Oilers on offense
Quarterback -- Say all you want about Eddie George, but Steve McNair accounted for 65 percent of Tennessee's offense last year, with 2,665 passing yards and 674 rushing yards. The latter was the third-highest single-season total for a quarterback.
McNair sparkled in the preseason, completing 29 of 47 passes for 376 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. Dave Krieg, an 18-year veteran, and Steve Matthews are McNair's backups.
Running back -- If Eddie George comes close to matching his achievements in last year's season opener, look out. He ravaged Oakland for 216 yards on 35 carries. The former Ohio State star will try to become only the fourth back to rush for 1,300 yards or more in his first three seasons. Barry Sanders, Earl Campbell and Ottis Anderson are the others. Rodney Thomas, a proficient third-down back, and Mike Archie provide depth.
Wide receiver/tight end -- Two-time Pro Bowl selection Yancey Thigpen, a free-agent acquisition wrested from Pittsburgh, has strengthened what once was a weak position. Injuries limited Thigpen to two preseason games, but he's expected to be fine for Sunday. First-round draft choice Kevin Dyson caught five passes for 89 yards in the preseason. Chris Sanders, who has the league's highest average yards per catch (19.3) since 1995, and Willie Davis, who shared the team lead with four touchdown catches last year, are respectable. The tight ends are as prolific as any wide receiver. Frank Wycheck had a team-high 63 catches last year, while Michael Roan added 12, and newcomer Jackie Harris joins the team with 270 receptions in eight years with Green Bay and Tampa Bay.
Offensive line -- Had right guard Kevin Donnalley not fled to Miami via free agency, this might be the NFL's best unit. Left guard Bruce Matthews and center Mark Stepnoski have been elected to 10 and five Pro Bowls, respectively.
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Oilers on defense
Defensive line -- Right end Kenny Holmes was impressive last year as a rookie, starting the final four games and tying for the team lead with seven sacks. Left end Pratt Lyons played mostly in passing situations as a rookie last year and finished with 2 1/2 sacks. End Anthony Cook was one of Tennessee's few effective defenders in Cincinnati's Dec. 4 rout, making a career-high nine tackles. Josh Evans and Henry Ford, a five-year veteran who's Tennessee's most experienced lineman, likely will start at tackle, though Gary Walker, who tied Holmes with seven sacks in '97, should play substantially.
Linebacker -- Eddie Robinson, reacquired this week, is expected to start at right outside linebacker. Joe Bowden will move to the middle and Lonnie Marts will man the left side. Both are active: Bowden returned a fumble recovery 21 yards in a preseason game at New Orleans and Marts forced three fumbles last season, a team-high figure. Third-year veteran Lenoy Jones will enter the game in passing situations.
Secondary -- Tennessee's pair of safeties is tough to match. Strong safety Blaine Bishop earned his third consecutive Pro Bowl trip last year, while free safety Marcus Robertson tied for last year's team lead with five interceptions and added three fumble recoveries. Cornerback Darryll Lewis, who also had five interceptions, owns 21 for the last four seasons. Only Arizona's Aeneas Williams, San Francisco's Merton Hanks and St. Louis' Keith Lyle have more during that span. Denard Walker and Steve Jackson man the other cornerback spot.
Special teams
Linebacker Terry Killens, a Purcell Marian High School graduate, ranked second in special-teams tackles last year. The Oilers made what they considered to be a big free-agent acquisition by obtaining Craig Hentrich, who set a Green Bay Packers record by averaging 45.04 yards per punt last year. Placekicker Al Del Greco returns for his 15th NFL season. Derrick Mason, Thomas and Archie are the top kick returners.
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Blackout deadline extended