheme and signed free agent linebackers Paul Kruger and Quentin Groves along with end Desmond Bryant. They also drafted linebacker Barkevious Mingo, who won't play Sunday as he continues to recover from a bruised lung.

Cleveland may be able to keep its defense off the field by giving the ball to Richardson. With his ribs healed, a lighter Richardson looks to put together a breakout year of his own after rushing for a franchise rookie-record 950 yards and 11 touchdowns on 267 carries despite playing more than half of last season with two broken ribs.

"I'm looking towards no injury, no broken fingernails, nothing,' said Richardson, who also caught 51 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown. "I know my whole season is based on being healthy and playing 16 games and hopefully in the playoffs.'

Chudzinski, the franchise's seventh coach since 1999, will try to end Cleveland's 10-year playoff drought after serving as Carolina's offensive coordinator the past two seasons. He was also the Browns' offensive coordinator in 2007, when they last finished with a winning record.

Chudzinski and new offensive coordinator Norv Turner will try to get the most out of quarterback Brandon Weeden, who threw for a franchise rookie-record 3,385 yards - second only to Andrew Luck among first-year players - with 14 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 2012.

The 29-year-old Weeden had his share of troubles at home, throwing five touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 54.2 percent of his passes.

He faces a Miami defense that ranked 27th against the pass last season, but Weeden won't have his top target for the first two games as wide receiver Josh Gordon was suspended for failing the league's drug policy. Former Dolphin Davone Bess could help after signing with Cleveland in the offseason.

After tying for fourth-worst in the NFL with 16 takeaways last year, Miami looked to improve in that area by adding cornerback Brent Grimes and linebackers Dannell Ellerbe, Philip Wheeler and top draft pick Dion Jordan.

"I'm going to be excited,' said Jordan, who is expected to play Sunday despite missing the final three exhibition games because of a lingering shoulder injury. "I'm just going to probably have to control my emotions."

Miami has lost four straight games to Cleveland.